Aussiedoodles are the adorable cross between a Standard or Miniature Poodle and an Australian Shepherd. Not only are they adorable, but they are very friendly and super intelligent.
The Aussiedoodle was able to combine a lot of good traits from their parents and not too many of the bad! But, now let’s get into the details of what makes this breed so special.
Table of Contents
History Of The Aussiedoodle
What better place to begin than the beginning of this breed. Being a crossbreed there isn’t much to say about how they came into being.
Unsurprisingly designer dog breeders decided to combine two intelligent breeds, Poodles and Australian Shepherds in an attempt to make an adorable, smart hybrid with an adorable curly coat.
There isn’t any exact date when this breed was brought into existence, however, many people theorize that it was sometime around the early 2000s.
Poodles are often crossed with other breeds in order to create a hypoallergenic dog mix.
Many people say that the Aussiedoodle is a hypoallergenic breed as well. This is good for people with allergies as hypoallergenic breeds are often touted as having low or no shedding.
However, as many breeders and other experts will claim no dog is confirmed to be truly hypoallergenic so there are no guarantees that they can reduce your allergies.
Aussiedoodle Coat And Grooming
Being a crossbreed there is actually a very wide variety of coat colors and looks your Aussiedoodle can have.
Starting off with their type of coat, an Aussiedoodle can either have a curly coat like their Poodle half or a straight coat like the other half the Australian Shepherd.
Personally, I prefer the curly coat because it makes the dog look super fluffy, almost like a large teddy bear.
Onto the color of their coat, it can range a great amount because of how many different colors their parents tend to be.
Aussies can be any of the following colors: black, blue, red, apricot, brown, cream, or white!
In addition to those colors, there are red and blue merle variations that are extra majestic. What is a merle coat? A merle coat is a color pattern that looks like your dog has several patches of color on a coat that is a solid color.
We will include an example of what that looks like below on their Australian Shepherd parent as this variation comes from that half!
Of course, what a puppy looks like and what they will look like older will depend on their parents.
Often times Aussiedoodles are said to be hypoallergenic dogs. Meaning they are less likely to trigger allergies, however, no dog is 100% hypoallergenic.
If you want to know more about this topic see our article on are Aussiedoodles hypoallergenic.
How Big Can Aussiedoodles Get?
Before we begin talking about this breed’s physical measurements know that there are two sizes of Aussiedoodle. The size of an Aussiedoodle depends on the size of the Poodle parent.
If the parent is a Miniature Poodle, then you will get a Miniature Aussiedoodle.
If the parent is a Standard Poodle, then you will get a standard Aussiedoodle.
Aussiedoodle Weight
As mentioned above their weight depends on the type of Aussiedoodle you are talking about. The Miniature Aussiedoodle weighs between 15 to 35 pounds. The standard Aussiedoodle can weigh between 40 – 70 pounds.
Aussiedoodle Height
The height of the Aussiedoodle also depends on the type of Aussiedoodle you are talking about. A miniature Aussiedoodle grows to between 12 to 18 inches tall. The standard Aussiedoodle grows to between 14 to 23 inches tall.
Aussiedoodle Temperament And Personality
Before we talk about the temperament and the personality of an Aussiedoodle it is very important that you know dogs, in general, will become what their environment has trained them to be.
While your dog is so young make sure you have a very positive home and you always treat your dog with love and positivity. This can avoid you accidentally training negative traits into your dog that their breed isn’t known to have.
Starting off these dogs are very intelligent thanks to both of their very intelligent parents. In addition to their intelligence, they also are very kind, loyal, and energetic.
Their energetic nature does make them prone to needing lots of exercise. So if you get this dog, expect to spend a lot of time playing and walking outside.
If you don’t spend their energy on exercise they will most likely end up displaying destructive behavior. This will lead to a lot of destroyed shoes, furniture, and other items you don’t want them chewing on!
But, just because they are energetic that doesn’t mean they won’t want to spend lots of time loving you. In fact, this breed requires a lot of social attention and cuddles, even when they get older they will want to curl up in your lap.
You might notice they will try to circle you or herd you. This behavior can be credited to their Australian Shepherd parent, which is a herding dog.
Herding often looks like bumping into you, circling you, or slightly nipping you, although this isn’t them trying to hurt you or be aggressive, you should still try to put an end to this.
This is an instinctual behavior, but it can be trained out of them. We have an article covering behavior like this which you can find here.
These dogs also great watchdogs, although they aren’t very territorial. Of course, being a good watchdogs means they have about the average amount of barking you would expect.
However, from our research, it isn’t very little nor a very excessive amount of barking that would be inconvenient for apartment living owners of this breed.
Aussiedoodles are also known to love completing work thanks to their Australian Shepherd parent. This is a great supplementary trait to their intelligence because it makes them very trainable!
We will talk about how you can train an Aussiedoodle and the most effective techniques later on in this article.
Next, we will talk about how Aussiedoodles are with other dogs, cats, and people! Just know that as how a dog acts around other people or animals is reliant on their experience.
So good-quality, friendly socialization as a puppy is key, however, we will talk about how this breed generally tends to react based on our research.
Are Aussiedoodles Good With Other Dogs?
From what I have researched Aussiedoodles tend to be very friendly dogs, and with the right training at a young age, the should have no problem making friends with others.
All dogs are different and at the end of the day a lot of how a dog acts comes down to how their owner trains them and how they are socialized as a puppy.
Are Aussiedoodles Good With Cats?
Yes, Aussiedoodles are good with cats as their prey drive isn’t very high and they are quite friendly. They might try to herd them, similar to how they herd other dogs and humans, but like its stated above it can be fixed.
Of course, they need to have good socialization with cats at a young age and good training, otherwise, they might be scared of them as they get older and other negative behaviors may be caused.
Are Aussiedoodles Good With Children?
Yes, Aussiedoodles are awesome with kids as they are gentle and friendly. They don’t tend to have aggressive tendencies, but you should still supervise their playtime together if you have young children.
Caring For An Aussiedoodle
How Much Exercise Does An Aussiedoodle Need?
Since this breed has quite active parents they will need a healthy amount of exercise to burn off all that extra energy.
Typically, 90 minutes of exercise every day is enough to keep them satisfied. This can look like a long walk or several walks and outdoor playtime.
It is in your best interest that you get them this exercise or you could end up with a torn-up house on your hands.
Dogs with an excess of energy and boredom are known to cause a lot of trouble indoors because they get restless.
When you are on walks, be sure to keep them on a leash as it will take a good amount of training to get them to a point where you can control them without a leash.
How Often Should You Bathe An Aussiedoodle?
Many authorities in pet grooming say that every four weeks is the best schedule for bathing your dog.
But, there is no definitive answer to this question because it really depends on how dirty your dog gets and how often.
If your dog gets mud and dirt on their coat very often then you might need to bathe them more often.
However, if your dog doesn’t dirty their coat too much then you can bathe them every 1 or 2 months.
Personally, I think that the advice given by Petco is the best to follow. Which states that you should bathe your dog every four weeks as it is the perfect balance to keep their skin full of essential oils and smelling good.
Brushing their hair is also going to be a very important routine that keeps their coat in pristine condition which we will talk about next.
How Often Should You Brush An Aussiedoodle?
This depends on if your Aussiedoodle has a curly coat like the Poodle or a straight coat like the Australian Shepherd.
If your dog has inherited their coat from their Poodle parent, about two to three times a week is a reasonable amount.
If your dog has inherited their coat from their Australian Shepherd parent, then about one or two grooming sessions a week will do the trick.
However, the Animal Humane Society believes you should brush your dog every two days regardless of the length of the coat they have.
Brushing, in general, is a must for dogs as it can help remove dead hair, get rid of dead skin, and distribute their natural oils which makes for a much healthier coat.
How Often Should You Trim An Aussiedoodle’s Nails?
Generally, many authorities in the dog world say about every 1 to 2 months you should cut your dog’s nails.
However, this veterinarian has said you should make sure your dog’s nails don’t touch the ground when they stand. Furthermore, you should trim your dog’s nails before they reach that point.
If you aren’t comfortable doing this you can get a groomer or even the vet to do it for you. But as your dog becomes an adult they won’t be visiting the vet nearly as often as when they are a puppy.
How Much Do I Need To Feed My Aussiedoodle?
You should ask your vet to get the best idea of which diet, and portions are best for your pup.
Feeding this breed the right amount is especially important because they are prone to obesity and gaining weight like their parents are.
How much you should feed them also depends on how old they are and how much they weigh already so asking your vet on your first visit should be a priority.
Living Situations
Are Aussiedoodles Good Apartment Dogs?
No, Aussiedoodles typically don’t do great in apartments as they are quite energetic and are going to need plenty of room to run.
Some people have gotten mini-Aussiedoodles and have lived happily in an apartment with them. However, it is most likely going to be less than ideal for a regular Aussiedoodle.
