A Comprehensive Guide on Australian Labradoodles

australian labradoodle laying on a porch

The Australian Labradoodle is a mixed breed between the Miniature Poodle and a Labrador Retriever. People love these dogs for their ease of training and ability to adapt to most homes. Australian Labradoodle puppies are one of the friendliest mixed dog breeds, and they do great in homes with children and other animals. Keep in mind that both the children and other animals need to be taught how to get along with each other before they’re just thrown into the mix together.

Australian Labradoodle puppies began because Australians wanted to create a dog breed that excelled in many different tasks. Because of how intelligent these dogs are, they are very hardworking and great for first-time dog owners.

History

The Australian Labradoodle was a mixed dog breed born in Australia. One of the goals, when Australians were creating this mixed breed, was to create a new breed that had some of the best attributes that many original breeds of dogs had. This meant these dogs could potentially be some of the best therapy dogs, service dogs, and family pets. Many cultures have had dogs to protect the home, herd animals, hunt, serve as companions, or even become cultural royalty. Australians were trying to create a mixed breed that could fit as many of those different titles as possible.

Because the Australian Labradoodle was meant to become one of the best new breeds, Australians focused on mixing popular family dogs like the Labrador Retriever and Poodle for all of their intelligent and lovable qualities. A bonus of this mix was that the Poodle would pass along their hypoallergenic qualities making the Australian Labradoodle a great pet for those with allergies.

Even though this mixed breed originally came from the Labrador Retriever and the Miniature Poodle, the hybrid breed currently consists of multiple breeds such as the English Cocker Spaniel, the American Cocker Spaniel, the Curly Coated Retriever, and the Irish Water Spaniel. This is because after mixing Poodles and Golden Retrievers to make many Australian Labradoodle puppies, in 2004, Australians announced they have been mixing these other breeds into already established Labrador x Poodle breed lines. The goal was to use the great qualities in these many dog breeds to make a dog that excels in a multitude of family and service dog qualities.

Size

The Australian Labradoodle is a medium to large size dog breed. This particular breed can weigh between 30 and 77 pounds, and these dogs will stand anywhere from 17 to 24 inches tall. Most of the time, dogs that are Poodle mixes have a large range in size because Poodles come in such a wide variety of sizes.

So while an Australian Labradoodle can be a big boy that weighs 77 pounds, there can also be a toy Australian Labradoodle that is a baby compared to their counterpart. Potential owners should also remember that these size guidelines are not very strict and are a general average of the many Australian Labradoodle puppies that have existed. Because this is a mixed breed, they don’t have such a strict standard as other purebred dog breeds, so they are more likely to have further variations.

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Temperament

Like many dog breeds, Australian Labradoodle puppies will do best when they are properly socialized at a young age. However, since so many lovely dogs get adopted from shelters after their puppy stage, not many pet parents can socialize with their dogs at a young age. Australian Labradoodle puppies can still learn proper socialization techniques as long as their owners are patient and dedicated when teaching them.

The Australian Labradoodle maintains a mostly loyal, non-aggressive, happy, and social personality. These dogs are curious and smart; they will often find ways to amuse themselves and their owners. When these dogs receive the required amount of daily exercise as well as proper socialization, they are at their best temperament.

Australian Labradoodle puppies are pretty affectionate canines, and they make great therapy and guide dogs because of these qualities. It can be easy to understand why retrievers are some of the nation’s most popular family dog breeds.

Intelligence

Australian Labradoodle puppies are intelligent dogs. Since they are so intuitive, they are great at training. These dogs are actually known for being able to pick up quick tricks and rules in a short amount of time and practice.

As long as owners provide a positive environment and never scold their dog for not completing a command, they’ll find that Australian Labradoodle puppies are eager to please them. Australian Labradoodle puppies have the committed nature of Retrievers with Poodles’ intelligence, which makes them great first-time dog owners.

Shedding

The Australian Labradoodle has a curly or wavy fleece coat. The fur from these dogs can be hypoallergenic, but it isn’t always guaranteed it will be. These dogs often shed most during spring and fall and will need basic to minimal grooming care.

Owners should try to brush their dog’s coat twice a week minimum, or daily at most, to help maintain a clean, sleek shine. This can also help keep your pup clean as it removes debris from their hair. Also, doing this can acclimate your dog to being groomed more, and eventually, they will grow to love it.

It’s important to encourage positive behavior around grooming sessions. Australian Labradoodle puppies don’t require a lot of grooming, but because of the Poodle-like nature of their fur, they require more brushing sessions than normal breeds. Providing treats and encouragement during brushing sessions will help these dogs grow to love being brushed.

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Australian Labradoodle Health Overview

Australian Labradoodle puppies have some common dog health issues. People assume mixed breeds are less likely to inherit health conditions than purebred dogs, but this isn’t completely true. There isn’t a foolproof way to deduce the health risks every dog breed can inherit, but there are ways to tell which dogs are more likely to experience specific issues.

