Aussiedor

Canis lupus

Last updated: March 15, 2023
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
© Sylvie Bouchard/Shutterstock.com

Aussiedors come in black, brown, cream, yellow, and almost every imaginable color due to their parentage!


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Aussiedor Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Aussiedor Conservation Status

Aussiedor Locations

Aussiedor Locations

Aussiedor Facts

Fun Fact
Aussiedors come in black, brown, cream, yellow, and almost every imaginable color due to their parentage!
Temperament
Affectionate, energetic, and loyal
Diet
Omnivore

Aussiedor Physical Characteristics

Color
  • Brown
  • Black
  • Gold
  • Brindle
  • Chocolate
Skin Type
Hair
Lifespan
12 years

Aussiedor as a Pet:

General Health
Energy Level
Shedability
Trainability
Intelligence
Tendency to Chew
Size
Family and kid friendliness
Yappiness / Barking
Moderate
Separation Anxiety
High
Preferred Temperature
Average climate
Exercise Needs
Moderate
Friendly With Other Dogs
High
Pure bred cost to own
$100-500 for a rescue, up to $1000 from a breeder
Dog group
Working
Male weight
50-80 lbs
Female weight
40-70 lbs

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The Aussiedor is a cross between an Australian Shepherd and a Labrador Retriever. This is a hybrid breed that is intelligent, friendly, and affectionate.

They are very athletic dogs, making them great companions for hikes and runs. They also make excellent therapy dogs. Aussiedors bred from mini Australian Shepherds share many of the traits of their larger cousins, just in a smaller size. Aussidors of any kind are ideal for families, and they tend to have fewer health issues than other breeds due to being hybrid dog breeds.

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History Of The Breed

The Aussiedor is another fairly new breed. A hybrid of the Australian shepherd, which in spite of its name actually originated in Europe, and the labrador retriever, bred in Newfoundland and has consistently been the favorite dog breed in the U.S. for over 30 years. The Australian shepherd started as a Pyrenean shepherd before being perfected in western America to the parent breed we see today. Labrador retrievers were originally bred in the 1800s to be retrieving dogs for hunters and fishermen.

3 Pros And Cons Of Owning Aussiedors

Pros!Cons!
They make great family dogs! Aussiedors love to be with their people. They are very social, very loving dogs who stick close to their owners and their families.They shed a lot. Aussiedors produce a ton of hair, and they are not hypoallergenic dogs. Constant grooming is needed to reduce the sheer amount of hair that they produce.
They have a fairly low risk when it comes to health issues! Because they are a hybrid breed, Aussiedor breeders have a larger selection of Labrador Retrievers and Australian Shepherds to choose from when breeding their puppies. Because of this, the gene pool is wider, and the Aussiedor has less of a chance of inheriting health problems from its parents.They are prone to separation anxiety. Because of their strong bonds to their family, Aussiedors can become very anxious when left alone.
They will likely have a herding instinct. Because of their Australian Shepard parent, Aussiedors typically have a strong desire to herd. This makes them excellent companions for farmers or people with small groups of other animalsPoor guard dogs. Aussiedors would rather greet strangers at the door than guard the house against them. Due to their easy-going and social nature, they do not make good guard dogs.
Portrait of black Australian Shepherd and Labrador mixed breed dog sitting on white background

Aussidors have a strong herding desire.

©Michael Geyer/Shutterstock.com

Size And Weight

Depending on whether the parent was a mini Australian Shepherd or not, Aussiedors are small-to-medium-sized dogs when fully grown. They can be heavier set like a Laborador, or leaner like an Australian Shephard.

Female Height18-23 inches
Male Height20-25 inches
Female Weight40-70lbs full grown
Male Weight50-80lbs full grown

Common Health Issues

Because of the wide gene pool selection of both of their parent breeds, Aussiedors have a relatively low risk of many health issues. Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are possible for them to inherit, but they have a lower risk of this occurring. Autoimmune thyroiditis is a possible immune system disease wherein the dog will need to be on medication for most of its life, but again the risk is low. The Australian Shepherd part of the Aussiedor’s parentage may pass down the possibility of cataracts, where the dog will suffer from impaired sight or may go completely blind. This can be treated, but the price is $2000-$3000 per eye.

