Aussiedor

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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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

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.

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 Aussiedors

Popular names for these dogs are:

• Luna
• Cooper
• Bella
• Charlie
• Bear