Australian Shepherd Lab Mix: The Best Labrador Retriever Mix!

Australian Shepherd Lab mixes can be amazing dogs to welcome into your home, but they might not be the best match for every household. This is why it is so important to do your research to make sure that the breed that you have chosen is suitable for you and your lifestyle.

We are going to help you find out everything you need to know about this breed, so you can be prepared for anything that may happen. This way, there will be no unexpected surprises along the way.

In this article, we aim to provide you with helpful information about the Australian Shepherd Lab mix breed, so you can make a well-informed decision.

We are going to look at the history of the breed, care requirements, and more to help you understand what to expect from this breed of dog.

What is An Australian Shepherd Lab Mix?

An Australian Shepherd Lab mix is a mixed breed dog that is a cross between an Australian Shepherd and a Labrador Retriever. This dog will grow to be medium in size, energetic, and loyal, and these are all traits that are inherited from both of their parents. 

Australian Shepherd Lab mixes are typically called Aussiedors, but some of the other names that are used include Australian Shepradors, Aussie Shepradors, Aussie Labs, and Shepradors. They are a designer breed, but you can still sometimes find them in rescues and shelters, which provides the opportunity to adopt. 

Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd is commonly mistaken as an Australian breed, but this is not the case. The breed actually started as the Pyrenean Shepherd in Europe, and they were perfected in the American West. There was a brief stopover in Australia, which is likely where the name comes from.

Australian Shepherds are still commonly found on ranches and farms across North America, and they are found herding sheep and cattle. Due to their high levels of intelligence, they are also commonly used as therapy dogs, service dogs, drug detectors, and search and rescue dogs. 

They don’t have to be put to work, but they do thrive in these situations. Alternatively, they can also thrive in dog sports like agility, obedience, and fly ball. This breed of dog is highly popular, and they are often mixed with other breeds in order to create designer dogs.

Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever is another popular dog in the United States, and it has actually been the most popular for more than 30 years.

They are friendly and intelligent dogs that were bred in Newfoundland in order to help fishermen retrieve any fish that fell out of the nets. They also helped hunters to retrieve ducks.

English nobles that were visiting Canada in the early 1800s fell in love with the Labrador dogs, even though they are originally from Newfoundland. They were then brought back to England, where the dog was further refined into the lovable breed that is so popular today.

Labrador Retrievers are known for being friendly with people and animals, and they are more than happy to cuddle up with their owners. However, they were bred to work, which means that they have lots of energy that needs to be burned off through physical exercise.

Aussiedor

Australian Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers are often compared to one another as family pets, and it makes sense why they would be bred together. The Aussiedor is an amazing mixed-breed dog that is suitable for almost any family. 

The main reason why they might not be for everyone is that these pups will have lots of energy, even more so than other energetic breeds. They don’t typically settle down until they are around the age of three years old, which might be a bit much for some people to deal with.

They can also get extremely excited, which can often get them into trouble if they do not have their own way of getting it out of their system. However, these dogs are also some of the most caring and cuddly, so there are definitely plus sides.

Aussiedor Size

It is worth being aware of the fact that Aussiedors are still a relatively new mixed breed, which means that there are currently fewer breed standards when it comes to their size. However, when you consider both of their parent breeds, you can expect them to be in the medium size range.

The majority of Aussiedors will weigh somewhere between 40 and 80 pounds, and they are likely to stand tall between 22 and 25 inches at the shoulder. Although, there are some Aussiedors that will be slightly bigger or smaller than this.

Aussiedor Coat Color And Grooming

Aussiedor coats are usually a mixture between Australian Shepherd and Labrador Retriever coats. The main colors of the Aussiedor are brown, cream, black, tan, and brindle. They are usually a blend and mix of any of these colors. 

These dogs typically have short to medium length coats, and they are not recommended for those that suffer from allergies. One thing that you can be sure of is the fact that your Aussiedor is going to shed a lot.

Due to the fact that they have quite short coats, people often think that they won’t shed very often, but this is not the case. They pretty much shed all year round. 

They will require regular brushing to help reduce their shedding and to get rid of any excess fur. They shed a little all year round, but they will blow their undercoat around 2 to 4 times a year when the seasons change.

When this happens, you will probably notice that their fur comes out in clumps, and if this isn’t brushed out, then the undercoat can get tangled with the top coat. This can then lead to painful mats in your dog’s coat.

