Australian Shepherd Pit Bull Mix: Info, Pictures, Temperament & Traits

Do you dream of having a dog with a gorgeous coat and an energetic temperament like the Australian Shepherd while being loyal and bubbly like the beloved Pit Bull? If so, then maybe the crossbreed of these wonderful canines — the Australian Shepherd Pit Bull mix — is the perfect dog for you. But beware, as this cross also results in a rambunctious dog with tons of energy, which may need an experienced owner to fully develop into an amazing, well-rounded dog.

Australian Shepherd Pit Bull Mix Puppies

Given the great disparity between Australian Shepherd Pit Bull mix breeders, it is not possible to know the exact price they will charge you for such a puppy. Some breeders may charge a higher price if the puppy is from a reputable line of an Australian Shepherd parent. Also, be aware that “Pit Bull” is an umbrella term that includes several breeds, so a Pit Bull is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

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

1. Their Australian parent isn’t even Australian!

Indeed, the Australian Shepherd would not even come from Australia. According to a popular theory, it is Basque shepherds who brought their own dogs to Australia in the 19th century to guard sheep. Another theory suggests that these sheepdogs would rather originate from Turkey. Regardless, the Aussie Pit has rather eclectic origins!

2. Their hunting instincts are highly developed.

This is not exactly a surprise, given that both parents are known for their strong prey drive. And even with a lot of socializing, it’s still hard to tone down an instinct so deeply ingrained in Aussie Pit genetics.

3. A bored Aussie Pit is a destructive Aussie Pit.

An Aussie Pit who is not sufficiently stimulated physically and mentally will tend to exhibit destructive behaviors. Indeed, this dog has a very poor tolerance for boredom and loneliness, so they really aren’t ideal for you if you can’t meet their high daily exercise needs.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Australian Shepherd Pitbull Mix🧠

The Australian Shepherd Pit Bull mix is a very cunning, protective, energetic, playful, and athletic dog. Besides, since the breed of the Australian Shepherd parent was selected for their thinking and decision-making skills, expect the puppy to exhibit high intelligence and heightened awareness of injustice. This means that using violence and excessive punishment is useless to educate this dog. They will remember it, and you risk losing their trust!

So, to thrive, this dog needs an active lifestyle. Very protective, they can be wary of strangers, so care must be taken to socialize them from an early age, including with other dogs. The Aussie Pit has many qualities that beg to be developed through play, learning, and physical and mental stimulation. These dogs love to learn tricks and participate in various tasks. There are many training tutorials on the internet that show how to perform the exercises step by step.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?🏡

The Australian Shepherd Pit Bull mix can make a terrific family dog, but only if adequately trained and socialized. This is the case with most dogs, but due to the Aussie Pit’s high-level energy and exuberance, they will do best with early socialization. Then, they will be devoted to their family and loyal to their owner and will know how to tolerate small children running around. However, their large size can be a problem with toddlers, as this dog can be rowdy. Therefore, it will be necessary to teach young children to behave with dogs of this size (which also applies to any other dog).

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?🐶 😽

Keep in mind that the Australian Shepherd parent has a strong prey drive, which can obviously become an important personality trait of their offspring. So, your Aussie Pit may want to chase any small pets you have around the house, even if they were raised with them. Also, they usually don’t get along very well with other dogs, but that doesn’t mean they won’t. But just in case, it might be best if your Australian Shepherd Pit Bull is the only pet in your household.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNGUGMgjTIQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Things to Know When Owning an Australian Shepherd Pit Bull Mix

Food & Diet Requirements🦴

High-quality dry kibble made specifically for medium to large dogs is perfect for Aussie Pits. We could give you the specific amount of food to give your dog, according to the instructions on the packaging, but this would probably be wrong. Indeed, the amount of food depends on several factors, such as their daily level of exercise, age, and weight. In addition, the Aussie Pit tends to gain weight, so avoid overfeeding them.

Exercise🐕

It’s simple: Don’t adopt an Aussie Pit if you’ve got more of the couch potato lifestyle. But, if you are ready to exercise more, then this crossbreed will surely help you reach your daily step goal! Indeed, before adopting an Australian Shepherd Pit Bull mix, you must be ready to offer them a range of physical activities, such as agility, Frisbee, or obedience classes. You’ll also want to assign them tasks that will make them feel useful. In addition, a long daily walk (at least an hour), and regular sessions of jogging and games are necessary for physical and mental stimulation.

Training🦮

Training can be tricky, even if the Aussie Pit is brilliant. Indeed, this dog is able to learn new tricks quite quickly, but they can also show stubbornness. Additionally, if the Aussie Pit doesn’t have a firm, consistent owner, they will take the lead and position themslef as the alpha. This is why this dog responds better to an experienced owner, who will know how to train this dog gently but firmly.

In any case, it is always better to encourage good behavior than to punish a bad one, and always be calm when training this type of dog. Indeed, your peaceful and reassuring energy will have a calming effect on this type of dog, which can sometimes get overexcited.

Grooming ✂️

The Australian Shepherd Pit Bull mix usually has a short double coat, which is not too difficult to care for. Regular good brushing to remove dead hair will suffice, and you may never need to trim it. They tend to shed more hair with the change of seasons, like most dogs. Besides, the Aussie Pit does not need to be bathed frequently; on the contrary, it is better for their skin and fur to bathe this dog only when it is indispensable (for example, when they come back from a particularly messy walk).

• Also see: Best Dog Shampoos – Reviews & Top Picks

Health and Conditions❤️

The Aussie Pit can suffer from the same health issues as its parents, although crossbreeds tend to have more robust health than pure breeds. On the other hand, this is no excuse to skip the regular veterinary checks.

Here are some of the most common health problems that Aussies Pits suffer from:

Male vs. Female

There are a couple notable differences between Australian Shepherd males and females. Males have thicker, denser, and longer coats than females, and they have larger bones and stronger bone structures. On the Pit Bull side, the males are a bit bigger than the females. However, there is not enough data available on the Australian Shepherd Pit Bull mix to come to a conclusion regarding sex differences.

Final Thoughts

Now you know a little more about the loyal and energetic Australian Shepherd Pit Bull mix. Is this the right dog for you? Before making your final decision, you should know that the Aussie Pit is not necessarily a more difficult cross to train than another breed.

Still, it is better to expect a challenge and be well prepared than to welcome such a puppy into your home and realize after a few months that you cannot take care of them properly. But if you are an experienced dog owner, you already exercise daily, and have no other pets at home, then the Aussie Pit is sure to find a special place in your heart and your home.

See also:

• Blue-Tzu Heeler (Blue Heeler & Shih-Tzu Mix)
• German Shorthaired Weimaraner | Info, Pictures, Traits, Facts

Featured Image Credit: Left – eather Skau, Shutterstock; Right – Voltgroup, Shutterstock