Australian Retriever: 5 Reasons This Dog Breed is the Best

The Australian Retriever is probably one of the cutest dogs around. A mix between the Australian Shepherd and the Golden Retriever, this dog retains most of its positive demeanor from its Golden lineage and the Australian Shepherd's loyalty and smarts. Indeed, this dog truly embodies the best of both its parent breeds.

Even though it might be rarer in the United States, if you're thinking about adopting a dog, you owe it to yourself to check out the Australian Retriever as it makes a beautiful family pet. Here are the top five reasons this dog is awesome!

The Australian Retriever Is Fantastic with Most Families

The Australian Retriever tends to fit in with almost any family. They are excellent with other household pets and tend to play nicely with children. However, due to this dog's relatively large size, most people don't recommend having them in a home with very young children.

This "Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix" has the intelligence and even temper to fit right in with most families. These dogs are protective of their family members, and they have the energy to play. Kids, especially, love playing fetch or frisbee with Australian Retrievers since they're always up for a game and want to play!

This Dog Breed Requires Minimal Training

As noted above, Australian Retrievers tend to be quite intelligent, loyal dogs. One of the things that dog owners - especially new ones - often dread is having to train their pet. Some dogs are stubborn and require continuous reinforcement to get them to do the simplest of tasks.

That's not true with this golden Aussie! Its intelligence makes it remarkably easy to train. With enough positive reinforcement, your dog will naturally and willingly learn how to do things correctly. Make sure it's positive reinforcement, though, as the Australian Retriever can be a sensitive breed. If you yell or get upset, your pup might become sulky.

For Someone Who Likes Exercise, the Australian Retriever Is Perfect

If you like to exercise (or you want to commit to exercising more), the Australian Retriever is for you! This retriever mix loves to exercise. While there are no firm guidelines on how much activity they need, most people believe that somewhere between 1-2 hours is the minimum for this breed.

Of course, dogs don't understand about the weather, so this exercise needs to happen without fail, whether it's raining, snowing, or sunny outside. If you have a job that requires significant time away from home or if the thought of taking your dog for a walk in the rain seems like it would be a problem, you may wish to reconsider this Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix.

Since children often love to run around with dogs outside, this breed tends to work well with kids who love to get outdoors and play!

Australian Retrievers Tend To Be Healthy

Owing in large part to their Golden Retriever and Australian Shepherd genes, the Australian Retriever tends to be quite a healthy animal. While this breed can have some of the same problems that its genetic ancestors have, you shouldn't expect to have too many vet bills with this breed. 

With that said, this particular breed can have a few inherited disorders, including hip and elbow dysplasia, eye issues including cataracts, as well as certain forms of cancer. Therefore, please be on the lookout for these issues if you do get one of these dogs.

This Retriever Mix Is Affectionate and Loving

It's worth noting that the Australian Retriever is not just good with families - it's genuinely an affectionate and loving dog. These dogs will become attached to you, and you will probably become attached to them! They'll tend to get possessive of their toys and newfound family, a trait that you can usually remove through enough training.

Few Dogs Are as Good as the Australian Retriever

There are plenty of dog breeds out there, but the golden Aussie is one of the best. These dogs are calm, peaceful, loving, attentive, and easy to train. They tend to be healthy and require minimal maintenance overall. The biggest hurdle you'll face is figuring out how to keep up with all its energy. If you have children, that task is much easier since the dog can run and play with the kids.

The Australian Retriever is not a particularly common dog here in the United States. Therefore, you may not find it in any shelters (although you should check out the animal shelters before you go to a breeder!).

If you elect to go to a breeder, please make sure that it is reputable and provides you with adequate documentation of screenings and a vet checkup. Most Australian Retrievers cost around $700-$1,000 as puppies. Some will be a little more expensive, while others will be cheaper. If you're spending many thousands or just a hundred or two on a golden Aussie pup, you should be suspicious since both those amounts are way above and below market rates, respectively.

An Australian Retriever makes a lovely addition to any home. No matter if you have kids, are single, or are married - this dog could be the perfect one for you!

Are Australian Retrievers calmer than Australian Shepherds?

Australian Shepherds can have varied temperaments. Some of them are calm, while others tend to be quite wild. Since Australian Retrievers inherit the relaxed, pleasant demeanor from their Golden Retriever lineage, they tend to be a little more peaceful than Australian Shepherds.

Do Australian Retrievers shed?

Yes, they do! They have a double coat that will shed all year round, with springtime being the heaviest season for shedding. Therefore, if you're looking for a hypoallergenic dog, this one is not likely an excellent fit for you!

How tall do Australian Retrievers get?

The Australian Retriever is a relatively large dog. It can have a height of up to 30 inches and weigh between 30 and 60 pounds. However, it also looks pleasant and friendly, so, despite its size, this dog is not the best watchdog out there.