Australian Labradoodle Vs Labradoodle: Are They The Same Breed? 

Last Updated on June 4, 2024

You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered about the differences between Australian Labradoodles vs Labradoodles. When I adopted my Labradoodle, I wondered the same thing.

While Australian Labradoodle and Labradoodle puppies look the same, you’ll be surprised to see some significant differences between the two.

Both these mixed dog breeds have teddy bear faces, big puppy-dog eyes, and cute personalities. But which one’s right for you?

And are these Labrador crossed breed dogs suitable for first-time dog owners?

Today, we’re exploring the unique differences between Australian Labradoodles vs Labradoodles. Let’s jump in.

A Quick Comparison Of Australian Labradoodles vs Labradoodles

	Australian Labradoodle	Labradoodle
Height	14 to 24 inches	21 to 24 inches
Weight	15 to 65 lbs	50 to 65 lbs
Lifespan	13 to 16 years	10 to 13 years
Coat type	Wavy/curly	Straight/wavy/curly
Temperament	Loving, calm, and smart	Loving, disciplined, and outgoing
Colors	While, black, blue, apricot, brown	Golden, caramel, cream, black
Diseases	Elbow and hip dysplasia, Patellar Luxation	Hip dysplasia, Addison’s disease, PRA

What’s an Australian Labradoodle?

Most people assume that an Australian Labradoodle is a mix between an Aussie Shepherd and a Labradoodle, but that’s not what an Australian Labradoodle is.

Australian Labradoodles are the offspring of six different purebred dogs, and you might be surprised to find out that not one of those dogs is an Aussie Shepherd! The Australian Labradoodle is actually a mix between:

• Standard Poodle
• Curly Coat Retriever
• Labrador Retriever
• Irish Water Spaniel
• English Cocker Spaniel
• American Cocker Spaniel

Even though the Australian Labradoodle is a complicated mix of different dog breeds, it’s not a new breed. People bred Australian Labradoodles in the 1980s and it gets its name from its origin—Victoria, Australia.

Australian Labradoodles were bred for the same reasons as the other Labradoodle puppies: for hunting and to keep as watchdogs. Even now, people keep Australian Labradoodles for service work. But, they’re not as popular as other Labradoodle breeds.

Predicting the coat and color of the multigene Australian Labradoodle is difficult for obvious reasons. It can have a wavy or curly coat and the dog hair can either be fleece or wool. Again, these pups come in different colors like white, black, brown, apricot, or red.

Usually, they have a solid color body, but sometimes patches of other shades are seen around the eyes or on the chest.

Australian Labradoodle puppies have a very gentle, friendly nature, making them excellent family dogs.

What’s a Labradoodle?

Also known as American Labradoodle, a Labradoodle is a mix between a purebred Poodle and a purebred Labrador Retriever. Labradoodles were also bred as service dogs because people with dog allergies wanted a hypoallergenic version of the Labrador.

However, no dog can be truly 100% hypoallergenic.

And through this blog, I often put the word hypoallergenic in quotations, because it’s not a real classification for dogs.

People with allergies are allergic to the proteins found in a dog’s dead skin cells (known as dander), urine, and saliva. So, just because a dog may shed less, doesn’t mean you won’t still be allergic to the rest of them.

But, some people do find their allergies decrease with dogs who shed less or have lower levels of dander.

Understanding that, let’s move on.

Labradoodles have a very friendly, outgoing nature making dog lovers adore them even more. They are very loyal and affectionate towards their owners, and being low-shedding is an added bonus.

Similar to Australian Labradoodles, predicting the physical traits of the American Labradoodle isn’t easy. Their traits depend on their parent breeds, so they can often have a range of different coats and colors.

Australian Labradoodle vs Labradoodle: what are the significant differences?

I’ll take you through the main differences between these Labrador Retriever crossbreeds.

Australian Labradoodle vs Labradoodle: Size & Appearance

The Labradoodle is a bit larger than the Australian Labradoodle. You’ll find Labradoodles (both Australian and American) in different size varieties like:

1. Mini Labradoodle and Mini Australian Labradoodle
2. Medium Labradoodle and Medium Australian Labradoodle
3. Standard Labradoodle and Standard Australian Labradoodle

The size depends on the size of the parent dogs.

The Mini Labradoodle weighs between 15 to 30 pounds, while the standard Labradoodles grow as big as 14 to 24 inches and weigh around 45 to 100 pounds.

Compared to this, the original Australian Labradoodle weighs between 30 to 77 pounds and grows between 17 to 24 inches tall. The size of the Labradoodle also depends on the Poodle’s size.

Australian Labradoodle vs Labradoodle: Coat & Color

Differentiating these two breeds based on their features is a bit tricky. At first glance, both the Labradoodle and the Australian Labradoodle may look alike.

