Aussiedoodle Food, Grooming, Food Allergies, Training, & Colors

Aussiedoodle Dog Breed Introduction

Aussiedoodle is a hybrid or designer dog deliberately created in the 90s by crossing an Australian Shepherd with a toy, miniature, or standard Poodle. Depending on the size of the Poodle parent, Aussiedoodles come in three size varieties; toy, miniature, and standard. Crossbreeds may tend toward traits of one parent breed than the other. Although, it is difficult to make accurate predictions of the appearance of individual dogs. Most Aussiedoodles are athletic, playful, intelligent, loyal, and eager to please. This is the most diverse of all Poodle crosses due to the numerous coat colors and texture variations due to the merle qualities from the Australian Shepherd and range of solid colors from the Poodle.

Aussiedoodle Origin | History

There is a high possibility that natural crosses between Australian Shepherds and Poodle existed way before 1990s. However, deliberate crossing between these two pure breeds started in North America in the 90s to create Aussiedoodles. Since then, this crossbreed has been popular as a smart and playful family pet. They have also been attributed to possess a low shedding coat that is allergy friendly. However, there is no pure breed or crossbreed that is truly hypoallergenic.

Aussiedoodle Lifespan | Life Expectancy

The average lifespan of Aussiedoodles is 10 to 13 years. According to a study conducted in 2006, designer dogs tend to live longer as compared to the pure breed parents due to hybrid vigour for a year or two. Although, this is not always a guarantee. Australian Shepherds have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years while Standard Poodles have a lifespan of 11 to 13 years. Although, miniature and Toy-sized Poodles have a lifespan of 14 to 16 years. Therefore, there is a possibility that Aussiedoodles may live up to the age of 15 or 16 years.

Aussiedoodle Grooming | Grooming Needs

To prepare an Aussiedoodle for a positive grooming process, get it accustomed to touch on the body, ears, paws, face, and tail. Grooming provides an opportunity for owners and pets to bond. While brushing the coat, look out for rashes, bumps, hair loss patches, and parasites like mites and fleas. An Aussiedoodle may have a flat, wavy, straight, or curly coat. Australian Shepherds have a straight or wavy coat while Poodles have curly coats. Therefore the straight and wavy coat is inherited from the Aussie parent while the Curly coat is inherited from the Poodle parent. The flat coat is similar to the straight coat of an Australian Shepherd, although, it looks more relaxed and doesn’t mat easily.

Aussiedoodle's Photo — **An Aussiedoodle’s Photo**

Straight and flat coated Aussiedoodles should be brushed frequently at least once a week to remove loose hair and promote new hair growth using a slicker brush. The wavy texture also requires weekly brushing to remove loose hair. Some Aussiedoodles may have an undercoat inherited from the Australian Shepherd. Therefore, they will shed more while experiencing seasonal change. During this period, use an undercoat rake to remove the abundant lose hair followed by a wire brush.

Curly coated Aussiedoodles require daily brushing to prevent matting and tangling using a slicker and a bristle brush. If the coat has matted or tangled, spritz it with a detangling spray before brushing to prevent hair breakage. Regardless of the coat type, Aussiedoodles require occasional baths every 6 to 8 weeks unless they roll into something sticky. Before bathing your pet, brush the coat to remove tangles or mats that tend to get messier when they are wet. Use a hypoallergenic canine shampoo and conditioner to bath your pet. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the grooming products from the skin using lukewarm water to prevent skin irritation.

Use a damp clean washcloth or friendly canine wipes to wipe the face instead of using soapy water that irritates the eyes. Trim the nails every 3 to 5 weeks using nail clippers to prevent overgrowth, splitting, and cracking. Brush the Aussiedoodles teeth at least twice a week if not daily to remove excess tartar using a tasty canine toothpaste and toothbrush. Weekly ear cleaning is a must to remove excess wax, dirt, or debris. Use an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls. While cleaning the ears, check out for redness, odor, or dark discharge that are signs of a dog that is suffering from an ear infection.

