Ah, the Australian Mountain Doodle! What a magnificent creature. With its strikingly unique appearance and availability in different sizes from miniature to standard, it’s no wonder that this dog has captured the hearts of many. Also known as Aussie Mountain Doodle, it is a dog that carries a designer tag and fulfills all the expectations of being an excellent family dog.
First things first, let’s address the elephant in the room (or should we say, the koala in the tree?); the Australian Mountain Doodle, or AMD in short is a mixed breed of Australian Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, and Poodle. If you are planning to get an Aussie Mountain Doodle puppy and looking for a comprehensive guide, keep reading this article. This article contains everything about Australian Mountain Doodle dogs including traits, temperament, grooming, health, etc.
You may like reading about Australian Cobberdog
Let us find out more about this amazing dog breed.
Table of Contents
Introduction and History
Let’s pretend that you are a fan of Australian Shepherds, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Poodles and it’s nearly impossible for you to have all of them. But the good news for you is that now you can get all three in one in the form of an Aussie Mountain Doodle.
This breed is said to be developed in Australia where the breeders were planning to develop a dog breed with the best of three different dogs; hence, they started working on the triple-cross of the Australian Shepherds, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Poodles.
The ratio of each breed
Australian Shepherd: 50%
Bernese Mountain Dog: 25%
Poodle: 25%
That’s right; they’ve taken three very different breeds and mashed them together to create a hybrid breed that they wanted to carry better traits of all of them. Some breeders claim that it has the intelligence of a Poodle, the loyalty of an Australian Shepherd, and the calm temperament of a Bernese Mountain Dog. Others say that it has the energy of a Tasmanian devil, the stubbornness of a kangaroo, and the appetite of a crocodile. But whatever, the AMD is one of the most adorable hybrid dogs.
Physical Appearance
So what does an Australian Mountain Doodle actually look like? Well, it’s a medium to a large-sized dog with a curly coat that comes in a variety of colors, including bi-color and tricolor along with a fluffy appearance.
It is typically 21 to 28 inches tall and weighs about 50 to 95 lbs while the miniature version may grow between 19 to 22 inches tall and weighs about 30 to 40 pounds. They resemble closely Australian Bernedoodle so better not to confuse the two breeds for each other.
Temperament and Behavior
The AMD is extremely affectionate and it can live happily with a family and kids. It is more loyal and less stubborn than many other breeds.
These dogs are laid back and would watch TV on the couch and do some adorable funny frolics which is always a joy to watch. You also don’t need a lot of space for them to run around, especially if you are living in a small apartment.
Is it hard to train Australian Mountain Doodle?
It is not very hard to train this dog. This trait is inherited from Australian Shepherds and Poodles. It is also less stubborn than some similar breeds. It comes with a higher level of intelligence which is always useful during training.
Grooming and Care
Dogs with curlier coats are needed to be groomed regularly to avoid matting and tangling. A visit to the professional vet every 2-3 months would be enough. Also, you should bathe them once every 2 months or whenever the coat looks dirty.
Dental hygiene: It is noticed during clinical studies that a dog with better dental hygiene is going to live a healthier life. Old age can also cause oral infections and tooth loss. It is recommended to clean your pup’s teeth at least 3 times a week in order to maintain good and healthy dental hygiene.
Vet checks and common diseases: In order to have a good healthy dog, regular vet checkups are recommended. Some common known diseases that Australian Mountain Doodle may develop are Hip dysplasia and Elbow dysplasia. It can also suffer from von Willebrand’s disease which causes loss of blood during injury because the dog does not have sufficient proteins that help clot the wound.
Similarly, Australian Mountain Doodle can have ear infections. Regular and timely Vet visits can help you manage these problems.
Nutritional requirements
The nutritional requirements of the Australian Mountain Doodle are almost the same as other dogs. Just like any other dog, they would also need vitamins, probiotics, digestive enzymes, antioxidants, etc. A properly branded dog food should fulfill most of these needs along with some random dog treats and canine-friendly veggies.
Although raw meat is not the best of choices because it is the primary source of spreading salmonella, if you decide to provide them with raw meat then make sure that it is a lean cut with little to no fats and is prepared in hygienic conditions. It is recommended that human food including processed foods like snacks should be avoided for them to have the best of health.
Pros and Cons
Some of the best features of the Australian Mountain Doodle are:
Longer Lifespan: Because of the Poodle genes in this breed, it is known to have longer life spans. This was also a desired trait because some designer dogs did not have a very long life span.
Trainability: The Australian Mountain Doodles can be trained relatively easily. They have a high level of intelligence and this can be a productive asset for owners who wish to train the puppy fast or make them do a desirable action. For example, teaching them not to scratch the sofa or a comeback command.
Low maintenance of the living area: The Aussie Mountain Doodle has a low level of shedding and therefore is easy to maintain in the living room or other places your dog can go.
Family dog: Finally, these dogs are very chill with children and loyal to their owners. So, if you have a toddler at home, you cannot worry about any harm coming to the child. Still, keep your infants supervised if dogs are around them.
Low exercise requirement: Australian Mountain Doodles are not very high-energy dogs. But a moderate amount of exercise is good.
Some Cons of having an AMD Dog:
Stubborn: At a young age, these dogs can be stubborn and have their own mind. This is primarily due to the high level of intelligence that they have but with training, you can take care of this problem.
High Costs: The cost of having an AMD can be high because it is a designer breed especially if you get a puppy from an ethical breeder (Highly recommended). The average price of a puppy is $3000 or more.
Grooming requirement: Regular grooming is essential for this breed because it has low shedding and mats can occur in its fur coat. The only way to stop this is by regular combing.
Unpredictable size: The Australian Mountain Doodle has an unpredictable size because it is a mixed breed and no one can predict whether the puppies would be smaller or bigger.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the benefits of owning an Aussie Mountain Doodle outweigh the cons. They are chill, live a long life, and are low-temperament dogs that are good for families with toddlers.
If you are planning to buy or adopt an Australian Mountain Doodle, make sure that you do that from a reputed breeder that will provide you with complete details about the puppy, as well as, its parents.
Recommended read – The Great Dane Dalmatian Mix Dog
Image from Greenfield Puppies.