But if you look carefully, you’ll see that the Labradoodle breed mostly has solid color coats. They are found in various colors like black, white, cream, apricot, caramel, brown, and gold.

But in an Australian Labradoodle litter, you’ll see pups with mixed color spots and markings on their bodies, which is due to the mix of different genes.

With that being said, there are plenty of Australian Labradoodles that are one solid color, and markings alone aren’t enough to help you spot an Australian Labradoodle in the wild.

As for the texture of the coat, the Australian Labradoodle puppy has a wool or fleece coat. The wool coat is curly, while the fleece coat looks a bit wavy.

The Labradoodle has a fleece coat, but their coat types change as they grow older. The influence of Poodle genes is more prominent when it comes to Labradoodle dogs. Most of these puppies have curly coats.

Australian Labradoodle vs Labradoodle: Difference In Temperament

While both the Australian Labradoodle and the Labradoodle have gentle nature, the Aussie Labradoodle has a more laid-back nature. Aussie Labradoodles are an intelligent breed, thanks to their Labrador and Poodle parents. But due to the presence of Cocker Spaniel DNA, they have a calm and composed attitude.

Aussie Labradoodles are obedient as they are always eager to please their owners, making training fun and easy.

If you need a dog that keeps watch and is fun to play with, the Australian Labradoodle will be the perfect pup.

The Labradoodle puppy, on the other hand, is more outgoing and energetic. Therefore, Labradoodles are best for active families.

They don’t like sitting around doing nothing and require enough playing and activity time.

Both the Australian Labradoodle mix and the Labradoodle do well around other dogs and children with the right training and socialization.

Australian Labradoodle vs Labradoodle: Training & Exercise

The Australian Labradoodle and the Labradoodle are both active dogs requiring regular exercise and training.

Even though Labradoodle dogs are more energetic than Australian Labradoodles, they require an equal amount of exercise. Both these breeds need at least one hour of exercise (but more is better), including walks and other basic dog exercises.

Go for a morning or evening walk with your pet. It can either be a long walk, or you could break it into two shorter walks. Aim for a minimum of 90 minutes of exercise a day.

Adding some playtime is needed for both the Australian Labradoodles and the standard Labradoodle. With such strong retriever DNA, both dogs love to play fetch and go for swims.

As both the Standard Labradoodle and the Australian Labradoodles are very intelligent and clever, training them is a breeze with consistency.

Go for some positive reinforcement training by rewarding your pup with treats, toys, or some simple praises. Doing so encourages your dog to behave in the manner you want them, and it’s the most effective way of shaping or changing your pet’s behavior.

Training also helps tame their hunting instincts, which is essential when you want a family dog as opposed to a working/hunting dog.

Australian Labradoodle vs Labradoodle: Grooming

The grooming needs of both breeds will depend on the coat type. Both dogs require regular brushing. The curlier the coat, the most often you’ll need to brush as a straight coat will likely shed a bit, but curly coats won’t shed as often. To prevent mats, you must brush frequently.

Additionally, trimming nails and hair is essential to keep your pup in the best shape.

And lastly, taking your pup to professional groomers every 6 to 8 weeks is best to keep this designer dog looking its best!

Australian Labradoodle vs Labradoodle: Health Issues

One of the benefits of getting a cross-breed dog is that they are less prone to genetic diseases than purebred breeds.

However, pet parents should be aware of the potential health risks the Australian Labradoodle and the Labradoodle may encounter.

The Labradoodle may have the risk of developing hip dysplasia, Addison’s disease, Epilepsy, Ear infections, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and Von Willebrand’s Disease.

On the other hand, the Australian Labradoodle is prone to developing hip and elbow dysplasia, Patellar Luxation, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and Von Willebrand’s disease.

It’s impossible to tell whether your pup will develop any of these diseases as it ages. Your best defense against diseases is to buy from a reputable breeder.

Reputable breeders do the health checkups of the parent breeds before breeding and only breed dogs with no health issues, which is why you shouldn’t get your dog from any backyard breeders or puppy mills.

You can also consider adopting a Labradoodle from a Doodle rescue.

Australian Labradoodle Vs Labradoodle: Cost Difference

Both the Labradoodle and the Australian Labradoodle are expensive breeds. Both the Australian Labradoodle and Labradoodle can cost upwards of $2,000. The price depends on where you live and how many breeders are in your area.

The cost differs from breeder to breeder. Reputable breeders charge more as they do all the necessary tests and vaccination to ensure you get a healthy dog.

Make sure to ask for all the documents regarding their health tests, vaccination certificates, and vet records while buying your dog.

Final Thoughts

Both the Australian Labradoodle and the American Labradoodle are very adorable puppies and are great as companion dogs. If you want a more laid-back dog, the Australian Labradoodle is the best choice. However, if you want a highly-energetic dog to join you on different adventures, you’ll love the Labradoodle.

Frequently Asked Questions