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Aussiedoodle vs Australian Shepherd: The Differences (With Pictures)

Written by: Misty Layne

Last Updated on March 24, 2024 by Dogster Team

Aussiedoodle vs Australian Shepherd: The Differences (With Pictures)

Deciding what dog breed to choose when you’re looking for a new pet is a challenge; after all, there are a plethora of different breeds you can pick from! But if you’re looking for a working dog that also makes a great family pet, you should consider the Aussiedoodle or the Australian Shepherd. Both are quite similar, and both make excellent pets for the right person or family.

Each of these dog breeds is intelligent, protective, and loyal, as well as incredibly energetic. You’ll need to ensure you keep these pups busy if you adopt one, but you’ll have loads of fun with either breed. The two breeds have a few minute differences, though, mostly in looks.

If you’re ready to decide between getting an Aussiedoodle or an Australian Shepherd as the newest member of your family, keep reading to find out more about these dogs!

divider-paw

Visual Differences

Aussiedoodle vs Australian Shepherd - Visual Differences
Image Credit: Left – Steve Bruckmann, Shutterstock | Right – Vera Zinkova, Shutterstock

At a Glance

Aussiedoodle
  • Average height (adult): 14–23 inches
  • Average weight (adult): 25–70 pounds
  • Lifespan: 10–12 years
  • Exercise: 1+ hours a day
  • Grooming needs: Moderate
  • Family-friendly: Active families, families with older children
  • Other pet-friendly: Yes
  • Trainability: Intelligent, eager to please, energetic
Australian Shepherd
  • Average height (adult): 18–23 inches
  • Average weight (adult): 35–70 pounds
  • Lifespan: 13–15 years
  • Exercise: 1+ hours a day
  • Grooming needs: Moderate
  • Family-friendly: Families with older children, active families
  • Other pet-friendly: Yes
  • Trainability: Intelligent, loyal, loves learning new things

divider-pawAussiedoodle Overview

Aussiedoodle at the beach
Image Credit: Steve Bruckmann, Shutterstock

The Aussiedoodle is a designer dog of mixed breed—specifically the Poodle and the Australian Shepherd—and came about in North America in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The breed is medium-sized and known for being adorable, cuddly, and highly intelligent (due to their Poodle heritage). Because the breed is designer and relatively new, it is not recognized by the AKC.

The Aussiedoodle has a few names, so you might have heard the breed referred to as Aussiepoos or Aussiepoodles.

Personality / Character

As a hybrid designer breed, the Aussiedoodle gets traits from both of its parents. This makes the breed incredibly intelligent, affectionate, and loyal. Aussiedoodles love interacting with people, especially their people, and need lots of attention. They can definitely get a bit clingy! But if you’re looking for a highly loving pup that will be your best friend, the Aussiedoodle could be for you.

Aussiedoodles are also a bit of a clown, with many owners describing the breed as goofy and fun; they also have tons of energy. This combination means you and your furry pal will have many an adventure as you take long walks, go hiking, or play in the backyard. There will be endless fun with this pup!

Miniature Aussiedoodle
Image Credit: ariesa66, Pixabay

Training

When it comes to training your Aussiedoodle, you shouldn’t have any problems. Because the breed is so smart and eager to please, they pick up new things quickly. Just remember to use positive reinforcement, such as treats, rather than negative reinforcement, such as yelling. Your Aussiedoodle will respond much better to positive reinforcement. Also, remember to keep any training sessions short and sweet so you don’t overwhelm your puppy.

If you think you might be unable to train your Aussiedoodle correctly, find a reputable trainer to help you with the job. They can teach your dog everything it needs to know.

Health & Care

Aussiedoodles are a generally hardy breed, but like all animals, they will have some diseases they are a bit more prone to getting. Some of these come from their Poodle side, while others come from their Australian Shepherd side. Below are a few that might occur in the breed.

