Australian Labradoodle

[Halfpastafreckle]

Our last dog was a Frenchie and he wasn’t an easy dog, loads of health problems but we adored him and he lived to 11. We’ve given it about 18 months and now decided we are ready for another dog and want one that we can run with and take on long walks.

Having given myself a headache reading about breeds and eyeballing every dog I’ve met out walking, I am about to join a waiting list for a labradoodle puppy at a breeder that has been recommended to me and am Interested in hearing experiences of the breed before I go ahead and sign on the line (18month wait) - so questions:

1. How much walking does yours need (I’ve read a hour a day which is completely doable)
   
2. Do they bark much?
   
3. How neurotic is your dog - I want a dog that likes people and other dogs and despite so much training and efforts at socialisation my last dog hated hated all other dogs, so we could never take him out anywhere
   
4. What size did you get (I am going for a standard - am I mad after owning a smaller dog?)
   
5. Do you do any activities with yours?
   

Any insights welcome from owners (and before I am told to adopt, yes would love to but I don’t have a dog so that seems to be 1 strike against me and the 2nd is having 2 kids)

[tabulahrasa]

I’d give most dogs more than an hour a day of walks tbh, even lazier breeds than those in an Australian labradoodle.

And nothing to do with your questions as such, but...

You want to make sure your breeder is doing what seems like a stupid amount of health tests, with Australian labradoodle foundation stock being so many different breeds, many of who share health conditions... and that there’s quite a lot of controversy over whether the foundation stock was all from puppy farms anyway - I’d be quite wary of potentially getting another unhealthy dog tbh.

[Halfpastafreckle]

@tabulahrasa to be fair my Frenchie would happily do 2 long walks a day - he was an absolute nutter (except in the heat) - am just looking for a rule of thumb as back at forth to school each day with the kids is 4 x 25 mins Before I even do a dog walk

Yes to tests - they do hips, eyes, elbows

[candle18]

We have a miniature Australian labradoodle who is 18 mints old. He’s a great dog but he’s our first so nothing to compare him to. He goes out for 2 good walks every day, is good off the lead and very sociable with other dogs. Loves fetching the ball and being chased. He’s quite lazy in the morning and is happy lying around. Gets a bit lively in the evening but after his walk tends to settle and sleeps well till 8 or 9am. He barks on and off but I don’t think it’s excessive.

[tabulahrasa]

“Yes to tests - they do hips, eyes, elbows”

But not patella or Von willebrands? and are their eyes just checked or do they DNA tested for PRA?

Sorry, that’s not an interrogation, I know it sounds like one, lol. Just like I said, I’d be wanting all that because it’s not just a straightforward labradoodle, some of the things I’ve read over the years about how Australian labradoodles came to be are... well... murky at best...

[Halfpastafreckle]

@candle18 thanks very much that’s good to hear
@tabulahrasa interrogation is good! I want to be educated - will ask more questions on patella and Von willebrands but for eyes they test Optigen DNA and CERF

[Sully84]

My experience is that they can really vary in size...I work in a grooming parlour and some are the size of a small pony. Some are really chilled, others are boisterous nutters but all are friendly and good with other dogs. Definitely take into account the cost of regular grooming (check your local groomer prices), it will be needed as will daily brushing (more so they have the curlier wool coat like a poodle).

[StillMedusa]

My friend has three Aussie labradoodles. They are fab dogs but need a lot of exercise. One's average sized, one's a medium-large and the youngest is the size of a donkey . They have to be clipped very frequently and getting grass seeds out of their fur is a nightmare but otherwise lovely dogs!

[Gremlinsateit]

I’m always interested to read about Aust Labradoodles on here, as in Australia we don’t ever hear this name for a mix, afaik. It sounds like it’s a mix of quite a few breeds? How do you know which traits to expect?

[Pipandmum]

I have a miniature Australian labradoodle who is 11 years old. When we got him there weren't that many breeders. He came with a long pedigree and looks just like his mother and grandparents. I don't know how many generations a breed has to go through to become an official breed : no dog today is NOT a mix if you back far enough.
He is very puppy like even now - extremely friendly and bouncy. He looks like a slightly thicker set poodle, about Springer spaniel size. He is calm at home and hardly ever barks. Outside he is very lively and playful.and loves playing fetch - quite ball obsessed! He could easily cope with two hour long walks a day, but I don't walk him that much to be honest.
He is full of character. He is selectively deaf - if he has his sight on something he goes for it, whereas my other (regular labradoodle) is very obedient. But he is non aggressive and just thinks everyone wants a big kiss in their nose. He's as interested in people as other dogs.
I get him groomed every three or four months. His fur doesn't mat but he gets very sheep like! He is not that food driven. Never had any health problems nor any anxiety about being left at home alone (though he now has a dog playmate).
To sum up: energetic, friendly, playful, calm inside the home, full of character, good with kids.
Downsides: regular grooming, needs exercise, not a good watchdog, though will bark (and then shower the burglar with kisses).

[Halfpastafreckle]

Thanks @Pipandmum that is really good to hear - if you would be prepared to share your breeder with me via PM I would be very grateful
@Gremlinsateit from my reading Australian labradoodles are a mixture of poodle and lab and include spaniels back in the line too and are only bred to other Australian labs - I think they vary quite a lot in terms of size and colouring.

