Curly Coated Retriever vs Aussie Doodles - Breed Comparison

There isn’t much on the origin of the Curly-Coated Retriever and his history hasn’t been well documented.

The dog originated some time ago in the early 19th century, with some believing that the dog was in England during the late 1700s already.

It is thought that this dog, which is identical to the Labrador but with a tight, curly coat, descended from the Old English Water Dog, the Irish Water Spaniel and the smaller Newfoundland. This mix was later crossed with the Poodle and this is where the curls come into the picture.

The Curly-Coated Retriever gained substantial recognition in England during the mid-1800s and exported to the United States in 1907. The dog was also later exported to Australia and New Zealand and has been recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1924.

It is interesting to note that the Australian Shepherd doesn’t have much in common with the land ‘down under’. The dog has always been a popular companion dog in the United States as a working dog. As a hybrid, the Aussiedoodle is a new breed that doesn’t have a detailed history, but it is worth taking not that the 2 breeds that have been used to create the Aussiedoodle do have long histories each.

It is believed that the name of the Australian Shepherd is because the ancestors of the dog arrived from Australia in the United States and were named from where their ancestors previously resided. The Aussiedoodle has only emerged on the scene in the last 10 years and is becoming hugely popular. The breed isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club but are recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club.

The Curly Coated Retriever is a medium sized dog standing at about 58–69cm and weighing anything between 25 – 40kg. The dog, mainly black or chocolate brown, is active and muscled and was used for hunting and retrieving waterfowl.

The coat has small, tight curls over the body except for the face and the legs. He has floppy ears and they eyes of the black dog are brown while in the liver-colored dogs, the eyes are amber or gold.

The tail is long. He has a wedge shaped head, and its the fact that the face is more long than wide which makes him easily distinguishable from other retriever breeds. Of course, it is the curly coat which is the dog’s most distinguishing feature.

Temperament:

The Curly Coated Retriever has been used as a gun dog, and today, like most retrievers, they make superb pets and are a lively, social and fun-loving breed. He becomes loyal and devoted to his human family members, making a splendid pet, but then he must be exercised.

Have him trained and socialized and he becomes an obedient, relaxed dog, eager to please. He is intelligent and self-confident and gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

He fits in easily to city and country life, but if he could have large grounds to run, play and swim, which he loves, he would be at his happiest.

The Australian Shepherd was bred to herd livestock together, and with the Aussiedoodle, you’ll still sometimes see this trait, and he may well try to herd his human family into the car. The Aussiedoodle can’t always be expected to look the same as they come in many sizes and shades of colour, some leaning more towards the Poodle and others more towards the Australian Shepherd. He is a medium- to large sized dog with a strong-boned, muscular structure.

The Coat - Straight or Curly

The coat of the Aussiedoodle can differ somewhat, with most having wavy or curly hair while others have fairly straight hair. The dogs are available in many different colours, from solids to patterned and in shades such as black, grey, silver and blue merles. Size can vary too, depending on whether the Aussiedoodle had a miniature or standard poople involved with the pairing.

Intelligent and Highly Trainable

The Aussiedoodle is exceptionally clever and also very energetic. This dog breed will require training, socialization and exercise. Training an Aussiedoodle is easy as you will see he is eager to please.

Family Focused

The Aussiedoodle loves his family and this isn’t a dog that can be left outdoors all day on his own. He is lively and energetic, and left too long on his own, he can become bored and destructive. This hybrid makes the perfect pet for families with kids, with no aggressive tendencies. He can also be introduced to other pets in the home as he is a friendly, amicable breed who wants to please.

Curly Coated Retrievers are such fun dogs, full of personality, robust and active. He makes such a wonderful pet and is loving, loyal and protective. He is brave, courageous, independent and confident as well. He gets on well with children and loves to be part of all their games. He is capable of getting on well with other animals in the home.

He is an active dog and won’t fit in well with those who like to sit around all day. He wants to be active, and then loves to settle down with his human family at night. He is an excellent all-rounder and makes a loving, loyal pet.

