Japanese Terrier vs Aussie Doodles - Breed Comparison

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 Japanese Terrier is native to Japan and is a rare pure bred dog. It is believed that the dog comes from Smooth Fox Terriers who arrived way back in the 17th century.

Certainly he looks very much like a regular Fox Terrier. It is thought that these smooth Fox Terriers were then interbred with local, Japanese dogs and used to hunt rats. Gradually he became a lap dog and companion.

Planned breeding of the dog began in 1920, and it was in 1930 that the dog was admitted to the Japanese Kennel Club with a breeding program being started.

Today you will find the Japanese Terrier in his home country and small numbers elsewhere. He was admitted to the United Kennel Club in 2006.

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.

The Japanese Terrier is a small sized dog who stands at 20 – 33cm at the shoulders and weighs in at about 2 to 5kg.

He is a short, smooth haired dog with a tight skin and in colors of white and black. Sometimes you may find a little bit of tan color on the face too as well as 'freckles' around the neck area and legs. The black shading of the coat is essentially found around the head of the dog and also his ears.

His ears are set high on the head and are semi-erect, semi-floppy. The tail has always been traditionally docked, giving the dog a nice compact look but these days it is unfortunately often left long and then its a medium length tail which is thinly covered in short hair. The nose is black and the eye are brown, bright and alert.

Temperament:

Gentle, cheerful, intelligent, loving and loyal are some of the characteristics of the Japanese Terrier. People who have kept him as a pet will vouch for him being a wonderful companion.

He is an active dog, but he still loves to be petted and won’t do well if left alone and not part of his human family. Being a clever dog, he is easy to train, learning easily and quickly. He is quite amusing at times and you can even teach him some tricks.

He gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children. He is alert and will make a good watchdog, alerting you to an intruder.

Because of the Japanese Terrier’s small size and sensitive nature, this breed needs a calm owner and a quiet household. It is not recommended for boisterous households.

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.

As a pet of yours, the Japanese Terrier is an animated, contented little dog. He loves playing games and gets on well with children who aren't rough and disrespectful of him.

He is smart and gentle and loves nothing more than to sit on your lap in the evenings and be your reading- or watching-TV companion. Give him the right amount of attention as any other family member receives and he is guaranteed to make you an excellent, low maintenance pet.

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.

The Japanese Terrier has no particular health issues and has a lifespan of 12 – 15 years if looked after well.

There are always one or two illnesses to watch out for such as eye- and ear infections. Some dogs also develop conditions such as Patella Luxation. This happens when your dog's kneecap is dislocated. It can only be returned to its normal position when certain muscles in the back legs are relaxed and lengthened.

With this condition, your dog holds up one of his hind legs. This condition is more prevalent in small dog breeds.

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.

The Japanese Terrier is an active dog and will require exercise every day. He’ll love to join you on your walks or have ball games in your garden. He can adapt to life in the city or in the country but will always need to have good exercise.

Grooming:

The Japanese Terrier is a medium shedder and you want to be sure then to brush him twice a week to get rid of all those loose hairs.

Diet:

The Japanese Terriers will require the best commercially manufactured dog food, and instead of one large meal a day, rather feed him 2 smaller meals. You can mix some tasty home-made food into his dry kibble from time to time. Excellent home-made food would be something like cooked chicken, brown rice or pasta and some vegetables.

If you can, try to also include some raw meat occasionally. If you’re in any doubt as to how to feed your Japanese Terrier so that he remains healthy, speak to your veterinarian.

Your dog should never ever be without a continuous supply of fresh, cool drinking water.