The Australian Cobberdog is not an Australian Labradoodle with a new name

The Australian Cobberdog – a Pure Breed in its Last Stages of Development

Below is an excerpt taken from the Breed Founder Beverley Manners, of Rutland Manor Breeding and Research Centers in Australia, and it succinctly describes why the Australian Cobberdog was developed:

A couple of decades into the development of the Australian Labradoodle, the majority of dogs being bred were missing the very character traits for which they had become so popular in the first place. The ‘cutesy’ factor had taken over with new breeders throughout the world, many of whom had never bred dogs before. They thought they could replicate what the founders had done by copying, but without the breeding experience and knowledge required for successful outcomes.

It has become obvious that the transparency with which the founders had shared some of their methods over the years, have been mis-used with tragic results. For this reason, the early development practices and the closing stages of development which resulted in the resurrection of the precious characteristics lost, will forever remain a secret shared only by the founders of the original and authentic Australian Labradoodle and the Australian Cobberdog raised from its ashes.

The Australian Cobberdog, raised from the ashes of the authentic Australian Labradoodle, was founded and developed by the Rutland Manor and Tegan Park Breeding and Research Centers in Australia. Since its origination and development which continued into the early 2000s, the world has fallen in love with this breed that has become well known for its excellent temperament, soundness of form, allergy and asthma friendly coats and all over “adorableness”. Due to the preponderance and quick rise of illicit breeding programs around the US and Europe with breeders claiming to breed the authentic australian labradoodle but really just breeding whatever lines they can put together to get “cute”, “designer” puppies that do not have even a quarter of the characteristics and lines of the breed, the Breed Founder found the need to distinguish this breed based on her original philosophy and vision.

As alluded to above, today there are many back yard breeders and even puppy mills that have risen up in the last 10 years to get on the bandwagon of the success of the breed. Breeding lines that were never intended to be be used according to the Founder’s vision, these breeders advertise they breed the Australian Labradoodle, but they are really just bamboozling the unaware buyers. Some, even going so far as to include the Golden Retriever line and calling it a “Goldendoodle”. There is no question:

BUYER BEWARE! THESE PRACTICES SHOULD THEY CONTINUE WILL RESULT IN THE DETRIMENT OF THE BREED, A PLETHORA OF HEALTH PROBLEMS, POOR TEMPERAMENTS, HYPER AGGRESSION AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE NOT THE HALLMARK OF THE BREED.

Hence, the development of the Australian Cobberdog. It was made clear; Breeders who align with the long term vision for the breed MUST have their dogs registered with the MDBA, the organization that is working towards making the Australian Cobberdog a pure breed.

BREEDERS WHO DO NOT DISPLAY THE MDBA LOGO OR ARE NOT FOUND ON THE MDBA BREEDER DIRECTORY DO NOT ALIGN WITH THE BREED VISION, INTEGRITY OR PRACTICES OF THE BREED FOUNDER….PERIOD.

So, you want to buy an Australian Cobberdog?

If you have decided or are considering adopting an Australian Cobberdog, you have come to the right place. A relatively new breed the Australian Cobberdog was officially recognized as a pure breed in development in 2012. Here at Highlands Australian Cobberdogs, we are committed to spreading awareness of this new and unique breed of dog.

Why Choose Highlands Australian Cobberdogs?

Highlands Australian Cobberdogs is the oldest established Australian Cobberdog Breeder in the US. From our beginning in the mid 2000s, our Mission has to always align with the Breed Integrity and Philosophy of the Founders. If you have questions about the breed and are researching breeders, please make sure to visit the MDBA at www.mdba.net.au for more information about the Australian Cobberdog and to visit the Breeder Directory of the MDBA to find breeders in the US, Europe and Australia. To find out more, please visit the MDBA website at www.mdba.net.au, the global registry working towards the Australian Cobberdog-pure breed in development. Thank you for visiting us and learning more about these wonderful dogs. Hope to see you in Colorado!

The Australian Cobberdog: Traits & Temperament

The Cobberdog was specifically bred as a therapy dog, with the designation Cobberdog taken from colloquial Australian, meaning “dog-friend”. The Cobberdog’s biggest advantage is its versatility—the breed thrives with both single individuals as well as families with young children. The Cobberdog also excels as a service animal, and since the breed temperament is calm, family friendly and affectionate, it also does well in therapeutic settings such as nursing homes and special education classrooms.

While Australian Cobberdogs are social creatures that get on well with other dogs and pets, they also have an uncanny ability to pick up on human emotional cues. In fact most people say they are “human like”; they are extremely intelligent and highly focused but are also very social and capable of goofing off and having fun. Cobberdogs are intelligent, devoted to their human companions, and highly trainable, with numerous other qualities which make them an ideal addition to any family:

Low-to-Non allergenic: Australian cobberdogs are great with 99% of families with allergies.
Low-to- Non shedding: Australian cobberdogs either do not shed at all, or if they do it is very little and only at certain times, most likely when they change from puppy to adult and their coat may change.
Low-to- Non odor: Australian cobberdogs are naturally hygienic.
The Australian Cobberdog can range from Mini to Standard, from 15 to 30 inches in height and can weigh anywhere from 20 to 80 pounds. We breed Minis and Mediums, with Mediums topping off at around 55 pounds at the most and up to 24 inches. The coat is thick and is typically wavy or curly fleece or a combination of both, with a long tail and short ear sets. The Cobberdog comes in a wide variety of colors including cream, cream/apricot, gold, caramel, red, apricot, chocolate, black and sometimes a mixture of any of these colors.

