A LITTLE ABOUT THE BREED...
THE AUSSIEDOODLE
A little about the Aussiedoodle cross:
The Aussiedoodle is a cross between an Australian Shepherd and a Poodle. Both breeds used to create the Aussiedoodle are considered to be canine Einsteins, making this one super smart cross breed. Aussiedoodles tend to have a moderate to high activity level- if you are not an active family, this is probably not the best breed for you, although we can try to help you select one based on energy level to the best of our ability (no guarantees). They are athletic enough to participate in dog sports such as agility, flyball, obedience, rally, and can also be excellent therapy dogs. It is to your benefit to give the Aussiedoodle a job that will keep him busy (THIS IS IMPORTANT!!), these guys have minds that need to stay busy in order to tire them out. Keeping them occupied will ensure that they don't go off and find their own (likely destructive) entertainment. If you begin socializing and training early and use positive reinforcement techniques such as praise, play, and food rewards, you will be rewarded with a wonderful companion. Most people that I hear complain about their dogs behavior issues have not worked on training there puppy at all or very little, you need to be able to commit time into your puppy in order for it to turn out how you would like. You will thank yourself later by working with them at a young age!!
What is the Aussiedoodles Temperament like?
Aussiedoodles temperaments are affected partly by inheritance and partly by the environment. Their temperament depends on several things: temperament of parents, especially the mother who is more likely to influence a puppy's behavior, the amount of socialization recieved and the particular genes they inherit. In general, Aussiedoodles are friendly dogs that are devoted to their families. Some possible quirks that you should be aware of: the Australian Shepherd is a herding dog and likes people to stay together, if you see your Aussiedoodle trying to herd family members, especially children, by bumping or nipping them, they are not being aggressive; they are following their instincts. THIS SHOULDN'T BE PERMITTED THOUGH- put a stop to the behavior with a "down", "leave it", or "sit-stay" command. Consistently correct this behavior or it can become a real problem. Aussiedoodles will undoubtedly be smart and highly trainable. If you train an Aussiedoodle with positive reinforcement techniques, showing them what you want by rewarding with praise, play, and treats, they are likely to learn quickly and happily. Start training your puppy the day you bring it home. Even at eight weeks they are capable of soaking up everything you can teach them. DON'T WAIT till six months to start or they can become a head strong dog. We try very hard to select breeding stock that have a low energy level and a low herding drive in order to help our Aussiedoodles be better family members, but the Aussiedoodle is an active breed so this isn't to say they will lay around all day. Aussiedoodles love their people and get very attached to them. I often call my dogs "my shadows" as they follow me everywhere. Aussiedoodles are known as "velcro dogs" and for good reason!
What color and size do Aussiedoodles come in?
Aussiedoodles come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. We breed Toy, Mini, Moyen and Standard Aussiedoodles, we classify Toy Aussiedoodles as anything under 15 lbs, Minis are 15-30 lbs., Moyens are 30-40 lbs., and Standard Aussiedoodles are typically between 40-80 pounds (our biggest puppy is currently 81 pounds!!). They come in a wide variety of colors, including: black, black and white, red/chocolate, red/chocolate and white, cinnamon merle, blue merle, red merle, tri-color, sable, black and tan (phantom), cream, silver, parti, and brindle. With the wide range of colors that Aussiedoodles come in, it is always an exciting time when the puppies are arriving and we get to see what colors the puppies are! They also have the capability of having blue eyes, one of my favorite characteristics of the breed! Aussiedoodles have a typical life span of 10-12 years.
