Australian Shepherd Lab Mix: Aussiedor Breed Information

What do you get when you cross the most popular dog in the United States (the Labrador Retriever) with an Australian Shepherd? You get a fun-loving dog with plenty of energy who’s up for any adventure. This mixed breed pup is becoming extremely popular in the United States because of its friendly and fun-loving nature. They are generally excellent family pets with very few health issues.

Since genetics are unpredictable, it’s impossible to know exactly what temperament an Australian Shepherd Lab mix might have. By exploring both breeds individually, we can get a pretty good idea of what to expect from the Aussiedor. In the article below, we will learn more about the parent breeds, as well as what you can expect when bringing this mix into your home.

While this mix is a little more expensive than other designer dogs when shopping at a breeder, many people feel the cost is worth it to have a very unique-looking family friend. We always recommend adopting at a rescue before you go shopping. Aussiedors can be found in shelters across the US. Let’s learn more about the Australian Shepherd Lab mix so you can decide whether it might be the perfect addition to your family.

Parent Breeds

A first-generation hybrid dog is exactly half Australian Shepherd and half Labrador Retriever, right? Well, not exactly. While the resulting puppy will technically get exactly half of its genes from each parent, you never know which genes will be more dominant. As a result, your Aussiedor may more closely resemble their Labrador Retriever parent. They may look more like an Australian Shepherd, or one who’s a perfect blend of each.

There’s no way to know exactly how an Australian Shepherd Lab mix will turn out. But, we can look at the parent breeds to learn more about the traits that an Aussiedor puppy might inherit. Since the Australian Shepherd Lab mix is a relatively new hybrid, there isn’t a ton of breed history. We can, however, learn about the history of each parent breed.

Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd isn’t actually an Australian breed. The breed started as the Pyrenean Shepherd in Europe and was perfected in the American West. There was only a brief stopover in Australia and some mixing with Collies and Border Collies in between.

Australian Shepherds are still commonly found on ranches and farms across North America. They are found herding cattle and sheep. Thanks to their intelligence, they are also commonly used as a rodeo or circus performers, therapy dogs, service dogs, drug detectors, and search and rescue dogs.

For owners who don’t care to work their Australian Shepherd, these fun-loving dogs thrive in dog sports like agility, obedience, and flyball. They are popular dogs that are often mixed with other breeds to create different types of designer dogs.

Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever has been the most popular dog in the United States for nearly three decades. These friendly and intelligent dogs were bred in Newfoundland to help fishermen retrieve fish that fell out of nets and hunters retrieve ducks.

English nobles visiting Canada in the early 1800s fell in love with the “Labrador dogs” (despite the fact that they’re actually from Newfoundland). They were then brought back to England. They further refined the dog into the lovable breed that tops popularity lists.

Labrador Retrievers are friendly with people and animals alike. They are happy to snuggle with their owners. But, they were bred to work and have lots of energy that must be burned off with plenty of physical exercise.

The Aussiedor

Aussies and Labs are frequently compared to one another as family pets, so it only makes sense to see this mix pop up as a designer dog. The Australian Shepherd Lab mix is a fantastic mixed breed that’s suited for “almost” any family.

We say “almost” because this pup will definitely have a lot more energy than a standard Labrador. Labs are already very well known for their high energy levels. While Bench Labs are more sedentary than Field Labs, neither settle down until they are around 3 years old.

Australian Shepherds are livewires. These pups have energy for days. Combined with a Labrador, they can get extremely excited and get into trouble if they don’t have a proper exercise outlet. They are also one of the most caring and cuddly mixes! Aussiedors are well known for wanting to snuggle up on the couch with their humans on any given day.

Temperament

As mentioned, the Aussiedor has a very energetic demeanor and cares very much for their family members. They love just about everyone around them and are extremely eager to please. They are also sensitive, which means they do not react well to aversive or harsh training techniques.

The Aussiedor is an extremely well-mannered family dog, and in most cases, they are not aggressive. Social circumstances can make even the most laid-back dogs become aggressive and fearful. Generally speaking, the Aussiedor is not prone to any of these behaviors in their breed. The Labrador was bred as a hunting dog, while the Australian Shepherd is a farm dog. Neither were bred for any other reason than to work.

