Aussiedoodles are an adorable and intelligent breed of dog that is gaining in popularity for their great personalities and hypoallergenic properties. For dog owners who want one of these cute puppies but might be concerned that an Aussiedoodle is too big, there is now a miniature version of this lovable puppy: the mini Aussiedoodle.
Mini Aussiedoodles are on top of the list of popular designer dog breeds for good reasons, too. So, is the Mini Aussiedoodle the dog for you? Here is everything you need to know about this breed.
Breed Characteristics
Adaptability
How easily a dog deals with living in an apartment. Despite the dog's size, you should also consider energy level, calmness, and friendliness.
Some breeds bond very closely with their family and are more prone to panic and separation anxiety when left alone. When left alone, they can become very destructive, bark, whine, chew and cause mayhem. These breeds do best in a home with a family member around during the day, can go to work with their owner, or recommend attending doggy day care if the owner is not home during the day.
Low sensitivity dogs are easygoing, tolerant, and resilient. They can handle a noisy and chaotic household, a loud or assertive owner, and tolerate an inconsistent or variable routine.
Short coat and little to no coat breeds are vulnerable to cold climates. These breeds will have a low cold tolerance and need to live inside in a cool climate and should have a jacket or sweater on for chilly walks.
Breeds with a thick and double coat are vulnerable to overheating. Breeds with a short nose and flat face are also vulnerable as they can't pant as well to cool themselves off. If these breeds of dog live in a warm and humid environment, you will need to be extra cautious about taking them outdoor in the heat.
Friendliness
Friendliness towards cats and humans is very different. Some breeds are gentle and accept cats readily as part of the family. Some breeds will chase, fight, or rough play with a cat and cause severe injury. However, no matter the breed, proper socialization, and training can improve the situation.
Friendliness towards other dogs. Some dogs may try to dominate other dogs and attack and fight, while others would rather play. However, no matter the breed, proper socialization, and training can improve the situation.
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members or other people he knows well. Some breeds are independent, some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while others treat everyone they know like it's their best friend.
Breed, however, isn't the only factor affecting affection levels. Proper socialization and training can improve the situation.
Kid-friendly dogs should be gentle with children, be more tolerant of screaming and running children as well as other children's behavior.
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some dogs will greet a stranger with wagging tails, while others are shy, reserved, cautious, or aggressive. However, no matter the breed, proper socialization, and training can improve the situation.
Health And Grooming
Amount of bathing, brushing, trimming, and professional grooming needs. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drool-prone dogs may drape ropes of slobber on your arm or wet spots on your clothes when they come over to say hello. If you've got a laid-back attitude toward slobber, fine. But if you are a neat freak, dogs that are drool prone may not be the right choice for you.
Due to poor breeding practices, some breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems. However, this doesn't mean that every dog of that breed will develop those diseases, and it just means that they're at an increased risk.
If you're adopting or rescuing a puppy, it's a good idea to find out which genetic illnesses are common to the breed you're interested in. You may also want to ask if your shelter or rescue has information about the physical health of your potential pup's parents and other relatives.
If you are purchasing from a breeder, be sure to do your research. Purchase from a reputable breeder and ask for the parent's health records to understand what potential health issue your pup may have.
Amount and frequency of dog hair shedding.
If you are getting a dog, you'll need to deal with some level of dog hair on your clothes and in your house. However, shedding does vary greatly among the breeds. Some dogs shed year-round, some "blow" seasonally, some do both, and some shed hardly at all.
Trainability
Easy-to-train dogs are more adept at forming an association between a prompt, an action, and a reward (such as treats, appraise, or toys). Other dogs need more time, patience, and repetition during training.
Dogs bred for jobs requiring decision-making, intelligence, and concentration, need to exercise their brains. Such as, dogs bred to run all day need to exercise their bodies. If they don't get the mental stimulation they need, they can become destructive and exhibit behaviors such as digging and chewing. Obedience training and interactive dog toys are good ways to give a dog a brain workout, as are dog sports and careers, such as agility and search and rescue.
