Aussiedoodle Pros And Cons (Must Read)

Aussiedoodles are a designer dog breed that is gaining popularity for many reasons. Since they combine many attributes of Australian Shepherds and a Poodle, the result is a loveable and intelligent animal.

Hybrid breeds are not an exact science, however. Dog owners can face some challenges to this cross, so knowing the pros and cons will help them prepare for this breed and if it is the best fit for their lifestyle.

Aussiedoodle pros and cons — Aussiedoodle Pros and Cons (Must Read)

The Aussiedoodle Hybrid Breed

The benefits of crossing an Australian Shepherd with a Poodle are great. Both dog breeds are extremely intelligent and a joy to have as part of your family. Consequently, every species will have its drawbacks, the Aussiedoodle included.

So, let’s look at the Aussiedoodle pros and cons to help those searching for a new household pet.

Intelligence and Training Ability (Pro and Con)

Poodles and Australian Shepherds are both highly intelligent animals. Combining these two breeds will provide a dog with these brilliant genetics, making it easy to train. Both parent breeds love to please their owners, and their intelligence gives them an advantage.

The Aussiedoodle is extremely smart and will pick up on training quickly. They are terrific dogs to teach agility, learn tricks, and follow commands easily. This hybrid breed does best if they have a job to do or have access to toys that will challenge them.

Because of their high intelligence, Aussiedoodles will become destructive if they do not receive enough mental stimulation. In addition, the Australian Shepherd genes drive them for work, so your Aussiedoodle will require toys or tasks to expel this mental energy.

Even with their extreme smarts, potential dog owners will still need to be on top of their training, especially in the puppy stage. Therefore, you must help your pet form good habits early through regular training sessions, so they grow and mature into an animal that is not destructive from boredom or lack of mental exercise.

Aussiedoodle puppy outdoors — An Aussiedoodle puppy out in the yard.

Coat (Pro and Con)

The coat differences between an Australian Shepherd and a Poodle are complete opposites.

While the Aussie parents sport long, wavy double coats of fur, Poodles maintain a single coat of dense, curly hair. As a result, one is prone to shed and has dander that can bother individuals with allergies, while the counterpart is virtually shed-free and hypoallergenic.

When combining these two breeds, the resulting offspring can take on more or fewer traits from the Poodle for their coat. For example, many Aussiedoodles will have shorter coats that are wavy and will shed less than their Aussie parents.

However, that doesn’t mean that Aussiedoodles are hypoallergenic. This breed will still shed and may contain some dander that can irritate allergy sufferers. They will require regular grooming to control it and end up being more high-maintenance than purebred Poodles.

Although, it should be significantly less than purebred Australian Shepherds.

aussiedoodle shave summer cut — Is a summer cut necessary for Aussiedoodles? Photo by FD Richards CC-by-SA no modifications

Health (Pro)

Often, careful breeding practices are essential for purebred dogs due to many genetic disorders that can plague them as they mature. Thankfully, hybrid breeds have fewer possibilities of inherited health conditions, making them healthier overall.

That doesn’t mean Aussiedoodles are entirely healthy and will never have any problems. In some cases, they will have a less chance of developing skin allergies, obesity, and Addison’s Disease when they carry traits from both breeds.

The life expectancy for Australian Shepherds is 12 to 13 years, while Poodles can live between 12 and 15 years. Surprisingly, Aussiedoodles do not live as long as their purebred parents do. However, you can expect them to live a long healthy life and be your constant companion from 10 to 12 years, depending on their genetic disposition from their parents.

black aussiedoodle dog on the grass — A mostly black Goldendoodle in a backyard on the grass

Various Sizes (Pro)

Another terrific advantage to breeding Australian Shepherds with Poodles is the chance for various sizes. Although Aussies are only one standard size, Poodles are available in Toy, Medium, and Standard sizes.

Without careful breeding practices, you may not know how big your Aussiedoodle will be once it’s fully grown. Because of the hybrid genes, it isn’t an exact science to determine the offspring size. Alternatively, the possibility of having a smaller Aussiedoodle is a benefit for many dog owners who do not want a full-sized dog.

