This article has recently been revised! The article used to be called, "Why you should not adopt an Aussiedoodle." (https://www.rebeccacreekretrievers.com/why-you-should-not-adopt-an-aussiedoodle) Over the years we have learned so much in our Aussiedoodle breeding journey and we try to keep this article as up-to-date as possible.
This Article is All About Aussiedoodle Breeding at Rebecca Creek Retrievers
Our mission at Rebecca Creek Retrievers is to educate the public about responsible Aussiedoodle breeding, Aussiedoodle puppy ownership, and Aussiedoodle training.
We have come to appreciate, respect, and love the cross between the Standard Poodle and Australian Shepherd.
Many breeders will take a Poodle and an Aussie (Australian Shepherd) and breed them together without consideration for structure or temperament. These breeders might be focusing on pretty merle coats or striking blue eyes.
Instead, we have carefully procured breeding dogs of each pure breed that complement each other in temperament and structure.
Keep reading to learn more about Aussiedoodle breeding, Aussiedoodle puppies, and whether or not the Aussiedoodle is the right breed match for you and your family.
We Can Only Speak For Our Dogs
Yep, that's right.
Everything that you will read here in this article applies to our Aussiedoodles, but not necessarily all Aussiedoodles.
That's because every dog is an individual with a unique personality and set of traits. The Aussiedoodle is a mixed-breed dog, so the traits that each puppy ends up with can be unpredictable if a breeder is inexperienced.
When we discuss the health and temperament of our Aussiedoodles, we are not trying to generalize all Aussiedoodle health and temperament. The truth is that every breeder has a different ethos and different goals.
So, if you're considering an Aussiedoodle, please discuss health and temperament with the breeder and work with a breeder who can answer all of your questions.
Navigating This Article
This is an extensive article that is meant to serve several purposes:
We want to tell you all about the health and temperament of the Aussiedoodles in our program.
We want to share our Aussiedoodle breeding journey with you.
We want to educate you on how to make responsible choices when choosing an Aussiedoodle breeder and buying an Aussiedoodle puppy.
We recommend you read this entire article, however, if you would like to jump to a particular section, go ahead:
What is an Aussiedoodle?
An Aussiedoodle is a mixed-breed dog that is produced by crossing two pure breeds, the Poodle and the Australian Shepherd.
At Rebecca Creek Retrievers, we use Standard Poodles for breeding. We have used both Australian Shepherds and Miniature American Shepherds.
The reason many breeders produce this mix is to obtain a lower-shedding dog that is similar to the Australian Shepherd in temperament, size, and color.
We like this mix because we feel that the Aussiedoodle provides exceptional companionship to individuals and families who desire a dog who is also very active and fun to train and play with.
Aussiedoodle Appearance
Aussiedoodles can come in any color, as there is no breed standard for the cross.
Poodles come in a rainbow of colors, and when crossed with Australian Shepherds the resulting puppies can be any of these colors. The color of pups depends on the color genetics of the parents.
Some common Aussiedoodle colors are:
Red merle
Blue merle
Black
Brown
Cream/Apricot
Tri-colored
Aussiedoodles can also come in any size since they are a mixed breed.
Generally speaking, Aussiedoodles come in four sizes:
Toy- Under 15 pounds
Mini- 15-30 pounds
Medium- 35-50 pounds
Standard- Over 50 pounds
When estimating the adult size for an Aussiedoodles puppy, you cannot simply assume that your puppy will be an average of its parent's weights.
For example, some breeders will breed a 10-pound toy poodle and a 50-pound Australian Shepherd and then tell customers that all of the puppies will mature to a weight of 30 pounds, with 30 being the average of 10 and 50. This is not how genetics work! Some puppies in the litter will be 10 pounds at maturity, others 20 pounds, others 30-40 pounds, and some of the puppies may grow as large as 50 pounds!
To predict adult size, you need to evaluate adult size at least three generations back. Be sure your breeder can do this if the adult size of your puppy is important to you.