Cobberdogs are bred to be low maintenance. The coat needs to be brushed at least once a day or every couple days to prevent knotting or tangling, it’s best to leave the coat long year-round, for warmth during the winter and to prevent heatstroke during the summer, however longer coats typically require more frequent grooming to keep them from matting. A healthy coat should give off no odors and be bouncy to the touch.

The Difference Between the Labradoodle and the Australian Cobberdog

It’s not always easy for laymen to tell the differences between closely related dog breeds, and the incidence of “backyard” breeders who don’t have the knowledge or skill to properly develop breeds has made it even more difficult. Case in point – the labradoodle.

The massive popularity of this beautiful breed has led to rampant, amateur breeding, resulting in adorable puppies that lack the many desirable characteristics particular to original and authentic Australian labradoodles. Today, the purebred labradoodle has evolved into the Australian Cobberdog, recognized by the Master Dog Breeders and Associates organization, or MDBA.

What sets the Australian Cobberdog apart from so-called labradoodles dominating the U.S. and European markets today? Why is it important to understand the DNA of your dog to ensure that you purchase a purebred specimen? Here’s what you need to know.

What is a Labradoodle?

As you may have guessed from the name, this dog breed is a mix between a Labrador and a poodle. The breed was first introduced by Wally Conron, a guide dog trainer who was seeking a breed with hypoallergenic properties for his clients.

While Conron typically worked with smart and amiable labs and golden retrievers, he found that these breeds weren’t always a good fit with clients suffering from pet dander allergies. Poodles, while hypoallergenic, were not well-suited to being guide dogs. His solution was to cross breed the two species in order to create a dog with the desirable traits of both, and the labradoodle was born.

Unfortunately, the breed was so cute that it became somewhat of an overnight sensation, or “designer” dog breed, with tons of people clamoring to own one. The result was an explosion of unqualified breeders creating labradoodles for looks alone, eliminating the traits that made the breed so unique.

What Makes the Australian Cobberdog Special?

The Australian Cobberdog was born from the DNA-soup that labradoodles had become (including mixing with breeds other than labs and poodles). In a bid to return to a breed that was not only an aesthetically pleasing blend of Labradors and poodles, but also suitable for therapy, due to hypoallergenic coats and specific aptitudes, the Australian Cobberdog was created by Mellodie Wooley and other breeders.

Wooley, one of the first breeders responsible for developing the original labradoodle, returned to a pure breed with stable DNA that could be recognized by the MDBA, in order for registered breeders to issue pedigrees. With slight genetic diversity, the Australian Cobberdog not only embodies the original characteristics the labradoodle was bred for (therapeutic aptitudes and hypoallergenic properties), but expanded on the benefits, creating a new and distinct breed.

Why Choose an Australian Cobberdog?

Labradoodles are cute, to be sure, but when you purchase this loosely defined breed, you never know what you’re getting. There could be all kinds of dog DNA mixed in, thanks to unchecked breeding. Whether you need a therapy/assistance dog, you’re looking for a hypoallergenic breed, or both, you’ll get the desirable characteristics you seek with a purebred Australian Cobberdog that comes with verified pedigree.

Australian Labradoodle: A distinct breed with a colorful history!

The Australian Cobberdog is descended from the very first Labradoodle that was originally bred by Wally Conron in 1989. Conron’s goal with breeding the Labradoodle from successive pairings of the Labrador retriever and the standard poodle was to produce a dog that was even-tempered, hypoallergenic, and non-shedding. Within a decade of that first breeding, Labradoodles were a common sight worldwide, leading some of the earliest breeders and even Conron himself to complain that the dogs had been overbred.

Between the early 1990s to early 2000’s, a renowned Australian breeder Rutland Manor decided to breed the Labradoodle, bringing in genetically diverse lines to improve upon the original Labradoodle. Since these new dogs bred in Australia were genetically distinct from earlier generations of Labradoodle, they were named initially Australian Labradoodles. Fast forward a decade, the founder, Rutland Manor, unhappy with many of the unethical Labradoodle breeding practices and un-sanctioned infusions taking place all over the world made some final changes to its genetic make up by introducing the Champion Irish soft coated wheaten lines from Ireland, and the Australian Cobberdog was born. The purpose of this final infusion was to bring in some correction and conformation changes with higher ear sets (therefore less ear infections) and stockier body frames and heads which was a departure from some of the thinner spindlier frames that the Labradoodle displayed which came from the original poodle. The Cobberdog is a dog very different to its predecessor the Labradoodle and Australian Labradoodle. Today, the Australian Cobberdog is recognized as a pure breed in development by the MDBA, entirely separate from the overbred Labradoodle.

Should I adopt an Australian Cobberdog puppy?

If you are still unsure about whether or not an Australian Cobberdog is the right choice for you or your family, or if you are trying to decide between adopting an older retired cobberdog versus buying an Australian cobberdog puppy, please do not hesitate to contact Highlands Australian Cobberdogs via email: info@highlandscobberdogs.com. We have been breeding Australian Labradoodles and Australian cobberdogs since 2007, and we would be happy to help answer your questions. To initiate the adoption process for a puppy, please see our adoption form here. We will typically get back to you within 24 to 72 hours.

We hope you enjoy reading our website and learning more about the flavored history of the Australian Cobberdog. Woof Woof!