There are many different Doodle breeds around, but the Goldendoodle and Aussiedoodle are among the most popular. It can be difficult to choose between these two hybrid breeds, but we are here to make the process a whole lot simpler for you!
In this piece, we will be comparing the Aussiedoodle and the Goldendoodle breeds, so that you can figure out which of these two mixed-breed dogs will be best for you and your family.
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Table of Contents
What Is An Aussiedoodle?
The Aussiedoodle is a hybrid breed that is a cross between an Australian Shepherd and either a Standard or Miniature Poodle. Like many other Doodle breeds, Aussiedoodles were mainly bred to be companion dogs, but they are also sometimes used for herding livestock, and retrieving game.
Both parent breeds are playful and loving, so the Aussiedoodle generally takes the best qualities from both of its parents.
Aussiedoodles are often also called Aussiepoos or Aussiepoodles.
What is A Goldendoodle?
The Goldendoodle is the more established Doodle breed, and it is often the first one people think of. Goldendoodles are created when a Golden Retriever parent is crossed with a Poodle of any size.
Goldendoodles also tend to inherit the best traits from both of their parent breeds. They are often playful, fun-loving, and obedient, which is why they make great family dogs.
While they are mainly bred to be companions these days, they were originally bred to be used as guide dogs. Besides making great companions and guide dogs, Goldendoodles are also used as therapy dogs, service dogs, and sniffer dogs.
Goldendoodles can also be called Groodles.
Aussiedoodle Vs Goldendoodle Characteristics
Let’s compare the characteristics of both the Goldendoodle and the Aussiedoodle, so you can determine the similarities and differences between these two hybrid breeds.
Size
Size is an important factor to consider when choosing dog breeds. You can’t keep a very large dog in a small space like an apartment. The sizes of both of these mixed breeds generally depend on the size of the Poodle parent that was used to breed them.
Aussiedoodle
The size of an Aussiedoodle will depend on the size of its Poodle parent. Aussiedoodles with Toy Poodle parents will be 14 inches or shorter. Aussiedoodles with Miniature Poodle parents will be between 14 and 20 inches tall, and an Aussiedoodle with a Standard Poodle parent will stand as tall as 25 inches.
Goldendoodle
Miniature Goldendoodles are usually between 13 and 20 inches tall. Medium or Moyen Goldendoodles stand between 17 and 20 inches tall. Standard Goldendoodles stand between 20 and 24 inches tall.
Weight
Both of these two breeds are quite similar in size, and they also tend to be quite similar in weight. Don’t be too worried if your dog weighs slightly more or slightly less than these average ranges, as all dogs are unique.
Aussiedoodle
An Aussiedoodle’s weight ranges between 25 and 70 pounds. Aussiedoodles with a Miniature Poodle parent should generally weigh between 25 and 45 pounds. Aussiedoodles with a Standard Poodle parent are a bit heavier and often weigh between 45 and 70 pounds.
Goldendoodle
Goldendoodles come in a variety of sizes, so their weight range varies dramatically.
- Mini Goldendoodles should weigh between 25 and 30 pounds.
- Medium Goldendoodles should weigh between 30 and 40 pounds.
- Standard Goldendoodles weigh between 50 and 60 pounds.
Appearance
The appearance of these two mixed-breed dogs can vary greatly, as there isn’t really a breed standard to go on. But, in this section, we’ll tell you what these hybrid breeds generally look like.
Aussiedoodle
Aussiedoodles tend to come in three coat types. They can have straight, fleece, or even curly coats, depending on how strong the Poodle genes are. They come in a few different colors, which are black, gray, tan, red, and white.
In some cases, it is possible to find blue merle and red merle Aussiedoodles, but they are incredibly rare. So, you shouldn’t set your heart on these coat colors!
Goldendoodle
A Goldendoodle can have a flat coat, curly coat, wavy coat, or double coat, but this will once again depend on the Poodle parent. Goldendoodles come in more colors than Aussiedoodles, and pet owners may be able to choose from black, apricot, copper, white, cream, golden, gray, and red.
