The Australian Labradoodle is a designer dog breed from Australia that is a variation on the usual Labradoodle hybrid cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Standard, Mini, or Toy Poodle. It has 6 different parent breeds: Labrador, Poodle, English Cocker Spaniel, American Cocker Spaniel, Curly Coated Retriever, and Irish Water Spaniel. Wally Conron of Royal Guide Dogs started the breeding of the Australian Labradoodle in the 1980s because he wanted to create a breed that was asthma and allergy-friendly as well as having the temperament of a service dog.
Since appearing in 1988, it has had 3 possible sizes: Mini, Medium, and Standard. The clever and loyal breed makes a great working dog for service work. It’s also a great first-time owner or family pet that enjoys children and other pets.
The 3 Different Types Of Australian Labradoodles
There are three different types of Australian Labradoodles depending on size: Mini, Medium, and Standard. Some breeders have petite/micro, small, or small-medium sizes.
F1 means a first cross, first generation of a purebred standard, mini, or toy Poodle to a purebred Labrador Retriever, creating the Labradoodle mix. F1B is F1 with the “B” referring to the backcross of an F1 Labradoodle to a purebred standard, mini, or toy Poodle. Australian Labradoodle contains the DNA of the Labrador, Poodle, and American or English Cocker Spaniel. It is the result of at least 4 consecutive matings between two Australian Labradoodles and years of selection to enrich the dog’s blood with the infusions of the Irish Water Spaniel, English and/or American Cocker Spaniel, and the Curly Coated Retriever. For this reason, the F5 generation is typical.
3 Pros And Cons Of Owning Australian Labradoodles
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| Little to no shedding: Because of the infusion with Poodles and other low-shedding breeds, it became hypoallergenic. It is ideal for people who are usually allergic to dogs. | Frequent grooming: It needs frequent grooming to maintain its coat and prevent knotting and matting. This means it will need more haircuts than you do. |
| Well-balanced temperament: Labradoodles combine the gentleness and steadfastness of the Labrador Retriever with the instinctual intelligence of the Poodle, resulting in a loyal and easily trainable dog. This designer dog became its own breed after mixing Labradoodles with other breeds to create a dog that has the best qualities of all of them. | May fight with other dogs: It is likely to fight with other dogs of the same sex. This is especially true if the dog is not spayed or neutered and has not been properly socialized. |
| Sociable personality: It loves everyone and, while energetic and playful, it’s also even-tempered around children and babies. It gets along with other pets, even other dogs. | It’s high-energy: If you live in a small space, this dog will need more frequent walks than usual. It must have toys and companions to prevent unwanted behavior, such as chewing or barking for attention. If you cannot provide for its energy demands, consider another breed. |
Size And Weight

This breed has 3 possible height and weight ranges, depending on which parent breeds were mixed.
©Jne Valokuvaus/Shutterstock.com
The Australian Labradoodle has 3 possible weight and height ranges, depending on the size: Mini, Medium, and Standard. The average height and weight for the Mini size is 14-16″ and 15-25 lbs, Medium is 17-20″ and 30-40 lbs, and Standard is 21-24″ and 45-65 lbs, respectively, with males being taller and heavier than females. Australian Labradoodle puppies weigh between 3.75-16.25 lbs at 7 weeks of age and are typically fully grown between 11-18 months for all sizes.
Common Health Issues
Australian Labradoodles are generally healthy dogs. Although it can inherit health issues from its parent breeds, its crossbreeding results in a hardier dog. Patellar luxation, hip and elbow dysplasia, Von Willebrand’s disease, and progressive retinal atrophy are known health issues for its Labradoodle parents. Addison’s disease and progressive retinal atrophy are occasional occurrences with the Australian Labradoodle in particular, especially if its parents have not been PRA before breeding.
Temperament
The temperament and behavior of the Australian Labradoodle can vary, especially in first-generation Labradoodle puppies. However, the higher breeding standards of authentic Australian Labradoodles from reputable breeders result in much more consistent personality traits, although it also means a higher price.
The personality of Labradoodles is gentle, steadfast, intelligent, instinctual, loyal, and easily trainable. These traits were combined with those of other breeds to create the Australian Labradoodle’s unique balance of cleverness, loyalty, gentleness, sociability, affection, and energy, with F5 generations having very consistent behavior.
How To Take Care Of Australian Labradoodles

