Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle Mix: The Hard Working Dog With a Heart of Gold

The Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle mix is just the latest evolution in modern hybrid dog breeding.

As one step beyond the already hybrid Aussiedoodle, a puppy with one Australian Shepherd dog parent and one Poodle parent, the Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle puppy will have one Australian Shepherd dog parent and one Goldendoodle parent.

And while this might sound incredibly exotic, many concerned dog breeders and owners believe this type of breeding is the future and even salvation of modern pet dogs.

Many dog breeds have become health-compromised due to intense breeding to an appearance-based breed standard. The more genetic diversity that is added back, the stronger and healthier such breeds may become in the future.

So this is a primary reason you might want to consider owning an Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle mix dog. But it is far from the only reason. These dogs are also delightful canine companions!

In this article, we take you on a tour of this new emerging dog breed, the Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle dog.

See Australian Shepherd and a Goldendoodle Dog Playing Together

This adorable YouTube video gives you a sweet glimpse of a Goldendoodle playing with an Australian Shepherd.

From watching the two dogs together, it is easy to see how the Australian Shepherd and the Goldendoodle share several complementary traits, including overall size, energy level, and playful temperament.

This bodes well for any hybrid dog breed that might arise if these two dogs were bred together.

Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle Mix: Dog Breeds History

Perhaps the best way to get acquainted with the history and lineage of any hybrid or crossbred dog breed is to learn more about what each purebred or hybrid-bred parent dog brings to the mix, so to speak.

In this case, we actually need to investigate three purebred dog breeds: the Australian Shepherd, the Golden Retriever, and the Poodle!

Australian Shepherd history

The Australian Shepherd has a colorful and exciting history. These dogs are very popular in the United States.

Currently, they are the 17th most popular pet dog registered through the American Kennel Club (AKC) (out of 196 purebred dog breeds).

But the Australian Shepherd breed didn’t get its start in Australia or in the United States. The breed is thought to date back to Europe and the Pyrenean Mountains.

Australian Shepherds have always been smart, energetic, talented working dogs. As the breed evolved, they became a popular choice for herding and ranching dogs, trick dogs in circus acts and roadshows, and service and therapy dogs.

Golden Retriever history

The iconic Golden Retriever dog breed almost doesn’t even need an introduction. This near-universally recognizable dog breed is ranked third out of 196 dog breeds by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Golden Retrievers have been described as the family social coordinator – they rarely ever meet a stranger. Goldens are so famously friendly they are a topic pick for service, support and therapy dogs.

But Golden Retrievers also have a long and noble history as working dogs. They are gun dogs and are able-bodied and reliable hunting partners to humans.

Poodle history

The Poodle often strikes people new to dogs as a “frou-frou” dog, with their fancy coats and over-the-top show clips.

But underneath all those curls is a hardy, intelligent and athletic working dog. While today Poodles are bred in three sizes (standard, miniature, and toy), the original poodles were all standards.

These dogs are amazing all-around athletes. They can do it all – hunting, swimming, running, retrieving, you name it. The Poodle is currently the seventh most popular purebred dog breed registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle mix history

As this overview highlights, all three of the purebred dog breeds that contribute genes to the Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle have a strong working dog history and lineage.

Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle Mix Personality & Temperament

There are quite literally hundreds of purebred dog breeds in the world today. And now there are more and more hybrid dog breeds as well.

But this is a great thing because each of these dogs has a unique personality and temperament that can make one breed a better fit for you than all the others.

In this section, we investigate what your Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle’s personality and temperament is likely to be like.

Australian Shepherd personality and temperament

The Australian Shepherd is very intelligent with a high energy level and a natural resilience that has made the top picks for all kinds of working dog roles.

However, Australian Shepherds can have some issues with genetic aggression – to the point that the Australian Shepherd Club of America has issued specific guidelines about how to handle aggression during dog shows and competitions.

It is very important to meet an Australian Shepherd puppy’s parents’ dogs and make sure you don’t see any signs of aggression. A non-aggressive Aussie Shepherd will be a playful and loving companion.

Golden Retriever personality and temperament

The Golden Retriever’s personality is as golden as their breed name. They are simply sunshine with fur and that is why this breed is so enduringly popular.

Golden Retrievers are not guarding dogs, although they are working dogs. So if it is a family guard dog you are looking for, the Golden Retriever is not a top pick – they just love people too much to be reliable in that role.

Poodle personality and temperament

Keeping in mind that Poodles are bred in three sizes (standard, miniature, and toy), for our purposes here we will assume the breeding is with a standard-size Poodle since this is the original size for this dog breed.