A Couple Puppy Raising Tips:
1. Crate Train!! No matter how much they complain early on, it's their safe place when you can't watch them and they need to be home alone. Always take off the collar though, to prevent choking, cover the crate and put a filled kong or other safe treat in the crate with them to make it a positive place to go. NEVER use the crate for punishment or time out. If you feed your puppy early and take water away 2-3 hours before their last potty break they should be able to sleep or go for 6 hours in a crate. All dogs are different though and some mature slower. We start all the puppies on crate training while they are still with us at around 6-7 weeks. They usually go home able to be in a crate for close to 4-6 hours each night (depending on puppy). When starting to crate train, make sure you get a crate with a divider so you can reduce the space in the crate, a puppy will not go potty where it sleeps, unless it absolutely has to! If you make the crate big, they will go potty in a corner and sleep in the rest of it.
2. House breaking... In the beginning make sure you take them out often and watch for cues as to when they have to go potty. Bells on the door work great, every time you take them out to go potty have them tap the bells on the door before going out. When you take them out, its not play time, tell them to potty/do their business or whatever phrase you want. When they go, give them lots of praise and a small treat! Also, don't give them free range over the whole house until they are potty trained in part of the house, the kitchen or anywhere where there is hard floor works great (especially if there are accidents). All the puppies should be doggy door trained when they leave here, very rarely do we have puppies that go potty in the kennel at the time they leave at 8 weeks- they all go outside. This helps with house training and them knowing where they need to go potty. They are started on the doggy door at around 4-6 weeks of age and know how to use it fully by the time they leave. Zak George on YouTube has some great videos to watch on house training and puppy training in general!
3. Nipping: I touched on this earlier with their herding instincts, but all pups nip and explore with their mouth. If they nip you, you want to use a sharp YIPE (like their litter-mates would do if they were bit too hard), then say "easy" or "no bite" and give them an appropriate toy. If they continue to nibble or bite on your skin, a loud NO and then get up and walk away, all play and attention should stop, but not too long- you don't want to break the spirit, only the habit. If you are having trouble with making this work, gently put your hand around their muzzle and squeeze gently until they whine. They will most likely retaliate and try to nip again, at this time do the same but just a little harder, continue to do so until they realize it isn't a game and you are serious. This is what the mother would do, by putting her mouth over the puppies mouth and gently squeezing.
4. Socialization: When your puppy first comes home, try to introduce them to 100 new people in their first 10 days at home. Sounds crazy but not really, its just 10 a day. I would take them to canine friendly stores or stand outside the store... you want your puppy touched, held, and fussed over by any stranger you can round up. Then... puppy socialization, true you can't have them around other dogs until fully vaccinated at 16 weeks, but you can bring them around family and friends dogs you know to be vaccinated. These two things will get your puppy used to people and other dogs right away!!
5. Exposure: You will want to expose your puppy to a lot of noises- pans falling on the floor, vacuum, blender, motorcycles, cars, etc. In addition things you may encounter while on walks such as bikes, skateboards, strollers, people in wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc. They take their cues from us, if we are ok with what's around us, they will learn to be as well. We play a CD while the puppies are still with us with various sounds on it- fireworks, vacuum, baby crying, car, horns honking, etc. in hopes that it gets the puppies used to these noises and they aren't as scared of them when they go to their new homes.
6. Last but not least: A tired dog is a good dog!! If they are properly stimulated, fed, and watered, they're happy to relax and be wherever you are and doing whatever you are doing. But, most importantly, IGNORE the bad and REWARD the good! Dogs really want to please us, that is their most important job! If they are told positively what is expected of them, they will do just that! Train your puppy before it trains you!!
MDR1 Information (IMPORTANT!!!!)
A common mutation with Aussies is the MDR1 Gene. Even if your dog is clear for MDR1 there has still been cases of dogs reacting to medication that they are sensitive to. Because of this, we are going to attach links to a few articles on this and want you to find a vet that is familiar with the effects drugs related to MDR1 can cause. The MDR1 gene is a gene that shouldn't ever cause issues if the drugs are used at appropriate levels, but it is when these sensitive drugs are overdosed when the neurological issues arise. Working and having a close relationship with your vet is key to keeping your dog happy and healthy! Attached below are several articles on MDR1 that could be helpful for you to read! Let us know if you have any questions about any of this and we will try to be as helpful as possible!
