Table of Contents
Quick Overview
Origin | Australia 1980s |
Parental Breed | Labrador Retriever and Poodle |
Size | Male: 21-26 inch, 50-75 lbs Female: 18-22, 40-65 lbs |
Breed Group | Designer |
Lifespan | 12-15 years |
Coat | Curly, Wavy, Straight of any color |
Temperament | Friendly, Intelligent, Loyal, Playable and Active |
Exercise | 30-60 mins a day |
Training Difficulty | Easy |
Grooming Diffuculty | Easy |
Possible Health Issues | Healthy normally but in specific cases: Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia and Eye Issue |
Price | $1500-$3000 |
Introduction To Australian Labradoodle
So precisely what is an Australian Labradoodle? In short, An Australian Labradoodle is a combination of the Labrador Retriever, Poodle and Cocker Spaniel. It was originated in Australia in 1980s because of which it got its name from. Later this breed was widely bred internationally for therapy works and service. They are recognized by the International Australian Labradoodle Association, Inc.
Australian Labradoodle are widely famous for its diversity, versality and unconditional loyalty. They are very devoted and affectionate pet with high energy to bring joy and happiness to ones life and family. They excel and tick almost all the boxes for various outdoors activities, thanks to their high athleticism and high energy.
History and Origin
Australian Labradoodle originated in Australia in 1980s as a mixed breed of Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel and Poodle, initiated by breeding manager Wally Conran with the goal of breeding the best breed with the best traits of its parental breed. Ultimate goal was to produce a service dog that doesn’t shed their hair, which is a common issue for people with allergies to shed hairs. The non shedding attribute of Poodle is not fixed to be inherited to all Australian Labradoodle.
In the year 2004, it was stated that the Australian Labradoodle was not just a mix of Labrador and Poodle but to be a breed in its own breeding standard. It is important to keep in mind that American Labradoodle are different breed as they are the cross of Labrador Retriever and Poodle only.
Physical Characteristics
Australian Labradoodle are medium to large in size where a male weighs 50-75 lbs and 21-26 inch in height where as female can weigh up to 40-60 lbs and 18-22 inch in height. Their coat can be of fleece, wavy or curly and are very smooth in feel. Mostly these type of coats are non-shedding which is relatively easy to maintain than shedding ones.
Their face has a curly wool coat with a Poodle texture which feels very smooth while touching. Also, they have dropped down ears.
3. Temperament and Personality
Australian Labradoodle inherits the best traits and characteristics of its parental breed. They are very lovable, playful, active and loyal which makes them fit pet for any family. They are verry intelligent so they are mostly preferred as service or therapy dogs.
Australian Labradoodles are very active and playful so they get along children and other dogs quite easily. They are very loyal and obedient so they can take care of your children as well.
Exercise and Activity Needs
Australian Labradoodles are very active dogs who excel in athleticism, So they require a moderate amount of exercise and activities for their good health. 30-60 mins of walk, running, fetch etc is a must for its overall mental and physical health.
They can adapt to humid climate but it is better to provide them with cool air-conditioned space which can help to maintain their coat and skin health.
Grooming and Care
Australian Labradoodles are very easy to groom and maintain because of their non-shedding coat which requires occasional brushing and bathing with high quality shampoo so that the skin wont dry out which would be the optimal choice. Trimming their nails time to time, cleaning their ears and brushing their teeth with good quality toothpaste are some of the things to keep in mind while grooming.
Some helpful tips:
- Inorder to ensure its silky and shiny coat it is recommended to use slicker brush.
- One must know that they should not overwash their pet’s coat as it can damage and degrade its coat quality.
- Bathing once every 6-8 weeks with high quality shampoo is much better for their coat’s and overall health.
- Clean their ears, trimming nails, brushing their teeth with high quality toothpaste are some major cleaning activities
- Making sure that you rinse all the shampoo from its body as it can cause irritation to your pet.
Health and Common Concerns
Australian Labradoodles are less likely to have diseases and are usually healthy but there might be some exceptions with Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia and eye problems. It can be avoided through proper medical and sanitation concerns and procedures.
Some helpful tips:
- Taking your dog to the veterinarian for regular checkups at least once every 14 weeks is recommended.
- Feed them nutritious foods like meat, authentic dog foods etc.
- Never neglect the hydration of your dog.
- Giving them necessary vaccines to fight various bacterias and allergies is necessary.
- Socializing and interacting with them by playing is an important activity for their mental health as well as physical health.
- Proper sanitation and clean environment is a must for minimal risk of bacterial diseases.
- If any sudden sickness you should immediately seek help from respective professionals.
Training and Socialization
Australian Labradoodles are very active breeds, love to play and interact with others. They are very easy to train and training them from early stage is much better for their growth. As they are very intelligent, loyal, obedient and quick learners they are very easy to train if given proper guidelines and instructions. This is why they earn their name as service or therapy dogs.
Some helpful tips for training:
- Teach your pet to sit, stay, heel, walk on stairs, jump etc which is essential for its safety.
- Teaching your pet what to eat, what not to eat and where to excrete, where not to is essential for cleanliness as well as pet’s safety.
- Teaching the pet to recognize family and strangers is an important activity.
- Running is an important activity for a dog’s heart health and overall bone health which can be done by playing fetch and running etc.
If you encounter any problems in training or having difficulty in training your pet especially with adults it is best to seek help from professional trainers and training centers.
Conclusion
Therefore, we can see how much of a companion is a Australian Labradoodle. People who like dogs with loyal, playful, active and service oriented traits can consider this breed as number one choice for them. People who are new to pets can also consider them to their watchlist.
People who like aggressive dogs or small compact dogs, this might not be your favorable option. Either way the Australian Labradoodle is a great companion for every individual and family regardless of its size.
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