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Australian Shepherd & Bull Terrier Mix: Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

australian shepherd bull terrier mix

Height: 20-23 inches
Weight: 50-70 pounds
Lifespan: 11-15 years
Colors: Multi-colored, white, brown, tan, grey
Suitable for: Active families with older kids, homes with yards
Temperament: Intelligent, protective, active, loyal, obedient

When Bull Terriers and Australian Shepherds breed together, they produce a beautiful hybrid dog sometimes called the Aussietare. This large mixed breed is highly active and makes protecting their family a priority. Aussietares can be aggressive by nature, but the aggression can be easily managed with training and strong leadership. These dogs do best in homes with yards and older children.

The Aussietare looks like a Shepherd with a muscular body, but the Terrier features tend to shine through in the eyes and the muzzle. Their coat is usually short and thick. It can be straight or wavy. Most people say that they can see the intelligence in this mixed breed’s eyes.

These energetic dogs need plenty of exercise throughout the week, so active people need only apply. Aussietares are working dogs and can function well as watchdogs, therapy assistants, and even search and rescuers. We’ve put together all the information you need to know about these striking dogs. Keep reading to learn more about what you can expect as the proud parent of an Australian Shepherd mix.

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Australian Shepherd Bull Terrier Mix Puppies

Australian shepherd bull terrier puppy_otsphoto_Shutterstock
Image By: otsphoto, Shutterstock
Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

When you’re looking for the dog you have your heart set on, take your time to find a reputable breeder that will take your puppy’s health as a priority. Quality breeders will screen puppies for common diseases and will let you meet the parents or siblings. You can try to find a mixed dog at a dog shelter that resembles this dog breed and you’ll be changing a dog’s life at the same time.

This isn’t a small mixed breed that will be content living in an apartment and taking the occasional walk. These dogs can weigh up to 70 pounds when they’re fully grown, so they’re going to need a large yard to run around in and room to stretch out inside. You should know about topics like training, feeding, and proper exercise before you consider adopting an Aussietare.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Australian Shepherd Bull Terrier Mix

1. They Can Be Good Hunting Dogs

While this mixed breed is well known as a working dog, their Terrier roots make them a good hunting dog too. With proper training, the Australian Shepherd Bull Terrier mix can hunt pigs, goats, birds, and other wildlife.


2. They Can Handle Extreme Weather

You wouldn’t want to drop an Aussietare off in the middle of the arctic, but this mixed breed can handle cold and hot weather without succumbing to health problems like other breeds can. Their fur is short enough to keep them cool when it’s hot outside, but also thick enough to protect them when it’s especially cold.


3. They Make Great Companions for Cops

Aussietares can perform excellently as police dogs and make great everyday companions for police officers who work in the field. These dogs can also be used to train police officers who are new to units that use police dogs, such as the drug and homicide units.

Parents Breeds of the Aussietare
Image By: Jumpstory

Temperament & Intelligence of the Australian Shepherd Bull Terrier Mix 🧠

The Australian Shepherd Bull Terrier mix is highly intelligent and can learn more than just obedience commands. However, this mixed breed can become quite stubborn and unfocused if they aren’t efficiently stimulated in daily life. Aussietares are proficient watchdogs and will protect their home and family with their lives. They do enjoy meeting new people, but introductions should be done in a calm social setting.

While this mixed dog breed is protective and serious, they also have a playful side that will come out any time their family members feel like goofing around. But due to their sheer size and strength, play sessions with kids should always be supervised. Their high activity level means that these dogs shouldn’t be adopted by people who are too busy with work or who tend to be sedentary while spending time at home.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

The Australian Shepherd Bull Terrier mix can be a great family dog for those with older children. Everyone in the family should know how to train and handle the dog to ensure safety and peace of mind within the household. Young kids should always be supervised when interacting with this hybrid dog. These dogs can be too large and strong for the elderly to handle on their own unless they have been specifically trained as therapy or companion dogs.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Other dogs and cats will be accepted by the Aussietare, but like most other dogs, this breed needs to be socialized from a young age. Without proper socialization, these dogs can become aggressive against other animals because they simply don’t know how else to interact with them, so they tend to revert to their instincts. Spending a little time on training and socialization will allow you to integrate an Australian Shepherd Bull Terrier mix into a multi-pet household.

