Australian Shepherd Care Guide: The Cowboy’s Favorite Breed
Breeds / 2024
Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix: 7 Must Read Facts
The Australian Shepherd German Shepherd mix is an active family’s dream companion and watchdog.
This unique combination is a mix between the exuberant Australian Shepherd and the courageous German shepherd. Both breeds share the characteristic of being extremely intelligent and are sure to win anyone over.
A dog this smart will be able to pick up commands quickly and fit multiple different working lifestyles.
The combination of these two agile breeds will create a powerful athlete willing to please its owner.
Do not worry about what it takes to successfully raise a dog like this. In the rest of the article we will explain what it would be like to successfully care for an Australian Shepherd German Shepherd mix ranging from training, feeding and more.
Contents and Quick Navigation
- What is an Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix? (Overview)
- Pros and Cons
- Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix Appearance
- 5 Fun Facts About The German Australian Shepherd
- Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix Personality and Temperament
- Caring for a Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix
- How To Train German Shepherd Aussie Mix
- Quick Breed Summary Table
- Summary
What is an Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix? (Overview)
An Australian German Shepherd mix combines two of the most popular dog breeds in the United States.
The beloved German shepherd who is a large and agile all-purpose worker and the Australian shepherd. Both breeds belong to the herding group but the Australian shepherd historically is a medium-sized, keen eyed farmhand.
This crossbreed is also known as a German Australian Shepherd. They are protective by nature and care immensely about their family.
You can expect them to inherit a unique combination of its parent’s individual appearances and personalities.
What is guaranteed is a medium to large sized dog, with a muscular body that is devoted to its family members.
The carer of one of these beauties should be ready to be a leader and provide lots of physical and mental stimulation.
- Overview: Hybrid (Australian Shepherd/German Shepherd).
- Purpose: Intelligent working dog.
- Weight: 45-80 pounds.
- Size: 19-26 inches.
- Temperament: Work-oriented, people pleasing and intelligent.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Perfect for people who want an athletic training partner.
- Make a great watchdog.
- A very smart crossbreed.
- Excels in agility and obedience.
- Very intelligent and fast learner.
Cons:
- Reserved around strangers.
- Not suitable for apartments.
- High prey drive.
- Will need a lot of physical activity.
Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix Appearance
Your German Australian Shepherd will share a combination of both parents’ striking appearances.
These differences among parent breeds means than your mix will certainly be unique.
They will typically be smaller than a standard German Shepherd but larger than a standard Australian Shepherd. Although both of parent breeds are herding dogs, there is still a lot of differences in their appearances.
Height and Weight
You can expect a fully grown Australian Shepherd German Shepherd mix to weigh anywhere from 45-80 pounds. Males tend to be at the heavier end of the scale, with females being at the lighter end.
As for height, anywhere from 19-26 inches tall.
Colors and Coat
We all know that German Shepherds are typically black and tan with a double coat. And Australian Shepherds come in a variety of different colors and mixes with a medium-length coat. This means that the Australian German Shepherd mix can come in many different colors and mixes of whites, blacks, tans, silvers, blues and greys.
This crossbreed’s color combination will depend on the parent’s coloring and marking but will certainly be unique.
With both parent breeds having a medium-length double coat be prepared for grooming and shedding.
These mixes will shed profusely twice a year during their bi-annual blowout.
During this time you will need to brush the undercoat to remove the extra dead hair trapped. This will need to be done every day or so.
5 Fun Facts About The German Australian Shepherd
- Due to their Australian Shepherd genes they can have two different colored eyes.
- This hybrid will excel at agility competitions.
- They can be wary of strangers which makes them amazing watchdogs.
- A unique feature of this breed coat is that since the Australian Shepherd usually has a mane/ tuff of fair around its neck the Australian German Shepherd mix can as well.
- Do not be surprised if the Australian German shepherd tries to herd small kids.
Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix Personality and Temperament
One thing to keep in mind with this breed is that they need huge amounts of both mental and physical stimulation.
Daily exercise will keep your German Shepherd Aussie mix happy and entertained, and prevent any destruction that can result from boredom.
Their intelligence needs should be met by consistent training sessions to keep their mind sharp.
Agility, herding, and tracking are a few sporting activities that this mix excels at.
Whether or not you choose to compete in these events you should still consider some form of obedience training. They are hard workers and should be provided with enrichment to combat boredom. Because of their self-confidence and nearly unmatched intelligence, they excel in high pressure jobs.
They are amazing problem solvers and thus both the German Shepherd and Australian Shepherd can be used as police dogs, or service dogs.
Again as both their parent breeds were bred to herd flocks all day they have a very high energy level. Without consistent exercise they will make their boredom and frustration known.
A bored Australian Shepherd German Shepherd mix will let you know by barking, chewing and digging. Their high energy levels are almost as high as the affection they have for their family.
This dog wants nothing more than to play with their family.
