The Affectionate Australian Labradoodle

With such a highly intelligent breed, one may have a bit of a challenge keeping their minds stimulated. However, their diverse energy makes them suitable for hiking trips followed by cuddly couch sessions after a long tiring day. With proper training and lots of experience socializing, the Australian labradoodle will do just fine with all types of people and even small children. This dog isn't known for barking a lot, but can still be quite the handful for first-time dog owners. Smaller Australian labradoodles, or those mixed with a miniature poodle, can do just fine in an apartment or condo with adequate exercise and outdoor time.

With so many breeds involved in this doodle mix, the coat colors are almost endless: white, apricot, chocolate, black, merle, and even lavender are all potential coat colors for Australian labradoodles. A favorite pattern among many breeders is the phantom, which is a solid color with tan points, similar to a Doberman's coat.

Being that your Australian labradoodle can be mixed with either a standard or miniature poodle, your dog can vary greatly in size. There should be no difference in appearance due to these sizes besides the actual size difference. Australian labradoodles can weigh anywhere from 15 to 45 and can be 14 to 24 inches tall. Your family is sure to find the perfect furry friend to fit all of your needs.

Like most dogs, Australian Labradoodles aren't exempt from health problems as they begin to age. Hip Dysplasia is typical with medium to large dogs where the hip joint becomes unstable, leading to bone spurs and limping. Addison's disease occurs when the dog's adrenal glands decline the ability to produce hormones. Von Willebrand's disease is a blood disease where the blood fails to clot, causing excessive bleeding in the dog. Shopping with a reputable breeder can greatly decrease the risks of any of these diseases in your dog.

Since Australian labdradoodle's were bred to be guide dogs, their incredible intelligence and willingness to learn makes their training a piece of cake. You can start training your pooch at 8 weeks with basic commands. Obedience classes at this time can be a good idea to allow your doodle to socialize with other dogs and get some much-needed energy out. Proper training will keep your dog from being out of control or aggressive while maintaining a well-behaved and lovable family pet.

An Australian labradoodle's bloodline consists of many active breeds, so there's no doubt that your dog will be ready to let some energy out every day. A 45-minute walk would be suitable for an adult, but breaking it up into multiple shorter walks throughout the day is also acceptable. Don't just stop at a walk though, because your dog is sure to give you many more kisses if you allowed them some time of off-leash play.

Grooming requirements for your Australian labradoodle will depend a lot on your canine's coat type. Long and thick coats need weekly brushing to prevent matting, but this coat sheds on its own, which means fewer trips to the groomer.

Shorter coats are the most manageable due to its low maintenance when kept short. Nonetheless, every type of pooch should keep the hair around their eyes trimmed to prevent infection.

As with any breed, your feeding routine should take into account the size, appetite, and any special dietary needs of your Australian Labradoodle. Stick to high-quality dry dog food that is rich in protein and low in grains and other fillers. Recommendations typically  Australian Labradoodle 1 to 2.5 cups of food a day, divided into two equal feedings.

The Australian Labradoodle was originally bred as a guide dog for the visually impaired. In 1989, a man's wife was desperately in need of a guide dog, but there was one big problem: the husband was allergic to dogs. Not letting this stop his wife from getting what she needed, a breeding manager in Australia set to work on the perfect combination to produce a non-shedding hypoallergenic dog for this family. The breeder started with a Labrador retriever and poodle mix, but later incorporated cocker spaniel, curly-coated retriever, and Irish water spaniel into the pedigree.

Many factors play into the price of a puppy, but the average price for a pup from a breeder is anywhere between $2,700 and $3,000. One may think this is quite expensive, but it's important to remember that this is a designer dog breed. There is also the breeding stock to consider because if the breeder uses a higher generation of doodle and completes more health testing on the parents and the puppies, they are more likely to charge more.