Aussiedoodle Haircuts | Grooming Styles

For the easy maintenance of the coat, Aussiedoodle owners trim the coats of their pets every 4 to 6 weeks to reduce the number of brushings per week. The type of grooming style depends on the coat type, lifestyle, and the climate that the pet lives in. Some of the haircuts suitable for Aussiedoodles include:

Teddy Bear Cut – Groomers and owners achieve a teddy bear look by trimming the fur on the face in a circular manner. The hair on the body is trimmed to a length of about 2 inches.

Puppy Cut – For this haircut, the fur on the body is clipped to an inch while leaving a little more on the tail and face.

Kennel cut – This grooming style is preferred for summer months. This is because the hair on the body is clipped to half an inch.

Poodle Cut – To achieve this grooming cut, the hair is clipped close to the body to about have an inch. However, the fur on the head, ankles, and tail is left a little longer to give it a poofy look.

Aussiedoodle Shedding | Do Aussiedoodles Shed

The level of shedding in Aussiedoodles depends on their coat type and generation. Straight and Flat coated Aussiedoodles tend to shed a bit more but not as much as the Australian Shepherd parent. Wavy and Curly coated Aussiedoodles shed at low levels. The loose hair is noticeable while brushing the coat. An F1B Aussiedoodle has 75% Poodle genes and 25% Australian Shepherd genes. Therefore, it is likely to shed less as compared to an F1 Aussiedoodle that has 50% Poodle genes and 50% Australian Shepherd genes. F1BB Aussiedoodles are likely to shed less as compared to F1B Aussiedoodles. This is because F1BB have 87.5% Poodle genes and 12.5% Australian Shepherd genes.

Aussiedoodle Coat Types | Coat | Hair

An Aussiedoodle may have either of the four coat types: straight, flat, wavy, or curly. The curly coat is inherited from the Poodle while the straight or wavy coat is inherited from the Aussiedoodle. Although, a combination of curly and straight coat will also make a wavy coat. The flat coat is similar to the straight coat but is more relaxed and less likely to get matted.

Are Aussiedoodle Hypoallergenic | Aussiedoodle Hypoallergenic

F1B and F1BB Aussiedoodles have more Poodle genes hence they inherit the curly and low shedding coat. Therefore, they are considered allergy friendly. Flat and Straight coated Aussiedoodles are likely to shed more as compared to curly coated Aussiedoodles. However, there is no 100% hypoallergenic pure bred or crossbred. Parents who suffer from dog allergies are urged to spend lots of time with a particular Aussidoodle before adopting to determine whether the pet aggravates their allergies.

How To Train An Aussiedoodle | Aussiedoodle Training | Training Tips

Aussiedoodles are intelligent, energetic, fast learners, and eager to please which makes them highly trainable. A Crossbreed inherits traits from one or both parents. Therefore, some Aussiedoodles may be aloof to strangers, something they get from the Australian Shepherd parent. For this reason, they will need exposure to a wide variety of people. Socialization training is key in raising a well-adjusted, friendly, and well-mannered Aussiedoodle.

This training starts from the age of 3 weeks while the puppy is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after the pup has already settled in its new home. Usually, pet parents take their puppies home from the age of 8 weeks. Therefore, it is crucial to get an Aussiedoodle pup from a responsible breeder who will prove he or she has started socializing the puppies. To socialize an Aussiedoodle, expose it to a wide variety of people, animals, surfaces, smell, situations, experiences, sight, and sounds such as baby crying sounds, sirens, vacuum cleaners, washing machine, and whistles.

Enrolling an Aussiedoodle in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. Puppy classes allows dogs to interact in a controlled environment. These classes also allow pet parents to not only identify and correct bad habits but also have have access to training information and assistance. Aussiedoodles thrive on positive reinforcements methods such as the use of treats petting, playtime, toys, and verbal praise. Avoid use of harsh correction methods such as choking, kicking, yelling, or use of choke or prong collars.

Harsh corrections methods are counterproductive. They make the Aussiedoodles to develop fear aggression. Keep the training sessions short, challenging, and fun for a period of 5 to 10 minutes distributed throughout the day to avoid boredom and distraction. Start teaching an Aussiedoodle basic command words immediately the dog comes home from the age of 8 to 10 weeks.

