What is an Australian Cobberdog?
Australian Cobberdog
Australian Cobberdogs are loving, loyal and highly intelligent dogs that descend from the original Labradoodles. They have a fleecy or woolly coat that is soft and silky, odourless, non-shedding and allergy friendly. With an even temperament and kind, friendly, intuitive and empathetic nature, they make great therapy and assistance dogs and family companions.
| Recommended for | Families; some may be suited to therapy or assistance work |
| Breed Classification | Pure breed in development (MDBA) |
| Other names | The ‘Cobber’ (Australians always abbreviate names!) |
| Lifespan | 13-15 years |
| Size | Standard, medium & miniature |
| Temperament | Sociable, loyal, intuitive, friendly |
| Intelligence | Very high: highly trainable, people-focused dogs that are generally quick to learn new tasks |
| Tendency to bark | Low to moderate: generally not highly vocal, although individuals may bark when alert, excited, bored or anxious |
| Maintenance Level | High: their low-shedding fleece coat needs frequent brushing and regular professional grooming |
| Health Risk | Despite extensive breeder health screening, Australian Cobberdogs may be susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia, PRA, degenerative myelopathy, exercise-induced collapse and other inherited eye conditions. |
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Explore the Top 5 health issues claimed for Australian Cobberdogs, including highest claims paid and how much pet insurance could help you save on eligible vet bills.
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Australian Cobberdog personality and temperament
Australian Cobberdogs were developed with an emphasis on a friendly, confident and people-focused temperament suited to companionship and potentially therapy or assistance work. They are generally sociable, affectionate and highly responsive to their owners, and often form close bonds with the people around them.
They are intelligent and curious dogs that usually enjoy play, training and being involved in family activities. Individual temperament still varies, however, and early socialisation and positive training are important. Their strong desire for human companionship also means they benefit from being gradually taught to relax and spend appropriate periods independently.
Australian Cobberdogs with kids and other pets
Well-socialised Australian Cobberdogs can make affectionate family companions and generally enjoy being closely involved with their household. Their gentle, people-focused temperament can make suitable individuals particularly responsive to children, although interactions between dogs and young children should always be supervised.
Cobberdogs can also live successfully with other dogs and pets when appropriately introduced and socialised. As with any breed, compatibility varies between individual animals, so introductions should be gradual and interactions with smaller pets should be supervised.
Australian Cobberdog training and exercise
Australian Cobberdogs are highly intelligent, people-focused dogs that generally learn quickly and respond well to positive reinforcement-based training. Short, varied training sessions, learning new skills and interactive games can provide valuable mental stimulation and help strengthen the bond with their owner.
Their physical exercise needs are moderate. Adult Cobberdogs generally enjoy daily walks, sniffing, play and opportunities to explore, while mental enrichment and calm interaction are equally important. Exercise should always be adjusted for the dog’s age, size, health and individual energy level.
| Energy level | Moderate: playful and active |
| Exercise requirements | Moderate; daily walks, play, training and mental enrichment |
Common health issues for Australian Cobberdogs
What do Australian Cobberdog owners claim for the most?
Australian Cobberdogs are subject to extensive health screening within responsible breeding programs, but this does not mean individual dogs are guaranteed to remain free from health problems. Potential inherited or developmental concerns include joint disorders and genetic eye and neurological conditions.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia are developmental joint conditions that can cause pain, lameness and arthritis. Current MDBA breeding requirements include radiographic assessment of both hips and elbows before breeding.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a group of inherited diseases in which the retina gradually degenerates, usually beginning with reduced night vision and potentially progressing to blindness. There is currently no effective treatment for PRA, although DNA screening can identify some inherited forms before symptoms develop.
- Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is an inherited neurological disease that causes progressive weakness and loss of coordination in the hind limbs. DNA screening can identify genetic risk variants associated with the condition.
- Exercise-induced collapse (EIC) is an inherited condition in which affected dogs can develop weakness or collapse following strenuous activity or intense excitement. Genetic testing can identify dogs carrying the associated variant.
Other inherited eye abnormalities may also be included in breed-relevant DNA screening programs. Responsible breeders should combine genetic screening with physical assessments because DNA testing alone cannot identify structural problems such as hip or elbow dysplasia.
Not all conditions are covered by Pet Insurance. For details of Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance cover, refer to the Product Disclosure Statement.
How to choose the right insurance for your Australian Cobberdog
When comparing cover for your Australian Cobberdog, look for:
Cover for common Australian Cobberdog conditions:
Check that the policy covers conditions Australian Cobberdogs can be prone to, including common health issues.
Cover for hereditary conditions:
No exclusions for hereditary or congenital conditions⑅.
Flexible cover options:
Options to adjust your annual benefit limit, reimbursement rate and excess.
Bow Wow Meow's Nose-to-Tail Cover offers flexible options for your Australian Cobberdog, with cover for accidental injuries, illnesses and hereditary conditions⑅. Get a quick quote for cover that suits your Australian Cobberdog and your budget.
