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What is an Australian Labradoodle? (Overview)
The Australian Labradoodle (not to be confused with the lively Aussiedoodle), is a highly intelligent and friendly mix of the Poodle, Labrador, English Cocker Spaniel and American Cocker Spaniel. With their soft fur, these living teddy bears dogs are sure to bring a smile to anyones face.
Originally bred as guide dogs for the visually impaired, these dogs are eager to please and ready to befriend everyone.
Looking for a loyal and playful family companion?
Then keep reading to find out how you can care for your bundle of fun!
The Australian Labradoodle, unlike the Labradoodle, has more than just Poodle and Labrador in its heritage.
Their breeding lines often incorporate English Cocker Spaniels and American Cocker Spaniels.
These intuitive dogs were first bred by Wally Conron in the 1980s in hopes of creating a guide dog that had the low-shedding hair of a Poodle and the helpful nature of a Labrador.
However many breeders went on to add in other breeds to this hybrid’s lineage leading to what we now know as the Australian Labradoodle.
This pooch is stocky like a Labrador with the wavy, curly fur of its Poodle and Cocker Spaniel roots. Their coat comes in a variety of colors and textures and is boasted to be a non-to-low-shedding hair coat.
With a bright mind and a friendly personality they make a great family dog and will get along with other humans and dogs with the proper socialization.
When it comes to training, this dog was bred for it. Expect them to take to training with ease. With the proper patience and consistency you will get a well-mannered dog.
Pros:
Cons:
Australian Labradoodle Appearance:
Since it is a hybrid the Australian Labradoodle does not have any breed standards.
Regardless of size, this stocky but graceful pooch is often covered in a curly coat just like their Poodle ancestors. Due to its fur having the more hair-like qualities of a Poodle the Australian Labradoodle is a non to low-shedding dog.
With soulful eyes and a dark button nose many may mistake it as a large teddy bear if it was not for its constantly wagging tail!
Height and Weight
These pups come in a variety of sizes:
For those living in apartments or smaller homes a Miniature or Medium would be ideal.
Colors and Coat:
Australian Labradoodles often come in several shades of brown, from the milkiest cream to the silkiest dark chocolate. However you can also find them in colors such as apricot and lavender.
Their coats often come in three types: Hair, Fleece and Wool.
5 Fun Facts About Australian Labradoodles
- Australian Labradoodles can be great therapy dogs due to their intelligence and gentle nature.
- Expect smooth sailing when it comes to training as all its parent breeds are famous for being eager to please.
- Almost all the breeds that make up the Australian Labradoodle are in the Sporting Group so expect your pup to be as active as its parent breeds.
- The Cocker Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever are both known for their friendliness, making this social pup the life of the party.
- Wally Conron bred the first Labradoodle after a visually impaired woman named Pat Blum contacted him. Blum wanted a guide dog but could not get one due to her husband’s allergies.
Australian Labradoodle Personality and Temperament:
This hybrid is known for having the friendliness of a Labrador, the gentleness of an American Cocker Spaniel, the merriness of an English Cocker Spaniel, and the intelligence of a Poodle.
Because of these qualities they are the perfect family pet – energetic enough for the kids to play with and entertaining to watch in action.
Due to their high intelligence you will have fun finding creative ways to stimulate their minds. A fun family activity can be training them a variety of tricks or creating puzzle games for your furry little Einstein to solve.
With proper training and socialization they should be able to get along with all animals and humans.
They are moderately active thanks to its parent breeds.
Whether you are an on-the-go family or a sporty pet parent, this pooch should be able to keep up with you on all your hikes and runs. However it will happily cuddle on the couch with you after a long day.
Noise-wise, this dog is not known for being yappy.
This dog can get bored without enough mental and physical stimulation. However, smaller Australian Labradoodles can thrive in an apartment or condo if given the right amount of exercise and entertainment.
If you can put in the time to train and exercise you will be rewarded with an amazing friend for a lifetime.
Caring for an Australian Labradoodle:
Caring for an Australian Labradoodle requires a fair amount of time and effort due to their high intelligence and reasonable activity level.
An active family or pet parent with time to dedicate to their physical and mental stimulation is best suited for this mix.
As well as basic hygiene their unique coat requires regular grooming. Depending on their coat texture this may vary, but they will need regular grooming to trim their coat and regular brushing to avoid mats.
Grooming and adequate mental stimulation is very important and leads to a happy and healthy pup.
Exercise Requirements:
With a lineage of active breeds, the Australian Labradoodle requires a reasonable amount of exercise.
A 45-minute long walk would be enough for an adult, but several shorter walks throughout the day can also work.
However your pooch would not complain if you also added 30 minutes of off-leash play.
They will enjoy the basic doggie games of fetch and tug-of-war, but feel free to be creative with this lively breed. With its Labrador roots, try taking fetch to the next level by teaching them to fetch in water. The added activity of swimming back and forth will require more energy than your average park playdate.
Taking your pup hiking can help with mental stimulation as your pup is introduced to new sights and smells.
