Aussiedoodles, also known as Aussiepoos, are becoming increasingly popular. This is because of their more hypoallergenic coats, but also because of their beautiful coloring. But, it is very important to consider the temperament of a dog before bringing it into your house, no matter how cute it is. So, what is an Aussiedoodle’s temperament like?
Aussiedoodles are very friendly dogs. They are energetic and rarely portray signs of aggression. However, they require a great deal of training to deal with their herding instinct.
Let’s delve into the temperament of the Aussiedoole further. I’ll also expand on how this temperament affects their interaction with other animals. And whether they make good family pets.
Related: Aussiedoodle Size and Weight Guide | Average Life Expectancy of Aussiedoodle (Toy, Mini, Standard) | Aussiedoodle Health Problems
Basic Aussiedoodle Temperament
Friendly
Aussiedoodles are very friendly. They love to interact with people. They may seem a little bit uncertain of strangers when they first meet them, and will probably vocalize that uncertainty.
However, they are very unlikely to do anything more than bark, and within a few minutes, they will stop, especially if they see you interacting in a friendly manner with this person.
Cuddly/Attached
Aussiedoodles love to be around their people. They do not do well with separation at all, and will often try to get as close to you as possible.
This includes trying to sneak onto your bed in the middle of the night and insisting on sleeping on your face!
Although this may seem like a cute characteristic at first, it is important that you consider whether you would truly be able to provide enough attention for the Aussiedoodle. If you need to leave it at home alone all day, they may start to suffer from separation anxiety.
Territorial
Australian Shepherds were bred to be watchdogs over large groups of animals. This means that they needed to be rather territorial at times. Again, this will likely only be expressed through barking.
Be prepared for a lot of noise every time someone walks too close to your home.
Related: Are Aussiedoodles Protective: Do They Make Good Guard Dogs?
Vocal
In case you haven’t noticed by now, Aussiedoodles can be a vocal breed. This is largely due to their Australian Shepherd heritage.
It makes them very difficult to keep in apartments where there are noise restrictions. Barking can also be quite difficult to train out of them, although it is still possible.
Excitable
Aussiedoodles are not lap dogs. They are very excitable, especially when they are young. This means that they will always be ready to go outside and play, but you may have some trouble getting them to sit still inside.
In my experience, even something as simple as laying on their bed as the family watches television is not something that comes naturally to an excitable dog.
Love Water
Poodles were initially bred to hunt waterfowl. Although the Aussiedoodle may or may not have the webbed feet of the Poodle, most of the dogs in this breed love water.
If you have a swimming pool, you may struggle to keep them out of it, especially on a hot day. Be prepared for them to get soaked every time you water the garden too.
Prevalent Herding Instinct
As mentioned above, Australian Shepherds were bred to be herders. Depending on whether a working or domestic line has been used in order to produce your Aussiedoodle, it may have rather strong herding instincts.
This is generally not a problem in households where there are only adults. But, the Aussiedoodle may try to herd anything smaller than a full-grown human. This includes other dogs, cats, and even children.
Herding may include nipping. Although this is not intended to cause harm, it is not very pleasant either.
Herding instinct can never truly be trained out of a dog. Instead, you need to train your Aussiedoodle to deal with the herding instinct. Common commands include “leave it.” Socialization also helps.
Related: How Much Exercise Does an Aussiedoodle Need?
Are Aussiedoodle Trainable
Australian Shepherds and Poodles are some of the most intelligent dogs in the world. The Aussiedoodle is no different.
The intelligence of the Aussiedoole makes them very easy to train. Although, they may not make a great first dog as they have the ability to find loopholes in your commands.
My highly intelligent dog learned that it could get “off” something when told to, and then immediately jump on again after it received a treat!
It is also important to note that, although they are relatively easy to train in comparison to other dogs, it still takes a great deal of time and effort. You should not expect all aspects of training to go smoothly as each dog is different.
The best way to start training is to do so the moment you get your Aussiedoole, regardless of its age. You may have to start at home if you have a puppy that hasn’t had all of its vaccinations. But even at home, they are able to pick up tricks as early as 6-8 weeks.
Do Aussiedoodles Get Along with Other Animals
When considering bringing an Aussiedoodle into your home, it is important to consider whether they get along with other animals. This is not only important if you currently have another animal, but also if you plan on getting another in the future.
For the sake of simplicity, I will only address animals that roam around the house here. But, if you have a caged animal such as a bird or a hamster, there will still be some interaction taking place.
Aussiedoodles and Other Dogs
Aussiedoodles tend to love other dogs. Unless something has happened before you received your Aussiedoodle, it will be very sociable.
Its non-aggressive, friendly nature means that it will not snap at other dogs except in the most extreme circumstances. Usually, they will growl first.
But, the energetic nature of the Aussiedoodle might not always be the best for the other dogs. If the dog that your Aussiedoodle is interacting with is not used to so much attention, or if your Aussiedoodle is not trained to give another dog its space when required, there might still be some issues between the dogs.
Aussiedoodles and Cats
Aussiedoodles get along well with cats if they are socialized early enough. They will play with them gently and will allow the cats to rub up against them.
The problem comes in when they have not been socialized and trained. They may be unable to resist the urge to chase after the cat if it bolts. Because cats are usually a fair bit smaller than the Aussiedoodle, they may also be herded.
As mentioned above, all of this can be prevented with adequate socialization and training.
What Can Affect Your Aussiedoodle’s Temperament
It is important to note that every dog is different. Although there are certain characteristics that appear more often in one breed, it is impossible to say that every dog will be like that. There are some things that have a clear effect on the temperament of any dog, including Aussiepoos.
Genetics
The herding instinct is only one example of many. If the parents come from a line that has been bred to have a strong herding instinct, then it is likely that your Aussiedoodle will be similar.
Likewise, dogs that have been bred to exercise a great deal will produce more active offspring. This means that working line heritage will likely make your Aussiedoodle more energetic too.
Related: Aussiedoodle Generations F1, F1b, F1bb, F2, F2b, F2bb, F3 Explained
Past Experience
If you have a bad experience with a dog, you might be more cautious before you reach out to pet the next one. The same is true for your Aussiedoodle.
If your Aussiedoodle has had a bad experience with cars, people, other dogs, or anything else, it may display behaviors that are not typically associated with its breed. These reactions can usually be worked on with positive reinforcements, but some may never be reversed.
Do Aussiedoodles Make Good Family Pets
In short, yes. Aussiedoodles make good family pets.
This is largely due to their friendly and cuddly nature. In large families, there are also people around more often which means that they will not be left alone for as much time as they would otherwise.
But, you need to be aware of their herding instinct, and their excessive amounts of energy. If you do not plan on training your Aussiedoodle and working through these issues, this may become too much for you very quickly.
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