Do Australian Labradoodles Make Great Pets?

Last Sunday, I was sitting on my porch drinking coffee when a minivan pulled up. A mom, dad, and two kids jumped out. The mom looked nervous.

"We drove from Carmel," she said. "We've been looking at puppies for six months. Everyone says Australian Labradoodles are amazing. But are they really?"

I'm Elizabeth. My family raises Australian Labradoodles here in Anderson. That question—are they really as good as people say?—I hear it all the time. And I totally get it. You're about to spend $3,000 and the next 12-15 years with this dog. You need the truth, not just cute puppy pictures.

I invited that family inside. They stayed for three hours. My daughters were doing homework with puppies sleeping under the table. Our adult dogs were napping on the couch. When they left, the mom had tears in her eyes. "This is it," she said. "This is exactly what we've been dreaming about."

So let me tell you the truth about Australian Labradoodles as pets. The good stuff and the stuff nobody tells you. What daily life actually looks like. And why families keep coming back to us years later saying "best decision we ever made."

Do Australian Labradoodles make great pets?

Yes! Australian Labradoodles are wonderful family pets. They're gentle, smart, and love people. They're great with kids and other pets. Their fur doesn't shed, so they work for families with allergies. They want to be with you all the time—whether you're playing outside, watching TV, or just hanging out. We use special training called Puppy Culture that helps them become confident, happy dogs. They fit into family life like they were always meant to be there.

See our available Australian Labradoodle puppies in Anderson.

Why Australian Labradoodles Are Different

Here's something that happens all the time in our house. It happened just yesterday.

My youngest daughter came home from school and sat on the couch. She didn't say anything. She just looked sad. Our dog Maple was across the room. Within seconds, Maple got up, walked over, and put her head in my daughter's lap. Just stayed there. Didn't move.

My daughter started crying. "I had the worst day," she said to the dog. Maple just sat there like she understood every word.

That's not a trick we taught her. That's just how Australian Labradoodles are. They seem to know when you're sad or happy or stressed. They pay attention to people's feelings.

Here's what living with them is really like:

They're calm inside but playful when you want to play. This morning, our dogs were sleeping while I cooked breakfast. Then my daughters went outside and the dogs turned into crazy, happy goofballs. They ran around, played chase, acted silly. Twenty minutes later, they came back inside and settled down. They match whatever you're doing.

They're friendly with everyone. Our mail lady loves our dogs. They wag their tails and say hello. They don't bark mean at strangers. They're just... nice.

They're super patient with little kids. I've watched toddlers climb on our dogs, pull their ears (we stop this, but it happens), and use them as pillows. The dogs just lay there being gentle. They seem to know that little people need to be treated carefully.

They get along with other pets. We have a cat. The dogs were curious at first. Now they just ignore each other. It's fine. I've had families bring their dogs here to meet puppies. Usually everyone gets along great.

Ready to meet these amazing dogs? Apply now.

Are They Really Good with Kids?

This is the biggest question families ask me. Let me tell you what I see every single day.

My daughters are eight and eleven. They've grown up with these dogs. The puppies sleep in their rooms. The girls feed them, brush them, and play with them. And honestly? These dogs have taught my kids things I couldn't teach them.

Real stuff that happens in our house:

My eight-year-old learned responsibility. She feeds one of our dogs every morning. She has to wake up on time. She has to measure the food correctly. The dog waits patiently while she gets it ready. She's been doing this for a year and hasn't forgotten once. She's proud of herself. I'm proud of her.

My eleven-year-old reads to the puppies. I'm serious. She sits in the puppy pen with a book and reads out loud. The puppies sleep in her lap or play around her feet. Her teacher told me her reading got way better this year. The puppies don't care if she makes mistakes. They just listen.

Last month, a family brought their five-year-old son to meet puppies. He has autism and doesn't like new people or places. He sat down and a puppy crawled into his lap. For twenty minutes, he gently petted that puppy and talked to him. His mom started crying. She said he'd never been that calm with any animal before.

That's what these dogs do. They're gentle with babies. Patient with toddlers. Playful with big kids. Comforting with teenagers. They just know how to be good with people.

Things you should know:

They're big enough to play rough but not so big they knock over little kids. Our dogs weigh about 50-60 pounds. That's a good size. Big enough to be sturdy. Small enough not to be scary.

They're playful but not crazy. They'll chase balls and run around the yard. But they're not bouncing off the walls all day. When playtime is over, they calm down.