Loyal, Lively and Loving

The Aussiedoodle is an intelligent, outgoing, patient and devoted family pet who will happily slot into any home where there are children and other pets.

Make Time to Include Lots of Activities

Most Aussiedoodles love being active and you’ll want to include him in all your activities – walking, swimming, ball games and herding.

Yes, it is true that the temperament of your Aussiedoodle will depend on the canine parents but he will also be influenced by your lifestyle and environment too.

With good care, the average life expectancy of the Curly-Coated Retriever can reach between 10 and 12 years. However, there are some health concerns that your dog may have to contend with and which are common in most other dog breeds too.

Ear Infections:

Apart from hip dysplasia, bloat, dental decay and eye diseases such as cataracts, ear infections are a common canine health problem, particular when your dog has floppy ears and loves the water.

Ear infections can also be caused because of bacteria, ear mites, allergies and hair growth in the ear canal. Your pet will shake his head, maybe off balance and be scratching his ear. You might notice his ears are red and oozing. Get him to the vet immediately.

Parasites and Worms:

When you brush your dog, check for fleas and ticks. Worms too, can make your dog ill, and can actually be the death of a puppy. Worms can cause weight loss, a rough, dull coat and a generally run-down appearance. Your vet will be able to guide you as to what medications are available.

As with most mixed-breeds, Aussiedoodles are a healthy breed, and your pet won’t come with any hereditary ailments. Both Australian Shepherds and Poodles have few inherent diseases, and by mixing the two, you get a robust breed.

Having said that, you always have to be aware that any dog, including your Aussiedoodle can inherit certain health problems of both the Poodle and the Australian Shepherd.

Each Breed has It’s own Unique Health Issues

The Australian Shepherd is susceptible to vision problems and some health problems with the Poodle include epilepsy, renal disease and cancer, but in spit of this, the good news is that there aren’t many documented health issues with Aussiedoodles.

Research Breeders and get your Puppy Vaccinated

Always research and find a reputable breeder of Aussiedoodles who has certificates that the parents are sound and free from common health defects. Make sure that you get your puppy vaccinated from 8 weeks of age to avoid the common, deadly canine diseases that can rob you of your puppy. The very first vaccination will be for distemper, measles and parainfluenza.

Grooming:

The Curly Coated Retriever is a single-coated dog breed and this makes him a low maintenance dog. He doesn’t shed much and a good brush twice a week will keep the curly coat in good condition. There are some dog owners that trim the feathering around the legs, feet, tail and belly.

Diet:

The Curly Coated Retriever is an attractively low maintenance breed. Therefore he doesn’t require any special diet. He does well on a top quality manufactured dog food where protein is listed at the top.

These dogs are inclined to put on weight easily so you want to be sure to follow the directions on the packaging and not overfeed him. With his kibble, sometimes add in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken.

Raw meat can be expensive but if you can, try and include it into your pet’s diet to avoid nasty skin rashes and allergies. Always make sure that cool, fresh water is available to your dog and make sure the food and water bowls are regularly washed.

General Grooming

The coat of Aussiedoodles need minimal maintenance. This is because of the Poodle input which is a low shedding dog. Aussiedoodles shed very little, but you will still need to give your dog a regular brush every other day to remove loose hairs and to also prevent matting. You can even include some professional grooming as his thick coat can quickly look dirty and unruly.

Brush the teeth of your Aussiedoodle with special dog brushes and toothpaste to prevent plaque forming. You can also book an appointment at your local vet to have his teeth cleaned if you are reluctant to do it. it.

Diet and Meals

An Ausiedoodle under 6 months of age should be fed 3 or 4 times daily. Once your Aussiedoodle is 1 year of age you can cut the meals down to 1 or 2 meals a day.

Always select high quality foods and understand the labels and ingredients. Cheaper foods with ‘bad’ ingredients can mean more medical bills because of malnutrition.

Speak to your vet about feeding your Aussiedoodle. You can also prepare cooked meals for your dog and include chicken, meat, rice and vegetables. Remember this is a high energy dog and he will require foods high in protein to meat his daily energy and nutritional requirements.