.png){kind=logo}
American Labradoodles vs Australian Labradoodles: A Look at their Differences
American Labradoodle vs. Australian Labradoodle?
What Is An American Labradoodle?
What is An Australian Labradoodle?
F1 Labradoodle Puppies: Coat and Trait Types
F1b Labradoodle Puppies: Coat and Trait Types
Australian Labradoodle: Coat Types
American Labradoodle Temperaments
A Look at Australian Labradoodle Temperaments
American Labradoodles vs Australian Labradoodles: What are the Differences?
If you are looking for a wonderful family dog, that is hypoallergenic or offers less shedding, you most likely have seen both American Labradoodles and Australian Labradoodles show up in your searches. While they share part of their name, these are actually very different dogs, with different genetics, appearances, breeding history and temperaments.
Let's take a moment to look at these differences to help you determine which puppy is the right fit for you.
What is an American Labradoodle?
An American Labradoodle is a hybrid dog. It has 2 parent families, the Labrador Retriever (either American or English) and a poodle. They are divided into different generations in the following way:
-
F1 Labradoodle - 50% Labrador Retriever / 50 % poodle
-
F1b Labradoodle - Usually 25% Labrador Retriever / 75% poodle
rarely they are 75% Labrador Retriever / 25% poodle -
Multigenerational Labradoodles - where a Labradoodle is bred to Labradoodle. Often these are the majority poodle and take on more poodle characteristics.
American Labradoodles maintain more of the characteristics of the Labrador Retriever - playful, athletic, friendly, and adventurous.
What is an Australian Labradoodle?
An Australian Labradoodle is also a hybrid dog. It has 3 parent families, the Labrador Retriever, the poodle, and the cocker spaniel (either american or English). Since this is a mix of three breeds, they are not divided into generations the same way that American Labradoodles are.
-
Australian Labradoodles can be a combination of Labradoodles and Cocker Spaniels and Labradors and Cockapoos.
- Multigenerational Australian Labradoodles are when one Australian Labradoodle is bred to another Australian Labradoodle. If this is done for multiple generations, then the resulting puppies are highly predicatable in appearance and temperament.
Australian Labradoodles (depending on their exact genetics) are usually very low shedding (as much as any dog is low shedding), they are intelligent and very sociable.
American Labradoodle Coat Types
When we are looking at American Labradoodles, their coat types vary tremendously. Different generations have different coat types.
F1 Labradoodle Puppies: Coat Types
F1 Labradoodle coat types are highly unpredicatable. The longer that I have bred F1 Labradoodles the more diversity I have seen in coat types. While I would say that their are mainly 3 types, the fleece coat, the wire haired coat and the very straight coat, there is even more diversity possible depending on the parents. For instance, I have two Labrador Retriever mothers, Georgia and Nova, who carry the long haired gene for Labrador Retrievers. Their puppies have softer coats and their curly/wavy coated puppies tend to be lower shedding than the fleece and wavy coated puppies from my other Labrador Retrievers, Molly and Larkin. However, the straight coated puppies with the long haired gene tend to shed more than their shorter haired counterparts. So in general, I would say that F1's have:
1. the fleece or wavy coat
2. the wire haired coat
3. very straight hair
However, even within these catagories, variety still exists.
Fleece Coated with the Long Haired Gene
Fleece Coated with the Long Haired Gene
Chocolate Wire Haired F1 Labradoodle without the long haired gene
Fleece Coated with the Long Haired Gene
American Labradoodles: F1b Coat Types
We will look at the coat types of what is most frequently labeled the F1b Labradoodle. Because a Labradoodle is crossbred back to a poodle, making the offspring 25% Labrador and 75% poodle, the coat type is much more predictable than it is with F1 Labradoodles. F1b Labradoodles consistently have curlier, more hypoallergenic (lower shed) coats.
Australian Labradoodles: Usually 2 Coat Types
Australian Labradoodles usually have 2 coat types: a wool coat or a fleece coat. These tend to be very soft and lower shedding. They are considered excellent for allergy sufferers. On occasion, depending on exactly what crossbreed is produced, an Australian Labradoodle can also have a straight coated higher shed coat.
American Labradoodles: Temperaments
American Labradoodles share many of the traits that make the Labrador Retriever one the most popular dogs in America and even worldwide. They are family friendly, athletic, highly intelligent, intuitive and adaptable. Adding in the poodle makes them even more trainable and helps lower their shedding.
We find their temperament delightful. They are so eager to please and so intelligent that training is very easy. Many people tell me that our F1 Labradoodle puppy has been the easiest dog that they have ever potty trained. They are very quick to catch on and able to learn as much as you would like to teach them. A puppy family recently sent me a video where their F1 Labradoodle, TJ, has learned to pull a string to open their door.
They are a very diverse dog. They love the outdoors and enjoy a good hike, swim, hunt game of fetch, or long walk or run. However, they are just as happy to chill with you in the house or find a quiet corner to settle in and relax. They are an ideal dog for a family because of their ability to play or relax. They also are an amazing therapy dog because of their intelligence and eagerness to please along with their laidback temperament.
Australian Labradoodles: Temperaments
Australian Labradoodles are very social, highly intuitive and intelligent. They thrive in homes with lots of interaction because they crave affection and attention. They do not know a stranger. They are good family dogs especially for families with high allergies and good therapy dogs.
American Labradoodles: Grooming Needs
American F1 Labradoodles have various grooming needs depending on their coat types. The straighter the coat, the less grooming they will need. The wavier the coat, the more daily brushing and haircuts they will need. I would say that in general they have low to medium grooming requirements.
F1b Labradoodles have wavier-curly coats so they will need more frequent grooming. I would recommend daily brushing and frequent hair cuts. When they get wet, it is best to brush them out and blow dry them to avoid matting.
Both generations are similiar in that they do not need frequent baths. Because of their pendent (aka floppy) ears it is important to clean them weekly to avoid dirt build up and ear infections. When they do get wet, you also need to clean and dry them.
I recommend frequent clipping of their nails, just like any dogs, so that they don't start skating. Especially if they still have their dew claws, you want to keep the nails trimmed to avoid them snagging on anything. If they have heavy hair growth on their feet you do want to consistently trim this to having them picking up germs in these hairs.
-
Brushing depends on coat type - straighter coats need less brushing, wavier coats require briushing 3-4 times a week
-
Infrequent baths are recommended
-
Weekly ear cleaning and drying anytime they get wet
-
Bi-monthly nail clipping
-
Trimming feet as required - straighter coats will require less frequent trims
Australian Labradoodles: Grooming Requirements
Australian Labradoodles tend to have very fine wavy or curly coats. As a result, their grooming needs are consistently quite high. You really need to be carefully brushing them everyday (or at least 3-4 times a week) and getting a full grooming include a bath, blow dry, and hair trim every 6-8 weeks.
They also have pendent (floppy ears) and need consistent ear cleaning to avoid debris in the ear canal and keep away ear infections. It is imperative that if you clean and dry them anytime your Australian Labradoodle gets wet.
Frequent cleaning around their eyes is also necessary as they often have runny eyes.
Like any dog they require nail clippings and frequent trims around their feet to keep them happy and healthy.
-
High brushing needs - should be brushed daily or at least 3-4 times a week
-
Frequent grooming - they should be taken to the groomers for a bath, blow dry and trim every 6-8 weeks
-
Consistent weekly ear cleaning to keep dirt from their ear canal
-
Bi-monthly nail clipping
-
Frequent feet trims