Australian Labradoodle – The Ultimate Guide

Written by: Bojana Radulovic
Australian Labradoodle is an interesting breed that was created in Australia in 1988. Often mistaken with Labradoodle, this breed is known for its superb intelligence and soft nature. Discover everything there’s to know about this interesting cross breed dog and read on!
Dog Breed Group:
Hybrid Dogs
Height:
21 to 24 inches at the shoulder
Weight:
50 to 65 pounds
Life Span:
12 to 14 years

Breed Characteristics:

Apartment Friendly

?

How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?

Good For First-Time Owners

?

Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?

Overall Sensitivity

?

Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?

Tolerates Being Alone

?

Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?

Affectionate With Family

?

How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?

Kid-Friendly

?

Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?

Friendly Toward Other Dogs

?

Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?

Friendly Toward Strangers

?

Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?

Drooling Level

?

If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?

Easy To Groom

?

Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?

Overall Health

?

What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.

Prone To Obesity

?

Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?

Trainability Level

?

Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.

Intelligence Level

?

Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?

Prey Drive

?

Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?

Barking Level

?

How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?

Energy Level

?

Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?

Exercise Needs

?

Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?

Playfulness Level

?

Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?

Australian Labradoodle is without any doubt one of the most beautiful and well-behaved breeds out there! Their name is rather self-explanatory, but there is more than what meets the eye because this breed goes beyond a regular mix of Labrador with a poodle.

Learn more about this beautiful bread and discover what makes it so unique.

Quick Facts

Real name: Australian Labradoodle
Origin: Australia
Breed type: Crossbreed
Weight: males 25 – 35 kg (55 – 77 pounds), females 20 – 27 kg (45 – 60 pounds)
Height: 33 – 60 cm (13 – 24 inches)
Lifespan: 13-15 years
Color: Parti, phantom, tri-coloured or chocolate, cafe, parchment, cream, gold, apricot, red, black, silver, chalk, lavender, and blue
Coat: Wool, fleece, or hair

In addition, the important thing about Australian Labradoodle appearance is that they come in different sizes. Size depends on the size of the poodle used in the breeding process. Therefore, their size-names follow the names that are used for poodles: toy, miniature, and standard.

Contents [Hide]

History

This dog came originally from the desire of a man to do good. Australian breeder Wally Conron crossed the Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle for the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia in Victoria. A couple needed a pooch that would serve as a guide dog for a blind woman, but also to be hypoallergenic dog for her husband.

After countless breeding attempts between Labrador Retrievers and Poodles, Conron manage to create a puppy with an allergy friendly coat. As a perfect solution to women’s needs, an Australian Labradoodle was created and introduced to the world in 1988. The main traits of this dog were seen in the low-shedding coat of the poodle with the friendly personality and trainability of a Labrador retriever.

Blind women’s dog was named Sultan and he served her as a guide dog for 10 years in Hawaii. They were a true match made in Australia.

The Australian Labradoodle was an instant success. Thanks to their intelligence, trainability, non-shedding and allergy friendly coats they become known across the world in a short period of time, and they are popular equally even nowadays.

The Australian Labradoodle breed was further developed with a mixture of other breeds like the American and English Cocker Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel and Curly Coat Retriever. Those mixes are the main reasons for confusion between Australian Labradoodle and a Labradoodle. Although Australian Labradoodle was developed in Australia, responsible American breeders are dedicated to further proper development of this unique and above everything wonderful breed.

How Is Australian Labradoodle Different From Labradoodle?

People are often confused when someone knows the difference between Australian Labradoodle and Labradoodle. The truth is that they are similar, mostly thanks to their furry and soft coat that spreads all over the body. However, there is a difference. A rather simple one. Labradoodle is a cross between a purebred Labrador Retriever and a purebred Poodle.

On the other hand, the Australian Labradoodle’s has a lineage of several purebred breeds including the Labrador Retriever, English or American Cocker Spaniel, or the Poodle. However, for a dog to be classified as an Australian Labradoodle the dog’s pedigree must include a combination of all three breeds listed above (Labrador Retriever, a Poodle, and English or American Cocker Spaniel).

A bonus is if it can be traced back to the kennels in Australia where the breed first originated.

Parent Breeds

In mid of 2004, it was announced that Australian Labradoodle was more of a mix than we believed it to be. It wasn’t just a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle.