Aussiedoodle coat type can also be varied and it depends on the coat type of the parent dogs.
Most Poodles have a curly and coarse coat that doesn't shed and that continuously grows. Most Australian Shepherds have a thick and long double coat that sheds all of the time but sheds most heavily during Spring and Summer months.
You can expect the Aussiedoodle to have a mix of both of these coat types. Just like size genetics, coat genetics are complicated and each puppy within a litter can have a completely different type of coat. Generally, Aussiedoodles will have a wavy to curly double coat that sheds much less than an Australian Shepherd. These coats grow continuously and need professional grooming often.
The curlier the coat, the less the shedding and the more grooming needed.
Aussiedoodle Health
Aussiedoodles have the advantage of having a lower COI (coefficient of inbreeding) since they are a mixed breed. A lower COI often points to an increased genetic health advantage, as the inbreeding within purebred dogs is known to increase the risk of congenital issues and long-term vitality in dogs.
However, genetic health should still be highly considered when breeding Aussiedoodles. Even though puppies will have a lower COI than their parents, which is a great health benefit, puppies can still inherit genetic conditions from both parents.
Aussiedoodle health testing is paramount in producing healthy puppies who have a much lower risk of developing genetic health conditions.
Continue reading to learn more about Aussiedoodle health testing.
Aussiedoodle Temperament
Generally, Aussiedoodles are high-energy, fun-loving dogs who are very smart and eager to learn new things.
They love to play fetch and chase things. They need both daily exercise (1-2 hours of very active movement, like running) and mental stimulation (lots of chewing & treat puzzles).
Aussiedoodles are generally very friendly with other dogs and people, however, it's important to work with a breeder that trains and socializes their adult dogs so that they are aware of how the dogs interact with other people and animals.
Aussiedoodles can be prone to hyperactivity and separation anxiety. This is something to be aware of and to discuss with your breeder.
Aussiedoodle temperament can vary greatly because the Aussiedoodle is a mixed breed. Each puppy will inherit a different combination of traits from its parents.
What we mean by this is that each puppy in the litter may be considerably different from the other. This is why it is crucial to work with a breeder who does some form of temperament or personality testing and helps match puppies to families when puppies are older.
If working with a breeder that allows you to reserve a puppy prior to about 6-7 weeks, which is when personality or temperament testing can be done, then you are at risk of purchasing a puppy with a temperament that does not align with your lifestyle.
Health Testing for Aussiedoodles
We refer to the OFA's (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) guidelines for health testing. The OFA provides health testing guidelines for purebred dogs through their CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) program.
So, we recommend that breeders complete all of the recommended health testing for both Australian Shepherds and Poodles. This could also include Miniature American Shepherd if that breed is used in the mix.
Overall the health of the Aussiedoodle is expected to be good, considering the breeder health tests their adult dogs and provides great care to the mother and puppies.
Here are the health tests that are recommended for all adult Aussiedoodle breeding dogs:
ACVO Eye Examination. Results registered with OFA.
DNA-based prcd-PRA (Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration) test from an approved laboratory; results registered with OFA
Veterinary Evaluation of Patellar Luxation. Results registered with OFA. Minimum age 1 year.
One of the following:
Basic Cardiac Exam
OFA Radiographic Elbow Evaluation
(Optional but recommended)
If you are working with a breeder who is selling puppies from adult dogs who do not have proof of the above health clearances being completed, you should be aware that this puppy is at risk of developing any of the above inherited conditions.
Always request proof of health testing. You should be able to verify all testing through the OFA website. Click here to view an example of one of our breeding dogs. You can clearly see their health clearances listed as well as the passing results.
Aussiedoodle breeders must test all breeding dogs for the merle gene.
Merle is a unique dog color/pattern that is caused by a genetic mutation. Merle is a highly sought-after color in Aussiedoodles. Continue reading to learn more about merle Aussiedoodles.
