Golden Aussie, sometimes called an Australian Retriever, is a cross between a purebred Australian Shepherd and Golden Retriever. The large dog gets the personality traits of two amazing pets. While it is not known as much as its parent breeds, the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is still a popular puppy.
It has all the makings of an amazing family dog, including a friendly and easygoing personality. Add in the playful nature, and you have an amazing companion for life.
Let’s get to the nitty-gritty of this mixed breed. Just remember, hybrid dogs are not recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Meet The Breed
As we said before, this Aussie mix is a cross between the Australian Shepherd puppy and the Golden Retriever dog breed. The result is a loyal, intelligent, and friendly puppy.
Unlike some other hybrid dogs, this one is a bit older. Given that it has been around for a while, this mixed breed can be found in shelters and rescues. I strongly recommend you try to find a rescue first before buying one.
With that in mind, this puppy is a devoted family dog that is smarter than your average pooch.
They are great family dogs, awesome with children, and work well with other animals. They will quickly form a long-lasting and loving bond with everyone in the household.
Future owners should be aware of the high energy this dog possesses. Be sure to provide plenty of exercise for your furry friend.
Meet The Parents
As with every other crossbreed around, the best way to learn more about it is to talk about its parent breeds. So, let’s go.
Golden Retriever
The first parent in this combination is the popular Golden Retriever. Arguably the best dog for family life, the Golden is a puppy that will tolerate everything your children do to him. They can grab him for ears, mouth, tail, and everything in between. They have one of the gentlest personalities in the canine world.
With that in mind, here are some popular personality traits of Golden Retrievers:
- Friendly nature, they love people and other animals, wagging their tails all the time they are outside
- Very loyal dogs that form strong bonds with their dog owner and other members of the family
- Highly intelligent, they are among the most intelligent dog breeds that will pick up commands and cues easily
- Active and energetic, this dog breed can run around the whole day and still don’t get enough exercise
- Affectionate dogs that love to cuddle and be close to their owners
- Goldies thrive on attention and love from their people, and when left alone, can develop separation anxiety
- Some of the most patient dogs around, they tolerate a lot of activity and noise
Australian Shepherd
The first parent was a working dog, while the second one is a herding dog. Yes, Aussies are working dogs as well, but they are more known because of their herding instinct and nature.
With that in mind, they have all herding dog traits. How much do you know about herding dogs? Well, let’s take a look at the common personality traits of Aussies:
- One of the most intelligent dogs breeds around, second only to the Border Collie
- As a herding and working dog, this puppy is eager to please and loves to learn new things
- Excel in obedience training
- Highly energetic, they need plenty of regular exercise and mental stimulation to keep them happy and healthy
- Extremely loyal to their dog owner
- Can be protective of the family, making them a decent watchdog
- Good with children, they are patient and gentle and love to play and interact with youngsters
Appearance
Now let’s talk about the appearance of the Golden Aussie mix. This hybrid looks like the perfect mix of the Australian Shepherd and Golden Retriever. Imagine a dog with the sweet and happy face of the Golden, with the multi-color coat of the Aussie. That is what you get in most cases with the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix.
Speaking of the size, we mentioned these puppies are large dogs, growing between 20 and 30 inches in height and weighing between 30 and 60 pounds. They have well-built bodies and broad heads.
Often, they will have facial markings, making them an adorable little mixed puppy.
Now, let’s talk about coats. Both parents have a double-layered coat, so, their offspring will inherit that. The only remaining question is coat color.
Their coat is often with dense layers of hair, and a slightly wavy texture. The most common coat color options include black, brown, white, golden, merle, brindle, and spotted. Very rarely, the Golden Aussie mix inherits the Golden Retriever coat and has solidly colored golden fur.
Temperament
Breeders often say that there is no exact way of predicting the personality and temperament of a mixed-breed dog. But in this case, it is not as hard. Both parent breeds have similar personality traits. They are both working dogs, with the slight difference that Aussies have a herding instinct as well.
Yet, one thing is certain. This mixed puppy is one of the most intelligent mixes in the canine world. Its parents rank in the top 5 of the smartest dog breeds. Needless to say, that will make training easy. Your puppy will pick up obedience training commands easily.
But keep in mind that the high intelligence might be a double-edged sword. The Australian Retriever puppy will try and probably outsmart you more than once.
Another thing that is certain is the high energy. Your puppy will need plenty of exercise, playtime, and mental stimulation. More on that later.
And of course, let’s not forget the friendly and affectionate nature. It is no surprise this offspring is a loving dog. His parents are some of the most loyal, loving, and friendly canines.
Last, but not least, you can be sure you are getting a hard-working dog. Both parents fall into the working dog category. Depending on how much your puppy takes on its Australian Shepherd parent, it might have some herding nature and instincts as well.
Training
These puppies are eager to please and love to work. Yes, they do have a little stubborn streak in them. But generally speaking, they are quite willing to train. So, use that to your advantage.
As long as you give them a job to do, training will go smoothly. Yet, do not expect them to follow your commands blindly. They are highly intelligent and might try to outsmart you every now and then.
The good news is that dog food and treats will do wonders. As greedy eaters, Goldens and their mixes will do anything for food.
Exercise Needs
As we mentioned previously, this puppy is one of the most energetic ones in the canine world. As the offspring of working dogs, this puppy needs between 60 and 90 minutes of exercise per day. Sometimes, they also inherit the herding instinct, meaning even more exercise.
Besides physical exercise, you also have to provide plenty of mental stimulation. This puppy fits amazingly with owners with an active lifestyle. Think jogging, hiking, or swimming.
But if you are more of a couch potato, be ready to change your lifestyle. The least you can do is play some fetch with your puppy. That will allow your dog to run and play, and you can stand in one spot. If you are more on the active side, try some chasing games.
Health Issues
One of the reasons why the Golden Retriever is a popular choice for cross-breeding is his amazing personality. But at the same time, Goldens have many health issues. And crossbreeding can solve that.
As a result, in most cases, you have a friendly dog with a bit longer lifespan than a regular Golden Retriever.
There are still possible health issues like bloat, cataracts, and the ever-present hip dysplasia. But the risk is at a much lower percentage.
Grooming
As you might assume, this mixed breed is a high-maintenance dog. After all, it inherits the double coat of its parents. And that means plenty of brushing and grooming.
As a general rule of thumb, you need to brush it at least once per week. Twice per week is the preferred option. Be ready for lots of dog hair around your house.
Why Shouldn’t You Get One?
- Sheds quite a lot
- Can try to outsmart you
- Can inherit the herding instinct
Why Should You Get One?
- Healthier than regular Golden Retriever
- Eager to please and easy to train
- One of the friendliest personalities in the canine world