They can be a little wary of strangers but are still an overall very confident dog. Their wariness of strangers makes them great guard dogs and you can expect some barking from them when strangers are near. However,this is not ideal for the sort of family who consistently has guests over and wants them to feel welcomed.
The good thing is since the Australian German Shepherd mix is so easy to train this can easily be stopped by socializing them as a puppy.
Are They A Good Family Dog?
The Australian German Shepherd is a good family dog because of their loving nature. They enjoy human attention and would fit best in an active family – they are a breed that enjoys going on long walks or hikes with their owners.
Caring for a Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix
Remember these dogs require a great deal of physical and mental stimulation. This may be a mixed-breed dog but for the most part they are still a working dog.
Be prepared for lots of exercise and mental stimulation.
Also their undercoat will need consistently raking out during shedding season.
Training should begin early on so that they knows their boundaries – when properly trained they will make a great companion.
Exercise Requirements
This point can not be stressed enough – This crossbreed requires plenty of exercise and stimulating games.
They are not ideal apartment dogs because of this and do best in a home that has a large yard or garden.
A fun exercise that your Australian German Shepherd mix would enjoy is being in water. Both of their parent breeds are known for excelling at dock diving competitions so your mix should be no exception.
They would appreciate a long walk each day and then some time to play in addition to this. They should be left off leash while in an enclosed backyard for playtime. Remember they do have prey driven instincts so while walking around the neighborhood it is important to keep them on leash.
- Number of Walks Per Day: 2+.
- Total Exercise Needed Per Day: 90+ minutes.
Grooming and Shedding
Grooming and shedding are also important things to consider when getting an Australian German Shepherd mix.
They will have a medium-length double coat that will require at least weekly brushing throughout the year. This mix will shed moderately all year long therefore if you suffer from pet allergies this will not be an ideal dog for you.
Twice a year (in the spring and fall) they will shed their entire undercoat which will require daily brushing to avoid matting. At this time, you should expect to rake large clumps of undercoat from this dog.
Their ears stand upright and naturally collect a lot of dust and dirt. This can lead to ear infections therefore it is crucial to clean their ears at least once a week as well.
Bathing should be done as needed to avoid irritating the skin.
Feeding and Diet
When choosing what type of food to feed, you should look for a high quality dog food that is appropriate for their age.
Food that is low in carbs is also ideal.
You should also consider the activity levels of your dog.
Active dogs will need lots of protein to keep their muscles and body heathy.
| Calories Per Day: | Cups of Kibble Per Day: |
|---|---|
| 1000 | ~3 |
Known Health Problems
This is normally a healthy mix but like any dog issues can still arise. Some common health problems to watch out for are:
- Hip dysplasia.
- Elbow dysplasia.
- Cataracts.
- Bloat.
How Long Does A Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix Live?
An Australian Shepherd German Shepherd mix generally lives between 12-15 years.
How Much Does A Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix Cost?
On average a puppy will cost between $300-800.
How To Train German Shepherd Aussie Mix
Lucky for whoever owns this boisterous crossbreed, the Australian German Shepherd has an eagerness to please.
They want nothing more than to work for their owner which will make training them very easy.
The intelligence they inherit from both parent breeds will shine during training. Like with any dog you bring into your home, it is important to implement a training program early on. This will ensure control over the dog and will keep them safe.
It is crucial to start early and find a way to train that is both fun for the trainer and dog.
In order to instill trust, you should always positively reinforce your puppy when it does something you like.
The Australian German Shepherd mix will be the star at agility, herding and tracking competitions. These are all great ways to instill good communication skills between you and your dog. Another great option for these pups is to provide at home mental enrichment which could be food puzzles, clicker training or toys.
Remember that training is best when it is both fun for the dog and the owner.
Quick Breed Summary Table
| Breed Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Size: | 19-26 inches. |
| Weight: | 45-80lb. |
| Lifespan: | 12-15 years. |
| Coat: | Medium length (double coat). |
| Color: | Many different mixes of whites, blacks, tans, silvers blues and grays. |
| Do They Shed: | Yes. |
| Temperament: | Energetic, eager to learn and family-oriented. |
| Intelligence: | High. |
| Socialization: | Aloof of strangers but overall a confident breed. |
| Destructive Behavior: | Can be destructive is left alone too long, or when bored. |
| People Skills: | Highly social and willing to please their family. |
| Good with Children: | Yes. |
| Activity Levels: | Very high. |
Summary
These dogs are not suitable for apartments, nor will they enjoy being cooped up inside all day.
They will need an area to run around in and games or puzzles to keep them mentally happy. They are a dog prone to destruction from boredom when left alone for long periods of time.
An ideal owner will be dedicated to providing them all the physical and mental exercise they need.
The Australian German Shepherd mix will astonish you with their working capabilities – due to both of their parent’s versatile backgrounds, they will conquer any task in front of them.
There is no doubt that this talented crossbreed will win anyone over with ease.
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