The Aussiedoodle is a designer mix made by crossing a Poodle with an Australian Shepherd, thus inheriting some of the most desired characteristics of both breeds. Thanks to their sweet, loving, gentle, adorable, and hardworking nature, they make a great addition to any family. But before adopting or buying any dog, it’s important to consider the amount of maintenance it needs to be happy and healthy. Much of this depends on their shedding tendencies. If allergies are a concern, shedding levels should be at the top of the list of things to learn about a particular breed.
So, do Aussiedoodles shed? Yes, they do, as most fur-bearing animals do. The good news is they are among the lowest shedding pooches thanks to their Poodle ancestors. On the other hand, if they inherit the Aussie’s coat, they may shed slightly more. But even then, it’s not as much as other breeds, especially the double-coated ones. And you can further limit shedding by grooming and keeping your Aussiedoodle healthy.
Shedding can be a pain, especially when it comes time for cleaning. It can make owning a particular breed seem like an impossible task, especially if you have allergies. After all, no matter how well you groom your pup and clean your home, the shedding will continue to occur. While this is a natural, unavoidable occurrence in dogs, some breeds shed less, thus making them more suitable for allergy sufferers than others. And one such breed is the Aussiedoodle, whose shedding can be minimal. Stay with me as I take you through their coat type, shedding tendencies, and what you can do to manage the situation, thus ensuring a happy and healthy household.
How Much Do Aussiedoodles Shed?
Aussiedoodles are generally low shedders. While they do shed as much as some other single-coated dogs, they usually have curly hair that latches onto their coat instead of falling off. Their shedding is less noticeable since they don’t leave fur everywhere. In fact, some shed so infrequently that owners consider them non-shedding pups. Keep in mind that this applies to Aussiedoodles with the Poodle’s fur type. If yours inherits the Australian Shepherd’s fur type, which is long and double-coated, they will shed moderately throughout the year.
When answering the question do Aussiedoodles shed, it’s important to note that certain factors can increase their shedding. But luckily, you can manage that with regular grooming and keeping your pup healthy.
Why Do Aussiedoodles Shed?
There are several causes for shedding in this breed, both natural and health-related. The first one is when losing their puppy coats. All their puppy fur will fall off on its own by the time they are adults, with the high-shedding phase occurring after the six-month mark. While puppy shedding is so noticeable in most breeds, the Aussiedoodle does it so subtly. The dog then grows the fur it will have for the rest of its life. Secondly, like all dogs, the Aussiedoodle experiences the canine hair growth cycle, which involves three stages, namely:
- Anagen: An active growth period during which fur grows to its genetically-determined length
- Catagen: Transitional stage
- Telogen: This is the last stage where fur finally falls out, and a new hair follicle regrows in its place.
All dogs go through this cycle. The only difference is how long it takes for the entire process to be complete. The cycle takes longer for low shedders like the Aussiedoodle; hence, they shed infrequently.
Shedding Seasons and Frequency
As mentioned above, all dogs blow out their puppy hairs. But instead of large clumps of hairs being scattered around the house, the Aussiedoodle sheds a little here and there. Even after the huge shedding of puppy fur, most breeds will experience seasonal shedding, which usually happens in spring and autumn when they blow their coats in preparation for seasonal changes. But the Aussiedoodle is single-coated and doesn’t blow its coat during certain times as other dogs do.
What of the fact that the Aussiedoodle is part Australian Shepherd who shed a lot throughout the year, especially during seasonal shedding? Well, the Poodle in this breed’s genetic pool makes them single-coated with a curly hair type. As such, owners typically see little shedding throughout the year.
Unhealthy Shedding
As mentioned earlier, Aussiedoodle shedding can be natural or health-related. The latter can cause your pup to shed more than usual. Common causes include stress and anxiety, parasitic infections such as ticks and fleas, skin allergies, bacterial or fungal infection, mange, etc. If you notice any unusual shedding, it’s best to visit the vet immediately so they can help determine the cause and treatment options. Note that poor grooming and diet can also contribute to excessive shedding.
What Type of Coat Does an Aussiedoodle Have?
The Poodle has a single curly coat, while the Australian Shepherd is double-coated with straight fur. When you mix these two to produce the Aussiedoodle, there’s a 50/50 chance that your pup will inherit either of the parent’s fur types. When crossbreeding, you can’t be 100% sure of the outcome. Even puppies in the same litter can have different fur types. So, when it comes to Aussiedoodles coats, you can expect curly, straight, or something in between.
Curly-haired Aussiedoodle
This comes from the Poodle parent, and it’s what most breeders aim for when producing the Aussiedoodle. These coats have tight curls that contain loose hairs instead of falling off more often. This makes clean-up easy and minimizes allergens in your environment. That being said, this type of fur will typically require more grooming because it can become matted more easily.