They're protective but not mean. They stay close to kids. They'll bark if something seems wrong. But they won't bite anyone. They're not guard dogs. They're friend dogs.

How Smart Are They Really?

Let me tell you about training Australian Labradoodles. It's honestly the easiest thing ever. These dogs want to learn. They want to make you happy.

Jason trained our first dog, Cooper. Jason had never trained a dog before in his life. He watched YouTube videos and just tried stuff. Within two weeks, Cooper knew sit, down, stay, come, and shake. Within a month, he walked perfectly on a leash.

"This is too easy," Jason said one night. "I feel like I'm not even doing anything. He just figures it out."

That's Australian Labradoodles. They're really, really smart. And they want to please you. That combination makes training fun instead of frustrating.

Stories from families with our puppies:

A family in Fishers texted me three weeks after getting their puppy. "She's already potty trained. We took her outside every two hours like you said. She only had three accidents total. Is this normal?"

Yes. That's normal. Our puppies start learning about going potty in the right place before they even leave us. So families get a head start.

Another family in Anderson has a 12-week-old puppy. He walks on a leash without pulling. He sits before going outside. He waits before eating. They've had him for four weeks. They can't believe how fast he learns.

A couple from Pendleton took their puppy to training class. After the second class, the trainer pulled them aside. "Your dog is ahead of everyone else," she said. "What are you doing special?" They weren't doing anything special. That's just how Australian Labradoodles are.

Why they learn so fast:

They love treats. They'll do almost anything for food. This makes training easy. Give them a treat when they do something good. They figure out real quick what you want.

They love people. They want to be with you and make you happy. So they actually care about learning what you're teaching them.

They're smart enough to solve problems. Sometimes this is annoying—they can figure out how to open doors. But mostly it means they learn complicated stuff easily.

They pay attention. Some dogs get distracted by everything. Squirrels, leaves, birds. Australian Labradoodles can focus on you during training time. Even puppies will work with you for 10-15 minutes.

How Much Exercise Do They Really Need?

Everyone asks this. They're worried the dog will need to run five miles a day or something. Let me tell you the truth.

Australian Labradoodles need about an hour of exercise each day. That's it. Not crazy intense exercise. Just walks and play time.

Here's what a normal day looks like:

Morning: 30-minute walk or backyard play. Our dogs run around with my daughters before school. They chase balls, play keep-away, be silly. By the time the girls leave for school, the dogs are ready to nap.

Mid-day: The dogs sleep. Jason works from home. The dogs sleep in his office. That's it. They might get up for water or move to a different spot. But mostly they just sleep.

Afternoon: My daughters come home. The dogs wake up. They play outside for 20-30 minutes. Sometimes they just run around being goofy. Sometimes they play with toys. Sometimes they follow the girls around while they do outdoor chores.

Evening: Family time. The dogs hang out while we cook dinner, eat, watch TV, do homework. They're there with us but calm. Maybe a short walk around the neighborhood after dinner.

That's all they need. About an hour total. Walks and play. Not hard.

What if they don't get exercise?

They get bored. Bored dogs chew stuff or bark more. But we're talking about missing that daily hour—not needing three hours like some crazy energetic breeds.

Last month, it rained hard for three days. The dogs couldn't go outside much. They got restless. They brought us toys more. They paced around a bit. But they weren't destroying furniture or going nuts. When the rain stopped, one good play session made them happy again.

What if you're really active?

Great! Australian Labradoodles will keep up. If you want to hike every weekend, they'll love it. If you run three miles, they'll run with you. But they don't have to. They're flexible.

Our neighbors have one of our dogs. They run marathons. Their dog runs with them and loves it. But on days they don't run, the dog is fine with a normal walk.

That's the cool thing about these dogs—they adapt to your life. Super active family? Perfect. Normal activity family? Also perfect. They adjust to you.

Can They Live in Apartments?

Short answer: Yes, but you have to plan for it.

We have families with our dogs in apartments, townhouses, tiny houses, and big houses with land. The dogs are fine everywhere. What matters isn't how much space you have. What matters is that you give them exercise and attention.

Apartment living:

Some families live in Indianapolis apartments. They take their dogs for walks every morning and evening. They find nearby parks for play time. One family goes to a dog park three times a week so their dog can run and play with other dogs.

The key is planning. If you don't have a yard, you need time for walks. Morning walk, maybe doggy daycare during the day, evening walk. It's doable. But you have to commit to it.