Common in most breeds during the puppy stage. Mouthiness means a tendency to nip, chew, and play-bite (a soft, fairly painless bite that doesn't puncture the skin). Mouthy dogs are more likely to use their mouths to hold or "herd" their human family members, and they need the training to learn that it's fine to gnaw on chew toys but not on people. Mouthy breeds tend to really enjoy squeaky toys, as well as a good chew on a toy that's been stuffed with kibble and treats.
Dogs who were bred to hunt have an inborn desire to chase--and sometimes kill. Anything whizzing by, such as cats, squirrels, or rabbits, can trigger that instinct. Dogs who like to chase need to be leashed or kept in a fenced area when outdoors, and you'll need a high, secure fence in your yard. These breeds generally aren't a good fit for homes with smaller pets that can look like prey, such as cats, hamsters, or small animals. Breeds that were originally used for bird hunting, on the other hand, generally won't chase. But you'll probably have difficulty getting their attention when birds fly by.
Some breeds are more vocal than others. When choosing a breed, think about how often the dog vocalizes with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passing bird, some may use other sounds to express themselves.
Physical And Mental Needs
The amount of physical and mental stimulation a breed needs. High-energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. Low-energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to lay around and sleep.
Some breeds do fine with a slow evening stroll around the block. Others need daily, vigorous exercise, especially those originally bred for physically demanding jobs, like herding or hunting.
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities. Without the brain exercise they need, they can be destructive and have unwanted behavior issues.
A dog's inclination to be protective of his family members, home, yard, or even car.
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window.
Origin
The Mini Aussiedoodle is a designer dog hybrid of two purebred breeds. These breeds are a miniature poodle and a mini Australian shepherd. Miniature Australian shepherds and miniature poodles are purebred dogs created by dog breeders breeding the smallest dogs in each purebred litter of full-sized dogs to gradually create a smaller and smaller version of the full-sized dog. This is how you get a mini poodle and a miniature Australian shepherd.
Mini Aussiedoodles are a hybrid of these pure miniature breeds. The history of the Mini Aussiedoodle is not known specifically though it most likely began sometime in the 80s or 90s as poodle hybrids were gaining in popularity for their hypoallergenic properties. Mini aussiedoodles are also known as mini aussiepoos, miniature aussiedoodles, and miniature aussiepoos.
As a designer breed, Mini Aussiedoodles are not recognized by any of the major kennel clubs, and this is due to the breed's lack of predictability or a breed standard. However, they are recognized by a few hybrid or designer dog clubs, including the Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC) and the International Designer Dog Registry (IDCR).
Height: 12-18"
Weight: 15-40 lbs
Height: 12-18"
Weight: 15-40 lbs
Life Span: 11-15
Breed Group: Hybrid
Size
Mini Aussiedoodles are medium size designer dogs. However, there is still a great deal of potential for variation among individuals. Dogs can grow to heights between 12 and 18 inches and weigh anywhere between 15 and 40 pounds.
Personality
Miniature Aussiedoodles have charming and bright personalities and are one of the many reasons they have become beloved pets. They are energetic, playful, smart, and loyal while also being loving, affectionate, gentle, and even a little sassy.
A Miniature Aussiedoodle puppy, however, can be a mystery. They don't have an equal balance of their parents' personalities, and they will most likely take strongly after one parent breed.
Appearance/Colors
Mini Aussiedoodles are given a lot of variety regarding potential coat types and colors because of the variety in the parent breeds. Most mini Aussiedoodles will have a medium-length coast of loose, wavy hair that is silky soft. They can come in a whole host of colorings given their parentage and can be solid, bicolored, tri-colored, or merle. Common colorations include white, red merle, blue merle, black, silver, grey, and black and white.
Source: Flickr
Aussiedoodle eyes are also subject to a great deal of variety due to the Australian Shepherd genes and can be brown, green, hazel, or amber. A Mini Aussiedoodle can get stunning blue eyes if the merle gene is present. Some Mini Aussiedoodles will get two eyes that are different colors.
Temperament
Miniature Aussiedoodles have excellent temperaments, both energetic and loving. They are great family dogs and get along very well with kids and other dogs and pets.
As a poodle hybrid, Mini Aussiedoodle is hypoallergenic and makes great pets for dog lovers who are sensitive to dog allergies.