For example, the Australian Labradoodle is expected to live an average lifespan of 13 to 15 years. It’s likely that the smaller the Australian Labradoodle, the longer its life expectancy is. Australian Labradoodle puppies can be at risk of inheriting health conditions from either of their main two parent breeds or any of the parent breeds mixed in after the 2004 declaration the Australians made. Because of all of the extra breeds that can be in their genetic history, it can be hard to deduce what exactly these dogs are at risk of contracting. However, a few conditions such as obesity, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia are more common in many dog breeds. Therefore, the Australian Labradoodle stands somewhat of a predisposed risk of experiencing these conditions.

Even though these dogs are at risk of these issues, most Australian Labradoodle puppies will live their entire lives without having to deal with any of these health problems. Even if Australian Labradoodle puppies suffer from some of these health conditions, many of these are minor issues, and most of the dogs affected by them remain unchanged.

Common Psychological Health Conditions

Stress

The Australian Labradoodle is a high-energy dog breed. These dogs were bred to be able to complete a lot of tasks which is excellent when it comes to being a service dog or a therapy dog when their energy is put to good use constantly, but when they’re family pets, they commonly don’t get to use all the energy they have. Dogs that have excess energy end up stressing themselves out and often stressing their owners out because their energy bursts out in moments of bad behavior.

Dogs that bark often, shake their head, tear up the trash, or get themselves in other sorts of trouble show symptoms of stress. Dogs that are stressed at home would benefit from dog toys to distract them or some way to get rid of their excess energy. These dogs also benefit from treats that can help calm them down. There are a variety of ways owners could help their stressed-out Australian Labradoodle.

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Anxiety

Many Australian Labradoodle puppies will experience separation anxiety. These dogs love their owners and don’t want to be away from them for very long. As adorable as it is for a dog to want to spend all of its time with its owner, it isn’t healthy to feel so dependent on one person.

Owners should feel fine leaving their house to enjoy a night out without getting worried their dog will have a panic attack. Even though Australian Labradoodle puppies have a higher chance of having separation anxiety than some other dog breeds, your Australian Labradoodle can avoid this condition as long as they are properly socialized. Some owners choose to help their dogs with anxiety by providing calming remedies.

You can feed your Australian Labradoodle something special every time you leave so they can understand they only get this special thing in your absence. Your dog will still be sad you’re gone, but dogs are optimists by nature, and they’ll love having a special treat. Sometimes anxious dogs won’t eat while their owners are away. In this case, some owners give their Australian Labradoodle puppies dog CBD to help calm them down in times of anxiety.

Calming Dog Products

Products like a calming dog bed or some nice zen treats can help a dog feel peaceful whenever they’re in a stressful situation. Whether it be a thunderstorm causing the animal stress or their parent’s absence, a few simple products can help your dog feel much more comfortable.

Common Physical Health Conditions

Potential owners should know there are a few common health conditions that Australian Labradoodle puppies might experience. Conditions like obesity typically only occur because the dog is either not getting enough activity or is getting fed too much. Instances of hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are very popular in dogs and range in severity. Typically joint issues remain minor issues in a dog’s overall health. Owners should feel safe knowing that even though these conditions could occur most Australian Labradoodle puppies don’t experience these in their lives.

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Obesity

Over 50% of adult pet dogs in the United States are obese, and a large reason for this is improper exercise. Obesity is a serious health condition that, if ignored, could cause secondary issues that are even worse, such as heart disease.

Because these dogs are such active creatures and enthusiastic eaters, they often eat more than they burn on their regular days. Owners can avoid this by ensuring they provide daily exercise for their dogs or account for less activity by feeding them less. Switching to higher-quality foods is also an excellent way to help your dog lose weight since better-quality food will have greater amounts of nutrition in smaller portions.

Anyone can check their Australian Labradoodles for obesity by looking straight down at them from above. A healthy dog should have a noticeable waistline that isn’t too exaggerated but isn’t hard to notice. Another way to tell if a dog is obese or not is to feel its ribs. When putting your hand on your dog’s ribs, you should be able to put a little pressure on your fingertips to feel their ribs. If you have to put more than a little pressure, your dog is obese. If you can feel your dog’s ribs without any pressure or visibly see your dog’s ribs, then your dog is underweight.

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Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a common health condition in many dogs that occurs when the hip joint doesn’t align itself correctly. Many dogs are born with this condition and don’t experience any symptoms until they’re later into their adult life. When this condition begins affecting Australian Labradoodle puppies, it will usually appear as arthritis in the hip joint.

This condition can worsen if a dog receives too much exercise or doesn’t get enough. Often, dogs with hip dysplasia but aren’t active might benefit from moving around more, so their body doesn’t stiffen up their joints. Incredibly active dogs may benefit from the exact opposite.

Most often, hip dysplasia causes dogs pain, but owners can treat this symptom with specific supplements and vitamins to help joint issues and arthritis. Owners of dogs with hip dysplasia should know that their dogs can get help by treating their pain symptoms and providing comfortable places to rest their joints. This can be on a bed, couch, or thick pile of blankets. Many different things work to aid a dog with hip dysplasia.

