Have you ever seen an Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix? Well, it’s about time you do because it´s the perfect mix! This designer dog is a mix between two popular dog breeds, a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred Australian Shepherd. Let us tell you this, one thing is for sure, this mix will steal your heart!
Now, we know all the controversy around designer dogs, and we agree about most of the points. Such as that there are already so many mutts on the streets and in shelters. But we also want to stress that, many people have a valid reason for getting a designer dog. For example, if you were to be allergic to dog hair, but you really wanted a Golden Retriever. In that case, you could get a Goldendoodle, a mix between a Golden retriever and a Poodle. That way you´re getting all the great traits of a Golden retriever and a hypoallergenic dog.
We at the Golden´s club might be a bit biased because we really love Golden retrievers. Golden´s are the reason why we created this page in the first place! But, in our opinion, there are no better mixes than Golden retriever mixes (we especially love the adorable Goberian)! Golden retrievers have the best personality and make us smile every time with their goofy faces.
Enoguh with the Golden praise, let´s get back to our mix, the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix aka Golden Australian Shepherd you’re getting the best of both worlds. In one hand, you’re getting the Golden retrievers bright personality. This breed is affectionate and friendly yet protective of their people. On the other hand, you´re getting the many amazing traits of the Australian Shepherd. This is an intelligent dog, that is loyal and makes a great watchdog!
Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix – All of their best traits
Before we start analyzing the traits of this mix, you should know that with crossbreeds, we can never fully know what the puppies will look like or even be like. The puppies can look more like one parent breed or the other, or they can look like an exact mix of both.
That’s why it’s important to like both parent breeds when you’re getting a mixed breed. Breeders can do only so much when mixing two different breeds. They can´t affect what traits they will inherit from the parent breeds and to which extent. There is no breed standard like you would have with purebred dogs.
Given that you don´t really know what traits your Golden Aussie mix will inherit, they are quite pricey. Generally speaking designer dogs aren’t cheap! In fact, sometimes they are more expensive than their purebred parents. An Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix Cost can cost you anywhere between $400 and $1000 for a puppy. The price can also go up, depending on the breeder, the area you live in and the health of the parents.
Of course, there are other factors that affect the final price of a puppy, like the area you live in, if there are many breeders that specialize in this designer dog and so on. So, you could easily pay even more money.
Now, with that being said, let´s take a closer look at the physical appearance of the Golden Retriever mix appearance.
Australian Shep Golden Retriever mix appearance – Main characteristics
Both Golden retrievers and Australian Shepherds are quite large dogs, so it’s not surprising that the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix is big in size too.
A grown Aussie Retriever is between 19 to 24 inches in height and has a weight from 40 to 65 pounds. Of course, the females can be a little smaller (just like it’s with female dogs of any breed). But either way, these dogs are pretty big. That means they will need much space too, and they are high energy dogs. They might not be fit to live in small apartments, they will thrive in a big house with a fenced yard. But, even if you don´t have a yard, but you have a bigger house, you can get this designer dog, it´s just important to take them on regular walks and exercise sessions, but more on that later.
Unique look
Besides that, this crossbreed dog has a long body and long legs. They are sturdy and strong, but don´t look muscular. When it comes to their adorable faces, you´ll notice that they have floppy ears, a longer snout, and round eyes that can be dark in color, most commonly brown and hazel, but there are also mixes that have blue eyes.
One thing that distinguishes this mix is definitely their coat color. It’s surprising how many colors and patterns of colors you can see on these dogs.
The most commonly seen colors and patterns are:
- Black
- Brown
- White
- Golden
- Merle
- Brindle
- Spotted
They usually have a straight (but sometimes it can be wavy), medium-long, double coat, and a ruff around the neck. Their coat is quite coarse, but this is good because it makes them adaptable to both warmer and colder weather.The above mentioned traits are only some of the possible traits this crossbred dog can inherit. To give you a more detailed answer what these pups can look like, we need to take a look at the two parent breeds, Golden retriever and Australian Shepherd, separately.