With that being said, your Aussiedor will need a job to do if you want to keep their very mellow temperament in place. Aussiedors can get bored very quickly and get destructive if they are left alone for long periods. They need adequate exercise every day, and if they don’t get it, they will let you know that they need it.

Size & Living Conditions

Labrador Retrievers are medium to large in size and Australian Shepherds are medium-sized dogs, so an Australian Shepherd Lab mix could be anywhere from 40-80+ pounds. Females are usually smaller than males, but there’s no way to predict what size a hybrid dog will be since you can’t know which parent breed they will take after. Height wise, expect your Aussiedor to grow anywhere from 18 to 22 inches in height.

While an Australian Shepherd Lab mix could live in an apartment if they get enough exercise, they will do best in a home with a large fenced-in yard where they can run around to burn off some of their endless energy.

Some people leave their Australian Shepherds outside to live in a barn with other farm animals, but Labrador Retrievers are more attached to their people and prefer to live indoors. Therefore, your Aussiedor would probably be better off living inside with you than banished to the yard.

Coat & Colors

Australian Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers have very different coat colors and types, so it’s impossible to predict what the coat of an Aussiedor will look like. Labrador Retrievers have short fur (which sheds more than you would expect) in yellow, chocolate, black, or the rarer colors of silver, champagne, red, or white.

Australian Shepherds have medium-length fur that sheds seasonally. Some owners opt to have their Aussie’s fur trimmed, especially the butt feathers, to keep their dog cleaner. Australian Shepherd coat colors include black, red, blue merle, red merle, and tricolor. An Australian Shepherd Lab mix could be either coat type or something in between, and they could be just about any color.

Grooming

Whichever coat type your Australian Shepherd Lab mix inherits, you can be sure that they will shed – A LOT. Being a dog with a short coat, you might think that the Labrador Retriever wouldn’t shed very much, but you would be wrong. They shed quite a bit, all year round. Weekly brushing with a rubber curry brush and monthly brushing with a deshedding tool (like a FURminator) will help reduce your Aussiedor’s shedding if they have short fur like a Lab.

Australian Shepherds shed a little all year, but they “blow” their undercoat two to four times per year when the seasons change. When this happens, you will notice fur coming out in clumps. If it isn’t brushed out, the undercoat can get tangled with the topcoat and cause painful mats in your dog’s coat.

A slicker brush and a grooming rake are perfect for removing loose hair from thick, medium-length hair like you find on an Australian Shepherd. The way you groom your Aussiedor and the tools you need will vary depending on whether their coat is short like a Lab or long like an Aussie.

Exercise

Both Labrador Retrievers and Australian Shepherds were bred to work all day and have plenty of energy. Expect to take your Australian Shepherd for at least an hour-long walk every day to keep them exercised. Getting them the right toys made for Labradors will also help keep them occupied for hours. Depending on which parent breed they take after, your Aussiedor may enjoy hours of fetch or chasing children around a fenced yard.

Failing to give an Australian Shepherd Lab mix enough exercise can result in a dog that turns to destruction or other “bad” behaviors, especially when they’re left home alone. If your dog develops bad habits, try increasing how much exercise you give your Aussiedor to see if that helps improve their behavior.

Training

Australian Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers are both intelligent and eager to please, so they are relatively easy to train. Positive reinforcement will go a long way toward teaching your Aussiedor anything from basic commands to fun tricks to running an agility course.

Because of their intelligence level, you can experience a little bit of stubbornness when training the breed. You’ll want to make sure that you can handle a stubborn dog that may like to show you that they think “they’re the boss.” This mix is food motivated. A great tip is to find their favorite type of food (chicken, red meat, turkey) and use it as motivation to get them to perform basic commands. You’ll want to start training them at a very young age.

Health

“Hybrid vigor” may reduce the odds of an Australian Shepherd mix inheriting the genetic disorders of their parent breeds. However, they may still be prone to health problems. This is more true if those health problems are experienced by both parent breeds.

Potential health problems your Aussiedor may experience include Hip dysplasia, Elbo dysplasia, eye conditions, hereditary myopathy, heart disorders, bloat, epilepsy, cataracts, and cancer. While these are potential health problems, it’s very unlikely that your pup falls victim to these health disorders compared to the purebred parent breeds of each pup.