Some of the basic command words that this hybrid can be taught include come, heel, stay, down, leave it, etc. one at a time until the pet is well acquainted before proceeding to the next command word. Pet parents are cautioned against issuing command word while too excited or frustrated since the command does not sound the same for the pet. Effectively housebreak an Aussiedoodle by creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training. While housebreaking, patience and consistence is key.

How To Potty Train An Aussiedoodle | Potty Training

An Aussiedoodle inherits the keen intelligence from the Poodle and Australian Shepherd parent. Therefore, it is easy to housebreak this breed. Before bringing an Aussiedoodle home chose a designated area where it will be doing its business. The general thumb of rule while potty training is understanding that the bowel and bladder muscles of a puppy strengthens as the puppy matures. An 8-week-old Aussiedoodle will be able to hold for a period of 2 hours before eliminating while a 12-week-old Aussiedoodle will be able to hold for a period of 3 hours.

This is especially true for Standard and Miniature Aussieddoodles. However, toy Aussiedoodles are tiny hence have small bladder size. Therefore, they will be able to hold for a period of 1 hour at the age of 8 weeks and 2 hours at the age of 12-weeks. Prior to bringing a pooch home, decide whether you want it to eliminate inside or outside especially for apartment dwellers who have a hard time accessing a street or yard. Indoor potty training utilizes puppy pads and litter boxes that are available for retail from the pet stores. An Aussiedoodle owner should not start indoor potty training if later on he or she will want the pet to eliminate outside and vice versa. This will confuse the dog hence having a relapse in house breaking.

During potty training, a crate has proven to be an indispensable tool. This device allows the parent to monitor an Aussiedoodle for signs that it wants to eliminate such as whining, sniffing, circling, squatting, restlessness, and trying to lift a leg against the crate wall. The crate should be able to hold a mature tiny, miniature, or a standard Aussiedoodle depending on the size of your pet. If the crate is too big, use a divider to adjust the crate size gradually as the pup matures. This will ensure the crate is not too big for the puppy to eliminate in one corner and sleep in the other corner. However, dogs will naturally avoid soiling where they sleep.

If an owner is not comfortable to use a crate, he or she may use the umbilical cord method. This is where the leash end is attached to the pocket or belt of the owner. This method enables the parent to monitor the dog within a 6-foot range. Before an Aussiedoodle is fully housebroken, it should not be allowed to roam freely in the house. For positive outcomes while potty training, take an Aussiedoodle to the delegated toilet area immediately it wakes up, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, every 1 to 2 hours or 2 to 3 hours depending on the size of your Aussiedoodle, following an exciting activity such as playtime and car ride, after naptime, and before bedtime.

In outdoor potty training, the elimination area should be far from the Patio deck or BBQ spot. Once you take your pooch to the delegated spot, utter the command word “toilet” or “potty” to give the dog the cue to eliminate. Avoid interchangeably using the two command words even if they mean the same since it will be confusing for your Aussiedoodle. Wait in the toilet area for a period of 15 minutes to allow the pet to relax the bowel and bladder muscles for a pee or poo. If the dog fails to eliminate, take it back to the house and return it to the delegated area after a period of 15 to 30 minutes.

Before an Aussiedoodle is fully housebroken, it may experience accidents in the house. If you get your pet in the act, clap your hands to distract it and utter a firm No. Immediately scoop the puppy to the delegated area. If the pet eliminates there, give it a treat so that it will associate the area with elimination. Remember to clean the mess using an iodine solution or an enzymatic detergent to get rid of the odor.

If the odor is retained, an Aussiedoodle will likely eliminate in the same spot encouraging future accidents. Prior to the age of 16 weeks, owners should set an alarm to take the pet to the delegated area at least once during the night. From the age of 8 months, the potty breaks will be after every 6 to 8 hours since the bladder and bowel muscles have strengthened.

Aussiedoodle Crate Training

A crate provides a sense of security for canines contrary to the belief that it is a device for caging animals. It is a safe haven where an Aussiedoodle can retreat to. This tool is also instrumental while potty training. It allows the Aussiedoodle owner to monitor the dog for signs that it wants to eliminate. A crate also helps to keep an Aussiedoodle safe while in the house if the owner is not closely watching.