Golden retriever appearance
Is there a person on this planet that doesn´t know how a Golden retriever looks like? We highly doubt so, but, for the sake of this article let´s go over their physical appearance.
Golden retrievers belong to the large dog breeds. We’ve already said that male Goldens are 23 to 24 inches tall and weigh 65 to 75 pounds. Females are generally smaller and are 21.5 to 22.5 inches tall and 55 to 65 pounds heavy.
Fun fact: Golden Retrievers reach their full height by one year of age, and their mature weight by two. But despite reaching their full physical potential, mentally, these dogs never fully grow up mentally.
You´ll hear many Golden retriever day that even their adult Golden still acts like a puppy. There are many coloration varieties of Golden retrievers. Their fur color varies from light golden to cream, dark golden to golden, to red, but the three colors that are accepted by the American Kennel Club are:
- Dark golden
- Golden
- Light Golden
Just like they differ in coat color, their shape also varies from broad and dense to slimmer and sportier. Goldens have a fluid, powerful movement, with their tails always held high. What is not so great about Golden retrievers is that they shed a lot. That means they are high-maintenance.
They need to be brushed on a regular basis, so every day. Golden retrievers have a luxurious double coat. That means their coat consists of two layers, an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer coat is dense and repels water, their undercoat is thick and fluffy and keeps them warm. Their coats can be wavy or straight in texture and what gives them that fluffy appearance is that their chest, backs of their legs, and tail are heavily feathered.
Australian Shepherd appearance
The Australian Shepherd is an American breed. Despite its name, this dog was bred in the United States in the 1840s. The Australian Shepherd is slightly longer than he is tall, males are between 20 and 23 inches tall at the shoulder, while females are 18 to 21 inches tall. Besides being large in size, they are also quite heavy. Male Australian Shepherds weigh 50 to 65 pounds on average, while female dogs weigh 40 to 55 pounds.
Australian shepherds have a unique look, in fact many people would say that these dogs have a very appealing appearance. Just look at these dog breed pictures below.
Their fur is medium length, water-resistant, and can be either wavy or straight. The coats of the Australian Shepherds are masterpieces, with colors ranging from red tricolor to red merle to all-over black to black merle.
Although there are white Australian Shepherds, you should avoid them because they are prone to becoming deaf or blind. There is a connection between coat color of a dog and it´s health. Experts have proven that white dogs or dogs that have a very light coat color tend to be more sick, suffer from alopecia and it´s not unusual for them to be born or deaf.
Fun fact: The Native Americans nicknamed the Aussie dog “Ghost Eye” because of the color of its eyes. The Australian Shepherd tends to have ice blue eyes.
But, of course not all Australian Shepherds will have blue eyes, other eye colors are present too such as:
- dark brown,
- yellowish,
- amber,
- green.
Sometimes they can even have eyes in different colors, one eye can be brown the other blue. This is a condition that is called heterochromia and can be seen in a number of dog breeds including the Siberian Husky.
Another unique feature of the Australian Shep is that they don´t have tails. In the past it was common to dock the Aussie Shep´s tail, this is because they were used for herding, and with a big fluffy tail, the risk of the getting hurt was much higher. Cattle could grab them by their tail or step on this dog´s tail. That´s why farmers started having the Australian Shepherd´s tail surgically docked after birth. This means they would remove a piece of their natural tail. Nowadays, that isn´t done, because there is no need. Because of selective breeding today these dogs have naturally bobbed. Luckily, tail docking is nowadays considered a cruel treatment.
Golden Retriever Aussie mix temperament
We all know how Golden retrievers are. They are popular dogs, mostly because of their loving and playful nature. Besides this, they are loyal companions and make great service dogs. The Australian Shepherd is also a loving dog, but they are also a herding dog by nature, so they are loyal to their family members and at the same time protective of them. Australian Shepherds also tend to be standoffish with strangers. So your Golden Aussie mix can be like either of those breeds.
According to many owners, the Australian Shepherd is a working dog, they love being busy and having tasks and things to do. They are also very loving too!
