In addition, because of their non-aggressive and easy-going social attitude, they usually do well with other dogs and pets in the household. Because of these qualities, Australian labradoodles make fantastic family pets!

Life Expectancy

The Australian Labradoodle has an average lifespan of 13 to 15 years.

Health Issues

Australian labradoodles are generally healthy, but like all dog breeds, they are prone to certain health conditions. Only a few Australian labradoodles will get any of these diseases, but it is important to be aware of them if you are considering an Australian labradoodle as your next family pet.

These are the top three health issues known to be associated with Australian labradoodles:

Hip Dysplasia: An abnormal formation of the hip socket that can cause arthritis and lameness.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): A degeneration of the retina that causes vision loss and blindness.
Von Willebrand’s Disease: An inherited blood clotting defect that causes hemorrhaging.

The good news is that buying from a reputable breeder, like Seven Hills Labradoodles, can decrease the likelihood of your dog inheriting these diseases as we conduct extensive genetic testing and test the hips, elbows, and eyes of all of our dams and sires before they enter our breeding program.

Exercise Requirements

As with all dogs, to prevent unwanted behaviors and obesity, you will need to provide an Australian labradoodle with daily mental and physical activities that will keep it happy while also allowing it to release its energy in a positive way.

The Australian labradoodle has a low-to-moderate energy level, so a 30 to 40-minute walk each day would be enough to satisfy its exercise needs. If you are active outdoors, you can take an Australian labradoodle with you – they make great walking buddies! If you have a safe, enclosed backyard, an Australian labradoodle will also love running around and playing with you. If you have a pool, or if you live near a lake or the beach, bring an Australian labradoodle along, as many love to splash in the water and swim.

While indoors, an Australian labradoodle should be provided with a range of toys that will keep it mentally stimulated, as doing so will help prevent boredom. Providing indoor entertainment such as chew toys (not rawhide), dog puzzles, frozen Kongs, or snuffle mats will challenge an Australian labradoodle intellectually. Giving an Australian Labradoodle several options would keep it from being bored, and it would also divert its attention from chewing on your shoes.

An Australian labradoodle Will Need More Trips to the Hair Salon Than You

The Australian labradoodle should visit the groomer every 5-6 weeks while also being brushed every other day at home. Some owners like their Australian labradoodles’ coats a little longer, others will clip them shorter. Shorter coats are usually less maintenance. If you want to learn how to groom your Australian labradoodle yourself, there are some good videos on YouTube (just search for grooming an Australian labradoodle) and the Worldwide Australian labradoodle Association’s (WALA) website has some great information to guide you. Click here to go to the WALA website.

Training

In addition to the generations of selective breeding to produce a gentle, well-mannered and eager-to-please dog, the attitude and temperament of an Australian Labradoodle also depends on the environment and training provided by its owner. You would be responsible for raising, socializing and training an Australian labradoodle once you bring it home.

One of the best things about the Australian Labradoodle is that they are so smart which makes them easy to train. They can pick up your rules and the tricks you teach in just a short amount of time. But it is very important to begin training and socialization early in your puppy’s life.

Like all dogs, Australian Labradoodles respond best to positive reinforcement and reward-based training. Their eagerness to please their family means that a little praise will go a long way – they should be offered plenty of verbal praise and belly scratches for being a good dog. Edible treats will also motivate them during training as Australian Labradoodles are almost always excited to take a tasty treat. Owners should use this to their advantage during training sessions, just be sure not to overfeed!

Australian labradoodles need consistency and patience during training. You should never use harsh tones or words and should always be gentle even if an accident or two occurs on a favorite carpet. Research has proven that positive, rewards-based training is more effective than punishment-based training, especially with Australian labradoodles due to their sensitive nature. An owner of an Australian labradoodle should encourage the behavior they want to see and reward it! Unwanted behavior should be ignored and negative punishment-based training techniques should be avoided. Read more about positive puppy training by clicking here.

Australian labradoodles learn quickly. So, if an individual starts training and socialization early, is consistent, and uses positive training techniques, Australian labradoodles can make the ideal family pet!

Which Makes a Better Pet, a Boy or Girl?

Dr. Gary Richter, a holistic vet, founder of Montclair Veterinary Hospital & Holistic Veterinary Care, and author of The Ultimate Pet Health Guide says that broadly speaking, a dog’s sex has little bearing on their suitability as a pet. “That shouldn’t be a major factor in the decision-making process,” Dr. Richter notes. “Meet the dog and see if their personality fits with yours. He adds that a good fit between dog and owner is more likely to be dependent on other factors. “You need a dog whose energy level and demeanor fit with your lifestyle.”

That view is shared by Nicole Ellis, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), APDT member, American Kennel Club CGC evaluator, and coauthor of Working Like a Dog. She says that the most important influence on personality and compatibility with humans “is not male or female but how a dog is trained and what it’s exposed to.”

As many Australian Labradoodles are required to be spayed or neutered while they are still young, the differences between the sexes is minimal and gender is not a good guide to future health or personality. As the result of early spay and neutering the girls do not experience hormonal cycles and the boys never develop the testosterone-driven behaviors such as marking territory or wandering in search of a girl in heat. Because these differences are eliminated with spay/neutering before sexual maturation, Seven Hills Labradoodles recommends that families base their preference on personality, temperament, and activity level rather than gender.