Merle Aussiedoodles
I want to address another aspect of the Aussiedoodle: Blue Merle Aussiedoodles and Red Merle Aussiedoodles.
Australian Shepherds are a breed built around recessive color genetics and susceptible color gene mutations. These include the recessive "tan point" (phantom) genes and the dominant merle mutation. That's right–the merle color gene results from a mutation.
When breeding dogs are selected and paired with a primary focus on color traits, other essential characteristics such as health, structure, and temperament can be easily de-prioritized or ignored.
We select our breeding pairs for health, structure, and temperament first. Our litters include various colors and patterns: black, brown, apricot, cream, merle, phantom, parti, and abstract. We embrace all of these colors and patterns.
We are breeding Aussiedoodles because we enjoy their personalities. We are selecting breeding pairs that complement each other in health, structure, and temperament, with little regard for color or pattern except for the merle mutation.
Merle dogs attract a lot of attention. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so we can't say that merle dogs attract attention simply because they are beautiful. However, there is no denying the fact that they are indeed very unique in appearance!
Merle is a color mutation that does not behave the same as other color traits. Two merle dogs should never be bred together, as this can result in blind and deaf puppies. When two merle dogs are bred together, the puppies are known as "double merle." Double merle puppies often have severe, life-altering health problems, as described above.
All merle dogs should undergo extensive health testing before breeding to ensure that they do not have any health problems related to this mutation.
Some dogs are genetically merle (they carry the merle mutation) but do not have a merle coat pattern. They are known as "cryptic merles" or "hidden merles." This trait can be especially dangerous because these dogs do not look like merles but have the potential to pass on the merle mutation to offspring. If a cryptic merle is bred to a merle, the resulting offspring can be double merle, meaning they are at a high risk of being born with severe congenital defects.
The puppy pictured below is one from one of our past litters. She is cream in color with hazel eyes and no merle markings to speak of on her body. However, we discovered through genetic testing that this puppy is cryptic merle or hidden merle.
This means that without genetic testing and the knowledge of this puppy being genetically merle, this puppy could be mated by an ignorant individual to another merle dog, resulting in double merle puppies who are at a severely high risk of having serious life-altering congenital conditions.
This is why finding a breeder who thoroughly health tests their breeding dogs and understands how genetics work is crucial when looking for an Aussiedoodle puppy.
This is also why many breeders require you to spay or neuter your puppy and do not authorize you to breed the puppy.
Important considerations, like the merle consideration discussed above, must be made before breeding and the average pet home is not willing to invest the time and money required to breed correctly.
Your dog's color will not affect your lifelong relationship with the dog
It is crucial to keep the above statement in mind when looking for an Aussiedoodle puppy for sale because it's true! The color of your puppy will not determine the puppy's temperament or personality. But the color of your puppy might affect his health. Take all of this information into account when interviewing breeders.
Aussiedoodle Pedigrees
Please look for a breeder with registered purebred parent dogs or one who can provide, at minimum, three-generation pedigrees for every breeding dog.
Registration is not as important as having honest pedigrees. A dog can be unregistered, but the breeder can still have access to quality pedigrees that show that dog's lineage. This is important to prevent inbreeding.
An ethical breeder will be willing to furnish a copy of pedigrees for their dogs upon request. A pedigree is not the same as registration papers.
A dog's pedigree refers to the lineage or family tree of the dog, including information about the dog's ancestors and their characteristics. On the other hand, dog registration papers officially register a dog with a particular organization, such as the American Kennel Club (AKC) or United Kennel Club (UKC).
Aussiedoodles are a mixed breed of dog and cannot be registered with any legitimate registries.
Reasons to Not Purchase an Aussiedoodle
Here are some of the most popular reasons people purchase Aussiedoodles and why you should not if these are your reasons-
I want an Aussiedoodle because they have blue eyes! This is a vain and insignificant reason to purchase a dog that needs specialized care and training. Your Aussiedoodle puppy's eye color will not be a reflection of his adult temperament and personality.