So, when you combine that and the fact that Golden retrievers are very affectionate dogs, you come to the conclusion that the mix of these two adores their family and seeks out human companionship and connection all the time. Don’t be surprised if your Aussie Golden wants to spend much time with you, if they could, they would be close to you 24 hours. They also what to be involved in everything that you’re doing.
Unpredictable temperament
Now, you should also know that a mixed breed dog temperament can be unpredictable as it can adopt the personality of either the Golden Retriever or the Australian Shepherd parent. If they inherit the herding instinct from their Aussie parent they might end up nipping at your family members, kids, or even smaller pets. There are still a few traits that both parents have. For example, both are energetic dogs, very intelligent, loyal, and affectionate.
These are all traits that you are sure to find in your Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mixed breed puppy. As a rule of thumb we can say that the Retriever mix is affectionate, kind, loving, a bit needy but at the same time brave and willing to protect you and your family. They view themselves as part of the family, they think you all make a pack, and it´s in the nature of dogs to protect their pack.
A little heads up, keep an eye out for more unexpected traits that the puppy may receive from one of its parents. For example, they can be very hyper if they don’t get enough exercise. Because of their intelligence and wish to please you, these dogs are easy to train and socialize, but it’s just important that you start while they are still puppies.
Health and care
The Golden Aussie needs a lot of exercise. It needs at least one hour of exercise a day, otherwise, they will become destructive and turn to chewing, barking, and digging. So, don’t be surprised if they chew up or destroy your new shoes. So at least one hour of exercise every day is a must, but 90 minutes would be better.
The life expectancy of this mix is between 12 and 15 years and they don’t have many health problems. Generally speaking, mixed breeds are much healthier than their purebred parenting breeds. But, that doesn’t mean they won’t get ever sick. One of the biggest health problems these dogs face are hip and elbow dysplasia.
Other health issues these dogs can face are:
- Eye cataracts – Cataracts are removed with a surgical procedure under general anesthesia
- Bloating – It’s a serious and fatal condition if left untreated. It occurs when a dog’s stomach fills with gas, food, or fluid and twists. This condition can progress quickly and it’s considered an emergency.
- Cancer – The signs of cancer in dogs are the same as in humans. Possible symptoms include: a lump or a bump, a wound that doesn’t heal, any kind of swelling, enlarged lymph nodes, lameness in the bone, swelling in the bone, and abnormal bleeding.
- Hip dysplasia – is a hereditary disorder that affects larger breed dogs during their growing phase. It causes the hip joint to relax, resulting in pain and dysfunction. Because of that, the cartilage and bone in the dog’s hip begin to wear away as he grows which can lead to arthritis, muscular atrophy, and decreased. Sadly there is no treatment, but it is a good idea to do health screenings of the parents in order to avoid this condition in the puppies.
Health problems of the parent breeds
We should also mention the health problems of both parent breeds, let´s start with the Golden retriever.The Golden Retriever has a life expectancy of 10 to 13 years. The most common health problems of this breed are:
- hypothyroidism,
- sub-aortic stenosis (SAS),
- eye diseases,
- elbow dysplasia,
- mast cell tumors,
- seizures.
These are just a few of the minor health issues Golden retrievers can have. There are also very common major health issues that can be found in this breed. Golden Retrievers including:
- osteosarcoma,
- lymphoma,
- canine hip dysplasia (CHD),
- hemangiosarcoma,
- skin disorders.
With Golden retrievers it´s a good idea to perform regular check ups, a veterinarian may offer heart, hip, thyroid, eye, or elbow testing to detect these issues early.
Now, let´s look at the health issues of Australian Shepherds and their health. The Australian shepherd has a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years, which is considered pretty long. Unlike the Golden retriever, Australian Shepherds have a low incidence of significant health problems.
But that doesn´t mean they can´t get sick. They can still suffer from all the health problems that other large breeds have, it´s just that they are somewhat less likely to get sick. According to many experts these dogs are said to be immune to a variety of problems that affect other breeds more commonly, such as bone, skin, and fur problems.
