Australian Labradoodle Breed Info

A Forever Friend

Australian Labradoodles are beloved for their endearing personalities, high intelligence, and deep bond with their humans. With their low-to-non-shedding, allergy-friendly coats, they make a wonderful choice for families, individuals, and those seeking a loyal companion.

Smart, social, and affectionate, Labradoodles are not only exceptional family pets but also excel as therapy and service dogs. Their intuitive nature and eagerness to please make them well-suited for roles such as seizure alert, diabetic alert, emotional support, and therapy work. In addition, their athleticism and playful spirit make them excellent companions for hiking, swimming, agility training, and competitive sporting events.

In today's fast-paced world, an Australian Labradoodle is just what the doctor ordered—a true therapy dog and the ultimate best friend. They bring an upbeat, joyful energy while also knowing when to be calm and comforting. These intuitive dogs seem to understand human emotions, offering unwavering companionship, endless cuddles, and plenty of laughter. Whether playing outdoors, learning new tricks, or snuggling up after a long day, an Australian Labradoodle is more than a pet—they’re family.

The History of the Australian Labradoodle

The Australian Labradoodle (ALD) is more than just a crossbreed—it's a carefully developed, multigenerational breed that has been purposefully bred for intelligence, temperament, health, and coat quality. What began as an experiment to create an allergy-friendly guide dog has grown into a beloved breed worldwide, known for its loyalty, intuition, and loving nature.

The Origins: A Guide Dog with a Purpose

In the 1980s, the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia set out to breed an allergy-friendly service dog for a visually impaired woman in Hawaii who needed a guide dog that wouldn’t trigger her allergies. Australia was an ideal place for this experiment because of its strict quarantine laws, allowing exported dogs to bypass long quarantine periods.

After numerous failed attempts, the Labrador Retriever—a well-established service dog breed—was crossed with the Standard Poodle, known for its low-shedding, hypoallergenic coat and intelligence. The result was a remarkable puppy named Sultan, who excelled as a guide dog and had an allergy-friendly coat.

This new hybrid was initially called the LABRADor-pOODLE, giving birth to the now-famous name: Labradoodle.

The Timeline of A Better Breed By Design:

As demand for these dogs grew, Australian breeders began refining the breed, carefully selecting dogs with consistent temperament, intelligence, and coat quality. By the 1990s, breeders introduced the Cocker Spaniel to improve coat softness, structure, and temperament. Over time, other breeds—such as the Irish Water Spaniel, Curly Coated Retriever, and American & English Cocker Spaniels—were carefully integrated to develop the Australian Labradoodle as we know it today.

Unlike first-generation Labradoodles (which are a simple cross between a Labrador and a Poodle), the Australian Labradoodle is a multigenerational breed, meaning both parents are Australian Labradoodles. This ensures predictable traits, consistent coat types, and excellent temperaments.

By the late 1990s, the breed had gained international recognition, first expanding to North America, Europe, and the UK.

The Australian Labradoodle Today

Today, the Australian Labradoodle is recognized worldwide for its gentle temperament, intelligence, and allergy-friendly coat. These dogs are beloved for their strong eye contact, trainability, and deep human connection, making them ideal for roles such as:

✅ Family Companions – Loving, social, and wonderful with children.
✅ Therapy & Emotional Support Dogs – Used in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.
✅ Service Dogs – Helping individuals with mobility issues, PTSD, autism, seizure alert, and diabetes alert.
✅ Sporting & Agility Dogs – Energetic and intelligent, excelling in obedience and competitions.

Unlike other "doodle" breeds, the Australian Labradoodle has been purposefully developed over generations, ensuring consistent traits, sound health, and a wonderful temperament.

With its variety of coat colors (ranging from black, cream, and chocolate to merle and red) and three distinct sizes(Miniature, Medium, and Standard), there's an Australian Labradoodle for every lifestyle.

Preserving the Breed’s Integrity

The success of the Australian Labradoodle has unfortunately led to an influx of unregulated doodle crosses from backyard breeders who do not follow proper health testing, pedigree tracking, or ethical breeding standards.

Organizations like ALAA and WALA are working hard to preserve the integrity of the breed, ensuring that the Australian Labradoodle continues to be a healthy, well-bred, and responsibly raised companion for future generations.

A Breed Like No Other

The Australian Labradoodle is not just a dog—it's a devoted friend, an intuitive therapy companion, and a joyful addition to any family. Whether hiking in the mountains, snuggling on the couch, or offering comfort to those in need, this extraordinary breed continues to make the world a happier, kinder place—one wag at a time.

Standardization and Breed Recognition

As the popularity of the Australian Labradoodle grew, responsible breeders worked to preserve and refine the breed, ensuring health testing, responsible breeding practices, and genetic diversity.

2000s – The first ALD breeder clubs were established to track pedigrees and ensure ethical breeding.

2004 – The Australian Labradoodle Association of America (ALAA) was founded to protect the breed and establish official breed standards.

2018 – The Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association (WALA) was formed, becoming the largest ALD organization in the world.

2019 – The Australian Labradoodle was officially recognized in the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals Canine Health Information Center (OFA CHIC), solidifying its place as a well-documented breed.

While Labradoodles were originally bred for service work, their friendly, intuitive nature and affectionate dispositionmade them highly sought-after as family companions, therapy dogs, and even competitors in agility and sporting events.

What is an Australian Labradoodle?

