Is the Mini Aussiedoodle the right breed for you? Keep reading to find out!
An Mini Aussiedoodle is a cross between the Australian Shepherd and the Toy or Miniature Poodle.
Also known as the Miniature or Toy Aussiedoodle.
Contrary to popular belief, Mini Aussiedoodles do shed. The Australian Shepherd has a long double coat that sheds year round and requires regular grooming, and although Poodles are technically non-shedding, they require daily grooming and regular clipping to avoid matts in their coat. The Mini Aussiedoodle is a high maintenance breed in regard to coat care.
The ultimate size of the Aussiedoodle can vary quite a lot. The Australian Shepherd is a medium sized reaching around 11 to 13 inches tall and 20-25kg at maturity, however the smaller types of Poodles comes in two sizes – Toy and Miniature so this will have some bearing on the size the adult Mini Aussiedoodle will reach.
Being a crossbreed, the size a Aussiedoodle will reach as an adult is less predicable than a purebred dog. If you want a particular size of dog, make sure to enquire about the size of the Poodle parent.
A Toy Poodle reaches around 8-10 inches in height and weigh around 5kg. A Miniature Poodle usually matures between 11-15 inches in height and weighs 6-9kg.
The Mini or Toy Aussiedoodle comes in a variety of different colors, which can vary significantly even within the same litter. The most common Aussiedoodle colors are chocolate, tri-colour, black & white and merle.
The Aussiedoodle temperament ideally combines the best traits from the Australian Shepherd and the Poodle to create a smart, athletic, high-spirited and eager to please dog that is good with children.
The Australian Shepherd, the cowboy’s herding dog of choice, is a medium-sized worker with a keen, penetrating gaze in the eye. Aussie coats offer different looks, including merle (a mottled pattern with contrasting shades of blue or red). In all ways, they’re the picture of rugged and agile movers of stock.
Aussies exhibit an irresistible impulse to herd, anything: birds, dogs, kids. This strong work drive can make Aussies too much dog for a sedentary pet owner.
Aussies are remarkably intelligent, quite capable of hoodwinking an unsuspecting novice owner. In short, this isn’t the pet for everyone. But if you’re looking for a brainy, tireless, and trainable partner for work or sport, your search might end here.
The combination of Australian Shepherd x Poodle mix can create a very smart, trainable and family friendly companion but this is a high energy dog not likely to be suitable for a first time dog owner.
The herding drive in Australian Shepherds, although harmless and well-intentioned, could frighten timid or less experienced children.
However, be sure to meet the parents and check their temperaments as you may find your puppy inherits more of the negative traits of this cross.
If you are looking for a child-friendly dog it is best to look for a puppy with a Standard Poodle parent, over the smaller variations, as these are typically more tolerant and better with children.
When purchasing a hybrid dog there is less predicability than with a purebred, so keep this in mind if you are looking for dog with certain personality traits.
The Mini Aussiedoodle is usually a long, wavy or curly coated dog. They require a high amount of grooming including brushing daily to prevent matting of their coat, and clipping every 6-8 weeks throughout their life. You can read more about the best grooming tools here.
Typically, they will shed and they aren’t guaranteed to be hypoallergenic. Most people who are allergic to dogs are actually allergic to their saliva, not the hair, so keep this in mind if you are looking for a dog that won’t trigger your allergies.
If the Poodle parent is a Standard Poodle the puppy is likely to be very good with children.
A Miniature or Toy Poodle is less likely to produce a child-friendly dog as they are typically less tolerant of children.
The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent, active dog with an even disposition. He is typically good natured but may be too high energy for many families.
- Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
- Skin Conditions
- Von Willebrand Disease
- Luxating Patella
- Cataracts
- Low Thyroid
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Addison’s Disease
- Epilepsy
Hybrid vigour in crossbred dogs is a myth that has been disproven. Don’t purchase a crossbred dog with the assumption it will be healthier. The most important thing is purchasing a puppy from an ethical breeder who does full health testing.
Poodles are known as a highly intelligent, energetic, and sociable breed, ranking only behind Border Collies for smarts. A typical poodle will be reserved and a little aloof with strangers, and excel in obedience and dog sports. The Standard Poodle is thought to have the most child-friendly nature of all the sizes. Miniature and Toy varieties tend to have less patience with young children and might find certain children’s antics too much to handle.
Aussies are remarkably intelligent and require a lot of physical and mental stimulation to keep them happy. A great partner for agility or obedience!
Make sure you meet the parents, and ideally some other puppies from the breeder so you can have a better idea of the likely nature of your puppy.
Generally, yes. Both Poodles and Australian Shepherds are typically good with other dogs.
Owing to the active nature of both the Poodle and Australian Shepherd the Mini Aussie will require a high amount of exercise, especially as a puppy. Typically these are not dogs suitable for apartment living, unless you are able to commit to a significant amount of regular exercise.
Typically between $2000 – $5000. Note that the cost of a puppy doesn’t reflect the quality of it’s breeding or care. Make sure you find an ethical breeder before you purchase a puppy.
Make sure the parents of the puppy have had all the following testing completed and ask the breeder for copies of the results.
A DNA test or vet check is not sufficient health testing.
Australian Shepherd
• Hip Evaluation
• Elbow Evaluation
• Ophthalmologist Evaluationt
Poodle – Miniature
• Hip Evaluation
• Ophthalmologist Evaluation
• PRA Optigen DNA Test
• Patella Evaluation
Poodle – Standard
• Hip Evaluation
• Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Poodle – Toy
• Ophthalmologist Evaluation
• PRA Optigen DNA Test
• Patella Evaluation
Read this article on how to Find an Ethical Puppy Breeder to learn more about finding a Aussiedoodle breeder.
There is currently an investigation into the potential risks of grain-free or ‘holistic’ foods causing dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. Until the underlying cause of the issue is confirmed we recommend avoiding grain-free diets.
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Key Benefits:
- Designed for Poodles from 8 weeks to 10 months old
- Enriched with Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids to support continuous hair growth
- Helps support digestive health and helps to maintain a balanced intestinal flora
- Prebiotics and an exclusive complex of antioxidants help a puppy’s natural defenses
- Kibble design that is easy to pick up and encourages chewing
This Royal Canin formula is designed exclusively for Poodle-coated breeds over 10 months. The Poodle is known for its long lifespan and can benefit from nutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin to support eye health. That’s why it’s important to feed a diet that is tailor-made for their specific needs.
Key Benefits:
- Designed for dogs over 10 months
- Enriched with Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- The adapted protein content helps support continuous hair growth
- A selection of nutrients to maintain health and vitality
- Kibble designed to make it easier to pick up and to encourage chewing
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There are 2 comments
That’s good to know that depending on the type of poodle parent, aussiedoodles may or may not be good with kids. I didn’t realize that toy poodles are less tolerant of kids. My brother has been looking for a hypoallergenic dog that they can have around their kids who are allergic. He’ll have to see if an aussiedoodle puppy would be the right fit!
Hi Mindy! Yes, I think it comes as a surprise to many people that poodles aren’t always the best choice for young children. Depending on what your brother is looking for, there are many purebred dogs that are suitable for hypoallergenic households, and their coat type is a lot more predictable than “oodles”. This is just a short list, but all of these breeds don’t shed or shed very little – Tibetan Terrier, Maltese, Griffon, Portuguese Water Dog, West Highland White Terrier, Bichon Frise, Irish Terrier, Australian Terrier, Airedale Terrier, Italian Greyhound, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, Border Terrier, Schnuzer, Whippet, Yorkshire Terrier, Havanese. I hope that helps 😀
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