This device also assist the dog to have confidence in staying alone for a few hours reducing the severity of separation anxiety. A crate makes it easier for parents to transport their Aussiedoodles by car or air for brief distances or long vacations. It should be positioned in a room that has ongoing family activities so that the pet will not feel isolated. While in the house, a pet owner should always leave the crate door open if the pet is fully housebroken. This will help the Aussiedoodle to understand that spending time in a crate is not a forced experience.

Make the crate appealing and comfortable by lining with a blanket or a bed linen. Throw a favorite treat or toy while the dog is watching. This will entice the dog to get into the crate. Once an Aussiedoodle gets in the crate, close the door. Stay there for a few minutes. There is a possibility the Aussiedoodle will start whining to be left off the crate. However, do not open the crate door until the pup stops whining. This will prevent the pet from associating whining as a means of getting it from the crate. Repeat this process multiple times a day while increasing the duration.

Avoid crating an Aussiedoodle for more than 4 hours at a time. Owners should not use a crate as a form of punishment. Position a crate in a room that does not get too warm or too cold so that the pet can relax. Before letting an Aussiedoodle into the crate, remove a harness or collar for safety purposes. An Aussiedoodle can also sleep in the crate overnight. Cover the sides of a crate with a towel or a pair of sheets to block light only leaving the front side open. Put the crate in your room so that the pup will not feel isolated.

Aussiedoodle Temperament | Traits | Personality

Intelligent.
Eager to please.
Highly trainable.
Energetic.
Loving.
Loyal.
Playful.
Friendly.
Outgoing.
Devoted.
Affectionate.
Sociable.
Gentle.

Aussiedoodle Exercise

Aussiedoodles are energetic dogs that can handle a lot of strenuous activity than a lot of dogs. Some of the exercise that an Aussiedoodle can participate in include daily walks, routine playtime, and getting stimulating toys to keep them mentally exercised. Aussiedoodles also make great running, jogging, and hiking partners.

Do Aussiedoodles Bark A Lot | Aussiedoodle Barking

This is not a vocal breed. Aussiedoodles only bark when necessary. However, if not exercised regularly they will develop a habit of barking excessively to release the pent up energy.

Aussiedoodle Height

There are three Aussiedoodle size varieties that have different height range as discussed below:

Standard Aussiedodles have a height of 19 to 24 inches ( approx. 48 to 61 cm ).

Miniature Aussiedoodles have a height of 12 to 19 inches ( approx. 30 to 48 cm ).

A toy Aussiedoodle has a height of 10 to 12 inches ( approx. 25 to 30 cm ).

Aussiedoodle Weight

Toy Aussiedoodles have a weight of 6 to 12 pounds ( approx. 2.7 to 5.4 kg ).

A Miniature Aussiedoodles has a weight of 15 to 35 pounds ( approx. 7 to 16 kg ).

Standard Aussies have a weight of 40 to 70 pounds ( approx. 18 to 32 kg ).

Aussiedoodle Size

Depending on the size of the Poodle parent used, an Aussiedoodle may be standard, miniature, or toy-sized categorized according to height and weight as listed below:

A Standard Aussiedoodle has a height of 19 to 24 inches ( approx. 48 to 61 cm ) and a weight of 40 to 70 pounds ( approx. 18 to 32 kg ).

Miniature-sized Aussiedoodles have a height of 12 to 19 inches ( approx. 30 to 48 cm ) and a weight of 15 to 35 pounds ( approx. 7 to 16 kg ).

A toy Aussiedoodle has a height of 10 to 12 inches ( approx. 25 to 30 cm ) and a weight of 6 to 12 pounds ( approx. 2.7 to 5.4 kg ).

Aussiedoodle Aggression

A well-socialized Aussiedoodle is neither fearful or aggressive. However, if poorly trained, socialized, and bred, Aussiedoodles may manifest fear aggression.

Aussiedoodle Biting

Puppy biting and nipping is common while Aussiedoodles are playing, exploring their environment, or when teething due to discomfort. However, some Aussiedoodles may be prone to nipping if they inherit the herding instinct from the Australian Shepherd. Puppy biting may seem adorable but not for long after the dog develops serious biting issues. Owners are urged to curb the behavior before it develops into a habit through bite inhibition training and redirection.

