7 Key Facts About the Aussiedoodle
Also known as Australian Poodles, Aussiepoos, and Aussiepoodles, the Aussiedoodle is a fascinating cross between the famous Australian Shepherd breed and Standard Poodles. Like many other crosses between gun dog breeds and shepherds, the Aussiedoodle combines a lot of characteristics that make them fantastic pets. They also have a few quirks you’d need to be aware of ahead of time if you want to be able to take the best possible care of your pet. So, let’s examine the Aussiedoodle – 7 things to know about the Australian Poodle mix.
7 things to consider before buying an Aussiedoodle
As a mixed breed, the Australian Poodle doesn’t come with a specific “breed standard”. So, any characteristic we’ll mention below is really just observations of how Aussiedoodles tend to turn out most of the time and what are the general ranges of characteristics you can expect to see – that’s the case with any crossbreed.
Also, while we do use the term “Australian Poodle” here, as it’s quite popular, note that the official name of this breed is an Aussiedoodle. It’s not just an Australian version of the Poodle, there is 50% shepherd in this mix.
1. The exact size of these dogs can vary a bit based on the Poodle parent
Most Aussiedoodles will be a mix between an Australian Shepherd and a Standard (the largest) Poodle, however, mixes with a Medium or even a Miniature Poodle are also possible. That’s why you’ll often see the lower height range of Aussiedoodles cited at around 10 or 15 inches at the shoulder (25 to 38 cm).
Most of the time, however, an Aussiedoodle made with a Standard Poodle parent will have the following parameters – 18 to 23 inches of height at the shoulder (46 to 58 cm) and 40 to 70 pounds of adult weight (18 to 32 kg).
2. The Aussiedoodle’s coat can also come in several different types
This is where the true variety of this crossbreed comes in – the coat. It’s also one of the big reasons why dogs like the Australian Shepherd get mixed with Poodles – to try and get access to the Poodle’s awesome curly and hypoallergenic coat. As this is a crossbreed, however, the Australian Poodle Shepherd mix can either have the Poodle’s coat, the Shepherd’s coat, or a mix of both. So, you can expect to see anything such as:
- A single-layered and low-shedding coat with curls like that of the Poodle
- A double-coated wavy coat that sheds noticeably more
- Or a shorter double-layered coat that still sheds a bit
The colors of this crossbreed can also be all over the place. They can be black and tan (the “phantom”), blue merle or red merle, sable, black, white, and red tri-color, or even a solid color. Fortunately, both the approximate color and coat type should be relatively easy to discern after the 8th week, especially with the breeder around.
3. The Australian Poodle is exceptionally smart and easy to train
Shepherd and gun dog breeds are the two most intelligent groups of dogs and the Australian Poodle is both. So, you can definitely expect to get a highly intelligent dog if you adopt or buy an Aussiedoodle. What’s more, both shepherds and gun dogs are highly trainable too, and the same applies to the Aussiedoodle.
This means that as long as you go through some basic obedience training early in your pup’s life, you should be able to easily teach your Aussiedoodle anything you’d be able to teach any other dog breed too. Basic commands, complex tricks, and even convoluted work tasks are all possible for this brainiac of a dog.
4. As the child of shepherds and gun dogs, the Aussiedoodle is very affectionate too – almost to a fault
These dogs love their people and are strongly attached to them. That’s what both shepherds and gun dogs were bred for, after all. This makes the Aussiedoodle a phenomenal family pet and a joy to be around. Regardless of how big your family is, as long as you care for your Australian Poodle right, it will have love to give to all of you.
That being said, this extraordinary affection, coupled with the Aussiedoodle’s high intelligence, also has a nasty drawback – separation anxiety. This, in essence, means that your Aussiedoodle doesn’t just like being around you, it needs near-constant human presence 24/7.
So, if you have to leave your pet home alone for an extended period of time – or do it regularly – you can fully expect your dog to lose its marbles and start acting poorly. This usually includes severe anxiety, stress, disobedience, lots of barking, depression, destructive tendancies (toward furniture, for example), and more. Simply put, an Aussiedoodle with separation anxiety often just won’t know what to do with itself when you’re away.
What does this mean for you?
It means that if you live alone and work away from home, getting this Australian Poodle Shepherd cross may not be the best decision. Instead, there are other dog breeds that don’t suffer from separation anxiety nearly as much that might be a better choice. If you do work away from home but absolutely want an Aussiedoodle, here are a few things you might want to try:
- Take your dog with you whenever possible – Aussiedoodles love going on adventures and exploring new places anyway
- Make sure there’s always another family member home with your dog when you’re out
- Hire a dog sitter or a dog walker
- Arrange for playdates with another dog owner you know
- Protect the most expensive furniture/areas of your home with stuff such as pet gates or by closing some doors – just don’t restrict your dog’s living space too much, you’ll only make its anxiety worse if you turn your pet into a “prisoner” in a single room when you’re out
- Get your dog plenty of interactive dog toys to play with while you’re away
- Give your dog plenty of exercise and playtime right before you go out – a tired dog is a calm dog
- Get a second pet to keep your Aussiedoodle company
- Consider stuff such as playing calming music or arranging for treat hunts while you’re out – small tricks like that don’t always work but sometimes help
Overall, however, if this sounds too complicated, that’s because separation anxiety can indeed be difficult to deal with. So, make sure your work and lifestyle would fit an Australian Poodle Shepherd mix before you get such a dog.
5. These dogs can be very social and outgoing with the right upbringing
The Aussiedoodle isn’t just affectionate with its own family – this breed can also be very social and friendly with guests, strangers on the street, children, other dogs, and even non-canine pets such as cats. How is this possible? It’s just in their nature!
Of course, some basic socialization early on will still be necessary. Without it, even the social Aussiedoodle can become antisocial. But with even just a little socialization, this cross can quickly start getting along with everyone it meets quite easily. Some basic supervision will still be necessary when it comes to very small kids but that’s only to prevent accidents such as falls or knocks, nothing more.
6. An Australian Poodle needs lots of exercise, both physical and mental
As the offspring of shepherds and gun dogs, the Aussiedoodle is a very athletic and energetic dog. This canine needs to run, needs to play, and needs to solve various complex mental and physical exercises every day. This means a minimum of 2 hours of outdoor time a day, typically divided into two separate outings.
If you have a spacious and well-fenced yard, that’d be a great boon for this breed but it wouldn’t replace the need for dedicated outdoor time – it’d just be a nice extra. Another such very important “extra” would be longer weekend trips to other parks and hikes. Swimming is also a great playtime for the Aussiedoodle.
Without such activities, your dog will not only grow up to be healthy enough, but it will also become passive, depressed, and unhappy.
7. These dogs are healthy overall as long as they were bred and cared for properly
Last but not least – health. It’s crucial to make sure that your dog’s parents were healthy and didn’t pass on any nasty hereditary conditions. This is easily done by asking the breeder for a health certificate or the shelter for detailed medical information. From there, it’s just a matter of good food, plenty of exercise, and routine vet checks. Do this and you should easily avoid some of the common Aussiedoodle health issues such as:
All in all, the Aussiedoodle brings a lot to the table. These dogs are social enough to get along with everyone in and outside of the family, their high energy makes them fantastic jogging companions or kids’ pets, and their smart and affectionate nature means they are a joy to be around.
As a mixed breed, you can expect some varying characteristics, especially where the coat is concerned. And, as a very physical and active dog, you will need to meet this Australian Poodle’s physical and mental exercise needs. If you’re up for it, however, the Aussiedoodle can give you over a decade of great fun and lovely companionship.
