Poodle vs Australian Shepherd vs Rhodesian Ridgeback – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
"Find similarities and differences between Poodle vs Australian Shepherd vs Rhodesian Ridgeback"
Compare Poodle and Australian Shepherd. Which is better: Poodle or Australian Shepherd or Rhodesian Ridgeback?
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Name | Poodle | Australian Shepherd | Rhodesian Ridgeback |
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Origins | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Group | Companion Dogs | Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs) | Hunting Dogs |
Popularity Rank | 7 | 17 | 41 |
Reviews | 7 | 2 | 5 |
Rate |
Other Names | French Poodle, Caniche, Barbone, Chien Canne, Grosse Pudel | Aussie, Little Blue Dog | African Lion Dog, African Lion Hound |
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Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred | Purebred |
AKC Group | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887 as a Non-Sporting & Toy breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991 as a Herding breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1955 as a Hound breed. |
FCI Group | Recognized by FCI in the Companion and Toy Dogs group, in the Poodle section. | Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section. | Recognized by FCI in the Scent hounds and related breeds group, in the Related breeds section. |
Breed Recognition |
American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry |
American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Australian Shepherd Club Of America |
American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Of The US |
Price | $1000-$1500 | $600-$800 | $900-$1200 |
General Appearance - Poodle vs Australian Shepherd vs Rhodesian Ridgeback
Size | Medium | Large | Large |
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Weight | Male: 45-70 pounds (20-32 kg), Female: 45-60 pounds (20-27 kg) | Male: 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg), Female: 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg) | Male: 80-90 pounds (36-41 kg), Female: 65-75 pounds (29-34 kg) |
Avg. Weight | Male: 57.5 pounds (26 kg), Female: 52.5 pounds (23.5 kg) | Male: 57.5 pounds (27 kg), Female: 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) | Male: 85 pounds (38.5 kg), Female: 70 pounds (31.5 kg) |
Height | 15 inches (38 cm) or more | Male: 20-23 inches (52-58cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46–53 cm) | Male: 25-27 inches (63-69 cm), Female: 24-26 inches (61-66 cm) |
Avg. Height | 15 inches (38 cm) or more | Male: 21.5 inches (55 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (46–53 cm) | Male: 26 inches (66 cm), Female: 25 inches (63.5 cm) |
Hair & Care - Poodle vs Australian Shepherd vs Rhodesian Ridgeback
Coat | Curly | Feathered | Dense |
---|---|---|---|
Colors |
Apricot Brown Gray Silver White Fawn Blue Cream Red Beige Black |
Red Blue Merle Black |
Golden Red White Gray Wheaten |
Grooming | Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition. | Average: The Australian Shepherd requires average grooming effort. | Effortless: The Rhodesian Ridgeback requires minimal grooming. |
Shedding Level | Poodles shed none to minimal. | Australian Shepherds shed moderately. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks shed none to minimal. |
Characteristics - Poodle vs Australian Shepherd vs Rhodesian Ridgeback
Temperament |
Active Faithful Intelligent Alert Instinctual Trainable |
Active Friendly Intelligent Loving Affectionate Good-natured Protective |
Dignified Loyal Sensitive Intelligent Mischievous Strong Willed |
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Intelligent Rank | Outstanding: Poodle is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Smart: Australian Shepherd's has great intelligence. | Average: Rhodesian Ridgeback's has average obedience intelligence. |
Trainability | Poodles are easy to train. | Australian Shepherds are very easy to train. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are quite easy to train. |
Playfulness | The Poodle is a playful breed. | The Australian Shepherd is a highly playful breed. | The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a playful breed. |
Sensitivity Level | They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. | Australian Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits. | They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. |
Affection Level | Poodles are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | Australian Shepherds are highly affectionate dogs. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
Social Needs | Poodles need a lot of social interaction. | Australian Shepherds are a social breed. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a social breed. |
Barking | Average to high: The Poodle is a vocal breed. | Low to Average: The Australian Shepherd rarely barks. | Low to Average: The Rhodesian Ridgeback rarely barks. |
Watchdog Ability | Poodles are good watchdogs. | Australian Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are average watchdogs. |
Territorial | Poodles strongly protect their territory. | Australian Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks strongly protect their territory. |
Biting Potential |
Low The Poodle has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Low The Australian Shepherd has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Low The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Mouthiness | Poodles have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Australian Shepherds have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
Impulse to Wander or Roam | Poodles have average wanderlust potential. | Australian Shepherds are not the biggest explorers. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world. |
Prey Drive | Poodles have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals. | Australian Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a high impulse to chase and catch something. |
Apartment Friendly | Poodles are very apartment-friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherds are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day. |