I want an Aussiedoodle because they are merle! Not all Aussiedoodles are merle. Color and coat pattern will not affect your lifelong relationship with your Aussiedoodle. Special considerations should be taken into account by breeders who breed merle dogs.
I want an Aussiedoodle because they don't shed! Aussiedoodles are not hypoallergenic. The Aussiedoodle is a mixed breed dog and unless you DNA test each puppy, you will not know their coat genetics or whether they will shed. Most Aussiedoodles will shed a little bit. If you have severe allergies, proceed with caution. Also, keep in mind that lower shedding equals more grooming.
I want an Aussiedoodle because I had Australian Shepherds growing up, and now I want one that doesn't shed. An Aussiedoodle is not an Australian Shepherd. It is a mixed breed dog resulting from two very different pure breeds. While your Aussiedoodle may remind you of your past Aussies, it will remain a very different type of dog and should not be compared to a purebred Aussie or a purebred Poodle. Remember, lower shedding equals more grooming. Your Aussiedoodle will need regular grooming by a professional, whereas an Australian Shepherd would not.
I want a smaller doodle. I don't want a big dog! The Aussiedoodle is a mixed-breed dog. Predicting adult size based solely on your puppy's parents is not effective. Adult size and weight depend on many generations of genetics. Your breeder needs to be knowledgeable about their parent dogs at least 3 generations back to accurately predict adult size and weight.
I want an Aussiedoodle because they are so smart! Aussiedoodles are easy to train if you are an experienced trainer or follow a structured training program. Aussiedoodles are more intelligent than you think, which means without training, they will create their own rules (and you will NOT like the rules they come up with!).
Should I rescue or adopt an Aussiedoodle?
Typing "Aussiedoodle rescue near me" or even "mini Aussiedoodle rescue near me" may heed a few pages of confusing and sporadic search results.
There are no rescue organizations to date that specialize in the Aussiedoodle.
In other words, no Aussiedoodle Rescues offer Aussiedoodle puppies for adoption. There is no Aussiedoodle Rescue organization in Texas.
Aussiedoodle rescue (adoption) is not recommended for beginner dog owners, or for dog owners who do not have experience with Australian Shepherds.
Dogs that are mild-mannered and easy to live with do not often end up in rescues. These dogs often remain in permanent homes for a lifetime as beloved pets.
So, when considering adopting an Aussiedoodle rescue, please consider the special needs and potential undesirable traits that a dog may possess.
It is my opinion that you should save up your money and work with a responsible breeder of Aussiedoodles.
I am not against rescue, however, I would reserve this method of obtaining a new pet for very experienced dog owners who have the time and money to invest in professional training.
So, you think you want an Aussiedoodle puppy?
Keep reading to learn more about what it is like to own an Aussiedoodle and what to look for in a breeder when searching for a new Aussiedoodle puppy from a responsible source.
Look for a Responsible Aussiedoodle Breeder
Between 2020-2023, I retired four purebred Australian Shepherd puppies & dogs that I had purchased from other ethical breeders.
I withdrew all of these dogs from my program before I ever bred them!
I am sharing the following information without photos or identifiable information regarding the breeders of these puppies and dogs. The breeders I worked with were responsible and ethical, and in every one of these situations, these breeders made ethical decisions to help me place these puppies and dogs in loving pet homes.
Responsible breeders understand that despite our best efforts in health testing and selecting compatible breeding pairs, many factors can still be out of our control.
That is why looking for a breeder with health testing and temperament testing practices is imperative.
It is also essential to purchase a puppy with a very sound purchase contract and comprehensive health warranty.
We purchased a purebred, registered Australian Shepherd puppy with the hopes of him becoming a stud for our program. At just three months of age, he was diagnosed with congenital eye defects that had already rendered him partially blind. This was discovered through my routine but rigorous health testing practices. Thank goodness I opted for eye certification through a board-certified opthalmologist! This defect was not identified during routine vet checks and would have been passed on to offspring.