It can be helpful to use a slicker brush and a grooming rake for removing loose hair from the type of coat that an Aussiedor has. The tools that you need will depend on what type of coat they have inherited from their parents. They will need to be brushed thoroughly at least a few times a week.

If you are planning on giving your Aussiedor a bath, you should be mindful only to use mild shampoo, so you don’t strip their coat of all of its natural oils.

Regularly brushing the coat will also help to spread the oils around it. Interestingly, Aussiedors have a water resistant top coat and a warm undercoat, and they are resilient in both the rain and the snow.

Aussiedor Temperament

As we have previously mentioned, the Aussiedor breed is well-known for having an energetic demeanor, and they care a lot about their owners and other members of the family.

They get on well with others, and they are always very eager to please. However, you should also know that they are very sensitive dogs, which means that they will not react well to harsh training techniques or being told off. 

The Aussiedor is a very well-mannered dog, and most of the time, they are not known to be aggressive. Generally, they are not prone to any aggressive behaviors, and this is mostly due to the fact that they were bred to work. 

However, due to the fact that they were originally bred to work, your Aussiedor is likely going to need some sort of job or purpose if you want them to stay chilled out.

They can easily get bored very quickly, which can lead to destructive behavior if they are left alone without anything to keep them busy. They need quite a bit of exercise every day, and if they don’t get it, they can become very hyperactive and excitable. 

Are Aussiedors Good With Children And Other Pets?

Yes, Aussiedors are great with other children and pets, and they can make great additions to families with children. They are known to be quite tolerant of children, but they should always be supervised when in their company.

It is possible for them to try and herd any small children as they think that they are part of their flock.  You should always teach your children how to properly and safely interact with a dog. They should also know never to try and approach a dog when they are eating, or try to take the dog’s food away.

Aussiedors do tend to get along with other dogs, but they will need to be properly socialized when they are puppies. This will help them to get used to other dogs, people, and situations. It also teaches them how to behave and greet other dogs.

Aussiedor Socialization

As we have just mentioned, your Aussiedor will need to be properly socialized in order to ensure that they behave properly around children, animals, and new environments.

Socialization is important for all breeds of dog, and training your dog to react well in new and different circumstances will only ever be beneficial. 

Aussiedors have the potential for guarding behaviors and shyness that could come from the Aussie parent, which makes it even more important to make sure that you are socializing your dog when they are a puppy.

You should try to introduce them to a variety of new environments, people of all ages, and other animals. This will allow them to understand that they don’t have to worry or panic if they come across an unfamiliar scent, face, or location.

Aussiedor Exercise 

These dogs have lots and lots of energy that they will need to burn off, which means that you will need to take them for an hour-long walk every day.

You should also get them a variety of toys that they can play with inside and outside in order to keep entertained and even exercise themselves at the same time.

Without the right amount of exercise, your Aussiedor can start to display various destructive behaviors, which can then lead to repetitive bad behavior. Obviously, this is something that you should try to avoid.

If your dog is doing this, and they do get plenty of exercise, then you might want to consider upping their daily walks to see if it helps to improve their behavior.

Aussiedor Training

Due to the fact that both of the parent breeds are intelligent and eager to please, Aussiedors are relatively easy to train. You should use positive reinforcement in your training, as this is something that they are known to respond well to.

Due to their high level of intelligence, they can sometimes become stubborn or disinterested during their training if they are not being challenged enough. 

Aussiedor Life Expectancy

The average lifespan for an Aussiedor is somewhere between 10 and 12 years, but some sources would suggest that they can live between 12 and 15 years.

Other studies would even suggest that the median age is closer to 9 years. Generally, mixed breeds are thought to live a little bit longer than purebreds.

Aussiedor Health

If you are thinking about getting an Aussiedor, you should also be aware of the health risks that they carry. Just like any other dog, they are more prone to certain health conditions, and the chances increase further if the parents have such conditions. 

Some of the most common health issues for Aussiedors are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, eye conditions, hereditary myopathy, heart disorders, bloat, epilepsy, cataracts, and cancer.

However, it is more unlikely for a mix to develop these conditions than the purebred parent. Responsible breeders will reduce the likelihood of their puppies inheriting these disorders by screening the parents for them. 

Aussiedor Diet

The amount of food and type of food that you need to feed your adult Aussiedor will depend on their size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level.

If you are ever unsure about how much you should be feeding them or what you should be feeding them, you can contact your vet for help and advice. If the amount is what you are struggling with, you can refer to the food packaging for instructions.