Aussiedor
Hybrid Breed Description
The Aussiedor is a cross between the Labrador Retriever and the Australian Shepherd. Because each hybrid inherits a unique combination of traits from both parents, we recommend thoroughly researching both breeds before choosing an Aussiedor. Pay special attention to temperament, health issues, and care requirements, as your dog may express characteristics from either parent breed.
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever presents as a strongly built, medium to large-sized dog with an athletic, well-balanced conformation that reflects its heritage as a versatile working retriever. Males typically stand twenty-two and a half to twenty-four and a half inches tall at the shoulder and weigh sixty-five to eighty pounds, while females measure slightly smaller at twenty-one and a half to twenty-three and a half inches in height and fifty-five to seventy pounds in weight. The breed exhibits a short-coupled body where length from shoulder point to rump approximates or slightly exceeds height at the withers, with the distance from elbow to ground equaling half the height at the withers. This square to slightly rectangular outline combined with substantial bone and strong muscling creates a dog capable of working long hours under demanding conditions while maintaining endurance and agility. Labradors possess distinctive breed-specific features that make them instantly recognizable, beginning with their broad skull and well-developed head that shows no exaggeration. The breed displays a clean-cut head with parallel planes between skull and muzzle, a moderate stop, and expressive eyes that are typically brown or hazel, conveying intelligence and good temperament. Medium-sized, pendant-shaped ears hang slightly back and frame the face. The most famous characteristic is the thick, tapered otter tail covered in dense, short hair that aids in swimming and serves as a rudder in water. This tail should be carried level with the topline or with a slight upward curve but never curled over the back, and it completes the flowing line from head to tip that defines proper Labrador structure. The breed's short, dense, weather-resistant double coat consists of a soft undercoat beneath a straight, somewhat harsh outer coat that provides excellent protection from cold water and harsh weather conditions. Labradors come in three solid colors—black, yellow ranging from pale cream to fox red, and chocolate from light to dark brown—with no other color patterns accepted in breed standards. The coat sheds moderately to heavily year-round with seasonal increases, requiring regular brushing to manage loose hair. Webbed paws aid in swimming efficiency, while the broad chest with well-sprung ribs provides lung capacity for retrieving work. Field-bred Labs often appear taller and leaner than show-bred lines, though both types share the fundamental structure that makes this breed so physically capable and adaptable to various roles from family companion to working retriever to service dog.
Key Characteristics
Labrador Retrievers are renowned worldwide for their friendly, outgoing, and eager-to-please personalities, consistently ranking as one of the most popular family dogs due to their gentle, patient nature and adaptability to various living situations and roles. These dogs display exceptionally high intelligence and trainability, making them ideal candidates for service work, therapy roles, search and rescue, detection work, and competitive obedience, with their strong desire to work alongside humans driving their enthusiasm for learning new tasks. Labs thrive on human companionship and form deep bonds with all family members, showing particular patience and gentleness with children, though supervision remains important given their size, strength, and sometimes exuberant greetings that can accidentally knock over small children. The breed exhibits naturally high energy levels and requires substantial daily exercise—typically at least one hour of vigorous activity—to maintain physical health and prevent destructive behaviors that emerge from boredom or pent-up energy. Labradors excel at activities involving retrieving, swimming, running, and interactive play, with their love of water being so pronounced that many owners struggle to keep their dogs out of pools, lakes, or any available water source. Without adequate exercise and mental stimulation through training or puzzle toys, Labs may develop problematic behaviors including excessive barking, destructive chewing, digging, or general hyperactivity. The breed's strong retrieve instinct combined with their oral fixation means they frequently carry objects in their mouths and may develop destructive chewing habits without appropriate toys and guidance, requiring owners to be vigilant about keeping valuable items out of reach. Labradors generally show minimal aggression and greet both familiar people and strangers with enthusiastic friendliness, making them poor guard dogs but excellent ambassadors for the canine species. They typically get along well with other dogs and household pets when properly socialized, displaying a playful, social nature that makes them adaptable to multi-pet households. The breed responds exceptionally well to positive reinforcement training methods and can become obedience stars with consistent work, though their food motivation can lead to weight problems if treats are not carefully monitored. Field-bred Labs tend toward higher energy and more intense working drive compared to show-bred lines, which often develop into calmer, more laid-back companions, though individual personality varies significantly regardless of breeding line.