Australian Cobberdog feeding and nutrition
Australian Cobberdogs should be fed a complete and balanced diet appropriate for their age, size, activity level and health. Because Cobberdogs range considerably in size, individual calorie requirements can vary significantly.
Monitor your dog’s body condition and adjust portions and treats as necessary to maintain a healthy weight. Speak to your vet if you have concerns about your Cobberdog’s diet, growth or weight.
Australian Cobberdog care and grooming
Australian Cobberdogs have a soft, single fleece coat with very low shedding. Because loose and growing hair can become trapped within the coat rather than falling freely, regular grooming is essential to prevent tangles and matting.
Most Cobberdogs benefit from thorough brushing and combing several times a week and professional grooming approximately every six to eight weeks, although frequency varies according to coat length, density and lifestyle. Particular attention should be paid to areas prone to matting, including behind the ears, under the collar, armpits, chest, legs and tail.
Size, appearance and coat of Australian Cobberdogs
The Australian Cobberdog is an athletic, balanced dog available in Miniature, Medium and Standard sizes. The current MDBA breed standard defines Miniatures as over 33 cm and no taller than 42 cm, Mediums as over 42 cm and no taller than 51 cm, and Standards as over 51 cm and no taller than 61 cm at the shoulder.
The ideal coat is a soft, luxurious single fleece coat without an undercoat. It is generally straight to slightly wavy and very low shedding, with facial furnishings contributing to the breed’s characteristic appearance. A dense, rough wool coat, highly curly coat or shedding hair coat is undesirable under the current breed standard.
Cobberdogs occur in a wide variety of colours and patterns. Their coat requires regular trimming and grooming, with an ideal maintained body length of approximately 7–12 cm.
| Weight range | 6 to 35 kg |
| Height range | 33 to 58 cm |
| Colours | A wide variety of colours and combinatons |
| Coat length | Medium |
Breed history of Australian Cobberdogs
The Australian Cobberdog traces part of its history to the development of the Labradoodle in Australia. In 1989, Wally Conron of the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia crossed a Labrador Retriever with a Standard Poodle while attempting to produce a low-shedding guide dog for a vision-impaired woman whose husband had dog allergies. One puppy from the litter, Sultan, went on to work successfully as a guide dog.
As Labradoodles grew rapidly in popularity, breeders began producing dogs with widely varying ancestry, coats and temperaments. A separate breeding program was subsequently developed with greater emphasis on consistent temperament, low shedding, health and suitability for companionship and therapy-related work.
In 2012, the Master Dog Breeders & Associates accepted the Australian Cobberdog as a pure breed in development, with its own pedigree records and breed standard. The name “Cobber” comes from Australian slang for a friend or mate and reflects the breed’s intended role as a close human companion.
Explore related breeds
Australian Cobberdog facts!
- Australian Cobberdogs have excellent hearing, which is important for those used as assistance dogs when dealing with all the typical city noises.
- With a great curiosity for everything human, they always want to be where their humans are, even if that’s in the bathroom!
- They appear to have intuition, seemingly able to ‘know’ how we’re feeling, and the ability to adapt their behaviour accordingly.
- Wally Conran, the original developer of the Labradoodle, soon came to regret his creation, saying “I opened a Pandora’s box and released a Frankenstein’s monster”.
Summary
The Australian Cobberdog is a loving, loyal and highly intelligent companion dog descended from original Labradoodle lines. It is known for a friendly, kind and intuitive temperament and a soft fleece or wool-type coat.
Cobberdogs are strongly people-focused and are commonly suited to family life as well as therapy and assistance roles. They thrive on companionship, training and regular interaction, making them a good match for households that want a sociable dog closely involved in everyday life.
FAQs about the Australian Cobberdog
The Australian Cobberdog is an Australian-developed companion dog originating largely from Labradoodle lines and selectively bred for temperament, coat and companionship traits.
They can make good family companions, but temperament can vary between individuals. Early socialisation and consistent training are important.
Moderate. Daily walks and play are generally appropriate, adjusted for the dog’s age, health and individual energy level.
Generally yes. They are intelligent and usually respond well to positive, consistent training, particularly when sessions are engaging and rewarding.
They are generally low to moderate or moderate barkers, although barking can increase with boredom, excitement, anxiety or unfamiliar activity.
Australian Cobberdogs are generally low-shedding, which may suit some allergy sufferers better than heavier-shedding dogs. However, no dog is completely hypoallergenic, and people with dog allergies should spend time with the breed before bringing one home.
They can adapt to apartment living in the right circumstances, but owners need to meet their daily exercise, enrichment and behavioural needs consistently.
Many can live happily with children and other pets when socialised from a young age, although individual temperament and compatibility always vary.
Potential health concerns include hip and elbow dysplasia, inherited eye disorders and other conditions associated with its foundation breeds.
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