Agility training can also be a great option for those with backyards. Making your own hurdles out of PVC Pipes or taking your kids play tunnels outside can introduce variety to their play sessions.
All in all, a happy dog is a tired dog and making sure to properly exercise your furry friend can prevent boredom and destructive behavior.
Quick Breed Summary Table:
Breed Characteristics
Size:14-24 inches.
Weight:15-65lb.
Lifespan:12-15 years.
Coat:Hair, Fleece or Wool.
Color: White, cream, chocolate and black.
Do They Shed: Minimal to non-shedding.
Temperament: Friendly, merry, gentle and intelligent.
Intelligence: Extremely High.
Socialization: Easy to socialize.
Destructive Behavior: Only when under-stimulated.
People Skills: Friendly and outgoing around people.
Good with Children: Yes.
Activity Levels: Completely flexible.
How To Train An Australian Labradoodle.
Australian Labradoodles were bred to be guide dogs because their intelligence and eagerness to please lends to easy training.
Your pup’s training should start at 8 weeks.
Training should focus on basic obedience and socialization as this gives them the mental stimulation they need and can prevent behavioral issues later in life.
The proper training will make the difference between an unruly, out-of-control dog and a well-behaved, well-adjusted one.
Obedience classes have the bonus of allowing your puppy to socialize with other dogs and people. Plus your training instructor may even teach you some new tricks when it comes to training your dog efficiently.
Clicker training and positive reinforcement are both great for them. For moments when your dog does something especially good a quick click and reward can let them know that they have done a great job.
Avoid any punishment or training that involves asserting dominance. These techniques only encourage aggression and fear and may make the unwanted behavior even worse.
Their lineage consists of breeds that were bred for specific jobs, so expect a lot of mental energy to accompany that physical energy. Once you have surpassed the basics try adding in mental puzzles throughout your dog’s daily life (such as food puzzles at mealtime or learning advanced tricks).
What you dedicate in time and energy you get in return a happy, well-mannered Australian Labradoodle.
Feeding and Diet:
Your dog’s diet will vary depending on their size, weight and activity level.
However, a good rule of thumb when choosing kibble is to avoid a brand that overuses byproducts and fillers.
A good kibble brand will be complete and balanced with the necessary nutrients your dog needs to be healthy.
When calculating the number of calories your dog will need, consider energy level and weight.
A general rule is to add 25-30 calories for every pound your dog weighs. Of course getting the advice of your vet is always key if you are ever unsure.
Known Health Problems:
Unfortunately these pups as with all dogs can be prone to several genetic diseases:
Progressive Retinal Atrophy: This occurs when the cells of a dogs retina deteriorate over time, eventually leading to blindness.
Hip Dysplasia: Usual found in most medium to large dogs, the hip joint becomes unstable and causes bone spurs and limping.
Addison’s Disease: Also known as hypoadrenocorticism which occurs when a dog’s adrenal glands fail to produce hormones.
Von Willebrand’s Disease: A blood disease whereby the blood fails to clot properly and causes excessive bleeding.
A reputable breeder will have their breeding dogs tested for a long list of canine diseases.
This testing and certification can greatly decrease the likelihood of your pup inheriting these diseases.
How Long Does An Australian Labradoodle Live?
A healthy and well cared for Australian Labradoodle should live well into old age at around 12 to 15 years.
Grooming:
For an Australian Labradoodle grooming can look different depending on the coat type they have.
Hair type coats will need weekly brushing to prevent tangles. As this coat type doesn’t shed, it is quite likely that your dog will need less visits to the groomer.
Fleece type coats will need longer and more thorough weekly brushing sessions. Your furry friend will need an occasional bath and grooming as necessary.
Wool type coats are most manageable when kept short, with weekly brushing.
Grooming every month to keep your pooch looking smart.
In addition to the above, cleaning their ears once a month will help prevent infection.
Summary:
These dogs are well suited to most any lifestyle.
They love to play, go for walks, rides in the car or just curling up at your side one the couch.
They are friendly, outgoing and tend to get along with other humans and animals.
For those looking for a family-friendly addition to your home, look no more.
With the proper care and attention these pooches are sure to be a delight in any environment they find themselves in.
Testing
Cooper and Callie have both had their genetic testing completed.~ x-rays and eye testing completed and certified by OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) as being clear.
Altho they are ‘also Clear by Parentage’ we felt it was to our advantage to be able provide testing results if requested.
Our main goal is to be able to offer puppies that will be least likely to develop genetic health conditions.
OFA Certified:
Patella, Cardiac
Hip & Elbow
Ophthalmologist certifications:
Choroidal hypoplasia, Corneal dystrophy, Distichia Cataracts, Optic nerve hypoplasia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Retinal Dysplasia, Vitreal degenerations,
Genetic disease clearance:
Degenerative Myelopathy, Exercise-Induced Collapse, Retinal Atrophy, Cone-Rod Dystrophy, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Progressive Rod-Cone ,Degeneration, Von Willebrand Disease I