I spent thousands of dollars on purchasing and testing this puppy, only to have to retire him early from my program. This puppy was placed in a loving pet home that understands his condition.
We purchased another purebred, registered Australian Shepherd puppy with hopes of him becoming a stud for our program. At just a year of age, he was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia. We raised this puppy for an entire year from 8 weeks of age and fell in love with him! We discovered his elbow dysplasia right before we officially began his orthopedic testing. We were saddened to learn that we could not breed this beautiful puppy due to this inherited condition.
I spent thousands more dollars on purchasing and health testing this puppy and a full year of raising and training him in our home, only to have to retire him early from my program. This puppy was also placed in a loving pet home that understands his condition.
We purchased a 1-year-old purebred, registered Australian Shepherd who came from working bloodlines and grew up on a farm close by. She was an incredibly sweet and healthy dog, and we raised her for another year. As she matured she started showing signs of high herding drive with some nipping, as well as separation anxiety and anxiety to thunderstorms. These are not traits that we wish to pass on to new puppies, and all of these traits are inheritable.
We retired this dog before breeding her and placed her in a loving pet home. This decision was particularly difficult. It's one thing to retire a puppy or dog early because of health issues. It's especially difficult to retire a friendly, beautiful, healthy dog due to minor temperament nuances.
Finally, we purchased another 1-year-old dog from a breeder to breed her someday to produce Aussiedoodle puppies. After investing further in health testing, we decided she did not meet our strict qualifications when it comes to health and structure. We retired her before breeding and placed her in a loving pet home.
This is where Rebecca Creek Retrievers and other very discerning Aussiedoodle breeders stand apart from unethical breeders. We select only the very best of the best to breed and propagate our lines!
Look for an Aussiedoodle breeder with these same standards.
What's In a Price?
It is difficult to answer the question, "How much does an Aussiedoodle puppy cost?" without further context or information about a breeder's program.
Our puppies cost $2500 regardless of the breed, gender, or color, as the same time, effort, and financial investment goes into every litter.
You can find Aussiedoodle puppies from breeders that range in price from $500-$3000. That's a huge range! So, how do you know when a puppy's price is fair?
Consider these factors when it comes to the cost of purchasing an Aussiedoodle puppy-
Puppies that come from health-tested parents will cost more money. Be sure you can see this health testing and verify that it's legitimate.
Puppies that are raised in a home environment by a breeder who only has one litter at a time will cost more money. This is because the breeder is not mass-producing puppies and can spend more time with their litters.
Puppies that come with a health warranty and lifetime breeder support will cost more money. The process of purchasing a puppy from Rebecca Creek Retrievers is more than a transaction, it's a promise from you that you will care for your puppy for its whole life and a promise from us that we will be there to mentor you through the process.
Puppies that come with enhanced medical & socialization protocols will cost more money. These things will save you more money during your first year of puppy -ownership, too. Rebecca Creek Retriever puppies come with the above-mentioned health warranty and lifetime breeder support, but each puppy also comes with two sets of puppy shots, a pre-registered microchip, 30 days of no-cost health insurance coverage, a free online puppy-training class, and a go-home kit including food and treat samples, toys, and more.
At the end of the day, a breeder should be able and willing to tell you exactly why their puppies cost what they do.
"This is the going price for Aussiedoodles right now!" is not an acceptable answer regarding why a breeder is charging what they are.
Do not work with a breeder who is not able to explain the reasoning behind their pricing structure.
Plan to spend a little more money to purchase a higher quality puppy from a breeder who will support you through your journey of dog ownership.
Are you Ready to Become a Dog Trainer?
Aussiedoodles can be phenomenal dogs when bred using careful calculations and scrutiny from breeders.
Selecting complimentary breeding pairs will result in puppies that are intelligent, sweet and charming and that have appropriate energy levels and impulse controls.
We have found that our Aussiedoodle puppies often display both instinctual behaviors of herding and retrieving very well.
These herding behaviors are not usually apparent until 10-12 weeks of age and sometimes much later.
