Meet the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix

The Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix combines two energetic and athletic breeds to create a designer dog with plenty of personality.

With any mixed breed, the dog can inherit traits from either parent, making the results far less predictable than a purebred dog.

While it’s impossible to say precisely what the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix will look like or how exactly they’ll act, we can narrow it down with a certain degree of certainty. Find out everything you need to know! 

Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix

The Australian Shepherd originally descended from herding dogs in the Basques region of Europe, located between France and Spain. The Basques people immigrated to Australia in the 1800s and used their trusted dogs to help herd sheep.

Eventually, the Basques set sail for California, where ranchers admired their herding dogs and assumed they were an Australian breed, thus leading to the name. Ever since, the breed has been a huge part of the culture in the American West. Today the Australian Shepherd is the 16th most popular breed according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).

As for the Golden Retriever, it originated in the early 19th century through careful breeding. Ultimately, the goal was to create a breed of hunting dog that was larger in stature and had the endurance to hunt and retrieve a large number of game birds at a time.

Sweet and lovable, the Golden Retriever is now a popular dog breed around the world and 3rd on the list of top dog breeds in the United States.

As you can see, the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is comprised of two remarkable breeds that are beloved by many.

Appearance

For size, the male Australian Shepherd weighs 50-65 pounds and the female weighs 40-55 pounds. The breed stands between 18-23 inches.

Lean and strong, the Australian Shepherd has a medium-length coat that plumes around their neck and feathers out around their legs. Colors include merle, red merle, blue merle, tan, black and tricolor.

Australian Shepherds also stand out for their stunning eye colors, which can be any combination of brown, blue, hazel, amber or green.

As for the Golden, the male weighs 65-75 pounds and the female weighs 55-65 pounds. The breed stands between 21-24 inches. It may seem a bit larger, however, due to its thick double coat.

Speaking of the Golden’s coat, this is the breed’s most distinguishing feature. Colors include blond, yellow and gold.

Additionally, the Golden features a strong and muscular build with a long snout, sweet eyes and heartwarming smile.

With the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix, your pup will likely be between 55-60 pounds if male and 45-55 pounds if female.

Without a doubt, there is one guarantee with the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix: it will have a beautiful, fluffy coat. The color will range greatly and depend on the parents and the dog’s DNA.

The mix will also retain an athletic build, longer snout and downturned ears.

As mentioned before, the look of a mixed breed pup can vary greatly. The dog could end up looking more like an Australian Shepherd or more like a Golden Retriever. No matter what, it is sure to be beautiful!

Personality

The Australian Shepherd is a smart, hardworking dog with a natural impulse to herd. The Golden Retriever is an intelligent, friendly dog that is completely devoted to its owners.

Both the breeds have plenty of energy and love to play, so it’s all but a guarantee that the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix will also possess those traits. The dog will also need a lot of attention and ultimately serve as a loyal companion to its owners.

Additionally, both parent breeds are exceptionally smart, so the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix will be very intelligent.

The Golden Retriever is an affable, easygoing breed and makes a great pet for new dog owners. The Australian Shepherd, on the other hand, isn’t for the faint of heart. Because the breed was developed for protecting a ranch, they are extremely protective of their property. They are also hardwired to herd livestock and will try to herd people, pets and even little children.

The best solution for the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is to provide lots of exercise and solid training upfront (more on that below) to ensure they are mentally stimulated and at their best.

Health

The Australian Shepherd is generally considered a healthy, sturdy dog. Potential health concerns include elbow and hip dysplasia, eye conditions and epilepsy.

As for the Golden, the cute canine is also a healthy breed overall. The breed is known to have higher rates of elbow and hip dysplasia, eye conditions, pigmentary uveitis and certain heart diseases, so it’s important to watch for these.

Like its parent breeds, the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix will be a strapping, athletic dog.

For lifespan, the Australian Shepherd lives an average of 12-15 years and the Golden lives between 10-12 years. With these numbers, the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is likely to live somewhere between 11-14 years.

Grooming

The Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix will no doubt have a bountiful coat. To keep their luscious locks looking good, regular brushings are recommended. You will also want to invest in a good vacuum to keep your house tidy.

To keep your Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix looking good and in good health, a solid grooming regime is needed. This includes giving them regular baths and brushings, cleaning their ears, trimming their nails and brushing their teeth.

Training & Exercise Needs

Like its parent breeds, the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix needs regular exercise, and a whole lot of it. Expect to spend several hours a day exercising your pup. This is especially important when you take into account the Australian Shepherd in the mix. This breeds absolutely needs to be mentally and physically stimulated, otherwise it will become destructive.

Training is also important for this mix. While the Golden Retriever is considered one of the easiest breeds to train, the Australian Shepherd has been known to outwit its owners. You will definitely want to invest in obedience classes and spend plenty of time on training with this mix!

Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix: Is It Right For You?

The Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is a gorgeous, intelligent and athletic dog that is loyal and loving to its family.

The mix does need a hefty dose of exercise, strong training and a lot of space to play. Before you commit to this dog, make sure you are able to provide this.

Ultimately, the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is a great fit for someone with lots of energy who is looking for a devoted dog to have at their side.

You might also be interested in these mixes:

• German Shepherd & Australian Shepherd Mix
• Australian Shepherd & Lab Mix
• German Shepherd & Husky Mix
• Golden Retriever & Husky Mix
• Golden Retriever & German Shepherd Mix

Jessi Larson

Jessi is a marketing strategist for Fortune 50 companies who loves to research and write about all things dog. She is the proud mom to Toby, a giant Labrador Retriever who thinks he’s a lapdog. He inspires her to be a better pet parent and to share advice with other dog owners.