Shades of brown are the most common color, but keep in mind that Goldendoodles tend to get lighter in color as they grow older.
Temperament
Goldendoodles and Aussiedoodles are both friendly, highly intelligent hybrid breeds. The fact that they are both crossed with Poodles means only their Golden Retriever and Australian Shepherd qualities differentiate them.
Aussiedoodle
Aussiedoodles are energetic, friendly, and eager to please, and are great around children, and other dogs. They are incredibly playful and will keep both your children and other dogs entertained at all times if you decide to get one! They really make excellent family pets.
An important thing to keep in mind is that Australian Shepherds have strong personalities due to their herding instincts. This shines through in Aussiedoodles, and they can be quite demanding when it comes to attention.
Aussiedoodles are also exceptionally loyal and will do whatever their owners ask of them.
Goldendoodle
Goldendoodles tend to be very similar to Aussiedoodles in that they are extremely friendly, playful, and energetic. They aren’t as energetic as Aussiedoodles, though, as Golden Retrievers are not as high energy as Australian Shepherds.
They are also incredibly loyal and will get on with every member of your family too, so they make great family pets.
If you want a more relaxed and less demanding Doodle breed, then the Goldendoodle will be a better choice for you.
Intelligence
Both of these mixed breeds are incredibly intelligent, thanks to the characteristics of their parent dogs. Although you might be wondering which mixed breed comes out on top in this department…
Aussiedoodle
Aussiedoodles inherit intelligence from both their Australian Shepherd parent and their Poodle parent. The Australian Shepherd genes are where most of this intelligence comes from, though.
This is because Australian Shepherds were bred to be herding dogs, and needed to be clever and crafty to get the job done. This is why Aussiedoodles tend to be more intelligent than Goldendoodles.
Goldendoodle
Golden Retrievers tend to be known for their intelligence, but since they aren’t used as working dogs as often anymore, it has waned slightly. Australian Shepherds, on the other hand, are still regularly used as herding dogs. This is why Aussiedoodles tend to be slightly more intelligent than Goldendoodles.
This is not to say that Goldendoodles aren’t intelligent, though. They are merely slightly less intelligent than Aussiedoodles, which is hardly a negative.
Life expectancy
The general rule with dog breeds is that the larger the dog, the shorter its life span will be. The same applies to the variations of both of these hybrid breeds.
Life expectancy is an important aspect to keep in mind before you make a purchase. It will help you determine how long your furry friend will be around, and allow you to plan accordingly.
Aussiedoodle
Aussiedoodles tend to live between 10 and 16 years. Miniature Aussiedoodles will generally get closer to 15 than Standard Aussiedoodles, due to the rule we have mentioned above.
Goldendoodle
Goldendoodles tend to live between 10 and 15 years old. Once again, Miniature Goldendoodles will live longer than Standard Goldendoodles due to them being smaller.
Health
Hybrid breeds are often healthier than purebred dogs due to them having a lower chance of contracting genetic diseases. However, this is not to say that mixed-breed dogs aren’t prone to specific health conditions.
Unfortunately, in some cases, it is possible for mixed-breed dogs to inherit genetic health conditions from both of their parent breeds. However, this is unlikely to occur if you purchase your dog from a reputable breeder and check the parent’s health records.
These two breeds are both predisposed to specific conditions relating to their eyes and skin. These conditions have, unfortunately, been inherited from the Poodle parent breed.
Aussiedoodle
Aussiedoodles are healthy dogs, but they are predisposed to some health conditions, including:
- Hip dysplasia
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Cataracts
- Epilepsy
- Autoimmune thyroiditis
- Skin allergies
Goldendoodle
Goldendoodles are also normally healthy dogs. But, they are also predisposed to certain health conditions like:
- Hip dysplasia
- Skin allergies
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Addison’s disease
- Subvalvular aortic stenosis
Price
The price of a dog is a very important aspect to consider when choosing a dog breed. Designer dog breeds often cost more than the purebred parents they are bred from. So, it is important to determine whether you will be able to afford a certain breed or not.