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Elbow Dysplasia

Elbow dysplasia occurs when a dog’s elbow joint isn’t aligned correctly. Many dogs have elbow dysplasia and may not ever experience severe enough symptoms to do anything about it during their life.

Sometimes, elbow dysplasia is more severe and can limit a dog’s daily exercise habits and tendencies. Typically, dogs with this condition might not enjoy running, jumping, or climbing the stairs.

Owners of dogs with elbow dysplasia should know that many dogs benefit from treatments that can ease their painful symptoms. Similarly to hip dysplasia, supplements and a soft place to rest can be more than enough to comfort a dog with elbow dysplasia. Owners can also provide dog CBD, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Some owners offer joint treats with specific ingredients that aim to heal joints. There are many different options for owners when it comes to eating their dogs with elbow dysplasia.

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Oral Health

A dog’s oral health can affect a lot of the rest of their body, such as their organ systems and even their heart. Many dog owners don’t brush their dog’s teeth as often as they should.

Dogs need their teeth brushed twice a week minimum, but daily is best. Brushing your dog’s teeth twice a week is a great way to remove old tartar and any bacteria that may have built up. Brushing their teeth allows owners to see their dog’s dental health and can make it easier for your dog to play with chew toys or treats.

In order to prevent dental diseases from taking over your dog’s mouth, brushing your dog’s teeth is absolutely vital to their overall health. Dog owners also need to make sure that they only clean their dog’s teeth with specific canine oral health products. Human toothpaste sometimes contains an ingredient that’s poisonous to dogs which is why it’s so important to only use dog toothpaste when cleaning their teeth.

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Australian Labradoodle Dog’s Needs

Exercise

Oftentimes, larger dogs need more activity than smaller dogs, which is true for Australian Labradoodles. These dogs need plenty of exercise to maintain their physical and mental stimulation needs. Also, Australian Labradoodles are on their best behavior when they get the right amount of daily exercise.

Truly, Australian Labradoodle puppies would be great companion dogs for people who love to spend time in the outdoors, especially for people who love running, swimming, or any other activities a dog can accompany them on. These dogs benefit from playing in the dog park or taking long hikes in the woods.

Australian Labradoodle puppies need mental exercise just as much as they do physical. Bored dogs will often become trouble makers, and that is especially true for dogs that don’t get the mental stimulation they need. Often without mental stimulation, dogs react by getting overexcited with visitors or chewing on the house’s furniture. Owners can provide mental games by purchasing puzzle toys for their dogs or playing mental games such as hide and seek with their dogs.

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Nutrition

When you take care of an Australian Labradoodle, you want to make sure you give them the best food possible. To do that, ensure you provide high-quality dog food to your pup multiple times a day. In fact, Australian Labradoodle puppies benefit from around 2 and 1/2 cups to 3 cups of food daily. Dogs maintain better health and metabolisms when they are fed multiple smaller meals throughout the day.

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Grooming

Australian Labradoodle puppies have the chance to become hypoallergenic depending on their relation to the Poodle. These dogs have minimal grooming needs and will need to be brushed regularly to maintain their shiny coats. Their fur coats will look best when they are trimmed a few times a year.

Owners should keep in mind that they should never shave their dog’s fur or cut it shorter than two inches in length. Often, dogs with curlier hair benefit from regular upkeep, but too much upkeep can cause skin irritation. Australian Labradoodles should be bathed once every four to six weeks. Potential owners should remember they can only use dog-specific shampoo on their pups.

Owners should also clean their dog’s ears once a month and trim their nails every few weeks. Typically any time you can hear your dog’s nails tapping off the floor means it’s time to trim those nails. Taking care of their oral health, their ear health, their nails, and their coats ensure that owners are providing all the grooming needs their dog has.

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Top Product Picks for The Australian Labradoodle

Australian Labradoodles are energetic and loving dogs that will benefit from having age-specific diets. Potential owners should know that an Australian Labradoodle puppy requires different food than an adult Australian labradoodle, and even an elderly Australian Labradoodle has specialized food to ensure they get the nutrients older dogs need. Australian Labradoodles benefit from having a crate and a comfortable bed to call their own. Some dogs find that the crate is their safe space and enjoy going there during times of stress and anxiety. Owners should also be sure to get their dog a harness and a comfortable collar.

Australian Labradoodles also benefit from special brushes and shampoo specifically for poodle-styled hair. If you rescue an Australian labradoodle and you notice they have poodle-like fur, they might benefit from a particular poodle breed-specific dog shampoo. Owners need to make sure that they don’t use any products that aren’t meant for dogs on their dogs.

Other Resources

  1. Australian Labradoodle Club of America

  2. Australian Labradoodle Association of America

  3. Worldwide Australian Labradoodles Association

  4. Doodle Rescue Collective Inc.

  5. Doodle Rock Rescue

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