Aussiedoodle Breed Guide: Size, Temperament, Cost & Care

Is an Aussiedoodle right for you?

An Aussiedoodle suits active people who enjoy training and can give a lot of exercise and mental stimulation every day. It's a poor fit for busy households wanting a laid-back dog, people out all day, or homes with toddlers if you're not ready to manage herding behavior.

A good fit if you:

• Hike, run or want a dog-sports partner (agility, flyball, nosework)
• Enjoy training and like a dog that learns fast
• Work from home or have a dog walker or daycare
• Have a secure yard or regular access to off-leash space

Probably not for you if you:

• Want a calm couch companion
• Have very young children and limited time to supervise
• Live in a small apartment and can't commit to long daily outings
• Need a guaranteed allergy-friendly dog

Weighing up a calmer doodle? Our Aussiedoodle vs Bernedoodle comparison and the breed finder can help.

Aussiedoodle temperament & personality

Aussiedoodles are typically intelligent, loyal, playful and intense. Both parent breeds are among the brightest dogs, and the Australian Shepherd adds a strong working drive.

That drive shapes daily life. Many Aussiedoodles:

• Herd: circling, nipping at heels or bumping kids and other pets
• Watch everything: they notice and may bark at every noise or passer-by
• Get bored fast: an under-stimulated Aussiedoodle invents its own jobs, often destructive ones
• Bond closely: many attach to one or two people and can be reserved with strangers

They're often affectionate and fun with older kids who'll play and train with them. With toddlers, herding nips need management. Separation anxiety is common in velcro-type herding dogs, so practice alone time early. Our separation anxiety guide lays out a gradual plan that works for any breed.

With other dogs, most Aussiedoodles are social and playful, though some try to herd them. Cats and small pets may need careful introductions because chasing moving things is part of the herding package. Well-exercised Aussiedoodles are usually far easier to live with than bored ones.

Aussiedoodle sizes & growth

Aussiedoodle size depends on the parents. A standard Australian Shepherd crossed with a Standard Poodle gives a standard Aussiedoodle, while Miniature Poodles or Miniature American Shepherds give minis. Typical ranges:

• Toy: roughly 10–15 lb, 10–12 inches (less common)
• Mini: about 15–35 lb, 12–18 inches at the shoulder
• Standard: about 40–70 lb, 18–23 inches

Some breeders also label dogs of about 30–45 lb as "medium." Sizes aren't standardized, so ask what the parents and earlier litters weigh.

Minis usually reach adult height by about 10–12 months. Standards grow until roughly 12–15 months and may fill out a little more by 18 months. For a rough estimate of your puppy's adult weight, use our puppy weight calculator.

Aussiedoodle generations explained

Generation tells you how much Poodle is in the mix, which mostly changes the coat and how much it sheds:

• F1: Australian Shepherd × Poodle, about 50/50. Usually a wavy, furnished coat. Shedding varies from light to moderate.
• F1B: F1 × Poodle, about 75% Poodle. Curlier, lower-shedding coats are more likely.
• F2: F1 × F1. Unpredictable, and some puppies inherit a flatter, Aussie-like shedding coat.
• Multigen: Aussiedoodle × Aussiedoodle over several generations, selected for consistent size and coat.

The Australian Shepherd has a dense double coat and sheds heavily, so an F1 Aussiedoodle can shed more than many owners expect. Coat-gene DNA tests (furnishings, curl and shedding) are a better guide than the generation label. Our F1B explainer covers the same genetics in plain English.

Generation also matters for color. Merle comes from the Aussie side, and breeding two merles together can produce "double merle" puppies with a high risk of deafness and blindness. A responsible breeder never pairs merle with merle.

Coat, shedding & grooming

Aussiedoodles are low-shedding at best, and their coats need regular brushing and professional grooming. Coats range from loose waves to tight curls, and the curlier they are, the faster they mat.

No Aussiedoodle is hypoallergenic. Allergens come from dander and saliva, not just hair. A lower-shedding coat may help some people with mild allergies, but meet the dog before committing. Our hypoallergenic myths guide explains why.

A realistic routine:

• Brushing: 3–4 times a week, daily for curly coats, down to the skin with a slicker brush and comb
• Professional groom: every 6–8 weeks
• Cost: roughly $70–$120 for a mini and $90–$150 for a standard in most US areas
• Ears: weekly checks, since floppy, hairy ears hold moisture

Active dogs pick up burrs, mud and tangles on hikes, so a quick brush-out after outings saves work later.

Many owners of active Aussiedoodles choose a short, practical clip that dries quickly and is easier to check for ticks and burrs. Line brushing (working through the coat section by section) prevents most mats, and our grooming guide shows how. If your dog's coat is a flatter, Aussie-like type, expect seasonal shedding and use an undercoat rake during those periods.

Exercise & training

Adult Aussiedoodles typically need 1–2 hours of exercise a day, and mental work matters as much as physical. A long walk alone rarely tires them out.

What works well:

• Fetch, frisbee and off-leash running in secure areas
• Hiking and, once fully grown, running
• Dog sports such as agility, herding, rally or nosework
• Short daily training sessions, puzzle toys and scent games

They learn very fast, which cuts both ways: they pick up bad habits as quickly as good ones. Use reward-based training and stay consistent. Early priorities are impulse control, a solid recall, calm settling on a mat, and redirecting herding nips onto toys. Socialize widely in puppyhood to reduce wariness of strangers. Avoid heavy repetitive exercise until your vet confirms growth plates have closed.

Teaching an "off switch" is just as important as exercise. Without it, some Aussiedoodles become so fit that they need ever more activity. Practice calm settling after play and reward quiet behavior so your dog learns that downtime is normal.

Health & lifespan

Aussiedoodles typically live 12–15 years. They can inherit conditions from both parent breeds, so health-tested parents matter.

From the Australian Shepherd side:

• MDR1 mutation: sensitivity to certain common drugs, including some antiparasitics and sedatives. A simple DNA test tells your vet whether to avoid them.
• Eye conditions: collie eye anomaly (CEA), PRA-prcd and hereditary cataracts
• Hip and elbow dysplasia
• Epilepsy and degenerative myelopathy (DM)
• Deafness and vision problems in double merles

From the Poodle side:

• Hip dysplasia, Addison's disease and sebaceous adenitis (Standard Poodles)
• Patellar luxation and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (Miniature and Toy Poodles)
• PRA, von Willebrand disease and bloat in larger dogs

Health tests to ask for: OFA or PennHIP hips and elbows, an annual eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist, and DNA tests for MDR1, CEA, PRA-prcd, HSF4 hereditary cataracts, DM and vWD. Mini lines should also have patella evaluations. Check results on the OFA website. This is general information, so talk to your vet about your own dog.

If your Aussiedoodle carries the MDR1 mutation, share the result with every vet, groomer or boarding kennel that might give medication. Keep a copy of the DNA results in your dog's records.

What an Aussiedoodle costs in the US

An Aussiedoodle puppy from a reputable US breeder typically costs $1,500–$4,000. Blue merle and minis are usually at the higher end. Rescue fees are usually $300–$700.

After year one, budget roughly $2,000–$3,500 a year. Many owners add daycare, dog sports classes or a dog walker to meet this breed's energy needs, which can add substantially.

Red flags of puppy mills and backyard breeders:

• Merle bred to merle, or puppies advertised as mostly white "rare" merles
• No MDR1, eye or OFA results on the Aussie parent
• You can't meet the mother or see where puppies are raised
• Many litters at once, or puppies sold before 8 weeks
• Promises of a "non-shedding" or "hypoallergenic" dog