House with a small yard:

This is perfect. Even a small fenced yard where they can go potty and play fetch is enough. You're not trying to wear them out completely. Just give them outside time.

House with a big yard:

Obviously great, but not necessary. We have an acre. Our dogs use maybe a quarter of it. They're not out there running around all day. They stay near us.

What they really need more than space:

To be with you. Australian Labradoodles want to be wherever you are. Our dogs follow us from room to room. When Jason's working, they're in his office. When I'm cooking, they're in the kitchen. When the girls do homework, the dogs are under the table.

This is wonderful but also something to think about. If you want a dog who entertains themselves and leaves you alone, this isn't that dog. They need to be near people. They get sad if left alone too long.

We have a family where both parents work full-time. They use our daycare service three days a week. The other days, one works from home. They made it work. It's about finding what works for your life.

What About Health?

Let's talk about health because you need to know what to expect for 12-15 years.

Australian Labradoodles from breeders who do health testing are usually healthy dogs. But no dog is perfect. All dogs can have health problems. What matters is picking a breeder who tests the parent dogs to lower the risk.

We test every single breeding dog. Hips, elbows, genetics. We won't breed a dog that doesn't pass the tests. This costs us thousands of dollars. But it means families don't have to deal with heartbreak later.

Problems that can still happen:

Ear infections. Those cute floppy ears can trap water and get infected. We teach families to clean ears once a week and dry them after baths. Most families deal with maybe one ear infection ever if they're careful.

Allergies. Some dogs get itchy skin or upset stomachs from food or things outside. Usually you can fix it by changing food or giving medicine.

Upset stomach. They might eat grass or something weird and have diarrhea. Normal dog stuff.

Problems good breeding prevents:

Bad hips. This is why we test hips. Our dogs have great hips. Their puppies get good hips too. One family told me their 10-year-old dog just got X-rays. The vet said the hips look like a young dog's hips!

Genetic diseases. We test for diseases like blindness that can be passed from parents to puppies. We only breed dogs that won't pass on these diseases.

How long do they live?

Most Australian Labradoodles live 12-15 years. Some make it to 16 or 17.

One family visited us last fall with their 13-year-old dog. Gray around the face. Moving slower. But still happy, still eating, still wagging her tail to see us. "Best $2,500 we ever spent," the dad said. (That was our price eight years ago when they got her.)

Another family lost their dog last year. He was 15. They were so sad. But they said they were grateful for 15 years of love. They called us a month later asking for another puppy.

That's what you're getting—12-15 years of friendship. For most families, it's not enough time.

The Truth Nobody Tells You

Okay, real talk time. Things you should know that people don't always say.

They follow you EVERYWHERE. I mean everywhere. Bathroom. Kitchen. Bedroom. From room to room. All day. If you get up to get a glass of water, they get up too. Some people love this. Some people find it annoying. You decide.

They need grooming every 6-8 weeks. Their fur doesn't shed, but it keeps growing. You have to take them to a groomer or learn to do it yourself. It costs about $60-80 each time in Anderson. Budget for it.

Puppies are work. Even though our puppies are ahead from Puppy Culture training, they're still puppies. They need to go potty every few hours. They might chew stuff. They need training. The puppy stage lasts about six months. Then it gets way easier.

They get separation anxiety if left alone too much. These dogs are bred to be with people. If you work 10 hours a day and leave them home alone, they'll be sad. They might bark or chew stuff. They need company. Plan for doggy daycare or a dog walker or work from home sometimes.

They're expensive. $3,000 to buy. Then food, grooming, vet visits, toys. Budget about $1,500-2,000 a year for care. This is a long-term financial commitment.

But here's the thing. Every single family who's gotten a dog from us says the same thing. "Worth it." "Best money we ever spent." "Can't imagine life without them."

Because yes, they follow you everywhere. But that means you always have a friend. Yes, they need grooming. But they don't shed all over your house. Yes, puppies are work. But that work phase ends fast. Yes, they cost money. But 67 cents a day for 12-15 years of unconditional love is pretty cheap when you think about it.

Questions? Text us at 317-608-9260 or see our available puppies.

Which Australian Labradoodle coat color is hardest to find?

Find that answer out in our other article here.

References

Diffin, Elizabeth, and Tiffany Glick. "Fido Fact or Fiction: The Truth About Hypoallergenic Pets." Helix Magazine, Northwestern University, 19 May 2009, www.helix.northwestern.edu/2009/05/19/fido-fact-or-fiction-the-truth-about-hypoallergenic-pets/.