Do Aussiedoodles Shed?

An Aussiedoodle is a mixed-breed dog with one Australian Shepherd parent and one Poodle parent. These dogs are often marketed as “designer breeds,” and puppies sell for a high price tag.

Unfortunately, they’re almost never responsibly bred—and breeders will tell lies to sell puppies, not caring what kinds of homes they wind up in.

That is to say, Aussiedoodles do shed, no matter what any breeder tells you. They aren’t hypoallergenic dogs, and will be quite high-maintenance in every sense.

These dogs are likely to be extremely high-energy, shed moderately, and require daily grooming.

Keep reading to learn more about an Aussiedoodle’s coat, why there is no standard, and how much to expect your dog to shed.

Aussiedoodle Coat Characteristics

Aussiedoodles Don’t Have a Standard Coat

Aussiedoodles aren’t purebred dogs. This means they can take on personality traits, health problems, and fur types from either parent breed.

While every dog is an individual, purebred dogs tend to be more predictable. When adopted from a reputable breeder, they’re also more likely to be healthy than Doodles, which are typically backyard bred or from puppy mills.

Australian Shepherds have medium-length, double coats. They need to be brushed once a week throughout most of the year, and once every two to three days during shedding season.

They shed moderately all year long and more during shedding season.

Poodles, on the other hand, shed very little. They have a single coat of human-like hair that grows continuously. They also require daily grooming.

Are Aussiedoodles Hypoallergenic?

No, Aussiedoodles aren’t hypoallergenic. Firstly, they can shed quite a bit.

More importantly, there’s debate as to whether hypoallergenic dogs exist at all. Many people with dog allergies seem to find their symptoms quite random. They might react severely to one dog, but have very little symptoms with another, even if the dogs are the same breed!

This is likely because people with dog allergies aren’t allergic to dog fur. Instead, it’s the dander from a dog’s skin that most are allergic to.

Unfortunately, even hairless dogs have dander, so the amount a dog sheds might not matter.

If you have dog allergies and still want a dog, I recommend visiting with the exact dog you’re looking to adopt. Spend a good amount of time petting them, touch your face, and give it time for your symptoms to set in.

This way, you’ll know how your allergies react to the dog before you make a commitment and bring them home. No one wants to have to rehome their beloved pup, and it’s also be difficult on the dog.

Are Aussiedoodles High Maintenance?

Yes—these dogs are likely to be high-maintenance in every sense of the word! Poodles and Australian Shepherd dogs are both high-energy and require plenty of grooming.

If your pup takes after their Australian Shepherd parent, they’re going to be even more energetic and require lots of daily exercise. These dogs often do best with a job to do.

They aren’t for people who only want to go on one daily walk or the occasional hike, but for those who are committed to giving them hours of exercise every day.

If your dog takes after their Poodle parent when it comes to fur, they’ll need to be combed every day and trimmed regularly. A short haircut can reduce the amount of grooming they need at home, but their fur will need to be trimmed regularly to prevent mats.

Do Aussiedoodles Need Haircuts?

For most of these dogs, haircuts are the practical way to go. They don’t need their fur short, exactly, but it’s much easier to deal with that way!

You can keep your Aussiedoodle’s coat long, but you’ll likely have to comb it every day. Otherwise, it can develop mats which are painful for the dog.

Aussiedoodles with double coats shouldn’t be shaved, as it can damage the coat. But you can still keep it trimmed, you just can’t go as short as you could on a Poodle, as they have a single coat.

How to Groom an Aussiedoodle

Grooming your Aussiedoodle comes with a few steps. These include:

• Combing them daily
• Brushing their teeth daily
• Trimming their nails monthly
• Cleaning their ears monthly
• Bathing them once every four to six weeks
• Visiting a groomer every four to six weeks

Combing Your Aussiedoodle’s Fur

Poodles should be groomed daily, while Australian Shepherds should be groomed once a week throughout most of the year. During shedding season, they must be brushed every two to three days.

Your Aussiedoodle might need either of these grooming routines. They might also need something in the middle, such as grooming every couple of days throughout the year and once daily during shedding season.

To be safe, I recommend combing their coat down to the skin daily to get out any mats. Brushing with a deshedding brush can be done less often if your dog is double-coated—excessive grooming with this brush can damage the undercoat.

To get more exact guidance, ask a professional dog groomer which brushes and combs to use, as well as how often your dog should be brushed.

Brushing Your Aussiedoodle’s Teeth

All dogs should have their teeth brushed once a day if possible. Like humans, they can get cavities or develop dental disease if their teeth aren’t cleaned.