Health and Entertainment for your Aussiedor

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In conclusion, the three most common health issues for Aussiedors is:

  • Hip/elbow dysplasia
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cataracts/blindness

Temperament

Aussidors are kind, loyal, gentle, and friendly. They are likely to form close bonds with certain members of their families. However, this means they can cling to their owners and often develop separation anxiety. They are also a high-energy breed. If not properly exercised, Aussiedors may destroy household items or display unwanted behaviors. Often this can be mitigated by the appropriate amount of exercise as well as some dedicated training while the dog is young.

Aussidors are intelligent and kind. It’s possible to teach them a wide variety of tricks, as they aim to please. Aussiedor puppies will quickly learn to not nip or chase children while playing.

How To Take Care Of Aussiedors

Because of their shedding habits, anxiety, and high-energy nature, Aussiedors require moderate care and attention from their owners. However, the reward for this is a loyal companion who will adore being a member of the family.

The Best Dog Food For Aussiedors

As a relatively hearty breed, Aussiedors are likely to live long and healthy lives eating any high-quality dog food. These energetic dogs’ diets can also be improved by a nutrition-packed frozen diet containing raw veggies and meat.

Our suggestion at A-Z Animals is Instinct Freeze-Dried Raw Meals Grain-Free Recipe Dog Food.

This balanced food provides Aussiedors with protein to fuel their activity level. It’s minimally processed for maximum nutrient absorption to support coat and skin, muscles, bones, and digestion.

Check for Amazon or Chewy for this product.

Best for Dogs with Sensitivities
Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Lamb Freeze-Dried Raw Dry Dog Food
  • Limited ingredient recipe includes just one animal protein and one vegetable for pets with food sensitivities.
  • Made with grass-fed lamb, an easily digestible protein that provides all the essential amino acids your pooch needs.
  • Guaranteed levels of natural omegas and antioxidants promote healthy skin and coat, plus immune health.
  • Made in the USA using premium ingredients from around the world, with the pure nutrition of raw in every piece.
  • Never contains any grain, dairy, eggs, chicken, beef, fish, sweet potato, potato, chickpeas, corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors or preservatives.


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Puppy dog food: Puppies need proteins and healthy fats, so make sure that real meat is the first ingredient in any food you purchase for your Aussiedor puppy. Ask a veterinarian which amounts are the most suitable for your dog.

Adult dog food: An adult Aussiedor will need three to four cups of dog food split over the day. These dogs are prone to bloat, so a bowl that encourages slow eating may be ideal.

Maintenance And Grooming

Both Labrador Retrievers and Australian Shepherds are big shedding breeds, and the Aussiedor can sometimes be worse than either of those! They require consistent grooming in order to keep their hair in check, and they are not hypoallergenic.

These dogs should be brushed weekly at the very least, but when their shedding is at its maximum they may need to be brushed every couple of days. The particular grooming method depends on whether the puppy inherited more of an Aussie coat or more of a Lab coat.

Training

Aussiedor puppy close-up

Positive reinforcement is the best training for your Aussiedor.

©CulmSee-Axel-acad.2161 / CC BY-SA 4.0 – License

Aussiedors are incredibly intelligent dogs who can take to training very well. Positive reinforcement will be hugely important to the training of these dogs. However, because they are so intelligent they can be stubborn at the beginning of their training. They are very food motivated, so this will be a great benefit to teaching them good habits. Owners should begin training at a very young age.

Exercise

Aussiedors are very energetic dogs, who require lots of exercise. They can easily run and play for hours on end. Open fields for them to run around in are ideal, and they are well-suited to farm life.

It is important to keep an Aussiedor exercised properly. If they have too much pent-up energy, they may become destructive. Take your dog on hikes, and runs, or simply play some games of fetch. Their very favorite form of exercise is one that involves their family.

