Newfoundland Australian Shepherd Mix: Everything You Need to Know

Newfoundland And Australian Shepherd Breed History

It is no secret that these two breeds have a long and intertwined history dating back to the 1800s.  Newfoundland was originally bred in Newfoundland, Canada, for its strong swimming skills. Once it was time for business trips out on the ocean, the breed would swim aboard fishing boats and accompany their fishermen back home to help unload their catches later on. The dog’s success in this field led many newbie owners to breed more of them continuously until they were found in stockyards all across New England.

The Australian Shepherd’s history dates back to Australia during the mid-1800s. Due to the widespread of livestock there, the composition of several breeds was needed for farmers to divide them up and manage them accordingly. With this in mind, the Australian Shepherd was created by crossing an English herding dog with other native breeds.

Both breeds would meet each other in America during the early 1900s at sheep contests where they were waiting for an opportunity to show off their herding skills. When they first laid eyes on each other, both dogs instantly took a liking to one another and proceeded with breeding beginning in 1908, ever since these two breeds have continued spreading their genes around America and all around the world.

Newfoundland Australian Shepherd Mix 

Size

While the Newfoundland Australian Shepherd Mix is a new hybrid breed, they benefit pet owners. This mix of two popular breeds will produce pups larger in size and body mass than the average dog. They’re also known for their intelligence and high energy levels. For these reasons, this mix is becoming more and more popular amongst people who want to get a large dog that doesn’t need too much exercise or attention. They come in various colors, including black, white, brown, red, or gray. The size of this breed does not change according to season; it is always medium-sized.

Height And Weight

A Newfoundland Australian Shepherd Mix has a height and weight range from 23 to 27 inches and between 40 and 70 pounds.

Appearance

They take after the Newfoundland with their long and thick coat and the Australian Shepherd with their short body.

Newfoundland Australian Shepherd Mix Temperament

The Newfoundland Australian Shepherd Mix has a strong, confident personality. These dogs are natural leaders, so they need plenty of exercise and attention. They’re also very social, so they love spending time with other dogs. However, they should only be around dogs that are friendly and well-behaved.

The Newfoundland Australian Shepherd Mix is a herding dog, so it has a high amount of energy. It craves attention from its owner and wants to please its owner at all times. It is best suited with older kids because it is a strong dog that does not know its strength. This breed can be stubborn at times, but once you give it a command, it will follow the command to the end after some coaxing.

Health Issues 

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia (HD) is much more common in some breeds than others; in fact, about 10 to 15 percent of all dogs develop this condition over their life span. It’s not always apparent in dogs, but they can have quite some pain with movement. For example, a dog with hip dysplasia may stand with his rear legs not under his body but splayed out wider than normal, or he might have a shorter rear leg than the other, which causes him to walk in an abnormal gait.

Hip dysplasia is thought to be caused by several things. First, it’s believed that genetics plays a very important role in determining whether or not your dog will develop this condition, much more so than in humans. Therefore, if your family has had problems with hip dysplasia in dogs, you are at greater risk of getting it again.

Second, large-breed puppies, especially those getting lots of calcium and vitamin D, which promotes bone growth, are more apt to develop HD. Remember that large breeds take longer to grow into their bodies than small breeds do, so large-breed puppies growing rapidly, such as during their first year, can stress their joints.

How To Train For Newfoundland Australian Shepherd Mix?

How To Train For Newfoundland Australian Shepherd Mix

Exercise Needs

Newfoundland has a high level of exercise requirement. This means that they need a high level of physical activity to satisfy the needs of their body. Your Newfoundland will switch from being calm and docile to aggressive and even aggressive in certain situations without proper exercise.

As with many dog breeds, several inherited traits can also affect Newfoundland’s exercise needs. For example, if your pet is from the very old breed category with low growth rates, their exercise threshold can be lower than average. While they do not need high levels of exercise like some dog breeds, it is still essential that you take them walking regularly and allow them to run and play with others.

Grooming

The Newfoundland Australian Shepherd should be brushed once or twice weekly to keep the coat clean and tangle-free. Frequent brushing will help remove dead hair and control shedding. Grooming should also include ear cleaning, teeth brushing, nail trimming, and monthly baths with a good dog shampoo.

Brushing will also help detect any serious skin problems caused by allergies or other issues. Finally, pay special attention to the Newfoundland Australian Shepherd’s feet; trim any overgrown nails regularly. Nail care can be time-consuming, but it is extremely important for all dogs.

Is A Newfoundland Australian Shepherd Mix Good For Your Family?

People often ask us which breed of dog is the best. Of course, many factors are personal to your lifestyle, but if you are looking for a dog known to be gentle with kids, you might want to consider the Newfoundland Australian Shepherd mix. They are not only great with children, but they’re also friendly and loyal dogs who typically enjoy being around other people and animals. Also, because this breed tends to have one calming parent (the Newfoundlander), these breeds typically have a pretty stable temperament.

Final Words

The Newfoundland Before you look at why these breeds make good family pets, you should look at these breeds separately. While they are very different, they have in common that these breeds are known for their excellent natures with children.