Breeders worked hard to combine all the traits that we love so much about today’s Aussie Labradoodle. Therefore, in order to reach that goal, they had to enroll more qualities, from more dogs and unique breeds.

One of the goal of why more parents were introduced into this breed is to produce a rich chocolate color that we see nowadays. And also to lose all the allergy coat and only keep the friendly one. By involving more breeds it was easier to bring in good qualities and lower and cut out the bad ones. The approved and confirmed parent breeds of the Australian Labradoodle are:

  1. Poodle (Standard, Miniature, Toy)
  2. Labrador Retriever
  3. Irish Water Spaniel
  4. Curly Coat Retriever
  5. American Cocker Spaniel
  6. English Cocker Spaniel

Until this date, these six parent breeds are the only one that are actually approved to be used in the development of the Australian Labradoodle. The ALA doesn’t recognize any other parent breed.

Physical Appearance

There is no such thing as ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to the physical appearance of this fantastic breed. Australian Labradoodles come in three sizes, just like a poodle’s range. One of the popular poodle breeds that comes in three sizes as well is the adorable Sheepadoodle. To illustrate better the size of Australian Labradoodle we will list them and compare with other known breeds of the same size:

Miniature Australian Labradoodle

Height: Approx. 35-42cm
Weight: Approx. 7-12kg

They are around the size of a Shiba Inu or a Beagle.

Medium Australian Labradoodle

Height: Approx. 42-52cm
Weight: Approx. 13-20kg

They are around the size of a Dalmatian or a Border Collie.

Standard Australian Labradoodle

Height: Approx. 52-62cm
Weight: Approx. 23-30kg

They are around the size of a Dalmatian or a Golden Retriever.

Australian Labradoodle is athletic and graceful with a fit and compact body. Their trademark is their fantastic coat, which is non-shedding and easy to manage. Their mouth are for a scissor bite. Therefore, their upper teeth just overlap the bottom teeth.

Also, their nose is large, while their neck is well proportioned of good strength, moderately long, and slightly arched. Their shoulders and upper arms are the same length, while the shoulders laid back easily. Elbows are also close to the body, while their forelegs are straight. Feet are always proportional and never turn in or out. Although they are known for their furry coat their tail is slightly curly and should not curl completely over the top.

Overall, their movement should be easy, powerful, smooth and obviously effortless. Plus, what’s interesting about this breed is the fact that their coat is so rich in terms of vivid and various colors. They come in a range of ten and more different colors, from chocolate, parti-color, phantom, tri-colored or chocolate, cafe, parchment, cream, gold, apricot, red, black, silver, chalk, lavender, and blue.

Each color is perfectly suited to its charming appearance.

Temperament And Personality

Dog lovers would say that any dog that has even the slightest trait of Labrador Retriever or a Poodle can’t be a bad dog. And they are correct. The same philosophy applies to non-aggressive and beautiful Australian Labradoodle.

The Australian Labradoodle is good with children and is easy to train. Also, it goes great with dogs of any size and breed. This curly dog is extremely intelligent, joyful and sociable. They are also known for being able to learn rare, special and unusual tasks and tricks.

Ocassionally, they are kind of comical and they will try to outsmart its owner. Therefore it’s important to train this dog at an early age, and also to provide him with daily mental and physical exercise to avoid behavior issues. They are also extremely loyal to its family members, and family in general.

Next to their tender and loyal side, they can show a hyperactive side as well. They love being active and spending their time outdoors, so be ready for regular daily walks. They will be ok with living in an apartment as long as they get enough exercise.

Grooming

Grooming that curly hair may seem difficult and challenging, but rest assured that it’s much easier than it seems. The curly coat needs regular grooming at least every two weeks and trimming maybe two to three times a year (you don’t want that curly hair to become too long and starts bothering your dog).

Scissoring and clipping are also necessary. The great thing about Australian Labradoodles is that they do not shed a lot – they actually shed a little, and they are non-allergenic.

Make sure that you keep those colorful waves tangle-free with regular brushing. Grooming Australian Labradoodles is actually really easy, providing that you keep on top of it and maintain your grooming a regular daily habit. On the other hand, neglecting Australian Labradoodle’s grooming needs will result in a matted, tangled coat that could probably only be solved with a visit to a pet grooming shop.

Also, having regular ears, teeth and gum check is mandatory. Also, stay updated with your dog’s regular check-ups.

Take a look at this video to see how to properly groom your Australian Labradoodle.