Do Aussiedoodle Do Good In Cold Weather?
Yes, Aussiedoodles can tolerate colder weather however if it is extreme temperatures you should still take precautions to make sure they stay warm.
It can also be a case-by-case basis though, as with Aussiedoodles coat types and lengths can vary greatly which can impact their weather tolerance.
Aussiedoodle Health Problems
Dogs breeds tend to have specific health problems they are prone to because of their genetic makeup.
Aussiedoodles can be a bit trickier than the average purebred dog because they can inherit health problems from both the Poodle and Australian Shepherd.
There is also a chance however that their genetics actually lower the chance of those health problems, but being a mixed breed dog there is not much certainty either way.
The most common health issues Aussiedoodles suffer from are progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia, cataracts, and ivermectin sensitivity.
Now that being said what health issues your Aussiedoodle might get can only really be discovered by a veterinarian.
They will also be able to explain anything that your Aussiedoodle has or is at risk of a lot better than non-veterinarians.
One of the best things you can do to improve your odds of avoiding many health problems is getting a very high-quality breeder that is dedicated to making healthy Aussiedoodle puppies.
So do your research, we will talk about finding a good Aussiedoodle breed more below.
How Much Do Aussiedoodles Cost?
Aussiedoodles can cost between $1000 and $5000 as it is a designer breed mix! On average, the cost of an Aussiedoodle will be close to $2000.
With their special coat and Poodle parent, I would expect to make a large investment into getting an Aussiedoodle. However, you will no doubt be getting a fantastic dog.
We will get into how to find an Aussiedoodle later on in the article, however, you should know that there may be additional costs.
Primarily, since Aussiedoodles are not a common dog breed you may not live near a breeder. There will be transport costs, as well as travel costs for when you visit the dog to make sure the breeder and dog are the right fit for you.
That is just for getting the Aussiedoodle that is ideal for you, after that there is getting all the things you need for the puppy and the vaccinations you will need, (prices vary).
When you are ready to get the supplies for your puppy check out our puppy checklist that tells you everything that you may need!
How To Get An Aussiedoodle?
Animal Shelters
Since this breed is already very rare (and a mix) it will be difficult to find one in a shelter.
However, there are websites that can help you find breeds in your area that are in rescue groups.
A very commonly recommended site for this is petfinder.com so go check them out!
Adopting dogs is a great thing as you are benefiting the dog, the shelter, and yourself as you get an adorable companion!
Make sure the dog you are looking to adopt is right for you. This means making sure their energy level is comfortable for you, that they aren’t aggressive with people and other dogs, their history, and if they are potty trained.
That’s the quick rundown, however, for a great expansive list of what to ask when adopting a dog check out this helpful article.
Choosing The Right Aussiedoodle Breeder
First off, the key to choosing the right breeder is by actually going to the breeder’s location and meeting everyone.
This includes the mother, the father, the breeder, and of course the puppies!
Puppies should have a good relationship with their mother and the breeder should let the mother care for them.
As the mother’s relationship with the puppies has a huge impact on their behaviors and if the mother can’t care for her pups they might end up with some bad behaviors.
A responsible breeder has health certificates for both parents and has tested the health of the puppies to make sure they don’t carry common genetic diseases.
You should ask for these if they aren’t already provided to you, as you want to make sure you are getting healthy puppies.
Buying Aussiedoodle puppies without this knowledge can lead to thousands of dollars going to vet bills when you are surprised with bad news.
Also, many puppies these days are bought online with no prior visiting or not much research into who you are buying from.
Although it is exciting to be getting a new puppy you want to make sure you are getting exactly what you want and can handle.
By visiting puppies in their home you can see how they act. It’s a great way to find what fits you, the dogs cuddling, the puppies jumping up on the playpen to see you, or the dog lying down calmly in the back.
In addition, when buying dogs online you aren’t completely sure of what you may be getting.
You may see a picture online of an Aussiedoodle that looks cute or a video that makes them look one way and get something completely else.
At which point you don’t have much ability to contact or resolve an issue as you will be trying to figure all this out with someone you have never met or even seen over the internet!
Also, a responsible breeder will want to meet you and make sure you are the right person to be getting this Aussiedoodle puppy.
