[dogloverTx]

hello,
i know someone that is willing to give me a mixed puppy that is a Australian Shepherd/lab/catahoula. I've been researching and i've found that the Australian Shepherd, Lab and catahoula are highly intelligent and easy to train but the down fall on the Australian Shepherd and the lab is that they both shed heavy. I dont want dog hair all over my house but im willing to brush every day inorder to keep the hair from getting everywhere else. I would like to know if what i've read about the Austrsalian Shepherd and the lab are true because if so im probably going to want to search for a different kind of dog. im looking for a easy to train, intelligent, very little or not asmuch shedding type of dog. Oh and also a protective since im a young woman that lives on her own i dont care if the dog is a pruebred or mixed. so if anyone can help in anyway please do i really do appreciate it.
Thank you and god bless!

[Lunareclipse]

My aussie doesn't shed that much. It doesn't matter what dog you get, you are going to have dog hair. If you are that worried about it, don't get the dog and let it go to someone who loves the dog in spite of all of the dog hair. I always worry when people get a dog and they have this whole string of stipulations that the dog must conform to, and when it doesn't, they "get rid" of the dog likes it's an old couch or something. Dogs are living, breathing beings with faults, bad habits, and more hair than a 2 legged animal. But they will love you no matter what. That's what you should be worrying about is the dog's personality. You don't go out and make friends by worrying about how much they shed. A dog should be your best friend to be there for you when nobody else is or to cry on when you you get into an argument with the SO. If you can love your dog enough to look past the fact that it sheds, then you deserve to own a dog. If you can't then do the dog a favor and let someone else have it.

[dogloverTx]

i was wondering if i may ask how often do you brush your aussie? because i've had a Rottweiler and she didn't shed at all but i also took her a bath twice a month and brushed her twice a week. I mean i dont mind it but I;ve been to people's houses where their dog shed so bad that when you walked out of there, there was dog hair all over your clothes. I've researched the Lab and the Catahoula some more and found out that they don't shed as bad as the Aussie but since this puppy is more of an Aussie then a Lab and Catahoula. Im sure it'll shed alot since thats what i'm finding out. But I mean aslong as i brush and bath do you think the shedding wont be as bad??

[Lunareclipse]

Mine is an aussie mutt. Probably mixed with border collie. His hair is really short except for the hair on his butt and tail. He never needs brushed, but I brush him once a week when I brush my saint bernards and great pyrenees (they do need brushing). The aussie just thinks it's a really good back scratching when I brush him.

Originally Posted by dogloverTx

i was wondering if i may ask how often do you brush your aussie? because i've had a Rottweiler and she didn't shed at all but i also took her a bath twice a month and brushed her twice a week. I mean i dont mind it but I;ve been to people's houses where their dog shed so bad that when you walked out of there, there was dog hair all over your clothes. I've researched the Lab and the Catahoula some more and found out that they don't shed as bad as the Aussie but since this puppy is more of an Aussie then a Lab and Catahoula. Im sure it'll shed alot since thats what i'm finding out. But I mean aslong as i brush and bath do you think the shedding wont be as bad??

My house is like this. I have saint bernards and a pyrenees. When they blow their coats it looks like someone ripped up pillows and threw the stuffing everywhere. I am glad shedding season is over for these guys. My floor looked horrible for a while.

Someone else can answer your last shedding question. My dogs are shedaholics. The aussie isn't a shedder but my other dogs shed really bad. It looks like I shaved a llama in my living room when they blow their coats, so imo any other dog doesn't shed that much.

[Lara's mom]

Hard to say. Even a little dog can turn a burglar away by barking its head off. Is that what you mean?

[Deafdogsrule]

The thing with mixed breeds is you cant guarantee what the dog will be when it grows up. You WILL know, however that that mix of dog will be extremely energetic, and need ALOT of exercise, training, and work to keep it occupied.

Short haired dogs shed like crazy, Labs shed like crazy, Aussies moult twice a year and are medium shedders the rest of the year.

[bigpawsup]

I have two lab mixes:

My big girl sheds like black snow! I can brush her for an hour and there is still dog hair. My son want to know how she isn't bald.

Tazzy - almost nothing. Even right now - shedding season- and I don't get a lunch bag of hair when I brush her.

That's the thing about mutt - they vary. What you should be asking yourself is not how much does the dog shed but if the dog sheds is a deal breaker? If the answer is no, get a brush and a good vacuum. If yes, don't take the dog.