While our first love here at Ten Mile Aussies is Australian Shepherds, we are excited to be able to offer a more allergy friendly companion as well, and occasionally have litters of 
Aussiedoodles and Bernedoodles. To know whether a Ten Mile Doodle is right for you, we recommend that you do extensive research on the breed characteristics of the two parent dogs. (In our case, the Poodle, and the Australian Shepherd or Bernese Mountain Dog) Since there is already a plethora of information on the three breeds, our goal here is not to give a comprehensive guide to the breeds, but rather, a brief overview. (If you haven’t already, please check out our article, “Is an Aussie right for you?” for more in depth information on the personality of the Australian Shepherd.)
Many people have fallen in love with Doodles because their coats are low (or lower) shedding due to the impact of the Poodle's genes. However, because of this impact, the doodle coat requires extensive upkeep. Therefore, prosective owners need to be prepared to have their Doodle's coat clipped on a regular basis for the entirety of their Doodle companions life. Most owners believe that the trade off of less shedding for more grooming is well worth it, making doodle breeds increasingly popular. In recent years, however, there has been an increase in doodle breeds winding up in shelters because the families who adopted them just weren't prepared for the long term, extensive committment that is required to maintain the doodle coat. We want to make sure that everyone who adopts one of our precious Ten Mile Doodles is aware of what is required and is commited to tending to the coat of their doodle for the entirety of his or her life.
All of our doodles here at Ten Mile will be sired by one of our amazing Moyen Phantom Merle Poodles, Louie or Georgie. They are both very affectionate and intelligent. The Poodle is ranked as one of the smartest dogs in the world. They are highly trainable and versatile. The Poodle is also an energetic breed of dog. Much like the Aussie, they need plenty of physical and mental stimulation. They need ample room to run and play and burn off energy.
Since both the Poodle and Australian Shepherd are highly intelligent and energetic, the Aussiedoodle will need plenty of exercise and training. Therefore, prospective owners need to be perpared to provide their doodle companion with all of the room, training and stimulation they need. The good news is, because of their high intelligence and eagerness to please, they are generally easy to train. However, sometimes super intelligent dogs may be a bit stubborn.
Most of the Aussiedoodles we produce will be medium sized, although we will have the occasional miniature litter as well, and some may grow into more of a standard size doodle.
The Bernedoodle and Aussiedoodle share many characteristics because of the shared Poodle breed. Both breeds will need mental stimulation, training and an outlet for burning off energy. However, there are some differences between the Australian Shepherd and the Bernese Mountain Dog. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a very affectionate, and good natured breed of dog. While sometimes energetic, they are also normally fairly laid back once they enter into adulthood. They are a gentle, friendly breed of dog, and normally get along really well with other animals. They are also intelligent and eager to please. Bernese Mountain Dogs are an extra large breed of dog, although our Oakley is very small for the breed. Because of her size, we expect her to produce medium size Bernedoodles. A medium Bernedoodle is an ideal, easy to manage size. However, because of the complexity of genetics, and since Louie and Georgie both have standard and miniature poodles in their pedigree, there is a wide range of sizes possible. Therefore, while we may expect most of the Bernedoodles to be medium in size, prospective owners need to be prepared for more of a standard size doodle.
Both the Aussiedoodle and the Bernedoodle make exceptional family companions. Both are extremely loving, affectionate and eager to please. If you are having trouble deciding between an Aussiedoodle and a Bernedoodle, here are some points that might be helpful.
- The Aussiedoodle may generally be smarter and more obedient, and therefore, easier to train.
- The Aussiedoodle may generally be more active, and therefore more prone to destructive behavior if not properly trained.
- The Aussiedoodle may have a herding instinct.
- The Aussiedoodle may generally need more exercise and mental stimulation.
- The Bernedoodle may generally be somewhat calmer and friendlier in nature.
- The Bernedoodle may generally be larger and a heavier shedder
As with all breeds of dogs, there is a wide variance from dog to dog within each breed and these descriptions are just generalizations. Be sure to do your own reserach before making the decision to adopt any breed of dog. We want to make sure that whatever breed you choose, you are committed to being their forever family and giving them whatver it takes for them to live a healthy and enriching life.