Adaptability | Poodles adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Australian Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments. |
Tolerates Being Left Alone | Poodles tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. | Australian Shepherds do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work. |
Fighting Dog |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog. |
Good With - Poodle vs Australian Shepherd vs Rhodesian Ridgeback
Stranger Friendly | Poodles are stranger friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherds are not the most stranger friendly dogs. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most stranger friendly dogs. |
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Child Friendly | Poodles are very kid-friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very kid-friendly dogs. |
Cat Friendly | Poodles are cat-friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards cats. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most cat-friendly dogs. |
Dog Friendly | Poodles are dog-friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards other dogs. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most dog-friendly dogs. |
Office Friendly |
No Poodle is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Australian Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Rhodesian Ridgeback is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
Senior Citizens Friendly | Poodles are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Australian Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
Pet Friendly | Poodles are usually friendly towards other pets. | Australian Shepherds are generally with other pets. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks usually don’t get on well with other pets. |
Good For First Time Owners |
No Poodles are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
No Australian Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
No Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
Service Dog |
Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. |
Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. |
Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. |
Therapy Dog |
Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. |
Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog. |
Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog. |
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog |
Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones. |
Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones. |
Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones. |
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR) |
Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. |
Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. |
Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. |
Boat Dog |
Yes Poodle breed usually likes being on a boat. |
Not really Australian Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Not really Rhodesian Ridgeback breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog |
Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Health Factors - Poodle vs Australian Shepherd vs Rhodesian Ridgeback
Health Issues | The Poodle is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | The Australian Shepherd is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. |
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Health Problems |
Addison's Disease Allergies Bloat Canine Atrial Septal Defect (asd) Cataracts Cushing's Syndrome Ear Infections Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Legg-perthes Disease Neonatal Encephalopathy (news) Optic Nerve Hypoplasia Patellar Luxation Premature Graying Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Runny Eyes Sebaceous Adenitis Von Willebrand's Disease |
Allergies Cancer Cataracts Collie Eye Anomaly Deafness Detached Retina Distichiasis Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Nasal Solar Dermatitis Osteochondrosis Dissecans Persistent Pupillary Membranes Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) |
Dermoid Sinus Elbow Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia |
Life Expectancy | 12-15 years | 12-15 years | 10-12 years |
Hypoallergenic | Yes | No | No |
Energy Level | Poodles have a higher energy level than other dog breeds. | Australian Shepherds are high energy dogs. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a higher energy level than other dog breeds. |
Exercise Need | Poodles need quite a lot of exercise. | Australian Shepherds need a lot of exercises. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks need quite a lot of exercise. |
Sleeping Need | Poodles are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping. | Australian Shepherds don't need too much sleep. | Rhodesian Ridgebacks are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping. |
Avg. daily food consumption | 2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. | 1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. | Recommended daily amount: 2 3/4 to 4 3/8 cups of a high-quality daily, divided into two meals. |
Weight Gain Potential | Average to High. | Average to High. | Average. |
Weather & Climate | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Australian Shepherd can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog. | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
Stinkiness |
Medium The Poodle has an average chance of bad smell. |
Medium The Australian Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. |
Medium The Rhodesian Ridgeback has an average chance of bad smell. |
Drooling tendency | The Poodle is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The Australian Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. |
Reproducibility - Poodle vs Australian Shepherd vs Rhodesian Ridgeback
Gestation Length | 60-64 days | 60-64 days | 60-64 days |
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How often can the have a litter? |
Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
Litter Size | 2-4 puppies | 6-9 puppies, average 7 | 6-8 puppies |
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