Aussiedoodle
Quick Facts
- Not AKC Recognized
- Life Expectancy: 10-12 years
- Size: small to medium
- Energy: high
- Recommended Crate Size: up to 42” dog crate* (Size may vary with mix)
Return to main Dog Crate Size Breed Chart.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Aussiedoodle is simply “ausome” (breed slang for “awesome”!). Its parent breeds are the Australian Sheperd and Poodle. This unlikely mixed breed has been an incredible success.
In fact, it’s not just the idea that was genius, the canine creations from the idea are too...well, almost.
Known as some of the most intelligent dogs in the entire world, the Australian Shepherd and Poodle union is a match made in Einstein heaven.
They are designer dogs that are the brilliant outcome of this great matchup. They are smart and...they are cute too!
Breed
This breed is also known as the Aussiepoo, Aussiedoodle, Aussie Shepherd Poodle Cross, and the Aussie Poodle.
This dog breed is a product of the crossing of a purebred Australian Shepherd and a Poodle, usually a Standard Poodle but sometimes a Miniature Poodle, or Toy Poodle, which further complicates his name because there’s the Toy Aussiepoo, Aussiedoodle Standard, and Miniature Aussiedoodle.
All the same though, this designer dog of many names is one smart pup.
This breed was created in the 1980s when many other designer breeds came on the scene as well. The pairing of Poodles with other pure breeds was the hot new thing to do in order to create dogs that would hopefully have the best of both parents’ bloodlines.
With the Australian Shepherd and Poodle mix, the goal was also to begat a super intelligent companion dog that would be hypoallergenic as well. The mission was successful for the most part.
With hybrid dogs, you never can be quite sure what you are getting, kind of like opening a present. There’s not one recipe that turns out the exact same dish every time.
Still, most Aussiedoodles are very smart, hypoallergenic, and are great people dogs with outstanding personalities. There are a few, however, that misses the mark entirely.
Aussiedoodles are spirited and have relatively high energy. Unlike a lot of dogs with abounding energy, however, they are able to focus and show off their intelligence, when they want to at least.
It is important to give this hybrid dog a job. His parents are the same way. They simply must be doing something they feel is worthwhile.
Australian Shepherds are shepherds, just like their name implies. As the name doesn’t imply, they are from the western United States.
They came along about the same time the Gold Rush did, in the 1940s. Their job was to help herd livestock in the rugged unforgiving land.
Poodles are actually bred to work too. They hail from Germany where they assisted in fetching fallen fowl from the water. You might say swimming was part of their job too.
The Aussiedoodle wasn’t bred with a job in mind, although they make excellent working dogs. They are often used as therapy dogs. You can take a dog away from his job but you can’t take the will to work out of his blood, which is exactly why this dog breed is also employed with law enforcement and other service-related jobs. One of the prime reasons this dog was designed was to be a hypoallergenic companion. He does that job quite well.
Aussiedoodles are very popular and are growing more so every day. Breeders often charge a small fortune for them. You can find many fine dogs in rescue facilities but, if you do go through an Aussiedoodle breeder, be sure it’s a good one.
One look at them, especially the pleading eyes of a pup and you want to take him home with you. You might say you’re hooked. Aussiedoodles are addicting.
Appearance
The appearance of this dog breed will greatly depend upon what size he is, Standard, Miniature, or Toy and what side of the family he takes most after. They range in weight from 25 to 70 pounds and stand around 14 to 23 inches high.
Standard size Aussiedoodles stand around 15 inches high or better. They weigh anywhere for 40 to 70 pounds.
Mini Aussiedoodles are 10-15 inches in height and weigh in between 10 and 15 pounds. The Toy is the tiniest of all, standing just 10 inches tall and tipping the scales between 4 to 6 pounds.
The eyes of the Aussiedoodle can vary as well. If he is like his Australian Shepherd parent, he may have one blue eye or both may be. It’s not unusual to have one brown eye.
Then again, both eyes may be brown. To make it even more fun, one or both of its eyes may start out blue and change to brown over time.