Mini Aussiedoodle is a very friendly and cheerful dog and gets along well with people of all ages. They are very loving and affectionate and love to stay by your side as long as their needs are met. They may tend to herd, which can be great in a cat household.
Diet/Nutritional Needs
A Miniature Aussiedoodle should be fed a diet formulated for active medium-sized breeds. As a dog prone to weight gain, it is important to feed your dog measured meals 2-3 times during the day rather than letting your dog have free access to food at all times. Consult with your vet to determine the correct amount and type of food your pup needs. Your vet can make a recommendation based on your dog's age, weight, health, and activity levels to ensure that your Aussiedoodle doesn't become overweight.
Activity/Exercise Needs
The Mini Aussiedoodle is a high-activity dog and will need a lot of exercise to stay in shape and happy. Aside from physical stimulation, mental stimulation is also important for this breed.
Mini Aussiedoodle is not a dog breed for low-activity homes or owners who cannot include their dogs in their everyday lives. A Mini Aussiedoodle needs between 30 and 60 minutes of exercise a day, some portion of that being high intensity.
Aussiedoodles enjoy walks, jogs, hiking, and dog sports. They can excel in agility and track training but also love a romp in a large, safely enclosed yard. They do tend to wander, so they should remain on a leash unless they are in a securely fenced-in area. Some Mini Aussiedoodles enjoy water sports, though this varies between individual dogs. Including your pup in daily activities and business is a great way to keep them healthy, happy, relaxed, and calm at the end of the day.
Grooming Needs
Although the Mini Aussiedoodle is a low-shedding hybrid dog breed, it still requires a commitment to grooming to maintain its coat. Mini Aussiedoodles should be brushed 2-3 times a week and professionally groomed and trimmed every 3-4 months.
Ears should be inspected regularly for irritation or infection, and nails should be kept short with regular trimmings as needed. To prevent any dental disease, it's best to brush your dog's teeth regularly with a dog toothbrush and toothpaste formulated for dogs.
Adaptability
As a small dog with a very amiable personality, a Mini Aussiedoodle is an adaptable pet that can thrive in a variety of home situations. They make great apartment dogs if they get sufficient exercise outside their homes. They are small and quiet and do well in apartment living. However, this breed does not tolerate being left alone very well and will also run into trouble if not exercised adequately. They are not high barkers but may resort to vocalizations and destructive behaviors if they get bored or anxious.
These dogs get along very well with kids and are gentle and careful, even with small children and smaller pets. With early socialization and training, they will live peacefully with just about anyone.
Source: Flickr
The trainability of a Mini Aussiedoodle Puppy
The Mini Aussiedoodle is an incredibly bright and highly intelligent dog, as both the Australian Shepherd and Poodle are two of the smartest breeds in the canine world. This dog is super intelligent and loves to please, making it a relatively easy puppy to train.
Mini Aussiedoodle puppies learn fast and will learn best with positive reinforcement and a rewards-based training schedule. Training should begin as early as possible to instill good habits from a young age and to prevent bad habits from setting in.
It is equally important to socialize Miniature Aussiedoodle puppies to ensure they know how to get along well in public and behave politely in various situations without becoming stressed.
Life Expectancy
A healthy, cared-for Mini Aussiedoodle has a life expectancy of 11-15 years.
Potential Health Issues
As a designer dog breed and a hybrid of other purebred dogs, Mini Aussiedoodles bypass a lot of possible genetic or hereditary conditions that often affect the purebred dog. Therefore, when it comes to Mini Aussiedoodle breeders, you will need to do your homework.
Otherwise, these are relatively healthy dogs and have far fewer health issues. The conditions that might affect a Mini Aussiedoodle are related to them that they might inherit from either parent breed.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition that results in the malformation of a dog's joints as it grows. It can be screened for in puppyhood, but little can be done to prevent it. Medications can be used to manage any pain throughout your dog's life.
Hypothyroidism
This is the thyroid malfunction that affects metabolic function and leads to several other issues. Dogs with hypothyroidism may struggle with weight gain and will also have skin and hair issues.
Von Willebrand's Disease
Von Willebrand's disease is a condition that affects the blood's ability to clot. This heredity condition cannot be cured, but symptoms can be managed.
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