It’s also recommended to bring your dog into the veterinarian for a professional cleaning around once a year.

To brush your Aussiedoodle’s teeth:

• Desensitize your dog to handling. You should be able to touch their mouth, look inside, and touch their teeth. Start slow, reward good behavior heavily, and work your way up over time. Allow your pup to set the pace to keep the experience positive.
• Buy a toothbrush and dog toothpaste. Any toothbrush will do, but never use human toothpaste for your dog! It is toxic to them.
• Get your Aussiedoodle used to the toothbrush. Just like handling their mouth, you want to take this slowly and at their pace. Allow your pup to lick the toothpaste, feel the toothbrush on their teeth, and eventually begin brushing a little at a time.

Start as young as possible for best results. While brushing their teeth, be sure to check for signs of dental disease such as bad breath, red gums, swollen gums, or tooth decay.

If your Aussiedoodle’s teeth can’t be brushed, such as if your dog bites down when their mouth is handled, there are other products on the market, such as chews and toys made to clean a dog’s teeth. These won’t work as well, but are better than nothing!

Trimming Your Aussiedoodle’s Nails

To trim your Aussiedoodle’s nails:

• Get your Aussiedoodle used to handling. Just like with their mouth, you want to handle their paws slowly. You might start by petting them for a few seconds while the two of you cuddle, giving them a treat for allowing it each time. As they’re comfortable, progress to spreading the toes, lifting the paw, and touching the nails.
• Avoid the quick. This looks pink on light-colored nails and isn’t visible on darker ones. The quick is located at the base of the nail and is filled with blood—so it will hurt and bleed if cut into.
• Use sharp, clean nail trimmers. Dull trimmers can splinter the nail, causing pain and potentially fracturing the quick.
• Stop bleeding with cornstarch or flour. Keep one of these on hand in case of accidents! If the bleeding won’t stop after a few minutes, call a veterinarian for help.

Bathing Your Aussiedoodle

Poodles are typically bathed every four to six weeks, while Australian Shepherds are bathed as-needed. This might mean a few months between baths.

The easiest thing to do with your pup is to have their groomer bathe them at each appointment. If you don’t bring your dog to the groomer, or want to bathe them yourself, you can also keep this schedule.

You can also wait until you can see they need a bath. This should be easy—you’ll notice an odor, or their coat will look dull, dry, or greasy.

Use a dog shampoo, as it’s gentler on your pup’s skin. Lather it into the skin and to the ends of the fur, then rinse thoroughly. Follow up with a dog conditioner or coconut oil if you’d like!

Baths are also a great time to check the condition of your dog’s skin and coat. Look for any abnormalities, including redness, swelling, poor coat health, and pests. Schedule an appointment with your vet if you notice anything unusual.

Cleaning Your Aussiedoodle’s Ears

This has always been my dogs’ favorite part of the grooming process! Ear cleaning feels like a really good ear rub to most dogs.

Simply purchase a dog ear wash or baby oil, and apply it to just about any cleaning tool. Examples include a dish cloth, paper towel, cotton pad, cotton ball, or q-tip.

Flip your Aussiedoodle’s ear onto the top of their head and clean the underside gently. Avoid sticking anything into the ear canal, as it can push wax in further and hurt your dog.

If you notice excessive earwax in the ear canal, or signs of infection such as redness, swelling, abnormal-colored discharge, or odor, see your veterinarian for help.

They’ll be able to clean your dog’s ears properly without hurting them. They can also diagnose anything that might be causing your pup’s symptoms.

Trimming Your Aussiedoodle’s Fur

Most people opt for a groomer to trim their dog’s fur. Like a human haircut, it’s going to look better when done by a professional!

Unlike humans, dogs don’t care what they look like. So, it’s perfectly okay to trim your Aussiedoodle’s fur at home if you’d like. Just be careful not to cut the skin with the fur clippers or scissors.

In general, your dog should have its fur trimmed every four to six weeks. This is important if you are keeping the fur short and not brushing them daily, as long fur will tangle and mat if it goes unbrushed.

This will hurt your dog, and too much matting will require the fur to be shaved short so that it can grow back healthily and eliminate your dog’s pain.

If you go to a dog groomer, you can also ask for many of the things listed above to be done! Luckily, things like nail trims, ear cleaning, and bathing are also recommended around the four to six-week mark, so the scheduling is perfect if you’d like to pass some of those off to a professional.

Up Next:

• Poodle
• Australian Shepherd
• 10 Incredible Australian Shepherd Facts

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Holly Anne Cromer/Shutterstock.com