A little about the Aussiedoodle cross:
The Aussiedoodle is a cross between an Australian Shepherd and a Poodle. Both breeds used to create the Aussiedoodle are considered to be canine Einsteins, making this one super smart cross breed. Aussiedoodles tend to have a moderate to high activity level- if you are not an active family, this is probably not the best breed for you, although we can try to help you select one based on energy level to the best of our ability (no guarantees). They are athletic enough to participate in dog sports such as agility, flyball, obedience, rally, and can also be excellent therapy dogs. It is to your benefit to give the Aussiedoodle a job that will keep him busy (THIS IS IMPORTANT!!), these guys have minds that need to stay busy in order to tire them out. Keeping them occupied will ensure that they don't go off and find their own (likely destructive) entertainment. If you begin socializing and training early and use positive reinforcement techniques such as praise, play, and food rewards, you will be rewarded with a wonderful companion. Most people that I hear complain about their dogs behavior issues have not worked on training there puppy at all or very little, you need to be able to commit time into your puppy in order for it to turn out how you would like. You will thank yourself later by working with them at a young age!!
What is the Aussiedoodles Temperament like?
Aussiedoodles temperaments are affected partly by inheritance and partly by the environment. Their temperament depends on several things: temperament of parents, especially the mother who is more likely to influence a puppy's behavior, the amount of socialization recieved and the particular genes they inherit. In general, Aussiedoodles are friendly dogs that are devoted to their families. Some possible quirks that you should be aware of: the Australian Shepherd is a herding dog and likes people to stay together, if you see your Aussiedoodle trying to herd family members, especially children, by bumping or nipping them, they are not being aggressive; they are following their instincts. THIS SHOULDN'T BE PERMITTED THOUGH- put a stop to the behavior with a "down", "leave it", or "sit-stay" command. Consistently correct this behavior or it can become a real problem. Aussiedoodles will undoubtedly be smart and highly trainable. If you train an Aussiedoodle with positive reinforcement techniques, showing them what you want by rewarding with praise, play, and treats, they are likely to learn quickly and happily. Start training your puppy the day you bring it home. Even at eight weeks they are capable of soaking up everything you can teach them. DON'T WAIT till six months to start or they can become a head strong dog. We try very hard to select breeding stock that have a low energy level and a low herding drive in order to help our Aussiedoodles be better family members, but the Aussiedoodle is an active breed so this isn't to say they will lay around all day. Aussiedoodles love their people and get very attached to them. I often call my dogs "my shadows" as they follow me everywhere. Aussiedoodles are known as "velcro dogs" and for good reason!
What color and size do Aussiedoodles come in?
Aussiedoodles come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. We breed Toy, Mini, Moyen and Standard Aussiedoodles, we classify Toy Aussiedoodles as anything under 15 lbs, Minis are 15-30 lbs., Moyens are 30-40 lbs., and Standard Aussiedoodles are typically between 40-80 pounds (our biggest puppy is currently 81 pounds!!). They come in a wide variety of colors, including: black, black and white, red/chocolate, red/chocolate and white, cinnamon merle, blue merle, red merle, tri-color, sable, black and tan (phantom), cream, silver, parti, and brindle. With the wide range of colors that Aussiedoodles come in, it is always an exciting time when the puppies are arriving and we get to see what colors the puppies are! They also have the capability of having blue eyes, one of my favorite characteristics of the breed! Aussiedoodles have a typical life span of 10-12 years.
A Couple Puppy Raising Tips:
1. Crate Train!! No matter how much they complain early on, it's their safe place when you can't watch them and they need to be home alone. Always take off the collar though, to prevent choking, cover the crate and put a filled kong or other safe treat in the crate with them to make it a positive place to go. NEVER use the crate for punishment or time out. If you feed your puppy early and take water away 2-3 hours before their last potty break they should be able to sleep or go for 6 hours in a crate. All dogs are different though and some mature slower. We start all the puppies on crate training while they are still with us at around 6-7 weeks. They usually go home able to be in a crate for close to 4-6 hours each night (depending on puppy). When starting to crate train, make sure you get a crate with a divider so you can reduce the space in the crate, a puppy will not go potty where it sleeps, unless it absolutely has to! If you make the crate big, they will go potty in a corner and sleep in the rest of it.
2. House breaking... In the beginning make sure you take them out often and watch for cues as to when they have to go potty. Bells on the door work great, every time you take them out to go potty have them tap the bells on the door before going out. When you take them out, its not play time, tell them to potty/do their business or whatever phrase you want. When they go, give them lots of praise and a small treat! Also, don't give them free range over the whole house until they are potty trained in part of the house, the kitchen or anywhere where there is hard floor works great (especially if there are accidents). All the puppies should be doggy door trained when they leave here, very rarely do we have puppies that go potty in the kennel at the time they leave at 8 weeks- they all go outside. This helps with house training and them knowing where they need to go potty. They are started on the doggy door at around 4-6 weeks of age and know how to use it fully by the time they leave. Zak George on YouTube has some great videos to watch on house training and puppy training in general!
3. Nipping: I touched on this earlier with their herding instincts, but all pups nip and explore with their mouth. If they nip you, you want to use a sharp YIPE (like their litter-mates would do if they were bit too hard), then say "easy" or "no bite" and give them an appropriate toy. If they continue to nibble or bite on your skin, a loud NO and then get up and walk away, all play and attention should stop, but not too long- you don't want to break the spirit, only the habit. If you are having trouble with making this work, gently put your hand around their muzzle and squeeze gently until they whine. They will most likely retaliate and try to nip again, at this time do the same but just a little harder, continue to do so until they realize it isn't a game and you are serious. This is what the mother would do, by putting her mouth over the puppies mouth and gently squeezing.
4. Socialization: When your puppy first comes home, try to introduce them to 100 new people in their first 10 days at home. Sounds crazy but not really, its just 10 a day. I would take them to canine friendly stores or stand outside the store... you want your puppy touched, held, and fussed over by any stranger you can round up. Then... puppy socialization, true you can't have them around other dogs until fully vaccinated at 16 weeks, but you can bring them around family and friends dogs you know to be vaccinated. These two things will get your puppy used to people and other dogs right away!!
5. Exposure: You will want to expose your puppy to a lot of noises- pans falling on the floor, vacuum, blender, motorcycles, cars, etc. In addition things you may encounter while on walks such as bikes, skateboards, strollers, people in wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc. They take their cues from us, if we are ok with what's around us, they will learn to be as well. We play a CD while the puppies are still with us with various sounds on it- fireworks, vacuum, baby crying, car, horns honking, etc. in hopes that it gets the puppies used to these noises and they aren't as scared of them when they go to their new homes.
6. Last but not least: A tired dog is a good dog!! If they are properly stimulated, fed, and watered, they're happy to relax and be wherever you are and doing whatever you are doing. But, most importantly, IGNORE the bad and REWARD the good! Dogs really want to please us, that is their most important job! If they are told positively what is expected of them, they will do just that! Train your puppy before it trains you!!
MDR1 Information (IMPORTANT!!!!)
A common mutation with Aussies is the MDR1 Gene. Even if your dog is clear for MDR1 there has still been cases of dogs reacting to medication that they are sensitive to. Because of this, we are going to attach links to a few articles on this and want you to find a vet that is familiar with the effects drugs related to MDR1 can cause. The MDR1 gene is a gene that shouldn't ever cause issues if the drugs are used at appropriate levels, but it is when these sensitive drugs are overdosed when the neurological issues arise. Working and having a close relationship with your vet is key to keeping your dog happy and healthy! Attached below are several articles on MDR1 that could be helpful for you to read! Let us know if you have any questions about any of this and we will try to be as helpful as possible!