It wasnt too long ago that the Australian Shephered Retriever Mix came about.
In fact, it was just 2007 when the breed was first recognized by the Canine Hybrid Club.
Today well dig into this breed’s appearance, temperament, trainability, size, health, maintenance, and more. They’re truly an amazing breed of dog, and hopefully, this article can help you to see why too!
Appearance
An Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is, of course, a hybrid dog.
This means that it’s a lot harder to predict what their puppies/dogs will look like in comparison to purebred dogs.
Let’s start with what we can predict: or better said, the qualities a Golden Retriever and Australian Shepherd share.
Both breeds have undercoats (double-layered fur) and water repellent fur, so all dogs of this breed will, too.
Additionally, both breeds can either have straight or wavy hair, so all Australian Shepherd Golden Retrievers will have one of the two, not curly.
Finally, you can expect that this type of dog will have a ruff on the neck. A ruff is a band of fur around the neck that is colored differently or is of a different length than the rest of the dog’s fur.
Now, let’s talk about what we cannot predict – first, eye color.
Golden retrievers have brown eyes, while Australian Shepherd can have quite a variety.
Second, fur color.
Gold Retrievers are generally a kind of caramel tone (hence the name) while Australians can have merle blue coats, red coats, black coats, and various tan, white, copper, or merle markings.
Because there is such a variety, it is impossible to predict what each individual dog’s eye color and fur color will be before the puppy is born.
Size and Weight
As with appearance, we also need to look at the parent breeds to get a semi-accurate gauge on the average size and weight for this breed.
Australian Shepard
Male
A male Australian Shepherd is generally 20″ – 23″ tall and weighs 55lbs – 70lbs (at a healthy weight.)
Female
A female is 18″ – 20″ tall and weighs 35lbs – 50lbs.
Golden Retriever
Male
As far as Golden Retrievers, males are 22″ – 24″ tall and weigh 65lbs – 70lbs.
Female
Females Retrievers are 20″ – 22″ tall and weigh 55lbs – 71lbs pounds.
Because the two breeds are so similar in size, you can expect an Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix to be a medium-size dog, most likely between fifty and seventy pounds and somewhere around twenty inches tall.
If you want more specific guesses about the size a puppy will be, you can ask the breeders about their parents.
Chances are, the parents’ size will be the best estimate for the size of a dog.
If the parents are on the larger side for their breeds, the puppy might be larger. If the parents are on the smaller side for their breeds, a puppy might be smaller.
Temperament and Behavior
Both parent breeds and, therefore, the hybrid breeds thrive when they work with humans and have plenty of opportunities to flaunt both their mental and physical abilities.
You can expect that this dog will be highly intelligent and a hard worker (or player.)
Because both breeds love to play and have lots and lots of energy, the hybrid breed does too; so, the dogs require lots of attention but are also be completely loyal to his or her owner.
As far as differences between the two breeds, the Golden Retriever is a fairly laid back or easy-going breed while the Australian Shepherd is much more stubborn and protective as the breed is a herding dog.
This means that this kind of dog will usually want his or her way and may even try to herd other pets and people.
If a hybrid puppy leans more towards the Australian Shepherd’s temperament, the owner can ease some of this stubborn energy by training him/her while he/she is young and keeping him/her mentally and physically stimulated.
Health
Both parent breeds are fairly healthy dogs, so an owner does not have to be overly concerned, but there are still a few things to be aware of.
Both the Australian Shepherd and the Golden Retriever have higher levels of the elbow and hip dysplasia.
Dysplasia is a growth abnormality that is common in bigger dogs that can result in pretty severe pain and even crippling injury.
Some signs of dysplasia are if a dog has trouble standing up, going upstairs, back leg hops as they walk, or a loss of muscle mass. Both dogs also commonly struggle with eye conditions that an owner should be on the lookout for.
As far as health issues specific to only one of the parent breeds, Australian Shepherds are prone to epilepsy, which is a neurological disorder that comes with recurrent seizures and fainting episodes.
On the other hand, Golden Retrievers are prone to pigmentary uveitis (also called Golden Retriever Uveitis), which results in inflammation in the eye and pigment deposits in the iris and lens capsule.
Golden Retrievers can also be prone to some heart diseases.
Grooming
Regular grooming is required for Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever dogs. The breed has thick and often long double coats that can get tangled and messy if not taken care of.
An owner should brush their dog’s fur at least twice a week and more during their shedding season if they hope to avoid their dog’s fur being all over their house.
