Standard Aussiedoodle

A food whose label carries an Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutritional adequacy statement is the starting point, with a puppy formula until the first birthday and adult food after. An active dog of this size needs a diet with the protein and fat to fuel it and the vitamins A and D3 that support vision, immune function and bone.

Adults eat twice a day; puppies need three to four meals on a consistent schedule.

Bloat is why how you feed matters as much as what you feed. Keep your Standard Aussiedoodle from gulping food or water: use a slow-feeder bowl, skip raised bowls, and keep exercise away from mealtimes. Restlessness, drooling, retching without producing anything, panting, a distended stomach or collapse mean an emergency vet immediately.

Portions follow size, age and health. The bag gives a figure by weight and your vet gives a better one.

There is a lot of coat on a Standard Aussiedoodle and it needs regular grooming and trims whatever its texture. Every dog in this cross is different: a curlier coat needs trimming and brushing more often than one that takes after the Australian Shepherd side, and a slicker brush is what keeps mats and tangles out of the longer ones.

Skin gets a specific check. Sebaceous adenitis is one of the most common genetic conditions in Poodles, so excessive flaking, scaling or thickening of the skin warrants a vet, and the condition is managed with routine baths and ointments rather than cured. Otherwise bathe as needed.

The eyes need little: wipe away gunk, keep the fur trimmed so it does not block vision, and report any change in or around them.

The ears need more. A Standard Aussiedoodle that has inherited the Poodle's love of water needs its ears cleaned with a dog-specific cleaner after every swim and every bath, or trapped moisture turns into an infection.

An hour of movement a day is the minimum for a Standard Aussiedoodle, and one that takes after its Australian Shepherd parent will ask for more. Long walks and daily play are the baseline, not the programme.

Fetch, running and swimming are the cross's favourites, and the Poodle ancestry means the water is usually a hit. For structure, agility courses, lure chasing, dock jumping and hunting or retrieving work all suit a dog this size and this driven.

The fence matters. Herding and hunting instincts mean a Standard Aussiedoodle must be on a leash or inside a securely fenced area outdoors, because chasing a neighborhood animal or a car is a real risk rather than a theoretical one. A tall fence is the specific recommendation for a dog with the strong herding drive.

Keep hard exercise away from meals, given the bloat risk that comes with the deep chest.

A Standard Aussiedoodle is highly trainable and loves having a task to accomplish, which is the most useful thing to know about it. Clicker training plays to the quick brain, and complicated tricks are a good use of it once the basics are in.

Prioritise stay and recall above everything else. Strong herding instincts and the urge to chase are what get this breed into dangerous situations, and at 70 pounds a dog that will not come back is not one you can catch.

Socialisation is what makes the friendliness reliable. Well-socialised Aussiedoodles get along with other pets and children, so put the time in early.

Feed the mind daily. Both parent breeds are extremely intelligent and need ample stimulation, and a Standard Aussiedoodle without it is the one that turns destructive. Puzzle toys and treat containers that have to be worked out are a cheap substitute for an afternoon you do not have.