His eyes can also be more amber than brown. Or, one eye amber, one brown, or...you get the picture, don’t you? For a pup with so many names, it’s only fitting that he have some many possibilities.
This breed can have a medium length curly coat, a soft Poodle-like hair, or may have the Australian Shepherd which is medium length, straight or wavy, and waterproof.
Usually, the hybrid pups have the Poodle hair that is hypoallergenic or as close to it as possible. The coat can be a wide array of colors and color combinations including all shades of black, gray and white, tan, red tricolor, black tricolor, red Merle, and Blue Merle.
Aussiedoodles are muscular but slender. Their noses are black and their ears stand erect. They can have the Australian Shepherd tail which is often cropped or the Poodle curly tail.
Nutrition
It is vital that you feed your Aussiedoodle a diet that is specialized for this hybrid. You should consult with his veterinarian to find out his nutritional needs and how often and how much food to give him.
He’ll be busy burning off calories, especially when he is young. He very well may need to eat three times a day until he’s six months old.
Be sure to give him only top-quality dog food. His energy will need to be fueled. Also be sure to have lots of fresh water available to him at all times.
Grooming
Once again, it will depend on the features your Aussiedoodle inherits to even guess his grooming needs. If he has a Poodle coat, he’ll need to be brushed regularly every other day and will also need to be trimmed every 8-12 weeks.
In the event your Aussie-Poodle mix has a coat more like an Australian Shepherd, you’ll want to keep it brushed but not as frequent. He will doubtfully require being trimmed.
Both varieties will need a regular bath and to have their nails clipped. Their ears should be cleaned with a damp cloth now and then and dried afterward. Watch for any undue scratching of the ears as this breed may be prone to ear infections.
It’s important to keep your Assiedoodle’s teeth brush to ensure his good dental hygiene.
Exercise
With the energy Aussiedoodles have, you’ll want to make sure he releases it constructively. He won’t be healthy or happy if you don’t properly exercise him and he’ll be sure to let you know it.
This breed needs about one and a half hours of exercise a day in the way of a nice structured, long walk. Two forty-five minute ones will do him fine. He will need physical activity in between the walks too. Remember, he’s a very active dog.
Agility games and exercises are great for Aussiedoodles. He’ll excel in Flyball and will most likely come up with a few games of his own as well.
Busy, busy, busy is the name of the Aussiedoodle game. He will need to be physically active and mentally active as well. Brain games are excellent for him. In fact, he wrote the book!
Pet Crate Size
Pet Crates Direct recommends up to a 42” dog crate* for most adult Aussiedoodles but due to variances in lineage, a smaller size may be possible. Please see the appearance section above for more details on average height, and add 6".
More Information
Training
By the relatively early age of 8 weeks, your super smart Aussiedoodle puppy is ready for some training. He may be a little preoccupied with getting his energy out at times but he’s plenty ready to channel his intelligence to learn new things.
After potty training is complete, you’ll want to train him in obedience. He aims to please and bonds closely to humans so this feat should be no problem.
You’ll want to curb his tendency to herd if he inherited that trait. Training this breed is easy so he should catch right on.
Positivity and praise will encourage Aussiedoodles to learn more and more. An occasional treat can be given for a reward as well but don’t overdo it. This dog loves to eat and can easily become overweight even though he burns lots of calories.
It is said that they can pick right up on the energy of when you are displeased with him. Or, maybe it’s his psychic abilities.
Whatever the case, he is good at reading your body language and deciphering your tone. Make sure you are sending the right messages lest he gets his feelings hurt.
Early socialization is imperative with Aussiedoodles. They are lovers of both humans and other animals too but you’ll want to make sure they are going about it the right way. No herding, nipping or nudging.
Health
The Aussiedoodle is a very healthy dog in general. They typically enjoy a life of anywhere between 10 and 12 years.
He is overflowing with energy and is very athletic and active. Being a designer breed, he is somewhat at risk for a variety of health issues that his parents passed on in their genes but is less vulnerable to actually suffer from them due to the fact that he’s a hybrid. In other words, there are more risk but his chances of getting them are less.
