Updated: July 18th, 2022
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If you are looking for an intelligent and energetic dog to join your family, you may be interested in an Australian shepherd golden retriever mix.
This crossbred dog, also known as the Golden Aussie, is great for active people, including young families. Friendly, affectionate, and intelligent, even first-time owners should be able to train these pliable dogs, as long as you have the energy to keep up with them.
These dogs thrive in active homes where there is always someone about and where they have a bit of outdoor space to burn off energy throughout the day. They also need lots of exercise, in the form of both daily and regular weekend adventures.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about these amazing dogs and whether an Australian shepherd might be the right pup for you.
Main Characteristics
- 19 to 23 inches tall
- 25 to 60 pounds
- 12 to 15 year lifespan
- Medium-length double coat
- Coat is usually patterned in black, brown, and white
- Medium-to-high shedding
- Intelligent
- Trainable
- Friendly
- High energy – Needs at least one hour of exercise per day
- Companionable – Can not be left alone for extended periods
- Good with children (best for older children)
- Not suitable for apartment living
What Is An Australian Retriever?
The Australian shepherd golden retriever mix, also known as an Australian retriever or a Golden Aussie, has hit America as a very popular designer crossbreed.
The Australian retriever is a mix between a golden retriever and an Australian shepherd. To know what to expect from a Golden Aussie, you will first have to know a bit more about its parenting dog breeds.
Golden retrievers originated in Scotland where they were used in hunting parties as gundogs to gently retrieve shot waterfowl without damaging them. Exceptionally friendly, smart, and energetic, the Golden is one of the most popular dog breeds and is a loyal companion or a great service dog.
Despite its name, the Australian shepherd originated in the western US and was bred to herd livestock for ranchers and farmers. True working dogs at heart, Aussies are still used as herding dogs but also excel at being pets and are one of the most popular dog breeds.
When you mix the two, you get a golden retriever Aussie – a highly energetic, smart, and playful dog that is the happiest when it has a job to do.
Australian Shepherd And Golden Retriever Mix Appearance
It’s very hard to predict the exact appearance of any mixed-breed dog, and your Golden Aussie mix can take after either one of its parents or be a perfect mix of both. In general, you can expect your Golden Aussie to have an athletic build, a straight back, and a broad head. In terms of features, expect to see floppy ears, a longer snout, and round eyes that can be brown, blue, or hazel.
Size, Weight & Height
In terms of size, a fully-grown Aussie Golden mix should be a large dog. They usually measure 19 to 24 inches in height and have a weight from 40 to 65 pounds. Keep in mind that female Australian retrievers tend to be smaller than their male counterparts.
Coat & Color
When it comes to their coat, one thing is for sure: your Aussie Golden will have a straight or wavy medium-long double coat with a ruff around the neck. The coat is usually coarse to the touch, but this unique texture makes this mix adaptable to both warmer and colder weather. The coat can come in a variety of different colors, and it’s common for every dog to have a unique mix of colors and markings.
The most commonly seen colors and patterns are:
- Black
- Brown
- White
- Golden
- Merle
- Brindle
- Spotted
Golden Retriever Aussie Mix Temperament
There is no exact way of predicting the personality and temperament of any mixed-breed dog, and the same is true for Australian shepherds. The only way you can have an idea of what’s in store for you and how your mix is going to be is to meet both of his or her parents and get a sense of their personalities and temperaments.
Intelligent
As soon as you bring an Australian shepherd and golden retriever mix home, you will notice they are an exceptionally intelligent dog. Needless to say, this mix is very easy to train and will pass potty training and obedience training with flying colors.
Keep in mind that, as such an intelligent canine, your Australian shepherd golden retriever mix will probably outsmart you more than once. Don’t be angry or upset when all the pieces fall into place and your dog’s genius master plan is finally revealed!
Highly Energetic
The Golden Aussie is a highly energetic dog that needs a lot of exercise, playtime, and training sessions to stay on top of his game both mentally and physically. If you have a more active lifestyle, this mix will fit right in with your schedule and be a great jogging, hiking, or swimming companion. However, if you are more of a couch potato, your Golden Aussie will behave a bit like a drill sergeant with a goal to get you in shape!
Your Aussie retriever mix will need at least an hour of exercise every day ideally spread out over several play sessions to stay physically and mentally stimulated. If not provided with an appropriate outlet for their energy, your golden retriever Aussie mix will use destructive chewing, barking, and digging to prevent boredom.
Loving
Both Goldens and Aussies are friendly and affectionate dogs, so it’s no surprise that their offspring is also a super loving dog. The Australian shepherd and golden retriever mix bonds strongly with its family and seeks out human companionship at all hours of the day and night.
This mixed breed loves to be close to its people and is always in the mood for cuddles or petting sessions.
Your Golden Aussie will have a strong desire to be close by and involved in everything you are doing and might feel unwanted if ignored or left alone. Thus, consider how much time you have to spend cuddling and interacting with your dog before you bring your Golden Aussie home.
Hard-Working
Since both Australian shepherds and golden retrievers are working dogs, their offspring tend to inherit a strong work ethic and be the happiest when they have a job to do.
Depending on how much your mix takes after its Aussie parent, they might try to herd and nip at your family members, children, and smaller pets. This sort of behavior will work in your favor if you live on a farm; otherwise, you should discourage it with training.
You can use these working skills while training and exercising your mix, like having him or her fetch and retrieve balls and freebies. This way, your pooch will feel like they are doing important work and get a workout at the same time.
Golden Retriever Australian Shepherd Mix Health Problems
Australian retrievers are generally considered to be healthy dogs. However, this mix is prone to certain health problems that are often seen in Australian shepherds and golden retrievers.