This is typically after puppies move in with their new families. These behaviors will surprise a family that is not prepared for them.
Herding behaviors can manifest in the following (but not limited to) ways-
Nipping at clothing or body parts while you or your children are walking (attempting to herd people)
Jumping up and nipping at the face in an attempt to get your attention
Chasing, barking and biting moving household objects such as brooms, mops, etc. (attempting to herd these items)
Chasing, barking, or nipping small children and/or small animals
High-pitched, incessant barking triggered by movement or excitement
Trying to suppress these instinctive behaviors forcefully or simply ignoring them will create a very naughty dog with uncontrollable neurotic urges and behaviors.
Limiting these instinctive behaviors to controlled situations where the dog can relieve these desires while remaining composed and obedient requires thorough obedience training and daily stimulation.
We encourage owners to provide an outlet for these behaviors (rather than attempting to suppress them), such as lure coursing, herding trials, or even just playing a nice long game of fetch every day! These instinctual behaviors need to be appropriately fed and nurtured to keep your Aussiedoodle happy and well-behaved.
Aussiedoodles love to chew! We consider them to be moderate chewers, and they need to have access to hard, yummy things to chew on at almost all times.
If your puppy gets the urge to chew and doesn't have something close by that he is allowed to chew on, he will seek out something of yours to chew on to relieve this instinctual urge to chew.
Our First Litter of Aussiedoodles at Rebecca Creek Retrievers
It took me almost 10 years to finally cave in and attempt my first Poodle - Australian Shepherd cross, also known as an Aussiedoodle. My husband has a family member with a phenomenal Miniature American Shepherd.
We met the dog and interacted with him over a weekend vacation and just knew that Chet (the Aussie) and our small Standard Poodle, Chloe, needed to have puppies.
We made a calculated but great choice to pair Chet & Chloe together back in 2018. The puppies were not only gorgeous, but they were sweet, intelligent, and entertaining. They remain to be one of our most popular litters to date.
The Miniature American Shepherd (Mini Aussie)
Please notice a few things about Chet, the Miniature American Shepherd pictured above. He is smaller than an average-sized standard Australian Shepherd; however, he looks identical to one in structure and other physical features. He does not have short legs or pricked ears. He looks like an Aussie, only smaller!
This proper structure indicates sound breeding decisions by his owner and we are so proud to have Chet at the foundation of our Aussiedoodle lines.
Chet comes from foundation Miniature American Shepherd stock. Many dogs from this original breeding stock are not registered with large pedigree databases such as the AKC.
The Miniature American Shepherd was created by carefully breeding small Australian Shepherds together over many generations.
The Miniature American Shepherd is now an AKC-recognized breed thanks to the hard work of focused breeders!
Original DNA testing when we bred Chet & Chloe showed that Chet was an Australian Shepherd.
We recently DNA-tested a litter of Chet's descendants, and the results came back with "Miniature American Shepherd" present alongside Australian Shepherd! Genetics are so interesting, and the companies that offer these testing services are constantly evolving and improving.
"Mini Aussies" and "Toy Aussies" are not the same as the AKC Registered Miniature American Shepherds.
Be aware that the "Mini Aussie" and "Toy Aussie" are not regulated pure breeds of dogs, so you cannot be assured of their breeding quality unless the breeder can furnish extensive pedigree records.
Learning and Growing From Our Very First Litter of Aussiedoodle Pups
We learned a lot from our very first litter of Aussiedoodles.
We discovered that we would need to continue to carefully select Aussiedoodle breeding pairs based on structure, health, and especially temperament.
These Aussiedoodle puppies displayed a very balanced mix of herding and guardian traits from the Australian Shepherd (or Miniature American Shepherd), as well as the enhanced intelligence and composure of the Standard Poodle.
We learned that Aussiedoodles can be prone to hyperactivity and separation anxiety.
We decided to make future breeding decisions that would preserve the traits that we loved while suppressing some of the traits that we didn't love.
