Do Aussiedoodles Shed?

Shedding can be a pain, and, especially if you have allergies, it can make owning a dog seem like an impossible task.

After all, no matter how well you brush and wash and groom your dog, shedding will still occur, just like it does in humans.

While shedding is an unavoidable, natural occurrence in dogs, there are some breeds that shed less, thus making them more allergy-friendly than others.

One of the newest and most popular breeds that fit this description is the Aussiedoodle.

The short answer is yes. Shedding is something that most fur-bearing animals do. Even humans do it!

However, thanks to their poodle ancestors, Aussiedoodles shed much less than other breeds.

Short History of the Aussiedoodle

The Aussiedoodle, despite its name, was first bred in the United States as a herding dog. It’s a fairly new breed, and, due to its current classification as a hybrid, it has not been registered by the American Kennel Club.

Although they originally started out as a cross between an Australian Shepard and an Australian poodle, Aussiedoodles now come in a variety of sizes and colors due to breeding with multiple varieties of poodles.

The Aussiedoodle rose to popularity in the 1950s when they starred in rodeos, film, and on farms thanks to both their skill as herding dogs, their reliability as a companion, and, of course, their signature, curly fur.

What is a Aussiedoodle’s Coat Like?

While the coloration and exact texture depends greatly on the parents, Aussiedoodles do have two main hair types: wavy, like German Shepard, or curly, like poodles.

While the curly hair will require a bit more maintenance in the form of daily brushing to prevent knots and matting, neither hair type is preferred over the other.

Their single coat comes in a variety of colors.

How Much do Aussiedoodles Shed?

Aussiedoodles are low shedders thanks to their poodle parents.

While there are some factors that increase shedding, you can expect that with regular, light grooming that your pup won’t leave clumps of hair around your home.

When do Aussiedoodles Shed the Most?

There are multiple causes for shedding in Aussiedoodles, both natural and health related.

Genetics and Hair Types

The Aussiedoodle’s beloved low-shedding trait comes mainly from their poodle genetics.

This means that dogs with wavy coats, indicating more German Shepherd than poodle, will shed slightly more.

The tight curls of the Aussiedoodle trap a majority of shed hair, containing it until you brush it. With these curls gone, you’ll notice more shedding.

Time of Year

Unlike most dog breeds, including their German Shepherd ancestors, Aussiedoodles do not experience seasonal blowouts.

This can be contributed to their poodle parent who provides the genetic code for both a low-shedding curly hair type and a single coat.

Puppy Coat

All dogs will lose their puppy coats as they grow older, but the Aussiedoodle once again lives up to its low-shedding title.

While other breeds will leave tufts of hair scattered around your home as they age, Aussiedoodles’ puppy shedding is easily managed.

Add in regular grooming in the form of baths and brush sessions and their puppy shedding can be combated with a vacuuming and dusting.

Aussiedoodle Shedding & Health Issues

Anxiety

While it’s often forgotten about, anxiety can be a large cause of shedding in your Aussiedoodle. Anxiety, whether it comes from actual anxiety or boredom, can cause your dog to excessively groom.

All of this licking, chewing, and scratching will irritate their sensitive skin, and, if left untreated, you’ll find that your dog may begin to suffer from hair loss.

If you expect boredom is the cause, try exercising your dog more often. If anxiety is the cause, try talking to your vet about possibly options.

Fleas, Ticks and Parasites

The feeling of creepy crawlies on your dog can be unpleasant, and, like anxiety, it can lead to overgrooming.

Over time, extreme skin irritations can lead to hair loss and excessive shedding.

To fix this, speak to your vet about treatment options. Or, most animal stores offer over the counter pest treatments, especially for fleas.

Poor Diet

One of the easiest causes of excessive shedding to correct is a poor diet. Like humans, a vitamin deficiency can cause weaker, brittle hair in dogs that breaks easily.

If you find that your dog’s diet might be the culprit for the hairballs that are suddenly popping up around your house, don’t worry.

By adding in just a few healthy foods, you can help your Aussiedoodle have a shiny, healthy coat.

Foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids are one of the best foods you can add into your Aussiedoodle’s diet. This will help them grow a shiny, strong coat while also improving their overall health.

While it can be easy to find processed foods and supplements that claim to offer omega-3 fatty acids, one potentially better way to include it in their diet is through raw food.

Once per week, consider giving your dog some fresh sardines – not from a can – salmon, or even tuna. Although the jury is out on whether raw food is good or not so check with your vet before any major dietary shifts.

Salmon, along with beef and chicken, offers another great benefit as well: zinc.

Zinc is a high-quality mineral that will help prevent itchy, inflamed skin and skin infections in your Aussiedoodle. These meats will also offer your dog protein.

Meat isn’t the only source of protein for your dog, however. You can also give him or her some of your breakfast eggs every morning. Cooked eggs, especially the yolk, offer a good source of raw protein that can greatly benefit your dog.

How to Combat Aussiedoodle Shedding?

After understanding why your Aussiedoodle is shedding, and correcting any health related issues, you can begin to combat shedding. Thankfully, this won’t be a difficult task.

For the most part, daily brushing for curly varieties and weekly brushing for wavy varieties is enough to keep a majority of the hair from off of your floor. Regular washing can also help prevent excess shedding.

Equipment for Combating Aussiedoodle Shedding

Since brushing and bathing are the best ways to combat shedding in your Aussiedoodle, it’s important to have the right equipment.

For a brush, it is important that it is designed for thicker, single coats. The Pro Slicker brush is designed to be harsh on knots and dirts while remaining gentle on your dog’s fur and skin.

Investing in an all natural, gentle shampoo like Earthbath can also help. The oatmeal will soothe any skin irritations while the aloe will help keep your Aussiedoodle’s skin moisturized.

Are Aussiedoodle’s Considered to Be Hypoallergenic?

No, and it’s important to know that no dog is truly hypoallergenic. If this sounds a bit confusing, don’t worry, here’s the explanation.

Most people think that low-shedding means hypoallergenic, but this isn’t quite the case. It isn’t the fur that acts as an allergen but the dog’s dead skin – known as dander.

So even if you have a hairless dog, they still won’t be hypoallergenic because as long as their dead skin is flaking off and shedding – as healthy skin should – then they will be producing allergens.

However, while the Aussiedoodle may not be hypoallergenic, thanks to its low-shedding coat, it is more allergy-friendly than some other breeds. After all, less hair shedding means less dander.