The most common health problems seen in this mix are:
- Hip dysplasia
- Cataracts
- Cancer
- Bloat
The best way to avoid these issues from arising is to get your Australian shepherd golden retriever mix from a reputable dog breeder. You should also meet both parents and ask the breeder to show you their hip, elbow, and eye scores, as well as any other tests that he has had done.
Compared to other dogs of their size, Aussie retrievers have a fairly long life span and on average live from 12 to 15 years. Be prepared for a long-term commitment and at least a few vet bills down the road before you ultimately decide to bring this mix into your home.
Feeding An Aussie Golden Mix
The ideal diet for the Australian retriever is one that consists of a lot of protein, fat, healthy carbs, and all other essential vitamins and minerals. Your mix should primarily eat dog food formulated especially for large dogs with high energy. Since they are prone to bloat, you should feed your Australian retriever two equally spaced smaller meals, once at the beginning of the day and another in the evening, and avoid free-feeding your dog.
As a puppy, your mix will need calorie-dense puppy food suitable for large breed dogs and have to eat four small, evenly spaced out meals per day. To start, you should continue using the same dog food the breeder was feeding them and wait a month to slowly transition your pup to a different formula.
As always, whenever you’re in doubt, talk with your vet or a canine nutritionist who will help you create a diet plan based on your dog’s individual nutritional needs.
Golden Retriever And Australian Shepherd Mix Grooming & Care
Golden retriever Aussie mixes have a medium-long, water-repellant double coat and are considered to be moderate-to-heavy shedders. To stay on top of all of that loose hair, you should brush your mix two to three times a week. The coat will shed to some extent all year round, and your mix will go through a heavy shed every spring, at which time you might need to brush your dog every day, using a dog brush that fits its coat best.
Regular bathing can help you remove loose hair during the shedding season, but don’t overdo it! Bathing once every other month will suffice unless your mix likes to roll in the mud and has to be bathed more often.
Aside from this, the rest of your golden retriever Aussie mix’s grooming is fairly basic and involves regular teeth brushing, nail trimming, and ear cleaning. You should check your dog’s ears once a week and clean them as needed, using a proper dog ear cleaner, to prevent waxy build-up and painful ear infections.
Should You Adopt An Aussie Retriever?
After reading through our complete description of the Aussie retriever, you might still be unsure whether this wonderful crossbreed is right for you and your lifestyle. We suggest that you ask the following questions to help you decide.
How Much Space Do You Have?
These dogs are both large and energetic, which means they thrive when they have a bit of extra space to exercise. An apartment will feel both feel small and confining to them and be inconvenient for you when such a big dog is wandering around in it. Even a small outdoor area that they can play around in will make a big difference to their overall health and happiness.
Is There Generally Always Someone Around The House?
Aussie retrievers love companionship and always want to be in the thick of things. If they are left at home on their own for several hours a day, perhaps when everyone is at work, they are likely to develop anxiety and depression.
Not only is this bad for them, but it also often manifests in destructive behaviors like chewing, scratching, and digging. These dogs do best in households when there is generally someone around most of the time.
How Energetic Are You?
These dogs need lots of exercise. As well as at least an hour a day, they thrive when taken on regular weekend adventures like hiking, camping, or swimming. In addition, their daily exercise needs to be more than just a casual walk.
Australian shepherd golden retriever mixes have lots of energy that they will need to burn off daily to stay happy and healthy. Will this suit your lifestyle? Are you going to be able to keep up with this dog? If not, this particular breed might not be the right choice for you.
Are You Experienced With Dogs?
These lovely crossbreeds are highly trainable and very personable, so even first-time owners should be able to teach them the necessary commands. You are unlikely to end up with an aggressive dog even if you don’t train them much beyond a few basic tasks.
However, bear in mind that they are also large dogs, and they respond best to a strong alpha. While you don’t need a lot of training experience, you will want to be relatively confident with dogs in order to take on the challenge of training them.
How Old Are Your Children?
If you have young children at home, you might want to wait until they are a bit older to bring home one of these dogs. Not only do Australian shepherd golden retriever mixes have a tendency to herd younger children, but their size and energy can also be overwhelming for smaller kids. They will want to play quite energetically and confidently with your kids, who might be too small to control the situation.
Also, these dogs are quite a lot of work, and you might not want to be running around after one of them while also running around after a toddler. Older kids, however, will find it rewarding to help you care for this personable pup.
Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix FAQs
How much does a golden retriever Australian shepherd mix cost?
As with most designer pups, their cost varies greatly depending on where you are in the country and the subsequent supply and demand. If you are buying from a respectable breeder, you should expect to pay somewhere between $300 and $900 per pup.
You may also find some of these desirable pups looking for homes in a local shelter, so be sure to call around these shelters as your first option.
Can Australian retrievers be golden?
Australian retrievers can inherit the gold coats of their golden retriever parent, but a pure golden coat is relatively rare, as they usually have a mix of color markings like their Australian shepherd parent.
Wrapping Up…
It should be no surprise that golden retriever Aussie mixes are quickly becoming very desirable dogs, as they combine two of the most popular breeds in the United States.
They are a stable crossbreed, as their parents have similar temperaments. They are both friendly and intelligent, which means their offspring are sure to be the same, no matter how their characteristics mix.
Overall, these dogs are:
- Loyal and energetic
- Best suited to having constant company around the house
- Highly intelligent and need plenty of mental stimulation
The Golden Aussie is ideal for active families who have lots of time to spend with their pup and enjoy getting active with them. While they need lots of love and attention, the unconditional loyalty and affection that they offer in return make them well worth the investment.
Do you have experience with Golden Aussie mixes? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below.