Planning our Future Generations of Aussiedoodle Pups
We kept one of the pups from that very first litter of Aussiedoodles out of Chet and Chloe, born in 2018. Our plan with this pup was to someday breed back to a Standard Poodle to create even more predictability in coat type and temperament.
The Aussiedoodle puppy that we kept is named Opal. Opal matured to be one of the most amazing Ausseidoodle dogs we have been privileged to know. She was raised in a Guardian Home and spent a lot of time here with us, too.
Here is a video of Opal the Aussiedoodle so that you can get to know her better:
Opal whelped three outstanding Aussiedoodle litters for our program and has helped us grow our Aussiedoodle lines.
Opal displays minimal herding behaviors but is fiercely loyal and quietly protective of her family. She completed her formal training at just 1.5 years of age to become an Aussiedoodle service dog for her owner.
We are so proud of Opal and her Aussiedoodle breeding and Aussiedoodle training accomplishments!
More Generations of Aussiedoodle Pups
After completing her health testing and allowing her to properly mature and complete service dog training, we bred Opal to a black poodle named Otis.
Otis is a healthy, friendly, spunky poodle who has a great temperament and was easy to train as a puppy. He is well-behaved and smart.
This was Opal's very first litter of pups, the litter that we discussed above.
The puppies in this litter were beautiful, sweet, and smart. This was a very popular litter!
We kept a puppy named Sadie from this litter in 2020.
Sadie is cream in color. When we chose to keep Sadie, we considered things like health, structure, and temperament.
Sadie had a curly coat and did not test positive for the merle gene. This is important because the cream coat color can hide a merle coat pattern, and all cream Aussiedoodles should be tested for merle before breeding!
Sadie has matured into a phenomenal Aussiedoodle. Sadie represents our second generation of Aussiedoodles! She is approximately 25% Aussie and 75% Poodle.
Sadie displays minimal herding behaviors. She is fun to train, spunky, and active like the Australian Shepherd. She is witty and uber-smart, like the Standard Poodle. Her Guardian Home raised Sadie, and her favorite thing is to go squirrel hunting with her owner.
Here is a video of Sadie the Aussiedoodle so you can get to know her better:
We loved our first litter out of Opal and Otis so much, we did it again! Opal and Otis had two litters together.
Here are some puppies from the second litter out of Opal and Otis in 2020:
Breeding Aussiedoodles with Goldendoodles
For Opal's third and final litter in 2021, we bred her to our Goldendoodle stud, Duke. We called these puppies Aussiedoodles, even though there was a small percentage of Golden Retriever in the mix. This is because the puppies maintained all of the Aussiedoodle traits we were hoping to pass on.
These puppies were particularly impressive! We DNA-tested every puppy. Most were perfect combinations of all three breeds, composed of 25% Miniature American Shepherd, 25% English Golden Retriever, and 50% Standard Poodle.
We chose to try this cross because we wanted to bring in some of the English Golden Retriever sturdiness (structure) and add even more genetic diversity to our Aussiedoodle lines. We also wanted to bring the energy level of our Aussiedoodles down a bit.
Remember, an Aussiedoodle is a mixed-breed dog. Why not add a bit of Golden Retriever to enhance this fantastic cross even more?
Here are some photos of Opal and Duke's Golden Aussiedoodle puppies:
We decided to keep a puppy from this 2021 litter and named her River. Someday we would like to add her to our breeding dog lineup for our Aussiedoodle program!
So far, River is maturing to be a beautiful dog and a well-behaved, loyal, intelligent, and trainable Aussiedoodle.
We hope River will make her debut as a mom in 2024! River's puppies will also represent our third generation of Rebecca Creek Retriever Aussiedoodles.
Here is a video of River so that you can get to know her better:
Continuing the Aussiedoodle Breeding Project with New Bloodlines
The same year we bred Opal to Duke (2021), we bred Opal's mom, Chloe, a Standard Poodle, to a small Australian Shepherd named Oakley. Oakley is a registered, purebred Australian Shepherd who belongs to an Australian Shepherd breeder in Texas and his breeder is terrific!