Labrador Retrievers generally enjoy good health with an average lifespan of eleven to thirteen years, though the breed faces predisposition to several inherited and acquired conditions that owners should monitor throughout their dogs' lives. Hip dysplasia ranks among the most significant orthopedic concerns, occurring when the thighbone fails to fit properly into the hip joint socket, causing pain, lameness, and progressive arthritis, with some affected dogs showing no outward symptoms until the condition advances. Elbow dysplasia similarly affects the breed as an inherited condition where elbow joint components develop abnormally, leading to degenerative joint disease, lameness, and discomfort, particularly after exercise. Both conditions benefit from maintaining healthy body weight, appropriate exercise levels during growth periods, and breeding stock screening through orthopedic evaluations. Obesity represents an extremely common problem in Labrador Retrievers, affecting approximately twenty-five to thirty percent of the breed, partially due to a genetic mutation in the POMC gene that impairs appetite regulation and makes these dogs feel constantly hungry. This predisposition combined with their food-motivated nature and tendency to overeat creates serious risks for diabetes, joint stress, heart disease, and shortened lifespan, requiring owners to carefully measure portions, limit treats, and ensure adequate exercise. Progressive retinal atrophy causes gradual retinal degeneration leading to night blindness and eventual complete vision loss, typically beginning between three and nine years of age, though blind dogs can adapt well with owner support. Additional eye concerns include cataracts and various inherited ocular conditions that benefit from regular ophthalmologic examinations. Exercise-induced collapse affects Labradors as an inherited neuromuscular condition where dogs experience sudden muscle weakness and coordination loss in the hind legs after intense exercise or excitement, potentially progressing to complete collapse with dangerously elevated body temperature. Genetic testing identifies carriers and at-risk dogs. The breed also faces increased risk for ear infections due to their pendant ears that trap moisture and debris, particularly after swimming, requiring regular cleaning with veterinary-recommended solutions. Other health concerns include bloat or gastric dilatation-volvulus which represents a life-threatening emergency, various forms of cancer including hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma, centronuclear myopathy causing muscle weakness, and copper toxicosis affecting liver function. Regular veterinary care, genetic health screening of breeding stock, maintaining appropriate body condition, and awareness of breed-specific conditions help Labrador Retrievers live long, healthy lives as cherished family companions.
Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd presents as a medium-sized working dog with an athletic and well-balanced build. Males typically stand between twenty and twenty-three inches at the shoulder and weigh fifty to sixty-five pounds, while females are slightly smaller at eighteen to twenty-one inches tall and forty to fifty-five pounds. This breed exhibits a sturdy, muscular frame with moderate bone structure and a body length that slightly exceeds height, creating a rectangular silhouette that emphasizes agility and endurance. The Aussie possesses a level topline, deep chest with well-sprung ribs, and strong, flexible loins that facilitate the quick movements essential for herding work. The breed's most distinctive feature is its luxurious double coat, which ranges from medium to moderately long in length with a texture that varies from straight to wavy. The weather-resistant coat includes a dense undercoat that adjusts in thickness according to climate conditions. Hair appears short and smooth on the face, ears, and front of the forelegs, while the backs of the legs display moderate feathering and the hindquarters show fuller breeches. Males typically exhibit a more pronounced mane around the neck compared to females. The Australian Shepherd's coat comes in four recognized color variations including blue merle, red merle, solid black, and solid red, all of which may appear with or without white markings and tan points. Facial features include a clean-cut head with a flat to slightly rounded skull of medium width, complemented by a moderately tapered muzzle of equal or slightly shorter length than the back skull. The breed displays highly expressive, almond-shaped eyes that can be brown, blue, amber, or any combination including flecks and marbling, with eye rim pigmentation matching coat color. Triangular ears of moderate size sit high on the head and break forward or to the side when alert. The breed's signature otter tail, which may be naturally bobbed or full length, completes the balanced appearance from head to tip.