Before jumping into getting a pint-sized hybrid, potential dog owners must research the breeder and ensure that proper genetic testing is complete. Unfortunately, when small dogs are used for breeding with others to reach an optimal size, genetics can cause issues later.

aussiedoodle at the beach — An Aussiedoodle at the beach!

Breed Instincts (Con)

Although many dog owners do not consider breed instincts as a deciding factor in their next pet, they should. To break it down in simple terms, Australian Shepherds are herding dogs, and Poodles are retrieving dogs.

When crossing dogs with opposite instincts, it isn’t always clear which will be the dominant trait in the offspring. Herding instincts from the Australian Shepherd will typically begin to appear around 10 to 12 weeks of age and can surprise new dog owners. These natural behaviors may include:

Nipping
Biting
Chasing
Jumping
Barking

If a breeder does not find complimentary parents to breed, you cannot guarantee what traits your Aussiedoodle will inherit from their genes. For example, proper breeding will produce offspring that possess a little of herding and retrieving from their parents.

aussiedoodle dog in the snow — An Aussiedoodle Poodle Mix living it upFD Richards CC-by-SA no modifications

Exercise Needs (Con)

Many dog owners are not ready for the energy an Aussiedoodle will bring to their home. Australian Shepherds are high-energy, active animals that demand exercise every day to avoid obesity or destructive habits. In addition, Poodles are similar in energy levels, creating offspring with high exercise needs.

While many dog lovers choose an Aussiedoodle for the adorable teddy bear look and intelligence, they don’t realize the significant commitment of more than an hour a day of exercise it needs. Because of the energy levels of this hybrid, they do not make the best pet for some households.

Attention Seeking (Con)

The Aussiedoodle breed is a highly social dog. It bonds well with people and loves to join its humans on adventures. This friendly trait comes from both the Poodle and Australian Shepherd genetic lines.

This hybrid dog can be pretty demanding of your attention and is not typically content to lay at your feet or lounge around in the same room as you. Alternatively, they love receiving affection, and due to their high intelligence, they will exhibit good and bad behaviors to get you to interact with them.

Aussies can exhibit separation anxiety when away from their owners, creating distress and upset. In addition, Poodles are prone to identical behaviors of separation anxiety. This breed does not like to be left alone and will panic when separated for long durations.

Since both parents display high attention-seeking attributes, they will not be the best choice for a home that cannot devote enough time to them.

can you shave down an aussiedoodle — Aussiedoodle Photo by FD Richards CC-by-SA no modifications

A Must-Read for Potential Aussiedoodle Owners

Breeding hybrid designer dogs is not an exact science. An Aussiedoodle may show characteristics from both parents or more from one than the other. When selecting a new animal for your next pet, researching the breeding practices and the parents of the litter are vital in pinpointing what possible offspring they could have.

Exploring Aussiedoodle pros and cons will help you make the best decision for a new pet.

Although Aussiedoodles are attractive, intelligent, lovable dogs, they will require ample training to form good habits, especially in the puppy stage. Thankfully, this breed learns quickly, and you should have no problems with house training and picking up some fun tricks.

However, their high intelligence also demands enough mental stimulation. Potential dog owners should provide ways for their pet to work out their mental and physical energy. Puzzle feeder toys and teaching them agility are great ways to keep their minds active and working in addition to their daily walks.

aussiedoodle tricolour coat poodle mix — A majestic Aussiedoodle looks out on a farm. Photo by FD Richards CC-by-SA no modifications

In Conclusion

Now that you’ve learned these Aussiedoodle pros and cons, you’ll find that they are terrific designer dogs that look like fluffy teddy bears and will be a friendly, loving companion for many years. They will have a wavy, multi-colored coat that is low-shedding but will require regular brushing and care.

These dogs are brilliant and take well to training. They have high exercise needs for physical and mental stimulation. Dog owners with the energy to match an Aussiedoodle and the time to provide the attention and training they need will have a loyal friend who prefers to go anywhere with them.