Australian Labradoodles have many unique factors to consider for their care routines.
©iStock.com/Jennifer McCallum
New dog owners looking to care for Australian Labradoodles, especially Australian Labradoodle puppies, must consider their generation and parent breeds. Whether it’s common Labradoodle or Australian Labradoodle issues, or different care related to their coat and size, Australian Labradoodles have many unique factors that must be considered.
The Best Dog Food For Australian Labradoodles
Australian Labradoodles have different health considerations due to being a designer dog breed, and they are similar to those of Labradoodles. Therefore, new owners should consider these factors when choosing food for their pets:
Australian Labradoodle puppy food: Your choice of puppy food will greatly impact your dog’s ability to properly develop and maintain good health. Carbohydrates, animal fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids are crucial nutrients, along with water, in the right amounts for the breed and size. Commercial dry or canned puppy food is easiest for guaranteed complete nutrition with animal protein as the primary ingredient. If you feed canned food, deduct it from what you would normally feed with dry food to prevent weight issues.
Australian Labradoodle adult dog food: Commercial dog food, cooked home-prepared food, and a raw diet are all possible options. Both the cooked home-prepared and raw diets should contain meat, bones, eggs, and vegetables.
Maintenance And Grooming

Australian Labradoodles, while they have minimal shedding, do need to have their wavy or straight fleece coat maintained to prevent knotting.
©Josiah Gaulke/Shutterstock.com
Australian Labradoodles have little to no shedding. However, due to its having a straight or wavy fleece coat, this also means frequent knotting and matting without regular grooming. To maintain its floppy, teddy bear-like appearance and avoid felting its coat, there are some important tips to practice. If the coat is filthy, you must hose it down and put the dog into its crate to allow the dirt to dry and drop off. Average brushing for an adult is 60 minutes every 2 weeks, with more frequent grooming for dogs that play outside in water or come along to hike in nature areas.
For puppies, trimming around their eyes and feet is recommended before taking them to the groomer. An inverted V-shape at a diagonal with thinning scissors will give a soft, less choppy look than blunt-tip scissors, while trimming around the feet in a large circle will preserve the floppy look while removing excess hair. Bangs will grow down and naturally part to the side, but you can thin the very center bangs if you so desire. Puppies start to transition to their adult coats at 6 to 8 months, with the process lasting 3 to 5 months. Before then, you must brush your puppy multiple times a week. A professional trim should keep its coat at 1.5 to 2″ long.
Training
These dogs are intelligent, intuitive, and mature. They are easier to train than other dog breeds. When compared to Labradoodles, they are calmer and more well-balanced. However, they can also be prone to separation anxiety, which can continue even after puppyhood and after the family returns home. For this reason, it is best to have toys and other pets for them to play with, especially other dogs.
Exercise
Regardless of the size of your dog, it needs sufficient space and fulfillment of its exercise needs. Although you can compensate for medium and standard-size dogs in a small living space with more frequent walks, it is recommended to consider a mini size, sometimes alternately called petite/micro, small, or small-medium. Adult dogs need 30-60 minutes of exercise every day, including a walk and free play. Long walks or jogs, dog park sessions, and mental stimulation are all important for variety. Puppies are more energetic and demand attention, and it is during puppyhood that training and socialization begin.
Puppies

A cream Australian Labradoodle pup is playing in the garden with a football in its mouth on the green grass.
©Angeline Dobber/Shutterstock.com
The puppies need brushing several times a week. From the time you bring your puppy home to about 6 months of age, it is recommended to feed them 3 times a day. After that, you can feed them twice a day.
Australian Labradoodles And Children
These dogs love everyone, including children, and everyone tends to love them back. Their easygoing personality becomes even more docile and sociable around children and babies. They make for joyful playmates with them and are also great for first-time dog owners and children learning how to train dogs, because they are eager to please and pick up new tasks quickly.
Dogs Similar To Australian Labradoodles
Other dog breeds similar to the Australian Labradoodle are the Labradoodle, Bernedoodle, and Aussiedoodle.
- Aussiedoodle: A popular designer dog, this is an Australian Shepherd/Poodle mix.
- Goldendoodle: Another popular designer dog, this is a Golden Retriever/Poodle mix.
- Australian Cobberdog: A rarer hybrid of an Australian Labradoodle crossed with the Irish Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, resulting in a different temperament.
Australian Labradoodle Pictures
View all of our Australian Labradoodle pictures in the gallery.
Sophia Granchinho/Shutterstock.com
Sources
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