When it comes to adopting a furry companion into your family, there are a few things you need to consider. One of the most crucial things you need to know is if anyone in your family has allergies or any other breathing difficulties. If you or someone in your family does have some form of breathing difficulties and you are dead set on adopting a puppy, the best thing to do is adopt a low-shedding and hypoallergenic breed.There are tons of hypoallergenic and low-shedding breeds that you can consider adopting. A few examples of dog breeds that are both low-shedding and hypoallergenic are Schnauzers, Poodles, Maltese, and the Portuguese Water Dog. But what about Aussiepoos? Do Aussiepoos Shed?Yes, Aussiepoos do shed. Other than a handful of hairless or mostly hairless dog breeds, all dog breeds shed hair in some capacity. However, there are low-shedding dog breeds and hypoallergenic dog breeds, as we previously mentioned above. There are even breeds that have both qualities. Fortunately, Aussiepoos fall into this category. Aussiepoos, and most dog breeds, shed their hair as humans do. As hair gets old, damaged, or is unneeded, the hair will fall out. For dogs, most of their hair that is shed will come from the undercoat. Aussiepoos shed hair consistently, but they also have shedding spikes seasonally after fall and winter. You can help reduce shedding by brushing your Aussiepoo two or three times a week.As you continue to read this article, we will briefly go over what precisely an Aussiepoo is and its origins. Furthermore, we will go in-depth with proper grooming habits you should employ to further reduce the amount of hair your Aussiepoo will shed. Finally, we will go over a general health overview for the Aussiepoo, covering common health risks you need to look out for along with the general life expectancy of an Aussiepoo.
What Is An Aussiepoo?
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Aussiepoos are a mixed breed of dog that is also referred to as an Aussiedoodle. Aussiepoos are a 50-50 mix between an Australian Shepherd and a Poodle. They can come in standard, miniature, and toy sizes. The exact origins of the Aussiepoo are unknown. However, after the large success of the Labradoodle in the early 1980s, someone somewhere thought of the fantastic idea of mixing a Poodle and an Australian Shepherd to create the Aussiepoo. It is widely believed that Aussiepoos were first invented in the late 1980s or the early 1990s. The whole reason behind cross-breeding pure breeds is to make a new breed that combines its parents’ best qualities, looks, temperament, and traits. This turns out for the best most of the time, and you get breeds like the Aussiepoo. The best part of Aussidoodles is that they retain all of the best qualities of their parents. Aussiepoos keep the high levels of intelligence of the Poodle and the intense loyalty of the Australian Shepherd. Furthermore, Aussiepoos also inherit the hypoallergenic and low-shedding traits from their Poodle parent along with the energy and work ethics of the Australian Shepherd.
What Is The Aussiepoo’s Coat Like?
Aussiepoos, like all other mixed breeds, have a coat that varies in style, pattern, and color. This is due to the fact that it is impossible to determine which parent is going to be more influential in the development of their puppies. Therefore, it is almost certain that every puppy in the same litter will look different in some way. Furthermore, it is very common for Aussiepoo liters to have some puppies with curly hair and others with straight and flowing hair. When it comes to Aussiepoo colors, there are quite a few. Aussiepoos boasts an extensive range of colors that most other dog breeds wish they could have. The most common color variations are;
- White and Black
- Chocolate
- White and Chocolate
- Tricolor
- White and Red
- Silver
- Black and Tan
- Cream
- Red Sable
- Red Merle
- Blue Merle
- Cinnamon Merle
When you consider the pattern variations, there are tons and tons of color and pattern combinations that your Aussiepoo can have.
How To Groom An Aussiepoo?
For those who want to learn how to further limit your Aussiepoos shedding as much as possible, you have come to the right place. There are quite a few steps you can take to limit your Aussiedoodles shedding habits. Firstly, and most crucial, brushing your Aussiedoodle with a de-shedding brush two to three times a week will help out immensely. The best type of de-shedding brush to use depends on what type of hair your Aussiepoos has. However, sticker brushes will get the job done as a rule of thumb. There are sticker bushes explicitly made for curly hair and for straight hair dogs. So pick up the right sticker brush that is best for your Aussiepoo.Other than brushing your pop with a de-shedding brush or comb, the next best thing you can do to help limit shedding is trimming your dog’s hair. Typically, it would be best if you took your dogs to a professional groomer once every three to four months, depending on your dog’s hair length. However, you can cut your dog’s hair at home, but you should do this with utmost care.Aussiepoos with curly hair will need a trim less often than an Aussiepoo with wavy hair. Furthermore, Aussiepoos who spend a lot of time outside will need to be groomed more often than those who spend more time inside—playing outside results in rolling in the dirt, grass, and even mud which can make your pup quite dirty. The dirt can get caught in your Aussiepoos fur and undercoat, which can lead to damaged hair that your Aussiepoo will shed. The final step to reducing shedding is to give your Aussiepoo regular baths. Again, it is best to use some de-shedding shampoo that uses natural ingredients. Deshedding shampoo will have moisturizers or omega fatty acids that will help hydrate your Aussiepoos skin and hair follicles. Keeping your dog’s hair and skin hydrated will not only promote good health but will also help prevent hair from getting dry and brittle. Curly-haired Aussiepoos will need to be bathed far more often than their wavy-haired counterparts. This is because dirt and other debris will get caught in curly-haired Aussiepoos way easier. With that said, you should be bathing your curly-haired Aussiepoos once every one or two weeks, depending on how much time they spend outside playing. On the other hand, wavy-haired Aussiepoos can get away with being bathed once every three to four weeks while still having healthy skin and fur.
