What Is An Australian Labradoodle?

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Multi-gen Australian Labradoodle dogs are friendly, fun and make an exceptional companion animal. They have beautiful coats, that come in a range of colors and patterns. It was developed from Labradors, Poodles, English and American Cocker Spaniels, Curly Coated Retrievers, and Irish Water Spaniels. The aim of the Australian Labradoodle is to produce a new purebred with its own breed standard with more predictable traits than a first-generation Labrador Poodle cross. So let’s take a look at what you can expect from this mix and how different it is to other types of Labradoodles.

Doodle dogs seem to be everywhere these days! Poodle crosses are increasingly popular. You’ve probably heard of the Labrador-Poodle cross known as the Labradoodle but maybe you haven’t come across the Australian Labradoodle. This is a similar, yet uniquely different, dog.

 

Where Do Australian Labradoodles Come From?

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The term ‘Labradoodle’ was first coined back in 1955. But, the name—and the dog itself—did not become popular until several decades later. In the 1980s, Wally Conran, a breeding manager for Australian Guide Dog Services, found himself faced with a challenge.a

A client needed a guide dog but also suffered from terrible allergies to dogs. Labradors have long been used as guide dogs, mainly owing to their gentle nature but they are certainly not hypoallergenic.

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Introducing the Poodle

No dog breed is truly 100% ‘hypoallergenic’ but the curly coat of the Poodle does ‘catch’ some of the loose hairs and dander that are responsible for allergies. So, for some people, that means fewer allergies.

Conran came up with the idea of crossing the Labrador with the Poodle. The result? The first modern Labradoodle and within a few years, the Labradoodle became extremely popular iAustralia and around the world.

 

Australian Labradoodle vs Labradoodle

Contrary to popular belief, a Labradoodle born down under does not automatically qualify as an ‘Australian Labradoodle’! In fact, there are significant differences between the Labradoodle and Australian Labradoodle.

Labradoodles have one Labrador parent and one Poodle parent. These first-generation Labradoodles are referred to as F1. And from those we get second-generation, F2, and so on. On the other hand, Australian Labradoodles can be a blend of up to six different breeds:

• Labrador

• Poodle

• Cocker Spaniel

• American Cocker Spaniel

• Curly Coated Retriever

• Irish Water Spaniel.

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Australian Labradoodle Size

Australian Labradoodles come in Mini, Mediums and Standards. We specialize in the mini's. Our girls are 20-22 lbs and 15-16" tall. Which makes for a great size lab dog but also big enough to take on walks or jogs. We take our doodles EVERYWHERE so it's nice that they can jump in for a ride without assistance. 

 

Doodle Coats and Colors

They can have one of two coat types. Either fleece-textured or wool-textured. They are often described as teddy bear-like. And this certainly adds to their appeal!

• Fleece-textured coats are soft and either straight or wavy. They can also have spiral-shaped curls.

• Wool-textured coats feel—you guessed it!—like wool! And they’re usually curly.

There are loads of different Australian Labradoodle colors! Some of the most popular include:

• Black

• Red

• White

• Apricot

• Caramel

 

Grooming Your Australian Labradoodle

Whether your Australian Labradoodle has a fleece- or wool-textured coat, they will need regular brushing. Usually around once a week. You might find it useful to enlist a professional groomer. They can trim your pup’s coat two or three times a year.

When grooming, be sure to check your pup;s eyes and ears. It’s important to keep their nails trimmed, too. If in doubt, speak to your dog’s vet and/or groomer. They can offer specific advice on your pup’s coat and nails.

 

Australian Labradoodle Temperament

Australian Labradoodles are gentle, loyal, and sociable. They are not aggressive and are very good with children. Plus, they are intelligent and quick to learn. In fact, they are widely used as therapy and service dogs. Mainly because they’re so universally friendly, gentle, and easy to train.

Naturally playful, they enjoy time with their human families. But they should not be left alone or in crates for too long. Also, Australian Labradoodles are active dogs. They need a large amount of daily activity. At least 30-60 minutes is ideal.

 

Training Your Australian Labradoodle

Australian Labradoodles are often described as ‘born to serve.’ This means that they’re naturally quick to learn. And as a result, relatively easy to train. But, it’s very important to begin training and socialization early in your puppy’s life.

Socialization can have a huge impact on your puppy’s development. And puppies that are socialized early are less likely to display behavioral problems later on.

 

Positive Training Methods

Research shows that positive, rewards-based training is more effective than punishment-based training. In fact, punishments negatively affect behavior. But rewards-based training actually improves your dog’s ability to learn.

When using rewards to train your pup, make sure you include any edible treats as part of your pup’s daily food allowance. This will help prevent weight problems.

 

Australian Labradoodle Health

Have you ever heard of ‘hybrid vigor’ in mixed-breed dogs? Some evidence suggests mixed-breed dogs experience fewer inherited disorders than their purebred counterparts.

The limited gene pools of purebreds can cause a number of health-related issues. This is due to years of inbreeding. But, this doesn’t mean mixed breeds are entirely free from the same inherited conditions.

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