It is more important that a family selects a dog that suits their lifestyle, which is why, at Seven Hills Labradoodles, we ask about a family’s activity level (quiet, semi-active, or active) and other family questions when they inquire about purchasing an Australian labradoodle puppy from Seven Hils.

Is an Australian Labradoodle Hypoallergenic?

The Australian Labradoodle boasts a consistent very low-shedding, low-dander coat that causes less allergic reactions in individuals who suffer with dog allergies than most dog breeds. While no dog breed is truly 100% hypoallergenic, multi-generational Australian labradoodles like those produced by Seven Hills Labradoodles, are considered very “allergy friendly.”

Advantages and Disadvantages to Owning an Australian Labradoodle

As has been mentioned, there are many advantages to owning an Australian labradoodle and few disadvantages.

Advantages include

These loyal, gentle, and calm companions are great with children and good with other pets;
They are extremely sociable, intuitive, and friendly;
Australian Labradoodles are intelligent and quick to learn and respond well to early, consistent, and positive training;
The Australian labradoodle is usually a good choice for individuals who suffer with dog allergies;
As a result of their loving personality and temperament, Australian Labradoodles make great service and therapy animals; and
They come in a variety of sizes (Miniature, Medium and Standard).

Disadvantages include

They are not a 24/7 couch potato. Australian labradoodles need at least 30 minutes of activity/exercise daily;
The Australian Labradoodle might not be the right fit if an individual spends a lot of time away from home each day as they do not do well alone or in their crate for long periods of time;
The Australian Labradoodles’ coat requires regular brushing and professional grooming; and
It is very difficult to own just one!

Conclusion

The Australian Labradoodle has been selectively bred over decades to produce a perfect family companion, whose intelligence and eagerness to please makes them a dream to train. Playful enough for the kids, but, equally gentle for toddlers – you really couldn’t want a more mild-mannered dog!

However, finding a reputable breeder is a must if you are considering one of these wonderful dogs. Sadly, the Australian Labradoodles’ popularity has already caused these puppies to show up in puppy mills and among irresponsible breeders.

Efforts have already begun to curb this disturbing trend; several national and international organizations now offer breeder referrals and are striving to promote the breeding of healthy, tested dogs. For example, breeders who are members of the Worldwide Australian Labradoodles Association (WALA), like Seven Hills Labradoodles, are required to follow a Code of Ethics in breeding and follow strict guidelines that are in place to preserve and improve the temperament, health, coats, and structure of the Australian Labradoodle. Breeder members of WALA do this by conducting required health testing, supporting genetic diversity, applying uniform standards, carefully selecting breeding stock, and respecting infusion standards that preserve the magnificent traits of the Australian Labradoodle.

If you have been searching for a friendly, intelligent, even-tempered, and eager to please canine companion, look no further than the amazing Australian Labradoodle! When bought from a reputable breeder, and with the correct training and socialization, you could not find a more calm and loving family dog!

Temperament / Behavior

There are many important factors to consider when choosing a dog to add to your family. Some, like the size of your home and your schedule, are dependent on you and your lifestyle. Others depend on the characteristics of your potential pet. One of the most important characteristics of any dog is their temperament: how they interact with people, how they interact with other dogs, and their general demeanor.

It is hard to find a dog with a better temperament than an Australian labradoodle. They are fun-loving, comical, and goofy. They want to do whatever you and your family are doing! If the kids are running around playing, that is what they want to do. If you are snuggled up with a good book, they will happily curl up beside you and nap.

Australian labradoodles are also incredibly intelligent and eager to please. They are loyal, non-aggressive, curious, and very loving and affectionate with their family and will form a tight bond with them.

The Australian labradoodle is also friendly with strangers, and for this reason they do not make the best guard dog in the world. Because of their need to be around people they are known to become quite anxious if left alone for too long. For this reason, they are not suited to families that spend most of the day away from home unless other alternatives, such as doggy day care, are used.

The Australian Labradoodle is also very intuitive, and as such they know to mirror their family’s needs. If you are feeling sad, then they will be affectionate and nuzzle into your neck. If you are feeling energetic, they will place a ball into your hands or in front of your feet – ready to play. That warm and loving Australian labradoodle personality along with their intuition makes them ideal therapy and service dogs for people with autism, physical disabilities, depression, and a number of other issues.

The Australian labradoodle loves everyone and everyone loves them!

Family Friendly

An Australian labradoodle is happiest when they are with the people they love, and they will shower their family with affection and devotion. They will quickly become an essential part of the family. They are particularly wonderful with children—loving, gentle, and yet oozing with energy. As mentioned under the temperament section above, an Australian labradoodle is naturally sociable and bonds quickly with their family.

Why Should I Buy an Australian Labradoodle?

Overall, the Australian Labradoodle is about as perfect as a dog can get! It has the traits that most individuals and families are looking for in a new puppy: a great temperament, a family-friendly personality, intelligence, adorable looks, and it is mild-mannered, easy to train, and it comes in three sizes, mini, medium and standard.