The Poodle has the temperament and personality of a protection and guard dog. These dogs are famously loving and loyal to “their” people but tend to maintain a bit of aloofness towards strangers.

This is quite normal and natural for any dog breed that is bred to herd or guard animals or people.

Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle mix personality and temperament

This overview tells you that your Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle dog could potentially inherit a mix of traits ranging from exuberant friendliness to aloofness and even aggression.

Working with an experienced, reputable dog breeder is the best way to ensure you get the mix of traits that you want and need in a companion canine.

Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle Mix: Size, Height, and Weight

One area where there is quite a bit of similarity between the three purebred dog breeds that contribute to the Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle’s gene pool is size.

Australian Shepherd size, height, and weight

The Australian Shepherd typically weighs anywhere from 40 to 65 pounds and stands 18 to 23 inches tall (measured from the base of paws to the top of shoulders).

Golden Retriever size, height, and weight

The Golden Retriever typically weighs anywhere from 55 to 75 pounds and stands 21.5 to 24 inches tall (from the base of paws to shoulder tops).

Poodle size, height, and weight

The standard Poodle typically weighs anywhere from 40 to 70 pounds and stands over 15 inches tall.

Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle size, height, and weight

While your pup might be a bit shorter or taller depending on which parent dog most dominates in terms of genetic influence, the big question will be adult weight. Your dog could grow up to weigh anywhere from 40 to 70 pounds, which is a wide range.

The best way to prepare is to meet the parent dogs and get a sense of their adult weight and height. This will give you a narrower range to guesstimate your Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle puppy’s adult size.

Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle Mix: Training and Exercise Needs

If there is one fact you can absolutely count on with an Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle mix dog, it is this: your dog will be tireless.

Once your puppy grows up, you will need to be prepared to live a dog-centric lifestyle that is active and filled with walks, hikes, runs, games, and canine athletic activities.

Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle Mix: Coat Care, Shedding & Grooming

The real wild card when it comes to predicting what to expect as your Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle grows up is shedding.

Specifically, two of the three-parent dog breeds shed profusely. And one of the parent dog breeds doesn’t shed visibly much if at all.

Australian Shepherd coat care, shedding, and grooming

Australian Shepherd dogs have the true double coat of the working dog. They shed year-round and seasonally.

Their bi-color or tri-color fur ensures you will have a colorful pile of dog hair to sweep or vacuum up all year long!

Golden Retriever coat care, shedding, and grooming

Golden Retrievers have the thick and water-resistant double coat of the waterfowl gun dog.

These dogs will shed profusely all year long and when the “coat blow” season arrives, you may think you are drowning in dog hair.

Poodle coat care, shedding, and grooming

The Poodle is what is often called a non-shedding or hypoallergenic dog. Although there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, these dogs do not shed visibly.

But you will spend a great deal of time grooming and brushing and maintaining your Poodle’s coat to keep mats and tangles from ruining the coat.

Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle mix coat care, shedding, and grooming

The best way to make sure your dog has the coat type you want and need is to work closely with an experienced breeder who knows their breeding dogs’ genetics very well.

Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle Mix: Longevity & Health Issues

Because the Goldendoodle is not yet a registered and recognized purebred dog breed (although that process is certainly underway), the only way to really understand potential genetic health issues is to go back to the parent breeds.

So in this section, we will look at the known genetic health issues that can affect Australian Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and Poodles.

Australian Shepherd longevity and health issues

According to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Australian Shepherd breed has the following known possible genetic health issues you need to be aware of:

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia

The Australian Shepherd has a typical life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.

Golden Retriever longevity and health issues

According to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Golden Retriever breed has the following known possible genetic health issues you need to be aware of:

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Eye health issues
• Cardiac issues

The Golden Retriever has a typical life span of 10 to 12 years.

Poodle longevity and health issues

According to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Poodle dog breed (standard, miniature, toy) has the following known possible genetic health issues you need to be aware of:

• Hip dysplasia
• Patellar luxation
• Eye health issues
• Cardiac issues
• Thyroid issues

The Poodle has a typical life span of 10 to 18 years.

Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle mix: longevity and health issues

What this health overview shows is that the biggest genetic health concerns relate to major joints, eyes, heart, and thyroid function.

So just be sure to ask any breeder you work with to show you pre-screening test results indicating the parent dogs have been cleared of all of these major health issues.

This is the only way to avoid bringing home a puppy that has inherited a heart-breaking medical problem that could have been screened for before breeding.

Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle Mix: Is This the Right Dog For You?

If you have an active lifestyle, a love of being outdoors, and sincere enjoyment of canine athletics, you may find that the Australian Shepherd Goldendoodle mix dog is a perfect companion canine for you!