Key Characteristics
Australian Shepherds exhibit remarkable intelligence combined with high energy levels and an intense work drive that stems from generations of selective breeding for herding livestock. These dogs demonstrate exceptional problem-solving abilities and quick learning capacity, ranking among the most trainable breeds, though their cleverness means they can easily outsmart owners who fail to provide consistent mental challenges and structured activities. Without adequate stimulation, Aussies may create their own jobs, which often manifests as undesirable behaviors including excessive barking, destructive chewing, or attempting to herd children, other pets, or even vehicles. The breed displays strong herding instincts that remain present even in dogs never exposed to livestock, expressing through behaviors such as nipping at heels, circling, and intense staring. Australian Shepherds typically show reserved and cautious behavior around strangers rather than immediate friendliness, a trait that develops more prominently during adolescence between ten and twenty months of age. This natural wariness combined with protective instincts makes them excellent watchdogs who alert to unfamiliar people or situations. When properly socialized from puppyhood, Aussies become confident and well-adjusted, though some individuals may never fully warm to strangers regardless of socialization efforts. These dogs form exceptionally strong bonds with their families and thrive on constant human companionship, often following their favorite person from room to room. Australian Shepherds demonstrate sensitivity to their owner's emotions and respond best to positive reinforcement training methods, as harsh corrections can damage their trust and willingness to work. The breed requires substantial daily exercise—typically one to two hours—combined with mentally engaging activities such as agility training, obedience work, or interactive games to maintain behavioral and emotional health. Aussies generally show good temperament with children and other pets when raised together, though supervision remains important due to their herding tendencies and exuberant play style.
Australian Shepherds are generally healthy dogs with a median lifespan of approximately twelve to fourteen years, though they face predisposition to several inherited conditions that responsible breeders screen for before breeding. Hip dysplasia ranks among the most significant orthopedic concerns, occurring when the hip joint develops abnormally and leading to cartilage deterioration, pain, lameness, and eventually arthritis as dogs age. Elbow dysplasia similarly affects the breed and may be underrecognized despite causing front-leg lameness and contributing to arthritis development, with dogs showing elbow problems also facing increased risk for hip dysplasia. Eye diseases represent the most common hereditary health issues in Australian Shepherds, with cataracts leading the list of inherited ocular conditions. These lens opacities typically appear bilaterally and progress from small cloudy areas to potentially obscuring entire lenses, though they develop slowly enough that most dogs adapt well to vision loss. Progressive retinal atrophy causes gradual retinal degeneration leading to night blindness and eventual complete vision loss, while Collie Eye Anomaly affects blood vessel development in the eyes and can result in various complications including retinal detachment. Additional eye concerns include persistent pupillary membranes and distichiasis, though these typically cause less severe problems. The breed shows high prevalence of the MDR1 gene mutation, affecting approximately fifty percent of Australian Shepherds, which causes dangerous sensitivity to common medications including certain heartworm preventatives, anesthetics, and anti-parasitic drugs. Dogs carrying this mutation require careful medication management throughout their lives to avoid potentially fatal reactions. Other significant health concerns include autoimmune thyroiditis, the most commonly reported autoimmune disease in the breed; epilepsy, which frequently presents with atypical seizure patterns; and various conditions associated with the natural bobtail gene when two naturally bobbed dogs are bred together. Regular veterinary examinations, appropriate health screenings, and genetic testing help identify and manage these conditions early, supporting longer, healthier lives for Australian Shepherds.
Important to Remember
Each hybrid dog is unique and may inherit any combination of traits from either parent breed. The information above represents the characteristics of the purebred parent breeds. Your Aussiedor may favor one parent over the other or display a blend of both. We strongly encourage you to read the complete breed profiles for both the Labrador Retriever and Australian Shepherd to fully understand the range of possible temperaments, health concerns, and care requirements.