One thing to watch out for is Hip Dysplasia. That is a condition where the hip joint is deformed by heredity or, can be caused by environmental factors.
At the slightest sign of him limping, favoring one leg over the other, or inability to walk or run at all, get in touch with his vet and have him checked out. For severe cases surgery is available.
Pancreatitis is a painful medical problem that, sadly, affects Aussiedoodles. It is important to give him a diet that is conducive to preventing it from occurring but in the event that he seems to be in pain within his abdominal region, take him to the vet clinic immediately.
This is a serious health problem but there are measures the veterinarian can take, sooner rather than later.
Cushing’s Disease is a threat to Aussiedoodles. Cushing’s is a condition that affects the endocrine system and causes the body to shoot out too much cortizone which is a chemical hormone in the body that is naturally occurring.
Hair loss and a pot belly are two of the symptoms that typically surface with this disease. It is either pituitary-dependent or adrenal-dependent and can be caused by natural means or a tumor can be the source of the ailment.
Your vet can determine which type it is and set up a treatment plan accordingly. This condition is serious so if you suspect your dog has it, don’t put off a visit to the vet.
Epilepsy runs in the genes of the Aussie Poo and so does Von Wilebrand’s Disease. Progressive Retinal Atrophy is another condition common in Aussiedoodles. It can lead to blindness so if he is bumping into things or shows signs of not being able to see good, have his eyes checked.
Personality
Abounding with personality (and energy), Aussiedoodles are such a loving, devoted, intelligent, and fun dog, he’s among the most sought-after hybrids on the planet.
This adaptable dog loves doing just about everything and anything with his family members and makes a great companion dog. He’ll jump in the car and go for a ride or hike up a mountain with you.
He adores children and loves to cuddle. They even like other animals and generally do quite well in a household with other pets. It makes a great family pet.
So, what’s not to love about Aussiedoodles? Their energy level is a bit much for those who are more sedative.
In the event the Aussiepoo doesn’t get his exercise and release his energy, all heck may break loose. That is when he may look for trouble and believe you me, he’ll find it. Otherwise, he’s a very well behaved dog.
Has it been mentioned that this dog is smart? Of course, it has but...it bears repeating. Studies show that Aussiedoodles have intelligence that’s about equal to a small child. He can understand, process, and retain information, way more so than most breeds.
Some even take the intelligence of Aussiedoodles to a whole new level. They say that they have the ability to read minds. While others balk at that believe, others are convinced of it.
Something worth mentioning is that Aussiedoodles may nip now and then but it’s more of a nudge and is a throwback of his Australian Shepherd ancestry when they used to push sheep and cattle along to steer them in the right direction.
Even still, you can train him not to exhibit that type of behavior that could easily lead to misunderstandings with children and other animals.
There’s a general rule of thumb that works really well for Aussiedoodles, as far as he’s concerned, that is. If you go, he goes. He wants it no other way. Pretty sure you’ll feel the same way.
Is an Aussiedoodle a Good Dog for Me?
Aussiedoodles are excellent dogs. They are great with people and get along well with children and other household pets. If you are a first-time pet parent, you’re in luck. This hybrid pup is easy to handle.
The main thing you’ll need to do with the Aussiedoodle is to make sure he gets his exercise. An hour and a half every day is quite a commitment. If you are an active person, this dog might just be for you.
If you live in an apartment, the smaller size of this breed may work out best for you. The Aussiepoo is very energetic and an apartment might be too cramped. Even if you are keeping him on a farm or ranch, you can’t just contain him indoors. He will need room to romp and plenty of exercise no matter where he lives.
The Aussiedoodle is a popular dog and it shows on his price tag. Pups can go for anywhere between $2300 and $10,000 EACH. That does put some menace in the game though.
Breeders have known to get greedy and careless. Know your breeder if you are going through one. There is also the option of adopting through a rescue facility or shelter.
If you think the Aussiedoodle is a dog you could love and who is a good fit for you, getting one might just be the smartest thing you’ve ever done.
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