The Australian Labradoodle (ALD) is the original Doodle—a breed purposely designed to be the ultimate family companion, therapy, and service dog. Unlike first-generation Labradoodles or other "Doodles" that are random Poodle crosses, the Authentic Australian Labradoodle has been carefully developed over decades with a clear purpose: to create a smart, intuitive, allergy-friendly, and well-balanced dog.

The Original Doodle – A Breed with a Purpose

The Australian Labradoodle is NOT just a Labrador and Poodle mix—it is a multigenerational breed that has been selectively bred for temperament, coat quality, and health. Unlike standard Labradoodles, which are unpredictable in size, coat, and personality, the ALD has a consistent look, structure, and temperament due to its well-documented breed lineage.

Here’s what sets the Authentic Australian Labradoodle apart from all other Doodles:

✅ Developed for a Purpose – Originally bred as an allergy-friendly guide dog, the ALD was specifically designed to be a loving, highly trainable, and low-shedding companion. Other "Doodles" are simply designer crosses without the same level of development or purpose.

✅ Multigenerational Breeding – ALDs come from carefully planned generations of breeding, not just a random mix of two breeds. This creates predictability in temperament, coat, and health—unlike first-generation Labradoodles or other Doodles, which often have inconsistent coats and personalities.

✅ Six Parent Breeds – The Australian Labradoodle was developed from six carefully chosen breeds:

Labrador Retriever – Known for its intelligence, trainability, and loving nature.
Poodle – Hypoallergenic coat, intelligence, and athleticism.
Cocker Spaniel (English & American) – Added for their silky coats, compact size, and friendly personality.
Curly-Coated Retriever & Irish Water Spaniel – Strengthened the coat texture and structure of the breed.

✅ Hypoallergenic Coat – While many Doodles still shed or have unpredictable coats, ALDs have been specifically bred for allergy-friendly, low-to-non-shedding coats. Their fleece and wool coats are soft, luxurious, and more allergy-friendly than most Doodle varieties.

✅ Health & Temperament First – Unlike other Poodle mixes that can inherit unpredictable traits or health issues, responsible ALD breeders follow strict health testing protocols and adhere to established breed standards set by reputable organizations like WALA and ALAA.

✅ The Best Family Dog – The Australian Labradoodle is friendly, intuitive, and eager to please, making it the ultimate companion for families, therapy work, and service roles. They are known for their gentle demeanor with children, strong eye contact, and ability to sense human emotions—qualities not guaranteed in other Doodle crosses.

Australian Labradoodle vs. Labradoodle vs. Other Doodles

Why Choose an Australian Labradoodle?

When choosing a Doodle, not all are created equal. If you’re looking for a true family companion with predictable temperament, coat quality, and health, an Authentic Australian Labradoodle is the best choice.

✅ Bred with a purpose, not just for looks
✅ Consistently allergy-friendly & low-shedding
✅ Gentle, intuitive, and trainable—ideal for therapy and service work
✅ Loving and patient with children
✅ Developed over generations to be the BEST family dog

The Australian Labradoodle is the Original Doodle—carefully crafted, highly intelligent, and designed to be the perfect companion.

AustralianLabradoodle vs. Labradoodle vs. Goldendoodle

Do Australian Labradoodles Make Good Family Pets?

Absolutely! Australian Labradoodles are one of the best family companions you can find. Their gentle nature, intelligence, and affectionate personality make them the perfect fit for families of all sizes. Known for their sociability and strong bond with humans, they are patient and loving with children, forming deep connections that last a lifetime.

Australian Labradoodles are highly trainable, intuitive, and eager to please, making them an excellent choice for first-time dog owners, active households, and those looking for a dependable companion. Their moderate energy levelmeans they enjoy outdoor adventures like hiking, swimming, and fetch, but they also thrive on daily mental stimulation and love to relax with their family at home.

Beyond being an allergy-friendly family pet, Australian Labradoodles excel in service and therapy work, often trained for seizure alert, diabetic alert, emotional support, and mobility assistance. Their athleticism and intelligence also make them fantastic competitors in agility and sporting events.

If you're looking for a loyal, affectionate, and easy-to-train dog that will bring joy, companionship, and versatility to your home, the Australian Labradoodle is the perfect choice!

How Big Will My Puppy Get When Fully Grown?

Australian Labradoodles come in four different sizes, ranging from Micro Mini to Standard. Depending on their size category, they can weigh anywhere from 9 to 65 lbs and stand between 12 and 24 inches tall at the shoulder.

Here’s a breakdown of the different sizes:

Micro Mini (The Smallest Australian Labradoodle!)

Height: 12 to 14 inches (30cm to 35cm) at the wither
Weight: 9 to 15 lbs (4kg to 7kg)

Miniature

Height: 14 to 16 inches (35cm to 42cm) at the wither
Weight: 15 to 30 lbs (7kg to 13kg)

Medium

Height: 17 to 20 inches (43cm to 52cm) at the wither
Weight: 30 to 45 lbs (13kg to 20kg)

Standard

Height: 21 to 24 inches (53cm to 63cm) at the wither
Weight: 45 to 65 lbs (23kg to 30kg)

Each size offers the same wonderful temperament, intelligence, and allergy-friendly coat, so whether you’re looking for a compact lap-sized companion or a larger, active family dog, there’s an Australian Labradoodle to fit your lifestyle!

What colors do Australian Labradoodles come in?

The Australian Labradoodle comes in a variety of coat colors and patterns. Each combination is beautiful in its unique expression. Lighting can change the colors, with summer sun often causing the outer coat to highlight in lighter shades. Silvering or graying may give the coat a distinctive look. Coats often have a slight to dramatic amount of softening of color over the years.