Puppies

Make sure you get these dogs from a reputable breeder, as many puppy mills will try and sell Aussiedors. The cost of a puppy varies depending on where you adopt it from. Rescues can be $100-500, while puppies from a breeder can cost up to $1000. Make sure you thoroughly research the breeder’s reputation and ask about the health of the parents before purchasing a puppy.

Aussiedor

Make sure to get your dog from a rescue or a reputable breeder.

©CulmSee-Axel-acad.2161 / Creative Commons – License

Aussiedors And Children

These dogs are great with children! They may try to “herd” young children, as they will see kids as part of their “flock”. They can be easily trained to not chase or nip at children. Ultimately, they will get along very well with children.

Dogs Similar To Aussiedors

  • Labrador Retriever – One of the two breeds used to make the Aussiedor, these social and loving dogs contribute to the Aussiedor’s loving personality. The fact that they come in black, brown, and yellow adds to the variety of colors that Aussiedors can be. However, they do lack the herding instincts of the Aussiedor.
  • Australian Shepherd – These dogs come in both a normal-sized and mini variety. They love to herd and are very energetic, but they are a little bit more suspicious of strangers than the Aussiedor.
  • Goldador – These dogs are another hybrid breed created from the Labrador Retriever. They are also medium-sized dogs with loving personalities and a large amount of intelligence. They will also shed less than the Aussiedor.

Popular names for these dogs are:

  • Luna
  • Cooper
  • Bella
  • Charlie
  • Bear

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What's the right dog for you?

Dogs are our best friends but which breed is your perfect match?

X-Small
Small
Medium
Large
Xtra-Large

If you have kids or existing dogs select:

Kids
Other Dogs

Should they be Hypoallergenic?

Yes
No
How important is health?
Which dog groups do you like?
How much exercise should your dog require?
What climate?
How much seperation anxiety?
How much yappiness/barking?

How much energy should they have?

The lower energy the better.
I want a cuddle buddy!
About average energy.
I want a dog that I have to chase after constantly!
All energy levels are great -- I just love dogs!
How much should they shed?
How trainable/obedient does the dog need to be?
How intelligent does the dog need to be?
How much chewing will allow?
About the Author

Melissa Bauernfeind was born in NYC and got her degree in Journalism from Boston University. She lived in San Diego for 10 years and is now back in NYC. She loves adventure and traveling the world with her husband but always misses her favorite little man, "P", half Chihuahua/half Jack Russell, all trouble. She got dive-certified so she could dive with the Great White Sharks someday and is hoping to swim with the Orcas as well.

Aussiedor FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

How much does Aussiedor cost to own?

The cost of an Aussiedor greatly depends on where you adopt from. Rescue pups can cost $100-500, where are Aussiedors from a breeder will cost up to $1000. The cost for the dogs will vary after that depending on their individual needs, and if they acquire any expensive health issues. They may also need visits to the groomer if they inherit the longer Australian Shephard coat.

How much does an Aussiedor cost?

From a rescue, Aussiedors cost about $100-$500. From a breeder, the price may be anywhere from $800 to $1000.

Is Aussiedor good with kids?

Yes! Aussiedors make great companions for families with children.

How long does the Aussiedor live?

Aussiedors live an average of 10-12 years, barring any major health issues.

What is an Aussiedor?

An Aussiedor is a cross between an Australian shepherd and a labrador retriever.

How much does an Aussiedor cost?

Expect a price of $100-500 from a rescue and up to $1000 from a breeder.

Do Aussiedors shed?

Aussiedors do shed and should be regularly groomed to help cut down on the amount of hair that ends up around the house.

How big do Aussiedors get?

Aussiedors are small to medium-sized dogs that can grow up to 25 inches tall.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources
  1. Perfect Dog Breeds, Available here: https://www.perfectdogbreeds.com/australian-shepherd-lab-mix/
  2. Indulge Your Pet, Available here: https://indulgeyourpet.com/aussiedor/
  3. Doggie Designer, Available here: https://doggiedesigner.com/aussiedor/#:~:text=Food%20%26%20Diet%20Requirements&text=You%20should%20consider%20feeding%20them,dry%20dog%20food%20per%20day
  4. Wag Walking, Available here: https://wagwalking.com/breed/aussiedor

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