Training

An Australian Labradoodle can easily outsmart you if you don’t train it properly. They will just test to see what they can get away with. However, Australian Labradoodles are highly trainable dogs. Actually, they are always top of the class at any puppy training classes. That doesn’t come as a surprise when you think about their intelligence and how fast they can adapt to new situations.

Make sure that you start training your dog while it’s a puppy and always bear in mind that you are a pack-leader and not your dog. Prevent excessive excitement when meeting a new dog or playing with small children with early socialization. If left undisciplined, this dog will train you and that is something that you don’t want to. Ever.

Invest some time in training this dog, and if you think that you need some help in training your puppy or adult dog, make sure that you look out for a piece of advice from a professional trainer. While indoors, make sure that your pet has a range of toys that will keep him mentally stimulated. Surrounding your dog with toys is a great way to prevent boredom. Remember, a well-trained dog is a happy dog.

Health

One of the most often topics when it comes to cross-breed is how good their health actually is. On the other hand, the popular belief is that mixed breeds are stronger and rock-solid healthy. But is it really the case with this breed? The Australian Labradoodle is known for having a long life. They live between 13 to 15 years. However, life longevity is not a measure of their overall health.

Top 3 Health Conditions With Australian Labradoodle:

  1. Hip Dysplasia: Hip Dysplasia is a common skeletal disease when dog’s hip joints don’t develop quite right, allowing the hips to partly dislocate. This is in most cases a genetic condition, while poor nutrition and hard environment can contribute to this problem.

    Dogs of all sizes can be affected with this condition

  2. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): This condition stands for a degeneration of the retina that causes vision loss and final blindness. In most cases, it’s an inherited disease, and there is more than just one type of condition. PRA may occur in any dog breed including the mixed ones as well.

    However, in most cases, its seen in Old English Mastiffs and Bullmastiffs and male dogs are more exposed to this condition. Also, PRA is primarily found in male dogs in Samoyed breeds and Siberian Husky

  3. Von Willebrand’s Disease:This disease is known as the most common inherited bleeding disorder of both humans and dogs. A deficiency in the amount of a specific protein causes this condition. Basically, it is caused by a deficiency in the amount of a specific protein needed to help platelets (the blood cells used in clotting) stick together and form clots to seal broken blood vessels.

    This deficient protein is widely known as von Willebrand factor (vWF). Von Willebrand’s Disease is mostly present with Doberman Pinscher

Conclusion

If you’re about to get an Australian Labradoodle you need to take into consideration all stated above and think hard if your lifestyle fits the needs of this breed. Australian Labradoodle is definitely your type of dog if:

  • You need a dog that’s hypoallergenic
  • You want to choose your dog’s size
  • You want a dog that’s smart and active
  • You are looking for a 10-15 years long dog commitment
  • You love being outdoors

Australian Labradoodle is in the first place an intelligent dog that requires to be trained well. Otherwise, he will be the one to take the role of the “king of the household”.

Also, they will try to outsmart you any time. They are affectionate and loving dogs, so make sure that they are entertained with a number of toys when you are not around. They also love to goof around and play with other dogs for hours, so if you are for a nice portion of humor and a fair amount of time outside, this is just the right dog for you.

Have you noticed how Australian Labradoodle looks a bit like a bear?

Check out this infographic about Australian Sheepadoodles and feel free to share it! (don’t forget to tag us or link towards this article!)

australian labradoodle infographic

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There A Difference Between A Labradoodle And An Australian Labradoodle?

Yes. The main difference actually lies in their origin, as Labradoodle is a cross between Labrador and with a Poodle, while Australian Labradoodle is a cross between Labrador Retriever, English or American Cocker Spaniel, or the Poodle.

Are Australian Labradoodles Good Family Dogs?

They are not aggressive dogs and they are good with kids. However, they do need a lot of exercises and proper training sessions.

What Size Is An Australian Labradoodle?

Just like Poodles, they may vary in sizes, from toy to standard ones. Overall, they can range between 14 and 24 inches tall and 15 to 65 lbs in weight.

Are Australian Labradoodles Hypoallergenic?

Yes. Moreover, they were specially bred for this purpose.

How Much Does A Mini Australian Labradoodle Cost?

Namely, the average price for this dog is between $1,000 to $2,000. However, when buying from responsible and reputable breeders, price can range between $2,500 – $3,000.

Compare Dog Breeds: