Side by side
Put a few breeds side by side before you make up your mind.
Pick up to four. The URL updates as you go, so you can send this comparison to whoever you are arguing with.
| Breed |  Aussiedoodle |  Australian Shepherd |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | The Aussiedoodle is a modern American designer cross, first bred in the 1990s and 2000s alongside the wider doodle trend, pairing the Australian Shepherd, itself developed in the western United States to herd livestock on ranches, with the Poodle, an old European water retriever prized for intelligence and a low-shedding coat. Breeders aimed to combine the Australian Shepherd's working drive and trainability with the Poodle's coat, and the cross is now bred in both mini and standard sizes depending on the Poodle parent used. | United States |
| Group | Crossbreed | Pastoral |
| Size | Medium to Large | Medium |
| Coat | Wavy to curly double-textured coat, often low shedding, in blue merle, red merle, black tri, red tri or solid colouring with occasional white or copper markings | Medium length, weather resistant double coat |
| Weight | 9 to 32 kg | 14 to 30 kg |
| Height | 30 to 60 cm | 46 to 58 cm |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 yrs | 12 to 15 yrs |
| Exercise need | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Affection | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Grooming needs | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Barking | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Good with children | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Good with other dogs | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Trainability | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Prey drive | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Copes alone | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Drool | 1/10 | 2/10 |
| Shedding | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Flat fit | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Running cost | €192 / month | €130 / month |
Aussiedoodle verdict
The Australian Shepherd-Poodle cross built for brains, energy and a job to do
Get one if
- · Active households able to provide an hour or more of exercise and mental work daily
- · Experienced owners comfortable with a sensitive, intelligent dog that needs consistent training
- · Families with older, confident children who understand not to encourage nipping or chasing
Think again if
- · Households that are out at work for long hours with no plan for exercise or company
- · First-time owners wanting a calm, low-effort dog
- · Flats or homes without reliable access to space for proper daily exercise
Australian Shepherd verdict
An intelligent, high energy pastoral dog that requires a dedicated job to thrive.
Get one if
- · Active individuals who enjoy daily hiking or running
- · Owners interested in competitive dog sports like agility
- · Families who can provide structured training and tasks
Think again if
- · Sedentary households with minimal activity levels
- · Owners who are away from home for most of the day
- · Families expecting a calm dog with no training requirements