What is an Australian Cobberdog?

The perfect family dog.

  • Hypoallergenic

    Cobberdogs are an excellent option for people with allergies. Get in touch to meet us if you’d like to meet a Cobberdog to test your allergies.

  • Non-shedding

    Don’t like the idea of finding dog hair all over your clothes and in every corner of the house? The soft and beautiful Cobberdog coat does not shed and never has that wet dog smell.

  • Therapy Dog Character

    The eyes of a Cobberdog are often described as human-like. Cobberdogs have incredible eye contact, and it often feels like they are looking into your soul. Bred specifically for therapy and assistance work, Cobberdogs are remarkably empathetic and human-focused dogs that are intelligent and highly trainable.

3 sizes, to fit every family

The colours of a Cobberdog

For examples of the colours in real life…

How is the Cobberdog different from a Labradoodle?

A Labradoodle is a mix between a Labrador and a Poodle. They have received a lot of bad press recently, especially from Wally Conron, the founder of the breed himself who said he “regrets” creating it. Labradoodles are genetically unpredictable - puppies can be more like the Labrador parent or more like the Poodle parent in terms of looks, coat, and character. Bad breeding has also led to many health problems.

Cobberdogs are considered a “breed in development”. This means that Cobberdog puppies have official pedigrees, and through the work of the Australian Cobberdog Society (ACS), we hope that Cobberdogs will be a fully recognised pure breed in the future.

A Cobberdog puppy’s parents are both Cobberdogs. Generations of breeding means that Cobberdog puppies are predictable, and when we plan a litter we know what we can expect from our puppies’ coats, looks, and characters.

Our wonderful Australian Cobberdog Society requires us as breeders to health test all of our breeding dogs and follow strict standards when it comes to ethical breeding. If you’re looking for a Cobberdog, we suggest focusing on ACS-registered breeders or asking your breeder detailed questions about the health-testing and ethical practices.

How is the Cobberdog different from the Australian Labradoodle?

The Cobberdog and Australian Labradoodle are genetically extremely similar. Many generations back, the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier was added to the list of breeds that originally made the Cobberdog, while it was not added to the Australian Labradoodle.

The biggest difference between the two breeds is their names. Cobber means “friend”, and this fitting name was given to the Cobberdog to distinguish the breed from the Labradoodle in peoples’ minds. Since the Australian Labradoodle has “Labradoodle” in the name, it can be confusing and difficult for families to understand that an Australian Labradoodle is not simply a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle.

FAQs

  • Our puppies come with a contract that says they must be sterilised, but early spay/neuter is prohibited.

    Males should be neutered around 18 months old, and females after their first heat. Dogs need their hormones to finish growing, but once they are grown, sterilisation can prevent cancer (and pyometra or infection of the uterus in females).

    We are always happy to discuss spay/neuter plans with families. Once you take your puppy home, we believe decisions related to your dog’s health should be up to you. However, we also want to prevent that our puppies end up in breeding programmes that don’t conform to our principles and ethics.

  • Cobberdogs can have curly, wavy or straight fleece coats. We only breed puppies with wavy or straight fleece. The difference between wavy and straight is very small. Dogs with a straight fleece coat will still have a slight wave, especially after a walk in the rain. Dogs with a wavy fleece coat can appear very straight after a bath and blow dry.

    We do not breed Cobberdogs with an “incorrect coat” or flat coat, as this type of coat can shed and is not hypoallergenic. Our dogs have a genetic test before they are bred to see if they carry the gene for the incorrect coat.

  • Yes, as long as your breeder has carried out the necessary health tests!

    Our dogs have a DNA test, x-rays of the hips and elbows, cardiac examination, patella examination, and an official eye examination (ECVO).

    Cobberdogs, like many other breeds, can be prone to allergies. We do everything possible to prevent allergies, and would never use a dog for breeding that has developed allergies.

    It is important to remember that dogs are still living creatures. We provide a lot of advice to families about feeding high-quality food, avoiding over-vaccination, and limiting the use of chemicals to keep your Cobberdog healthy.