So before we move onto the exciting and happy stuff we should just rattle off a few red flags when it comes to dog breeders:
- No medical certification for the parents
- You can pay online with a credit card
- Multiple litters at their house (sign of a puppy mill)
- Aussiedoodle puppies are always available (puppies shouldn’t always be available as they come in litters! There should be times between litters as well as the 8 weeks minimum of them growing up. If puppies are always available it could be a sign of a puppy mill.)
- They won’t tell you where they are located so you can visit the puppies and property.
- They let you take puppies home before they are at least 8 weeks, although 8 to 12 weeks is usually the perfect range. Taking a puppy home before they are at least 8 weeks can be an awful experience. The puppy will have not gone through their basic socialization with other puppies and they might develop a variety of behavior issues as well as other health issues.
- One of the dogs is sick. Sickness can spread quickly amongst puppies, and a responsible breeder will stop the adoption process if one dog becomes sick to make sure all the dogs are in good health.
- They guarantee their Aussiedoodle is 100% hypoallergenic. No-one can make this guarantee at the moment, not even veterinarians. So if they make you this promise they are most likely lying as no dog is 100% hypoallergenic. Also, remember that all hypoallergenic means is less likely to trigger allergies, it isn’t guaranteed to put them to a stop.
Your first visit will be packed with all kinds of questions for the breeder. So we found you a great list with several questions that you should the breeder in order to find the best puppy for you!
Remember to get as much information as you can, and not to rush into it, making poor decisions.
Aussiedoodle puppies are adorable, but remember all puppies are a lot of work. If you don’t have the time to train a puppy (it will take a lot of your time) then maybe you should consider getting an adult Aussiedoodle or holding off until it is the right time.
This is a huge decision as you will have your beautiful Aussiedoodle for around 10 – 12 years.
Take your time and decide if you will have the ability to give them the life and time they deserve for the next decade!
Getting Started With Your Aussiedoodle Puppy
Once you have reached this stage I will say congratulations! You read a whole ton about Aussiedoodles, breeders, training, and more.
Above all, you finally got the Aussiedoodle puppy that you have been looking for.
Now you can begin doing the things you need to do to raise a good Aussiedoodle puppy. We’ll just take you through a few things you should do to start.
First, get your dog the supplies they need. The priority here is the collar, the ID tag, food, toys, treats, and a leash.
If you want to get the fully expanded list, check out our puppy checklist.
Next, a great way to supplement the training that you are doing at home is by enrolling your puppy in a puppy class.
The main benefit of a puppy class is the large amount of socialization that your puppy gets from doing it.
Many dogs don’t receive nearly enough socialization, Dr. Ian Dunbar recommends that puppies meet at least 100 people in the first four weeks at their new home.
This large pool of people and dogs that your dog can meet at puppy classes can have very positive effects on your puppy because they get to learn a lot about the different things they will encounter.
Then, you should also touch areas of your dog that groomers and vets will in order to get them comfortable with it. This includes touching their ears, paws, tail, opening their mouth, and picking them up and moving them around.
Also, it is okay to cuddle and carry your dog sometimes, but you should let them walk on their own as much as possible.
Otherwise, you might train them to demand you carry them everywhere which can become a problem, especially as they get bigger.
There are several things you’re going to train your Aussiedoodle puppy, so instead of breaking down each one here, we will list a few guides below for you to check out.
- How To Potty Train A Puppy Fast
- How To Leash Train Your Puppy
- How To Teach Your Puppy To Fetch
- The Guide To Socializing Your Puppy
Wrap Up
And that is the complete breakdown of the Aussiedoodle breed from the breed itself to a few tips for when you are bringing your new Aussiedoodle puppy home.
Congratulations on starting the exciting journey of being a dog owner and don’t forget to choose a great name for your dog!
We forgot to mention that above but choosing a dog’s name is a very important thing, luckily for you, we have thousands of suggestions in our dog names category!
Everything from Irish Dog Names, to Old Names For Dogs and some Funny Dog Names. Be sure to check it out!
Aussiedoodles are adorable, friendly, and energetic dogs that will create so many amazing memories in your life!
Good luck on your dog owner journey and enjoy it!
Resources:
http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/aussiedoodle#personality
https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/aussiedoodle#/slide/1
https://www.trendingbreeds.com/how-much-do-aussiedoodles-cost-actual-breeder-costs-included/
https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/how-often-should-you-cut-your-dogs-nails
https://www.petassure.com/new-newsletters/pet-health-proper-nail-grooming-basics/
https://www.trendingbreeds.com/do-aussiedoodles-need-grooming/
https://www.rover.com/blog/first-week-with-puppy/
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/puppy-training-classes/