Aussiedoodle – Pros and Cons of The Australian Shepherd Poodle Mix

The Aussiedoodle seems to have it all, but there are some drawbacks to having a high powered puppy in your home. Today we take a look at the pros and cons of Aussiedoodle dogs. Helping you to decide whether the Australian Shepherd Poodle mix is the right choice for your lifestyle.

• Australian Shepherd and Poodle history
• How big are Aussiedoodles?
• Grooming and coat care
• Poodle Australian Shepherd mix personality
• Aussiedoodle puppies

The Australian Shepherd Poodle mix, is a cross between two of the world’s brainiest and most beautiful breeds. The Aussiedoodle is a very active, intelligent and eager to please dog. Strongly bonded to their family, they are keen to spend most of the day working closely together.

The Aussiedoodle is bred from an Australian Shepherd parent and a Poodle parent. Clever, energetic and playful, they are working bred dogs at heart. Because Poodles come in three different sizes, an Aussiedoodle can weigh anywhere from 10 – 70lbs.

Where Do Aussiedoodles Come From?

The Aussiedoodle is a cross between the purebred Australian Shepherd and the purebred Standard Poodle. Also known as the Australian Shepherd Poodle mix, the Australian Shepherd Poodle, the Aussie Poodle Mix, or even the Aussiepoo, they can come from smaller Poodle mixes but this is less common.

This is a newer crossbreed, but we can find out a lot about them, their genetics and how you can expect your puppy to grow and develop by looking at their parents’ rich working histories.

Australian Shepherd orgins

Both the Australian Shepherd and the Poodle have fascinating roots that eventually led to the intelligence, loyalty, and all-around cuteness that makes up their Aussiedoodle offspring. The Australian Shepherd is an all-American dog who was refined in California during the 19th century.

This breed was a staple as the cowboy’s best friend, utilizing his smarts as a herding and ranch dog in the American West. In fact, the Australian Shepherd is still one of America’s favorite herding dogs on ranches all over America.

History of the Poodle

The Poodle, often referred to as the “French Poodle,” and is the national dog of France. But the Poodle originally hails from Germany, where he was utilized for hunting ducks. Over 400 years old, the standard Poodle breed may be most famous for his fanciful coat. But did you know that his extravagant haircut actually had a purpose that went well beyond vanity?

Back in his working days, the Poodle would swim in cold, harsh water conditions to retrieve ducks for their hunting masters. And thus the famous Poodle haircut was born! Created to protect the Poodle’s sensitive body parts and also allow him agility in the water, the Poodle’s pompons are now a staple in Poodle coat culture.

What Do Aussiedoodles Look Like?

Since the Aussiedoodle is a crossbreed, the Aussiedoodle appearance is going to depend on that of his purebred parents. This appearance can vary quite massively, so don’t expect every Aussiedoodle puppy to look the same! Looking at the parent breeds can help us make an educated guess about the Aussiedoodle’s appearance.

No two Aussiedoodles look exactly the same. Even their facial features and structure can vary depending on what they inherit from their parent breeds! The Australian Shepherd has erect ears and bright eyes that are brown, amber, or even blue. The Poodle, on the other hand, has dark oval eyes, with ears that hang close to their head! So the face of your Aussiedoodle can be quite hard to predict!

Aussiedoodle Size

The Australian Shepherd stands about 18 to 23 inches tall and weighs around 40 to 65 pounds. The Poodle, on the other hand, comes in three size varieties:

• Standard: The Standard Poodle is the largest of the three size varieties, standing over 15 inches tall and weighing 40 to 70 pounds!
• Miniature: Medium in size, the Mini Poodle is between 10 and 15 inches in height and weighs between 10 and 15 pounds.
• Toy: Tiniest of the Poodles, the Toy Poodle grows to a mere 10 inches tall and only weighs four to six pounds.

Your full grown Aussiedoodle could range in size from 10 to over 15 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 10 to 70 pounds, depending on if he is a standard, toy, or miniature Aussiedoodle. However, most breeders use a Standard Poodle, so the average weight of an adult Aussiedoodle full grown is around 40 to 70 pounds. You should prepare for a medium to large dog.

Mini Aussiedoodles

The Miniature Aussiedoodle is bred from a Mini or Toy Poodle, and can be as small as just 10lbs in weight!

Aussiedoodle Coats

The Standard Poodle Australian Shepherd mix tends to have a curly or wavy coat, at least medium lengthed and with an undercoat.

The Australian Shepherd has a double-layer, waterproof coat perfect for his ranching days! His undercoat is thick, and his outer layer is longer on his body and a bit shorter on his face. The Poodle has a unique curly coat that most people love in a hybrid because it is low-shedding. However, it’s important to remember, we can never guarantee the type of coat an Aussiedoodle puppy will inherit.

Australian Shepherd Poodle mix colors

Just like every other part of the dog, its coat colors will depend on what it inherits from its parent breeds. The Aussie comes in six standard coat colors, including:

• Blue Merle
• Red Merle
• Black
• Red tricolor
• Black tricolor
• Tan

The Poodle, whether standard, miniature, or toy, has a thick curly coat that can come in several color varieties, including:

• Black
• Apricot
• White
• Cream
• Tan
• Blue Belton
• Blue
• Silver
• Sable
• Brown

This shows the huge variety that your Aussiedoodle could inherit! There’s no sure way of knowing just how your Aussiedoodle puppy is going to look until it arrives, but they will include one or more of these shades!

Aussiedoodle Grooming

You’ll want to be sure you have the right tools to keep his coat looking its best and to keep as much loose hair out of your home and off of your clothes as possible. The Australian Shepherded is a seasonal shedder. For this reason, he requires weekly grooming to keep his coat looking its best and free of mats and tangles.