The other benefit of brushing this breed of dog regularly is that the breed does not need to be bathed as often.
Not having to bathe a dog so much will also keep the dog’s coat full of all the natural oils that it needs to thrive, repel dirt, and not get matted.
If a dog’s fur does start to matt, trimming the coat can help remove really bad knots and prevent new ones from forming.
Other important grooming for this breed is clipping nails (avoids splintering) and brushing teeth regularly to keep them healthy. If the dog’s teeth get bad, he/she may stop eating because it hurts too bad.
If it has been a while since his or her nails had the last cut, be careful to avoid the quick. If the quick is hit, it can be extremely painful for a pet.
At every grooming session, the dog’s teeth and ears should be checked to make sure everything is healthy and nothing is infected.
Average Food Consumptions and Cost
Adult dogs are typically fed dry food based on their size or weight.
The most common weight of Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever hybrids is somewhere between 45lbs – 60lbs.
That means they will probably eat three to four cups of dog food a day. There are a few feeding schedule options.
All the food can be put out in the morning or given at particular meal times, either two or three times a day. The most popular adult feeding schedule is two times a day for health reasons.
If a dog tries to eat too much at one time or too often, he or she could become uncomfortably bloated.
How much it is going to cost to feed a dog depends a lot on what kind of dog food the owner chooses to buy.
Although, it can be generally expected to spend several hundred dollars a year to feed a dog of this breed.
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Food Consumption of a Puppy
As a puppy, the recommendation is, of course, different.
As far as to schedule, most people recommend feeding a puppy three times a day because a puppy needs enough calories and nutrients to grow, but have small stomachs so they cannot usually handle large quantities of food at one time.
In regards to amount, from one to three months old, the puppy should be eating between two thirds a cup and two cups of food a day.
Four to five months, a puppy should be given one and three-fourths to three and a third cups of food.
Finally, from six to eight months, a puppy should be fed one and a third to three and a fourth cups a day.
After eight months, an owner can begin to transfer their puppy over to an adult feeding schedule but should wait to switch to adult food until the puppy is a year old.
Costs of Dog and Supplies
To buy an Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever hybrid puppy, you should expect to pay between $200 – $700.
Factors like who the breeder is, what the gender of the puppy is, how much training the puppy already has, and who the parent dogs all affect the cost of the puppy.
You can expect that a hybrid dog will cost less than if someone buys a purebred Australian Sheperd or Golden Retriever.
First Health-Checkup
Beyond the cost of the puppy, a potential owner needs to be prepared to pay for the other costs that come with bringing home a brand new puppy.
First, the person would need to know that whether they bring home a puppy, an adult dog, or an old dog, there is going to be a decently expensive first-check up.
For a puppy, the average first check-up cost is $100 – $300, maybe a little less for an adult dog and maybe a little more for an older dog.
It is also worth noting that after the first check-up, there will be other, regular vet bills and possibly emergency care (which can be quite expensive.)
Supplies
A potential owner also needs to be prepared to buy their dog a crate between $100 – $200.
A crate is a dog’s room. Even if they plan to allow their dog to be out when you are away, a crate is a safe place that a dog can go to get away from everything.
Potential owners will also need to buy a bed, which can cost between twenty and a hundred dollars and a bowl that could cost anywhere from $10 – $150, depending on how fancy they decide to go.
They will also need things like a collar, a leash, and tags, which may cost $20 – $50.
Finally, expect other miscellaneous costs like pet rent if they live in an apartment and, of course, toys.
Overall, when someone brings home a dog (including the price of the dog), they should expect to spend at least, and most likely more, than a thousand dollars.
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Maintenance
As stated above, a puppy and adult dog of this breed is going to have lots of energy and may have a stubborn streak, especially if not provided with all the exercise it needs.
Both parent breeds need lots of exercises, so there is not really any chance that there will be a hybrid puppy that doesn’t.
You should know that this breed of dog will need a thirty to sixty-minute walk a day and plenty of time outside. Activities like playing with a ball or a frisbee is a great way to keep their minds and bodies stimulated, but this should be done in an enclosed area.
This breed does need so much exercise and stimulation; the dogs thrive best in homes with large, fenced-in yards so the dogs can explore and run whenever they like (which he or she will enjoy whether it is hot or cold outside.)
If someone does not have a yard like that, it does not necessarily mean that they cannot get one; it just means that they will need to be much more purposeful about getting their dog exercise and take their dog on more frequent walks and to dog parks.