Aussiedoodle Behavior Problems | Separation Anxiety

An Aussiedoodle is a sociable, playful, energetic, and athletic dog that suffers from separation anxiety if left alone for long hours. It is also an athletic breed that requires daily exercise. Separation anxiety and irregular exercise can result to behavior problems such as excessive barking, chewing, and wall scratching.

Aussiedoodle Health Issues

An Aussiedoodle is a crossbreed that benefits from hybrid vigour that lowers the chances of vulnerability to disease and reduce the risk of inbreeding depression. Although Aussiedoodles are healthy and robust dogs, they are affected by various health issues including allergies, hip dysplasia, Ivermectin sensitivity, and eye disorders like cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy.

Aussiedoodle Names

An Aussiedoodle parent may decide to find a name for the doodle pup before it comes home from the breeder or a few days after the pup joins them home so that they may understand the personality of a particular dog. Aussiedoodle parents may get name inspirations from the coat color, personality, celebrity Aussiedoodles, nature, music, movies, and historical figures.

Regardless of where the owner get the inspiration, he or she should ensure the name chosen freely rolls off his or her tongue and won’t make him or her embarrassed when uttered out loud in the public places. Aussiedoodles and other breeds understand better a name that has vowels.

Avoid giving your pet a name that rhymes with the command words to avoid confusion. If a pet parent has chosen a long name, he or she should find a cute nickname for the pet. In a home that an Aussiedoodle shares a name with any family member or guests who frequent the household members, it may result to confusion.

Female Aussiedoodle Names

Izzie.
Bianca.
Sadie.
Coco.
Willow.
Emma.
Nova.
Pearl.
Winnie.
Gabby.
Penelope.
Tatiana.
Maya, etc.

Aussiedoodle Litter Size

After conception, an Aussiedoodle dam has a gestation period of approximately 63 days before whelping an average litter size of 3 to 7 puppies.

Aussiedoodle Names Male

Oakley.
Cooper.
Max.
Bo.
Axel.
Henry.
Tucker.
Oliver.
Rudy.
Gus.
Finn.
Oscar.
Leo.
Duke, etc.

Aussiedoodle Food

The amount of food that an Aussiedoodle feeds on depends on its age, activity level, metabolism, size, and body build. Puppies tend to eat small portions of food 3 or 4 times a day due to high metabolism rates from when they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Aussiedoodles feed on a total two meals a day.

Aussiedoodles may feed on dry food, wet food, home made, or a raw diet depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. Regardless of the food type, parents should ensure that the dog feeds on a balanced diet to maintain a good health eventually allowing it to develop cognitively and physically. If an Aussiedoodle parent decides to feed the pet with the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.

The commercial dog food should neither contain preservatives, chemicals, additives, meat by-products, generic meat products, nor fillers. The same goes to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for toy-sized, small, and medium to large-sized puppies, adults, and senior depending on the age and size variety of your Aussiedoodle. Check the physique of your pet to tell whether it is overweight or underweight.

If you can see the ribs, chances are the dog is underweight. However, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, an Aussiedoodle has an ideal weight. If the ribs can’t be felt, the dog is overweight and should be exercised. Pet owners who want to switch to another quality food should gradually do this over a period of four weeks by mixing both new food and old food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Aussiedoodle is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.

Apart from Aussiedoodles, other designer dogs include:

Aussiedoodles Colors

An Aussiedoodle may have a variety of colors that either have a tricolor or merle pattern. Common colors in this hybrid include blue, cream, fawn, tan, white, red, brown, black, or liver.

Aussiedoodle Types

Depending on the size of the Poodle parent crossed with an Australian Shepherd, an Aussiedoodle may be Toy-sized, miniature, or Standard. The three size varieties may be bred into several generations. A cross between an Aussie Shepherd with a Poodle produces first generation Aussiedoodles referred to as F1 Aussiedoodles. If the F1 offspring are crossed, they produce F2 Aussiedoodles. The F2 crossing to another F2 Aussiedoodle results to F3 generation. However, if an F1 Aussiedoodle is backcrossed to either parent, the offspring produced is known as F1B Aussiedoodles. If the F1B Aussiedoodle is backcrossed to either parent, it results to F1BB Aussiedoodles.