[swizzlestix]

Hi we have a 18 week old ALD and would definitely recommend our breeder in Hereford. Feel free to message me

[Bayleaf25]

Our ALD is a year old. She is an absolute gem, we love her, gorgeous temperament, a bundle of energy, sometimes naughty, but loves people and other dogs. Medium (springer spaniel size) - we did meet both parents and so had an idea of their size. I'll answer your questions;

1. Walking - we've been applying the 5 mins of walking per month of age rule so she hasn't been on super long walks yet. Probably an hour a day at the moment. She has got loads of energy though so we'll probably start extending that time. She get's tired out by lots of playing with a ball in the garden etc.
2. She barks at us if she get's bored and wants to play. To be honest if I remove myself or her from the situation then she stops. She doesn't really bark much otherwise. She's our first dog though so I don't have anything to compare her to - I don't think it's excessive.
3. She loves dogs and people. She has been well socialised though and been to puppy classes, walked in a dog walking group, walked with friends who have dogs. If anything she is prone to being over-excitable with dogs of a similar age - older dogs she will potter about with like a little angel. She is nervous of the vet however - I'm not sure how we get her over that hurdle now.
4. Medium size - perfect for us. I don't do any extra official activities and due to covid many of these haven't been running anyway.

In short we think she's lovely. Downside is she does need regular grooming to stop her getting matted. She can be naughty (think stealing socks and anything she can reach from the kitchen sides like recycling etc.). Does need a good amount of exercise and play (not low maintenance). However lovely temperament great with kids and dogs. We're still working at jumping up at visitors to the house though!

[JonHammIsMyJamm]

Any reason you wouldn’t just go for the pedigree poodle or Labrador?

[JonHammIsMyJamm]

TBH, if I were you, I’d get a well bred standard poodle (I’ve got a Labrador). Clearer and more established breeding line with clearer health scoring requirements. Plus a better idea of what you’re going to get in terms of temperament, coat and size.

[JonHammIsMyJamm]

(And of course, you’re not paying insane prices for a designer cross, you’ll pay the same or less for a dog with a traceable pedigree line and the documentation to back it up).

[Bayleaf25]

Just to add we have actually got documentation of the breeding line going back quite a few generations (can’t remember how many without digging out the paperwork) the dogs were bred with temperament etc in mind in the same way that a good breeder of pedigree dogs might.

We also have documentation of the various health tests that were carried out and initial vet visit whilst At breeders.

We saw both parents (and pictures of grandparents) so had a fair idea of size, coat type etc. although weren’t troubled by the idea of her being slightly bigger/smaller.

We visited the breeder and were very happy with the questions we were asked and the information we were given. After much discussion about various breeds and talking to other dog owners we are very much happy with our decision. We have a happy, healthy, friendly, energetic dog.

[Mollyollydolly]

I'm on a waiting list for an Australian Labradoodle. All the really good breeders have two year waiting lists at the moment. The woman I'm getting mine off gave me a grilling for an hour on the phone to decide if I was fit to own one of her dogs! They are all extensively tested for various health conditions. Not getting mine till next summer but I'm prepared to wait as I've been so impressed by the breeder and there are so many unethical breeders out there. The Australian Labradoodle group on Facebook is really good and worth a read.

[swizzlestix]

We got our boy in June and as first time dog owners he has been great!
I'm hoping when he's old enough to do the pets as therapy training with him if he's not too much of a tear away!

[Halfpastafreckle]

@Bayleaf25 Thankyou so much to taking the trouble to answer my questions, I really appreciate it.
@Mollyollydolly that is reassuring and it’s lovely to hear a breeder taking so much trouble - I hope it’s ok if I PM you for your breeders details?
@JonHammIsMyJamm (great name!) I originally started out with a standard poodle in mind, but I had read that they can be quite nervous and neurotic and prone to separation anxiety - this shouldn’t be too much of a problem as I WFH and my DH is a shift worker so there’s always some around, but in my research I became aware of the ALD and I thought they might be a better fitand then I met one and he was such a lovely dog I then started researching more seriously

[swizzlestix]

@Halfpastafreckle did you get any closer to getting your dog?

[Notstayingup]

Hi @swizzlestix I completely forgot to update the thread (which is awful of me as it had such good advice!) I actually signed up with your breeder in the end, Thank you for the recommendation. I am on a waitlist for a puppy and hopefully it will be this time next year! I didn’t go for a standard in the end as I thought the size difference between a frenchie and standard might be too extreme, so we went for a medium. I am just ridiculously excited and can’t wait for it to be our turn!

[swizzlestix]

That's great news, the support she's given us even after we've had our dog has been great when I've emailed her questions about sleep, mealtimes and fevers advice. The puppy pack she gave us and all The advice and information in the e book really was brilliant!
We're hitting adolescence at the mo - 8 months so new challenges but such a great dogs

[swizzlestix]

Feeding not fevers!

[Veterinari]

Wouldn't touch them
They're almost inevitably spayed/castrated at 8-9 weeks before rehoming.

The ones I've seen, the owners are always surprised when this is pointed out to them at vaccination and are often unaware it's been done.

Any breeder that is so concerned about conserving the commercial value of their line that they choose surgery during the crucial socialisation period and with zero regard for future health or behaviour implications is clearly only breeding for one reason. And dog health and welfare doesn't come into it.

[Veterinari]

@Gremlinsateit

I’m always interested to read about Aust Labradoodles on here, as in Australia we don’t ever hear this name for a mix, afaik. It sounds like it’s a mix of quite a few breeds? How do you know which traits to expect?

In the UK the term is used for a small gene pool of highly bred crosses who are neutered early to prevent anyone else breeding from the stick and to protect the breeders' commercial interests.