Straight-haired Aussiedoodle
When this dog takes after its Aussie parent, the result is straight hair strands. Unlike the curly fur, the straight hairs don’t hook onto each other, thus falling right off the pup when they shed. This makes their shedding more noticeable even though it’s the same as the curly-haired Aussiedoodle. These straight hairs don’t tangle easily, making them easier to maintain.
Your Aussiedoodle could also inherit elements from both parents, resulting in long or medium-length wavy coats.
How to Manage and Reduce Aussiedoodles Shedding?
After understanding why do Aussiedoodles shed and correcting health-related issues, if any, you can begin dealing with natural shedding. You can’t stop this process entirely, but you can manage the situation and reduce the amount of hair that ends up on your clothes, furniture, carpets, or any other part of the home that the Aussiedoodle visits. The good news is this breed is minimal shedding, so this won’t be a difficult task. For the most part, grooming and providing a proper diet should be enough to minimize shedding.
Aussiedoodles Grooming
No matter what type of fur your Aussiedoodle has, you’ll need to be dedicated to regularly brushing them. This will help capture dead and loose hairs and dander before spreading into the environment during shedding. Brushing also prevents mats, increases blood flow, and evenly distributes oils, thus encouraging a healthy coat.
Since this breed comes in different coats, you should strive to brush the curly-haired variety daily. On the other hand, the wavy-haired Aussiedoodle will be okay with brushing two or three times per week. You may also need to increase the brushing frequency if your Aussiedoodle spends a majority of its time outdoor because it will capture more dirt and debris.
It would also help if you invested in quality brushes designed for thicker, single coats. Consider a sturdy slicker brush because it’s harsh on knots and dirt, and gentle on your pet’s fur and skin.
Aussiedoodles Diet
As mentioned earlier, poor diet is a common cause of excessive shedding. Like in humans, a vitamin deficiency can cause weaker, brittle hair in dogs that breaks easily. The good news is this is the easiest cause to correct. All you have to do is provide your Aussiedoodle with a high-quality, balanced diet.
Foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids are one of the best for encouraging a shiny, healthy coat. While commercial foods contain this nutrient, the best way to include it in your doggy’s diet is through raw food. Give them some fresh sardines, salmon, or even tuna.
Minerals such as zinc also help prevent itchy, inflamed skin and skin infections. So, offer your Aussiedoodle some salmon, beef, and chicken. These will also provide them with the proteins they need for overall health.
Aside from low-quality food and dietary deficiency, excessive shedding can also result from food allergies such as grain, wheat, or soy allergies. Ensure your pup isn’t allergic to anything you’re feeding them. And, if you’re introducing a new food, always start with a small amount and offer it independently and watch for any effects.
Baths, Supplements…
While the above solutions are the major solutions for managing dog shedding, you can do several other things, like bathing, providing supplements, and trimming. Your Aussiedoodle will only need a bath once every month or two months unless they roll in mud or something smelly. Be sure to use dog-friendly shampoo.
Sometimes, it’s not possible to get all the necessary nutrients from the food you’re providing your Aussiedoodle, or perhaps their nutrients needs are high like in a pregnant bitch. In these cases, you can consult with your vet so they can prescribe appropriate and necessary dietary supplements.
When it comes to trimming, it’s best to leave it to the professional groomers. You don’t want to end up cutting lots of hairs, leaving your Aussiedoodle’s body unprotected from the elements. Trimming helps to reduce shedding, as well as the chances of matting.
Are Aussiedoodles Hypoallergenic?
While it’s true that most people with pet allergies are affected by canine fur, the main culprit is dander. But then again, dander holds on to the fur and is released into the environment during shedding. This is why hairless dogs or those that shed very little are likely to be classified as hypoallergenic.
Since the Aussiedoodle is generally considered a minimal shedder, is it ideal for allergy sufferers? This breed can be hypoallergenic, but it depends on the individual dog. The Aussiedoodle can inherit the Poodle or Aussie’s fur type as a crossbreed. Poodles are minimal shedders and rank top of the list for hypoallergenic dogs. On the other hand, Aussies are double-coated and shed a lot, hence not ideal for allergy sufferers.
You’ll also come across Aussiedoodles with alphabets and numbers before their names, like F1 Aussiedoodles, which are a 50-50 mix of Australian Shepherds and Poodles. Breeders prefer to take an F1 Aussiedoodle and cross it back with a purebred Poodle to form F1B Aussiedoodle puppies with a higher chance of having Poodle coats than Australian Shepherd coats. The former sheds less and is more hypoallergenic.
That being said, other factors like saliva and urine contain a protein that can trigger allergies. So, people with pet allergies will have to be careful when living with an Aussiedoodle or any other dog, for that matter. Be sure to regularly groom and bathe your dog to catch hair and dander before they become airborne. You also want to keep your home clean by regularly mopping, vacuuming, and washing everything the dog comes in contact with, such as drapes, carpets, beddings, etc. A HEPA air filter will also come in handy to help reduce allergens in the air. And lastly, keep pets out of your bedroom or other places you spend a lot of time.