Responsible breeders do their best to reduce the likelihood of their puppies inheriting these disorders. This is one reason why it’s crucial to thoroughly research Aussiedor breeders before getting a puppy. If you are buying at a breeder, always ask to see the parent’s AKC registered papers if they are available.

As Family Pets

Could an Australian Shepherd Lab mix be the right dog for your family? As with any breed you may be adopting, there are certain questions you should be asking yourself before welcoming a new pup into your home. We’ve broken this down into a simple checklist below.

Are you an active family? An Aussiedor will love joining you on hikes, jogs, bike rides, or endless games of fetch. This isn’t a breed for people who prefer to relax.

How do you feel about dog hair? An Australian Shepherd Lab mix is guaranteed to shed a lot. If you don’t want fur all over your home, look elsewhere for your family dog.

Do you enjoy teaching your dog tricks or doing dog sports? Australian Shepherd Lab mixes are likely to be intelligent and happy to learn.

Are your belongings and trash secure? Labradors Retrievers are known to eat anything they can fit in their mouth, and an Aussiedor is likely to do the same. If you have small kids who leave toys out, the toys may become dog food.

Do you want a friendly dog who loves everybody? Your Australian Shepherd Lab mix is likely to get along with people and pets alike, although they may tend to nip at the heels of small children if they have an Aussie personality.

Looking for a constant companion? While some dogs are more aloof and are happy to spend time alone, Australian Shepherd Lab mixes are likely to prefer your company and may become depressed or develop separation anxiety if they’re left home alone too much.

Breeders & Puppy Costs

Since Australian Shepherd Lab mixes are a hybrid rather than an official dog breed, you will have to do your homework to find a reputable breeder who isn’t just haphazardly tossing dogs together to make a quick buck.

Look for a breeder who does health testing on their breeding dogs and has a history of healthy puppies. A good breeder will ask you plenty of questions to make sure you are the right home for a puppy and will allow you to visit their dogs and puppies on their property.

Be wary of any breeder who insists on shipping your puppy or meeting you somewhere apart from where they breed their dogs. This is a red flag that they probably don’t have the best breeding practices and maybe a puppy mill.

Puppy costs can vary widely depending on if you are getting your Aussiedor from a breeder or a rescue. Because it’s one of our missions here at Love Your Dog, we would always encourage you to “adopt” before you shop. Aussiedors are extremely lovable dogs, but sometimes situations arise and owners have to surrender their pets. You can find rescues at reasonable costs, usually anywhere from the $100 to $500 range.

If you are buying an Aussiedor Puppy from an Actual breeder, you can expect to pay in the $1,000 and up range for this particular breed of designer dog. They definitely aren’t cheap, and as with most hybrid mixes, you are paying for the pedigree.

Rescues & Shelters

With hybrid dogs like Australian Shepherd Lab mixes, a rescue is often the best place to find your new best friend. Hybrids like Aussiedors are often created accidentally and dropped off at shelters or rescue groups. While there isn’t a rescue dedicated specifically to Aussiedors, you may be able to find an Australian Shepherd Lab mix through a Labrador Retriever or Australian Shepherd rescue group.

Shelters can be a great place to find an Australian Shepherd Lab mix. Hybrid dogs are more likely to find themselves in shelters than purebred dogs (although there are plenty of purebred dogs in shelters, too), so you may be able to find an Aussiedor in your local shelter. While you may worry about the personality of a rescued dog, many rescues and shelters do temperament testing, so you have a better idea of what to expect.

Final Thoughts

While they aren’t right for every family, Australian Shepherd Lab mixes are usually wonderful family dogs. You need to be dedicated to giving them plenty of exercise. You should also be comfortable having some dog hair in your home and on your clothing.

Aussiedors are friendly, intelligent dogs. They love to be around their people and have enough energy to join you on all of your adventures. With their eagerness to please, they can be trained to handle just about any situations you choose to tackle with them.

If you think an Australian Shepherd Lab mix is right for you, be sure to do your research and get them from a reputable breeder. We also recommend looking at shelters or rescue organizations rather than supporting a puppy mill. A well-bred Aussiedor puppy is more likely to be healthy. A rescued Aussiedor will love you for saving them. A dog from a puppy mill is likely to be sick and poorly socialized.