Are Aussiepoos Hypoallergenic?
Poodles are considered to be the most hypoallergenic dog breed you can get. This bodes well for Aussiepoos because they inherit some of the Poodles’ hypoallergenic traits.However, being hypoallergenic is technically a catch-22. No dog is genuinely 100% hypoallergenic. Instead, due to the low levels of shedding hair and dandruff, a dog will be considered “allergy-friendly” and will be called hypoallergenic. With that said, because the Aussiepoo breed inherits some of the Poodles’ hypoallergenic traits, they are considered very allergy-friendly. This is because Aussiepoos shed very little hair and dandruff.However, if allergies or other breathing issues are a cause for concern, following our grooming guide above will further limit the amount of hair and dandruff your Aussiepoo will shed. Brushing, bathing, and getting your Aussiepoo’s hair trimmed can all reduce the shedding of an already low-shedding dog.
Aussiepoo Potential Health Risks
Mose mixed breed dogs are considered to be healthier than pure breeds due to the mixing of genes that help fight off certain diseases. However, this does not mean that mixed breeds are immune to genetic disorders or other associated illnesses with their purebred parents. Some of the common health risks and genetic disorders an Aussiepoo can suffer from include;
- Cushing’s disease
- Epilepsy
- Pancreatitis
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Hip Dysplasia
- Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture
Cushing’s disease is the result of hormone-secreting tumors. These tumors can be located in either the pituitary glands in the brain or the adrenal glands in the abdomen.If your Aussiepoo has Cushing’s disease, these glands can produce excess amounts of cortisol, our stress hormone. If these glands produce excess cortisol, it can lead to increased appetite, weight gain, exercise intolerance, skin disorders, and hair loss. Epilepsy leads to convulsions and alterations of your Aussiepoo’s consciousness. These convulsions can start as early as six months after being born. However, if your Aussiepoo is experiencing seizures very rarely, they can likely live a long and happy life without being on medication. Pancreatitis refers to the inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a digestive organ that sits next to the stomach. If your Aussiepoo has pancreatitis, it can lead to abdominal pain and vomiting. The lead cause of pancreatitis are:
- High-fat foods.
- Trauma to the abdominal region.
- Having a negative reaction to some medication.
Progressive retinal atrophy is an inherited disease that leads to eventual blindness. In most cases, all breeding dogs are tested for this disease, and if they carry the gene, breeders will remove them from the breeding program. However, this does not guarantee that the trait will not be passed on. The good news is that this disease will only start to occur in the last few years of your dog’s life.Hip dysplasia is an inherited disease that affects your Aussiepoos joints in their back legs. Hip dysplasia will eventually cause your Aussiepoo to use its hind legs properly. Cranial cruciate ligament rupture is primarily caused by trauma inflicted on your dog’s knee joints. A number of things can cause this trauma, but most commonly, it is caused by a bad landing when jumping or falling. Unfortunately, the only way to really cure this condition is surgery.By taking your Aussiepoo to regular vet visits, you can help reduce the likelihood of your dog developing these issues. Doing so will also allow your vet to identify issues early on, which will allow you to take preventative measures to help reduce the severity of these health risks.
How Long Does Aussiepoos Live For?
The general life expectancy of an Aussiepoo is 12 to 15 years. This is also the average life expectancy of most dog breeds. Living to be 15 years or older is a huge accomplishment for any dog. However, to give your dog a long and happy life so that they can see the age of 15 is to take proper care of them. By taking your dog to regular vet visits, you can assure that your vet will give you the advice you need to keep your Aussiepoo healthy. Furthermore, if your Aussiepoo needs medication for any reason, the only place you will be able to get it is from your vet.
Final Thoughts
Aussiepoos are adorable dogs that can make perfect companions for active owners and families. While Aussiepoos do shed, they are considered low-shedding dogs that shed very little hair and dandruff. Aussiepoos also inherit the hypoallergenic trait from their Poodle parents, making them excellent pets for people with allergies or other breathing issues.