The Australian Shepherd Mix is a cross between an Australian Shepherd and another dog breed. This cross means that Australian Shepherd Mix puppies can have the traits of an Australian Shepherd, the other dog breed in the cross, or any combination of both of the parent breeds.

On the Australian Shepherd side, you have a loving, loyal, dedicated, and high-energy working dog that also makes a great pet for an active family. To get a full picture of what you could expect from your Australian Shepherd Mix puppy, it’s important to ask the breeder about the other parent breed in the mix. This, in addition to meeting the puppy and the mother dog in-person, will give you a good idea of what to expect in your puppy.

If the Australian Shepherd Mix takes after the Australian Shepherd, they will be a highly intelligent and highly active dog that loves to be doing things with their families.

Although Australian Shepherds are high-energy working dogs with herding instincts built-in, they tend to get along well with children and are highly protective of their families, which makes them good watchdogs and guard dogs.

They can be wary and suspicious of strangers and other dogs, but with socialization early and often, they can take on a more open and friendly nature. Asking the breeder about the other parent breed in the cross will give you a better idea of what temperament to expect in your Australian Shepherd Mix puppy.

Depending on the other dog breed in the cross, the Australian Shepherd Mix is likely to be highly adaptable. An Australian Shepherd can adapt to large homes with plenty of space to run as well as smaller apartments, as long as they are given plenty of exercise and attention.

They also do well in both cold and warm climates. This could change a bit depending on the other parent breed, but asking the breeder about the parents is a good way to determine what to expect.

A mixed breed can sometimes “win the genetic lottery” and will not be prone to develop any breed-specific health issues. The Australian Shepherd is a relatively healthy dog breed, but there are some potential health issues to be aware of.

Australian Shepherds are highly intelligent, tend to be sensitive to their owners, and are innately eager to please. If the Australian Shepherd Mix takes after their Australian Shepherd parent, they will be a good fit for an owner of any experience level.

The grooming level to expect in an Australian Shepherd Mix will depend heavily on the parent breeds in the cross. An Australian Shepherd does shed year-round with two heavier seasonal shedding sessions and will require regular brushing to maintain a healthy coat.

If kept groomed, they only need to be bathed when they are dirty, which keeps their bathing needs low maintenance. However, the other parent breed in the cross could have a big effect on the Australian Shepherd Mix’s coat and grooming requirements. You will want to ask the breeder about the other dog breed in the mix to get a better idea of what coat types you could expect.

Because the Australian Shepherd has such a high energy level, you need to be prepared for an Australian Shepherd Mix to require a lot of daily exercise to stay happy and healthy.

Not only do Australian Shepherds need a job to do, but they also need to run and play a lot to expend energy. This could vary in an Australian Shepherd Mix depending on the other breed in the cross, but you will need to be prepared for the possibility of a high-energy working dog.

An Australian Shepherd usually stands 18 – 23 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between 35 and 70 pounds. The size of an Australian Shepherd Mix can be greatly affected by the other parent breed in the cross.

Asking the breeder about the other parent breed and meeting the mother dog can give you a good idea of what size to expect in your Australian Shepherd Mix puppy.

Akitas generally live for 10-15 years. The other parent breed in the cross could have an effect on this for an Akita Mix. Talking to the breeder about it can help clarify to what extent it could be affected if at all.

Australian Shepherds generally live for 12 – 15 years. Although the other parent breed of an Australian Shepherd Mix can affect the average life expectancy slightly, you should be able to expect a similar life span from them.