With that being said, let´s take a look at the most common health issues of this breed:
- hip dysplasia,
- elbow dysplasia,
- collie eye anomalie,
- colobomas,
- cataracts,
- progressive retinal atrophy,
- epilepsy,
- different kinds of tumors and cancers.
Australian Shepherd mix grooming and training
Both of the parent breeds have a double coat, which means the Australian Shepherd mix grooming won´t be easy. These dogs shed like crazy!
The Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix has a medium-length, water-repellent double coat. You will read on some pages that these dogs shed moderately to heavily, but let´s be real here, they always shed heavily. It´s simply how their coat is. The best way to keep your dog´s coat in a good condition is to brush it two to three times a week. That way you´ll keep all of the loose hair under control. You should also know that their coat sheds to some degree all year, but like all dogs with a double coat, this mix will go through a heavy shed in the spring. When that happens you may need to brush your dog every day.
Don´t neglect brushing your dog´s coat every day during that period. You have to groom your dog’s coat in order to keep his skin healthy and his body comfy, that´s the only way you´ll keep their coat in a decent shape. If you do not do that, then leaving dead hair to accumulate will result in matting.
Shedding season
Another tip we can give you is to shower your dog regularly during shedding season to remove loose hair, but don’t overdo it and don´t use shampoo! Just warm water will be enough. When it comes to bathing dogs there are no rules, but generally speaking unless your mix likes to roll in the mud and needs to be bathed more frequently, bathing once every other month should suffice. Many dog owners don´t know that most dogs don’t need daily baths. Dogs only need to be bathed every four to eight weeks, But the best interval between showers depends on the breed and coat type of your pet.
Apart from that, frequent tooth brushing, nail cutting, and ear cleaning are also part of your Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix grooming routine. To avoid waxy build-up and unpleasant ear infections, check your dog’s ears once a week and clean them as needed.
Training
Lastly, we want to talk about training, including crate training and potty training. These dogs are very smart, so even first time owners shouldn´t have any issues training these pliable dogs. Training is important work every dog owner needs to do, if you´re unsure if you can do it, then you can hire a professional dog trainer.
The most important rule you need to remember when training your Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is to keep the training positive. The best method to train any dog, including crossbreeds is through positive reward training or positive reinforcement.But what is positive reward training? Well, besides being habit animals, dogs are driven by praise and treats.
With positive reinforcement training you are giving your dog rewards when he does a desired action. The rewards can be food, praise, toys, or anything else the dog enjoys. You can ask any expert, each and every one of them will tell you the same thing, positive reinforcement is one of your most potent strategies and the best method for shaping or modifying your dog’s behavior. This is because the reward encourages them to repeat the behavior.
The key thing to remember is that you need to give the reward immediately after the desired behavior. otherwise your dog won´t know what you´re praising them for. They will simply forget what they did and won´t associate the reward with the right thing to do. For example, if you ask your dog to sit but then treat them when they stand back up, they will believe they are being rewarded for standing.
Conclusion
The Golden Retriever Australian Shepherd Mix is definitely a very unique dog that combines the best characteristics of the Australian Shepherd and the Golden retriever. This dog will become your friendly companion.
They will give you so much love, but they will also protect you and your home. But, they do need a lot of exercise, so if you’re usually a couch potato this type of dog might not be for you.
Basically, they are amazing dogs and a great addition to an adventurous, active and outgoing family that has the right amount of time and energy to invest in them. They need a responsible dog owner who will take good care of them and their needs.
But, don´t get discouraged now and think that they aren´t suited for first time owners. They will fit in great in almost all families especially young families. The reason why it it doesn´t matter if you have experience with dogs or not is that this crossbreed isn´t aggressive, so there is no threat to you.
Of course, you will have to put in a lot of work and train them well. If you´re not sure that you can do it on your own then you can get little bit help and hire a professional dog trainer or enroll your puppy in puppy kindergarten where they will learn everything they need. Puppy kindergarten is also a great way to socialize a dog.
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