Australian Retriever -- Australian Shepherd X Golden Retriever

		Australian Retriever
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			U.S.A. <> Great Britain -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen
This breed is also known as			Aussie Golden Retriever

A brief presentation of the Australian Retriever

The Australian Retriever is a hybrid dog and consists of a mix between a Golden Retriever and an Australian Shepherd. They tend to be a combination of white, black or brown with individual dogs having different markings. Their coats are generally coarse and a little wavy, and they are moderate excretors. Both parent breeds being working dogs, Australian Retrievers have good breeding instincts, but they are friendly, loyal dogs and very easy to train. They are not great barkers and are very good with children. They like to swim and are not sensitive to weather conditions, so will do well in most climates.

History of the Australian Retriever

An Australian breeder is said to have registered the Australian Retriever with the Australian Canine Hybrid Club after crossing his Black Australian Shepherd with three of his Golden Retriever females. There were four puppies in the first litter at the end of December 2007, and two further litters followed in 2008.

	A little of the Australian Shepherd
	Despite its name, the Australian Shepherd was bred in the USA in the 1840s as a herding and cattle dog and is still a working dog. They are highly intelligent, loyal dogs whose ancestors were Spanish sheepdogs brought to America by Basque shepherds when they emigrated in the 19th century. Many are registered with the Australian Shepherd Club of America. They are known as Aussies or Little Blue Dogs and were bred to be working dogs. They are prized for their good temperament.

	Standard of the Australian Shepherd
	A little of the Golden Retriever
	Golden Retriever ancestry dates back to the 1800s, from dogs bred in Britain to retrieve waterfowl and game. In 1865, Scottish businessman and politician Dudley Marjoribanks received the only yellow puppy in a litter of black wavy puppies from a shoemaker whom he named Nous, which is Greek for wisdom. According to the documents, Nous was crossed with a Tweed Water Spaniel (now extinct) and they had four yellow puppies that are now considered the foundation of the Golden Retriever breed. They continued to breed using, among others, black wavy-coated breeding stock, a Red Setter and a Bloodhound creating the line we see today. They arrived in the United States in the early 1900s, the first being registered by the Australian Kennel Club in 1925.

	Standard of the Golden Retriever

Appearance of the Australian Retriever

The Australian Retriever is a large dog, with males weighing between 13.5 and 27 kilos and reaching heights of up to 76 centimeters. Their coats are fairly coarse and generally a little wavy, although they can be straight and stiff. They come in various colors and shades with color combinations including black, blond, brindle, brown, gold and merle. These energetic, affectionate dogs are generally well built with broad heads. They have bright, expressive, small round eyes, hanging ears and round black noses. Australian Retrievers will have traits from both parent breeds and may vary according to individual animals.

Temperament of the Australian Retriever

Australian Retrievers are highly intelligent, loyal dogs that are very affectionate towards their owners. They are energetic, affectionate and playful, but can be very possessive of their belongings and family. Although they are good with other animals and with children, their possessive tendencies may need to be monitored when children are around. Although not known for barking much, Australian Retrievers make good watchdogs and are very easy to train. With all dogs, it's best to start training as soon as possible, but these breeds are very reactive. With their Australian Shepherd ancestry, they have a herding instinct, but are good pets. Because of their retrieving instinct, on the Golden Retriever side, good games to train them will be those involving balls or frisbees. As the Australian Retriever is a combination of an Australian Shepherd and a Golden Retriever, their temperament will be quite similar.

Needs and activities of the Australian Retriever

Because Australian Retrievers have so much energy, they'll need regular exercise, preferably twice a day. Both parent breeds need plenty of exercise, so the Australian Retriever will be much the same. To prevent boredom and destructive behavior from setting in, walk or exercise your dog for at least 30 to 60 minutes a day. Ball games and Frisbee are a good way to keep the dog active and stimulated, but make sure the dog is in a safe, enclosed environment when off-leash. These breeds do best in a home with a large fenced-in yard so they can also run freely. The Australian Retriever will do well in both hot and cold climates.

Maintenance of the Australian Retriever

Australian Retrievers need regular grooming to maintain their appearance, so it's best to brush them at least twice a week. If the dog is brushed regularly, it won't be necessary to bathe it more than a few times a year with a good dog shampoo. Occasionally, a trim can be done to prevent your Australian Retriever's fur from matting. During grooming sessions, check the ears and teeth. It's a good idea to brush his teeth regularly to keep your dog in good health. Nails should be trimmed regularly to avoid splinters.

Details: Written by: Francis Vandersteen; Also available:; Last Updated: 04 March 2024; Hits: 632

Australian Retriever -- Australian Shepherd X Golden Retriever