Training
Australian Shepherds and Golden Retrievers are both extremely intelligent dogs, which can make training a lot easier than it is with some other breeds.
The challenge can be with the dog’s Australian Shepherd side as it means that the breed can develop quite the stubborn streak; for this reason, starting training very early on while the dog is still a puppy will have the highest success rate.
Plus, as a puppy, the dog will not have already formed habits that the owner may have to work against. As far as specific kinds of training, this dog should already have some natural instincts to aid with potty training.
As long as you do not give your puppy time to develop bad habits (such as going potty inside), then potty training shouldn’t be that bad.
For this reason, many people actually recommend against the use of puppy pads.
For socialization, this kind of training really happens with exposure. You should want to start socializing your puppy with humans and other dogs at a very young age.
If your dog does not get used to other dogs as a puppy, it can be extremely difficult and even dangerous to try to socialize them as adult dogs.
This is also something to keep in mind if you buy an adult dog; ask questions about a dog’s prior socialization.
Is This Dog Right For You?
The mix of the Australian Shepherd and Golden Retriever is a great option for anyone looking for a larger, energetic, loyal, and intelligent dogs.
While all the qualities sound great (and they are), if you are going to get one, you need to have a lifestyle that works for that kind of dog.
If you love to spend time outdoors or go on walks; or are home a good bit of the time, and are prepared with the patience to train an energetic puppy, this might be a great dog for you.
This breed also makes a great family dog as they are loyal, playful, and protective. Of course, this only holds true as long as your little ones are not fearful of larger dogs.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a dog to chill and cuddle with or perhaps you are gone most of the day, this may not be the breed for you as the breed does need lots of exercises, multiple times a day.
Additionally, if you do not want to train your dog much beyond potty training, you may want to consider getting another breed. Because these dogs are larger, it is important that you train him or her, so he/she does not jump on neighbors or steal dinner right off of the table.
You do not need to necessarily teach your tricks, but a few behavioral skills and things like sit and stay are helpful.
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Overall, this dog is really a great breed if you have the lifestyle to take care of him or her. If you do, you will surely love this breed. If you don’t, perhaps it is time to keep looking.
Similar Breeds
The most similar dogs will be the dogs mixed with one of the two parent breeds. Here are some of the most popular.
This is one of the most popular Australian Shepherd mixes. The breed is a cross between the Australian Shepherd and the Poodle.
This breed is also a high energy dog and very intelligent. The main difference is that this dog is more hypoallergenic because poodles are hypoallergenic.
This is also one of the more popular Golden Retriever mixes because it is also more hypoallergenic.
If someone needs a hypoallergenic dog but really like the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix, they should look into the parent breeds, pick their favorite, and get that poodle mix.
This is a mix between the Australian Shepherd and the Labrador Retriever.
While there are, of course, some differences between the two breeds, they are similar enough that the Aussiedor and the Australian Retriever are two very similar dogs.
One of the biggest differences you may find is actually, an appearance thing, their coat color.
This is a mix between the Golden Retriever and the German Shepherd.
Both the Australian Shepherd and the German Shepherd are highly intelligent dogs who love their people and were originally used to control livestock.
While there are plenty of differences between the two breeds (such as size), there are also lots of similarities (such as the ones listed previously.)
Because of this, the hybrids are very similar to each other.
FAQ
What is the Origin of This Dog?
This hybrid dog was first registered in 2007 when a breeder mixed female Golden Retrievers with a male Australian Shepherd.
Since then, the breed has grown in popularity as a perfect mix between the two. For a more elaborate history, you have to look at the parent breeds.
The Australian Shepherd was first bred in the United States to herd livestock. Golden Retrievers, on the other hand, were first bred in Britain to retrieve (hence the name) different game.
At that time, they were a mix of different colors, but in the late 1800s, breeders started breeding the yellow or golden ones together.
The breed eventually made it to the United States in the early 1900s.
Is Australian Shepherd Retriever hybrids Good With People and Other Animals?
Yes! This is one of the friendliest dog breeds out there! Of course, proper socialization as a puppy is still important, but will not have any problems with this dog getting along with the other dogs and people in your life.
The one thing to be aware of is that this is a fairly protective breed, so if it senses you are in danger, it may go on the defense, which may happen more if they are not used to other people and animals.
Conclusion
Wether your thinking about owning this dog or recently just had the luck of buying one. This guide on the Australian Sheperd golden retriever mix should get you in tip top shape when becoming a new parent.
Be sure to note down the costs in the supplies section to make sure your well prepared!