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Things to Know When Owning an Australian Shepherd Bull Terrier Mix

What should you feed such a large breed dog? Do Australian Shepherd Bull Terriers like to play with toys? What kind of health conditions are these dogs susceptible to? These questions and more should be answered before bringing one of these hybrid puppies home for the first time.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Australian Shepherd Bull Terrier mixes are active at a young age, so they should be fed food that’s designed specifically for large breed puppies until they turn about a year old. This will reduce the risk of your pup developing developmental orthopedic diseases as time goes on.

Whatever food you choose to feed your Aussietare puppy, make sure that it’s free of fillers like corn and soy, as well as artificial ingredients of any kind. Most puppy foods include feeding guidelines, but it’s always a good idea to seek advice from your veterinarian when deciding how much to feed your pup on a daily basis.

Exercise 🐕

Every Aussietare needs a significant amount of exercise each day, or they may become destructive within the household. The intelligence of these dogs should be stimulated through exercise for optimal whole-body and mind health. Expect to walk your Australian Shepherd Bull Terrier mix for at least 30 minutes each day, preferably longer.

In addition to a daily walk, this hybrid dog needs time to run around in the yard and exercise their brains. Toys, like Kongs, will keep your pets entertained and challenged when they can’t get outside to walk or play. Practicing tricks is another form of exercise that will challenge your dog’s brain and body.

Training 🦮

Without obedience training, these dogs can become quite unruly. You should start training your pooch to sit, stay, come, and heel when they’re still a puppy. Obedience training will teach your Australian Shepherd Bull Terrier mix how to behave in a family setting, as well as in social settings. You’ll have more success controlling your dog in social situations if they’re obedience trained.

Because these dogs are natural watchers and make protecting their family a priority, they tend to excel at guard dog training. Having your pooch trained to safely protect your home against strangers and intruders will give you peace of mind without putting anyone in your household at risk of danger.

As a working dog, the Aussietare can be trained to herd animals on the farm, seek out pests in the garden, and haul water, firewood, or even groceries in a trailer around a typical residential property. The elderly have successfully used this mix breed for support when fighting off disease, depression, or immobility.

Grooming ✂️

Luckily, Aussietares typically have short fur, so owners don’t have to worry about maintaining haircuts or trims on a regular basis. However, brushing or combing outside a couple times a week is important to minimize shedding in your home throughout the year. These dogs are active enough to keep their own nails trimmed, though they should be checked once a month or so for cracks, chips, and other damage that can be corrected with a trim. Because they’re so active, most Australian Shepherd Bull Terrier mix owners find that their dogs get dirty. Therefore, they choose to bathe their dogs once or twice a month to keep their coats soft and shiny.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Aussietares can be susceptible to health conditions that both their Australian Shepherd and Bull Terrier parents are vulnerable to. Some conditions are serious, while others are easily manageable. You should always look out for signs of discomfort, ailments, illnesses, and disease as your puppy ages.

Minor Conditions
  • OCD
  • Deafness
  • Patent ductus
  • Entropion and ectropion
  • Laryngeal paralysis
Serious Conditions
  • Progressive retinal atrophy
  • Cataracts
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Von Willebrand’s disease
  • Kidney problems
  • Mitral valve disease

Male vs. Female

Many people ponder whether there are any real differences between male and female Aussietares. While there are small differences, such as the fact that males may try to mark in the house if they aren’t fixed while females won’t, the truth is that both males and females are loving, loyal, protective, and good-natured at heart. Whether you adopt a girl or a boy, you can expect to receive love, attention, and respect from your furry companion.

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Final Thoughts

If you’re up for the challenge of keeping a large breed exercised, entertained, and disciplined daily, you should consider adopting an Australian Shepherd. Doing so will reward you with a lifetime of bonding memories that will remind you of why a dog is a human’s best friend when times are tough.

These dogs take work and commitment, but they give back just as much as they receive at the end of the day. Have you spent time with this handsome mixed breed? If so, we’d love to hear about your thoughts in the comments section below.


Featured Image Credit: Anna Hoychuk, Shutterstock

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