Here is a photo of Oakley the small Australian Shepherd.
This litter of F1 Aussiedoodles born in 2021 was another excellent example of this famous doodle cross!
Here are some photos of puppies from that litter.
A few puppies from this litter earned AKC Titles at just 12 weeks of age! They were so smart and easy to train.
We kept a puppy from this litter and placed her in a Guardian Home. We named her Oakley, after her sire.
Oakley displays some herding characteristics and many retriever characteristics! She lives with her Guardian Home in Arkansas. It's a little far from our home here in South Texas, but her owners are family members, and we couldn't be happier about the extra-special life she lives.
We hope Oakley will make her debut as a mom in 2024!
Here is a video of Oakley so that you can get to know her better:
Our Latest Generations of Aussiedoodle Pups
Sadie finally made her debut as a mother in 2023!
These puppies are our third generation of Rebecca Creek Retriever Aussiedoodles! For this litter, we paired Sadie with our phenomenal Goldendoodle stud, Duke.
We made a similar pairing decision when we bred Opal to Duke back in 2021. We loved that litter so much and became confident while raising the puppy that we kept from that litter, River, that crossing the Aussiedoodle and Goldendoodle was a great idea.
We couldn't be happier with our decision to breed Sadie the Aussiedoodle with Duke the Goldendoodle.
Here are some pictures of puppies from this litter:
We chose not to keep a puppy from this litter for future breeding because the timing was not quite right for us. But believe me, it was hard not to keep one!
Even though these puppies do have some Golden Retriever in the mix, we still decided to refer to them as Aussiedoodles because it is less confusing for those seeking this mix.
Once we start a dialogue with a potential customer, we inform them of our decision to bring Golden Retriever into our Aussiedoodle mix so that each family can make an informed purchase.
Our Aussiedoodle, Oakley, had F1b Aussiedoodle pups in April of 2024! We are amazed by the beauty and temperament of these pups. The sire is our very own Standard Poodle, Roady.
Here are some pictures of puppies from the litter:
Why we Love our Aussiedoodle Dogs at Rebecca Creek Retrievers
We LOVE our Aussiedoodles! After our first litter was such a success, we decided to work towards making the Aussiedoodle a permanent part of our program.
Here are some things that we LOVE about our Aussiedoodles that are unique to the breed:
Aussiedoodles are lower-shedding dogs than their purebred Australian Shepherd counterparts. The level of shedding will vary significantly between puppies and puppies in the same litter. However, we appreciate that Aussiedoodles shed less than Aussies and are typically easier to groom than purebred Poodles.
Aussiedoodles are SO MUCH FUN to train. This is a double-edged sword, as discussed earlier in this blog post. If you are not interested in becoming a dog trainer, this is not the breed for you. Aussiedoodles will develop very naughty habits quickly without training. However, if you are hands-on with your dogs and love to train, this breed is for you! Aussiedoodles thrive with constant engagement and stimulation. The sky is the limit regarding what you can teach these dogs. Our Aussiedoodles outsmart and outperform even our purebred Poodle puppies and consistently surpass them in training classes.
Aussiedoodles are HILARIOUS! The aloof and witty Poodle combined with the goofy and wiggly Aussie is magical. These puppies are just fun to sit back and watch.
Aussiedoodles are loving and loyal. Like the Australian Shepherd and the Poodle, these dogs love their people and are undyingly loyal to their owners.
"Aussiedoodle Puppies For Sale" Due-Diligence Checklist
Are you ready to become a dog trainer?
Proper training requires time and money. Are you ready to invest both into your puppy?
Are you ready for the grooming requirements that low to non-shedding dogs come with?
Are you ready to spend 4-5 hours a day training, caring for, and playing with your Aussiedoodle?
If your schedule does not allow for that time, are you ready to hire a qualified individual to step in and help?