The purebred Poodle, on the other hand, requires significant grooming. Especially if an owner wants to show him. Most owners who opt to show their Poodles will either learn to cut their fanciful coats themselves or they will go to a groomer. Other owners who are not interested in showing may opt for a puppy cut. This means they forgo the Poodle’s famous pompons and go for a more manageable cut.

Keep in mind that the Aussiedoodle is an active dog who may leave the house clean and come back dirty. Still, unless he comes back covered in mud, he really only requires occasional bathing.

General care

All Aussiedoodles need their ears cleaned regularly to avoid waxy build-up and moisture that could lead to infection. They will also need their nails trimmed frequently to keep them from breaking and cracking. As far as diet, the active and athletic dog will benefit from a high-quality dog food with meat proteins listed as the first three ingredients. They will also need fresh water every day and plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.

Aussiedoodle Temperament

Just as it is with size and appearance, the Aussiedoodle temperament will vary depending on what he inherits from his parent breeds. We can confidently say the Aussie Poodle mix is going to be a pretty intelligent crossbreed. Considering his parents are two of the smartest purebreds around. But, there are a few other traits your Aussiedoodle could inherit.

Both the Australian Shepherd and Poodle breeds are working dogs. This means they need lots of mental stimulation to keep them from getting bored. As they’re also both energetic and playful, the Aussie and Poodle both require lots of playtime and exercise. They love the outdoors, and enjoy getting messy. The Aussiedoodle is likely to inherit these qualities, making them an especially great choice for families with kids!

Are Aussiedoodles good with other pets?

We’ve seen that both the Poodle and Australian Shepherd breeds are full of energy. Whilst this can seem like a great quality for Aussiedoodles, there can be a downside. If not harnessed correctly, this energy and intelligence could lead to destructive and territorial behaviors. So make sure you know just how much time and effort you’ll have to put into keeping a Poodle Aussie mix happy!

Aussiedoodles can inherit the tendency to bond very closely with his family. For this reason, he does not do well if left alone for long periods of time. A final point to consider is the risk of an Aussiedoodle with other household animals. Australian Shepherds do well with other pets, but as expert herders they may try to herd their family members about the home.

The Poodle also makes a great family dog and does well with children and household pets. But his hunting skills mean he has natural instincts to go after smaller animals. In case your Australian Shepherd Poodle cross inherits these natural instincts, it’s best to keep him away from smaller household pets like birds, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc.

Do Aussiedoodles make good family pets?

The Aussiedoodle is an active, intelligent crossbreed who will do best in homes with large, fenced-in yards. They will also benefit from owners who have prior experience with dogs and can train intelligent, high-energy breeds. You should also keep in mind that the Aussiedoodle is likely to bond strongly with their family. They may not tolerate being left alone for long periods of time.

Grooming and shedding may also be an issue, so allergy sufferers should take this into consideration when thinking about getting an Aussiedoodle. If you are an active owner who understands what it takes to train and care for a smart, active dog, then he may be the perfect companion for you!

Aussiedoodle Exercise

Australian Shepherds need at least an hour or two of exercise a day and an owner willing to teach him new tricks and give him some purpose. For example, fetching the paper each morning or helping to carry in groceries. Poodles are also people-pleasers from nose to tail. But they require plenty of activity and exercise to stay happy, just like the Australian Shepherd.

For this reason, it’s easy to assume your Aussiepoo is going to be a very energetic dog who requires plenty of mental and physical activity. This can be achieved in a huge variety of ways! Your dog will love exploring outdoors with you, as well as playing fun games. They may even inherit the Poodle’s love for swimming!

Training Your Working Bred Dog

Examining the trainability of the Australian Shepherd and Poodle is a good way of predicting how well the Aussiedoodle can take to training. Not for the novice owner, the highly-intelligent and energetic Australian Shepherd is a working dog through-and-through. This breed will be happiest with doggy jobs and consistent training.

Since they are so intelligent and loyal to their family members, Aussies are very easy to train.
However, they must begin training very early and owners should be prepared for the high amounts of energy these dogs have.

The Poodle is also an intelligent breed and training him should be a breeze as well. As long as owners are consistent, Poodles are eager to please and enjoy showing off. So your Poodle Aussie puppy should take quite well to training. Especially with positive, consistent methods from a young age!

Aussiedoodle socialization

Australian Shepherd Poodle hybrids make great pets. However, and with all dogs, we recommend early socialization and obedience training to help ensure they are well rounded and adaptable. Patience, early socialization, and obedience training are key for this active and smart breed.

Any dog crossed with an Australian Shepherd is especially encouraged to indulge in early socialization and obedience training. One of the main reasons Aussies and their crosses wind up in shelters is because they were not properly socialized and trained, and owners did not know how to rein in all that energy.

This goes for even the smallest micro Aussiedoodle types. Even the mini Aussiedoodle temperament will benefit from training and socialization.

Mixed Breed Controversy

With fame, intelligence, and a good work ethic in his line, it’s no wonder the Aussiedoodle is becoming such a popular crossbreed!

There is some debate regarding whether a crossbreed is really just a mutt with a fancy name. However, connoisseurs of the practice insist that mutts and crossbreeds are very different. They point out that while mutts have a lineage of several different breeds in their bloodline, crossbreeds are the specifically chosen offspring of two purebred parents. This is where the term “designer dog” comes in.

Designer dogs vs purebreds

Purebred dogs are bred for generations to maintain certain characteristics inherent to the breed standard. But they suffer some genetic health issues as a result.

Those who believe in crossbreeding hope that it could be a solution to this issue, reducing the chances of genetic health issues passed on to the offspring by widening the gene pool. However, other experts disagree and insist that crossbreeds are just as prone to certain health issues as purebreds. The important thing is to just do your research on your puppy’s parents, regardless of whether they are a mix or not.