Why Does My Aussiedoodle Shed? Is It Normal?

Have you adopted a new Aussiedoodle or discovered that your old Aussiedoodle sheds? You must be wondering, "why does my Aussiedoodle shed?" "is it normal?"

Although the Aussiedoodle is labeled as a low-shedding animal, cases of shedding in Aussiedoodles is normal. You need not worry if you find out that your Aussiedoodle sheds. Scenes when you find your Aussiedoodle shedding shouldn't cause a scare, shedding is totally normal for most furry animals.

The Aussiedoodle is a hybrid, or what you will call a cross-breed. It is an offspring of a purebred Australian Shepherd and a purebred poodle so it is pertinent that it will inherit traits from either of the parents or even both. The Australian shepherd is a breed that will normally shed while the Poodle is an extremely low-shedding or no-shed breed. When your Aussiedoodle sheds, it is likely that it inherited more of the genes of its Australian shepherd parent than the Poodle's. Cases of shedding in Aussiedoodles is uncommon but not altogether absent.

Being a big fan of the Aussiedoodle breed myself, I have come to understand through multiple observations of these special dogs and interactions with their owners how shedding occurs in them. Some have reportedly had no case of shedding, others low and in some few cases, they find it common. 

Why Does My Aussiedoodle Shed?

Shedding in Aussiedoodles varies, some shed, some rarely do, while some might not even shed at all. All these are based on two determining factors, Genetics and Coat Type.

Genetics

Parentage is a huge determinant of hereditary traits your canine will possess. Shedding could possibly be one of those traits.

Most owners of this breed of canine fall in love with them because of their beautiful coat and playful nature. It is believed that Aussiedoodles first came about around the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The Australian Shepherd and Poodle are the parents of the Aussiedoodle (it gets its name from a combination of its parents' breed type), a fairly new breed. It gets traits from both parents.

If your Aussiedoodle happens to shed, it is possible that it inherited the genes of its double-coated Australian shepherd parent. Should the Australian shepherd also be one that sheds a lot, then you should as well expect the same in your Aussiedoodle.

For this reason, it is advisable that you meet or ask about the parents of an Aussiedoodle before taking one home. This is to prevent questions like this in future.

Coat Type

Another major factor that determines if your Aussiedoodle will shed or not and how much it will shed is its coat type. Aussiedoodles come in 3 types of coats, the curly coat and the wavy coat which it inherits from its Poodle parent, then there is the straight coat which it gets from its Australian shepherd side.

Curly Coat

Curly coat Aussiedoodles are probably the most sought after kinds of Aussiedoodle due to their low instance of shedding. These ones take the most after their Poodle side. They have lush curly hair and are single coated.

Despite not shedding, curly coats give more headache as they are the ones that require the most attention. Their beautiful curly hair needs to be brushed extensively daily to avoid it matting and growing into knots. 

Wavy Coat

Wavy coats in Aussiedoodles come as a result of a 50/50 mix of the Australian shepherd and Poodle gene. The Wavy hair is usually longer and does not require as much time as the wavy coat for grooming. s longer and requires less attention, a brush at least once a week or two will work fine.

Sometimes the wavy coats are double-layered, sometimes they are not but whichever it is, they shed only a little bit.

Straight Coat

This is the Aussiedoodle that is most likely to shed. The straight coat Aussiedoodles inherit its hair from the Australian shepherd. They are double-layered and come with an insulating undercoat which it will need to shed eventually. 

So if your Aussiedoodle is straight-coated and you notice that it shedds, it is very normal, no thanks to the Australian shepherd.

What Conditions Could Cause Shedding In My Aussiedoodle?

Asides from natural situations like genetics and coat type that could account for your Aussiedoodle's shedding, there are some other conditions that could cause your canine to shed. These include:

Anxiety

Anxiety can cause shedding in your Aussiedoodle. Anxiety in dogs can arise as a result of boredom, isolation, separation from loved ones. Aussiedoodles as playful and loving as they seem are not immune to anxiety.

When experiencing anxiety, Aussiedoodles tend to scratch, chew and  lick on themselves more than usual.  If they are not made to stop this on time, it will lead to constant hair loss. 

An easy way to help your Aussiedoodle out with anxiety is to spend more quality time with it, go on strolls in the park together, watch a movie while cuddling, and any other bonding exercise.

Poor Diet

Excessive and usual shedding by your Aussiedoodle can be a clear indication of poor unhealthy diets.

Just like humans when our diet is compromised and we suffer some deficiencies, one of them being hair loss, the hair on Aussiedoodles will brittle and break if their food lacks enough vitamins.  

Bugs and Parasites

The presence of bugs and Parasites like ticks and fleas around your Aussiedoodle will cause irritation and can even trigger aggravated anxiety in them. Bug bites can cause allergies in dogs and make their hair fall off in some cases.

Aussiedoodles will spend hours scratching if they are being disturbed by bugs and this will cause a lot of shredding.

How To Stop Shedding In Aussiedoodles

If your Aussiedoodle is naturally a shedding type, like the straight coat Aussiedoodles, you can do the following to help reduce how much and how often they shed. However if your Aussiedoodle does not usually shed but just started, you can do this to stop the act:

Improve Their Diet

To give your Aussiedoodle a strini, shiny and healthy coat, veterinarians recommend that they should be fed foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.

They also need a lot of protein, feed them fresh sardines, beef, cooked eggs (taken especially). Also make sure to include salmon,  chicken and other foods that are rich in Zinc, this will prevent the itching, skin inflammation and infection.

Brushing And Grooming

Make sure your Aussiedoodle pays regular visits to the groomer, at least once every three months, for some professional retouch.

You should also bath them once every 1 or 2 weeks. The curly haired Aussiedoodles need to be brushed daily, the wavy coat Aussiedoodle a little less. Bear in mind to brush your Aussiedoodle depending on how long you spend outdoors.

Use Parasite Repellants

As a pet owner it is compulsory that you invest in pet care products like pest and parasite repellants. Doing this will keep your Aussiedoodle tick, bug and flea free. When this is done, your dog has  little to no reason to scratch, let alone pull out their own hairs.