  • Cushing’s disease
  • Cataracts
  • Pancreatitis
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Sebaceous adenitis
  • Drug sensitivity

Suitable For

Aussiedoodles can inherit the Australian Shepherd’s herding instinct, which is strong. So strong that the dog might try to herd small children; while not inherently dangerous, if the children run away from the herding, it could cause the dog to snap at them or growl to try to get them back in line. That’s why the Aussiedoodle isn’t recommended for families with small children. Those with older children should be more than fine as Aussiedoodles will love to play with the kids. This breed is also excellent for those with active lifestyles, as the dogs will need help getting rid of all that excess energy.

divider-pawAustralian Shepherd Overview

a black and white australian shepherd dog standing on snow
Image Credit By: Anne Richard, Shutterstock

The Australian Shepherd has a fascinating history that includes Spain, Australia, and rodeos. Purely an American-born breed, despite the history involving other countries, this working dog was originally bred to herd sheep, and those herding instincts remain to this day. That means they’ll herd anything from tiny children to smaller pets.

The breed rose to popularity in the 1950s and 1960s when they worked at rodeos, helping herd bulls and performing tricks. Some people wanted to help promote the breed after that, so the Australian Shepherd Club of America was formed in 1957. The breed wasn’t recognized by the AKC until 1991, though.

Personality / Character

This breed is also brilliant and eager to please its people. They can also be territorial and protective over their families and home. Australian Shepherds are very loving, though, and have a tendency to get along with nearly everyone they meet.

Australian Shepherds are also exceptionally high energy, so you’ll need to devote plenty of time to exercise and play. Whether you’re tossing a frisbee in the backyard or hiking a mountain, they’ll be thrilled to come along. Another excellent way to keep these dogs busy and happy is by teaching them to do chores around the home!

black and white australian shepherd lying on grass
Image Credit: PxHere

Training

Training an Australian Shepherd will be much like training an Aussiedoodle (after all, part of the Aussiedoodle’s parentage is the Australian Shepherd). Australian Shepherds are wickedly intelligent and loyal and love doing what their people want. This makes them easy to train.

As with the Aussiedoodle, you’ll want to choose positive reinforcement over negative reinforcement since the breed will respond better. You’ll also want to stick to short training sessions so as not to overwhelm your pup with learning. And if you aren’t positive you can get the job done, find a reputable trainer to help you!

Health & Care

Again, like the Aussiedoodle, the Australian Shepherd is a healthy breed of dog. But there are a few problems they are more likely to have to deal with. These include:

  • Epilepsy
  • Lymphoma
  • Allergies
  • Thyroiditis
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Colobamas
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity

Suitable For

The Australian Shepherd is suitable for the same types of homes as the Aussiedoodle. Because of the breed’s herding instincts, homes with little children aren’t advised as the dogs might try to herd them. But homes with older children will enjoy having a new playmate around. And singles or families that are active and always out having new adventures will love having an Australian Shepherd along for the ride.

This dog is definitely one that needs a family that will keep it active and mentally stimulated so it doesn’t become bored and destructive.

divider-pawWhich Breed Is Right for You?

As you can see, the Aussiedoodle and the Australian Shepherd are pretty similar since the Aussiedoodle has Australian Shepherd in its heritage. The most significant difference in the breeds will be in how they look and, perhaps, a bit in how they act (since the Aussiedoodle also has Poodle parentage). Overall, though, you’ll find these breeds to be very much alike.

That means if you’re looking for an intelligent, active, high-energy, loving pup, either of these dog breeds will be an amazing choice. Just remember you will need to spend lots of time with these breeds being active. Both breeds will also be quite cuddly and interested in being attached at the hip with you.

So, the choice really lies in personal preference—which dog breed do you like the look of better? Regardless of which dog you choose, you’ll have a new best pal for life!

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Featured Image Credit: Top – Holly Anne Cromer, Shutterstock | Bottom – xkunclova, Shutterstock

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