Remember it’s not just the initial purchase to consider – there are (extensive) ongoing costs as a dog owner too. Check out their care requirements later in the article to give you an idea of how much owning one of these breeds will cost.
Aussiedoodle
Aussiedoodles aren’t as popular or as common as Goldendoodles, which tends to drive their price down. However, the Aussiedoodle is still a designer dog breed, so you won’t be able to find one for less than $1,500.
If you are able to find an Aussiedoodle for cheaper, you should be careful. Backyard breeders and puppy farms charge much less for their dogs, but this is often because they are not kept in good conditions and have questionable bloodlines.
Goldendoodle
Goldendoodles are extremely popular dogs, which makes it very difficult for you to get your hands on one. Well-bred Goldendoodles often cost more than purebred Golden Retrievers for this very reason, so it will be difficult to find one for less than $2,000.
The same rule applies to Goldendoodles. If you find one for cheaper, make sure you are not purchasing from a backyard breeder or a puppy farm.
Aussiedoodle Vs Goldendoodle Care Requirements
Both breeds will take up a considerable amount of your time – make sure you have enough free time to dedicate to your dog and enough money to pay for everything they’ll need!
Grooming and shedding
The amount that a dog sheds and needs to be groomed should always be a priority. Some breeds have extensive grooming requirements that could cost you a lot of money or take hours to do. Some breeds also shed excessively, which means you’ll spend your life cleaning up after them! Thankfully, both Doodles are fairly low shedding.
Aussiedoodle
Aussiedoodles don’t tend to shed very much thanks to their Poodle genes. However, depending on their coat type, they may require frequent brushing. Curly coats can develop mats much more easily, which can cause skin problems if they aren’t brushed out.
If your Aussiedoodle has a curly coat, you should brush it a few times per week. But, if your dog has a straight or fleece coat, once per week will do.
Goldendoodle
Are Goldendoodles high-maintenance? Not really, in fact, the Goldendoodle sheds much less than its Golden Retriever parent, also thanks to its Poodle genes. Like the Aussiedoodle, this breed’s grooming requirements will also depend on the type of coat your specific dog has.
This means that unless your dog has a curly coat, brushing it once per week should be fine. Otherwise, a few times per week will be necessary.
Exercise needs
Exercise is important for all dogs, but some dogs need a lot more exercise than others. For this reason, you should always see how much exercise a breed needs. Otherwise, you may end up with a dog filled with pent-up energy, ready to cause mayhem at any moment!
Aussiedoodle
Aussiedoodles are very high-energy dogs and need at least two hours of exercise every day. If they don’t get this exercise and don’t feel stimulated enough, they may pick up nuisance behaviors. These include digging, chewing, barking, and trying to escape from your property.
Goldendoodle
Goldendoodles are also high-energy thanks to their Golden Retriever genes, so they also require around two hours of exercise per day.
They need this exercise for the same reason. If they aren’t stimulated enough they will also become unhappy and pick up bad habits. Remember, these are intelligent dogs that need mental stimulation and socialization, too.
Training
Some dogs can be trained very easily, while other breeds may need help from some obedience classes, so be aware of this before you make a purchase.
Aussiedoodles
Aussiedoodles might be high-energy, but they will often know when it is time to focus, unlike Goldendoodles. This makes them slightly easier to train.
Goldendoodles
Goldendoodles are incredibly intelligent, and this certainly helps a lot with training. However, they are goofier and less focused than Aussiedoodles, so they are a little more difficult to train.
FAQs
Are Aussiedoodles more energetic than Goldendoodles?
While an Australian Shepherd might be more energetic than a Golden Retriever, Aussiedoodles and Goldendoodles have very similar (high!) energy levels.
Do Aussiedoodles ever calm down?
Yes, Aussiedoodles are high-energy, and Aussiedoodle puppies can be very wild. Thankfully, by the time your Aussiedoodle turns two, it should be more relaxed.
Are Goldendoodles needy?
Yes, Goldendoodles can be quite needy, and will probably want to follow you around wherever you go. This is why you shouldn’t get a Goldendoodle if you spend lots of time away from home.