Aussiedoodle Allergies

Although many Aussiedoodles are considered allergy friendly, they have a higher propensity for allergies themselves. Some of the allergies that affect Aussiedoodles include:

Contact allergies – This allergy causes inflammation once the skin of an Aussiedoodle comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that affect Aussiedoodles include plastics, lawn chemicals, latex, grooming products, bed linens, carpet cleaning detergents, and medication. Commonly affected body parts include the feet, around the muzzle, and paws.

Food allergies – Although rare, an Aussiedoodle may be affected by a true food allergy that causes an immune response. Apart from food allergies, this hybrid may also be affected by food intolerance or sensitivities.

Environmental allergies – Some of the environmental allergies that affect Aussiedoodles include fleas, mites, pollen, grass, ragweed, trees, dust and dust mites, and house molds. Symptoms of environmental allergies that Aussiedoodles manifest include sneezing, nasal discharge, congestion, and itchiness on various body parts including paws, feet, eyes, ears, muzzle, groin, underarms, belly sides, and between the toes.

Skin Allergies – An Aussiedoodle may suffer from skin allergies due to food, contact, and environmental allergies that manifest on the skin. One of the environmental allergens, flea, cause flea allergy dermatitis. Fleas normally bites the back legs and underneath the tail. This causes excessive scratching and biting until the skin around the bite area is raw. If the sores are left unattended, they may result to fungal and bacterial infection.

Aussiedoodle Food Allergies

An Aussiedoodle may be affected by food allergies, although in rare cases. A true food allergy results to an immune response that is normally accompanied by skin issues symptoms and gastrointestinal stress. Some of the skin issues that Aussiedoodles manifest due to food allergies include hives, facial swelling, itchiness, sores, pruritus, dermatitis, and crusting lesions. On the other hand gastrointestinal symptoms include acute diarrhea and vomiting, weight loss, lethargy, and bloating.

Aussiedoodles parents may confuse food sensitivities with food allergies since they both cause vomiting and diarrhea. However, food sensitivity in dogs does not cause an immune response. Instead, it occurs as a gradual response to an offending ingredient in the diet of the pet. Some of the ingredients that cause food intolerance in Aussiedoodles include fillers, corn, soy, wheat, chemicals, preservatives, additives, lamb, chicken, beef, pork, turkey, fish, milk, eggs, etc.

Signs of food intolerance in Aussiedoodles include vomiting, diarrhea, poor skin and coat, foot infections, ear infections, and itchiness. Parents are urged to work closely with the vet to manage the symptoms and find the offending ingredient in the diet of the pooch through elimination methods. However, some parents may decide to totally switch to a fresh and raw diet.

Aussiedoodles Eyes

An Aussiedoodle has round shaped eyes that may either be dark brown, light amber, or soft green.

Aussiedoodle Ears

An Aussiedoodle has hairy floppy ears.

Aussiedoodle Tail

An Aussiedoodle may have a long tail, docked, or a natural bobtail.

Do F1b Aussiedoodles Shed

Yes. An F1B is 75% Poodle and 25% Australian Shepherd. It sheds at low levels all-year round as compared to an F1 Aussiedoodle.

Are Aussiedoodles Good Dogs

Yes. Aussiedoodles are loyal, affectionate, outgoing, sociable, intelligent, energetic, and loving pets which makes then good dogs.

Are Aussiedoodles Smart

Yes. Aussiedoodles get their keen intelligence from their Poodle and Australian Shepherd parents.

Are Aussiedoodles Protective

No. Aussiedoodles are neither aggressive, protective, nor fearful.

Are Aussiedoodles Easy To Train

Yes. Aussiedoodles are smart and eager to please which makes them highly trainable.

Aussiedoodles Quick Facts

They are hybrid dogs created by crossing an Australian Shepherd with a Poodle.
Depending on the size of the Poodle Parent, Aussiedoodles may be toy, miniature, or standard.
Aussiedoodles are energetic, playful, outgoing, and playful dogs that make great pets for active families.