How long do Australian Labradoodles typically live?
A family came to our house last fall to meet our dogs. Their Golden Retriever had just died after 13 years. They were sad but ready for a new puppy.
"How long do these dogs live?" the mom asked. She watched our six-year-old dog play with her kids. "We want a lot of good years together."
People ask us this all the time. When you love a puppy, you want to know how many years you'll have. Australian Labradoodles live pretty long lives if you take good care of them.
Most live between 12 and 15 years. Some live even longer. It depends on their parents' health, what you feed them, and how much they exercise.
What Makes Dogs Live Longer or Shorter Lives?
Nobody can tell you exactly how long your dog will live. But some things help dogs live longer.
Their Parents Matter
Dogs from healthy parents live longer than dogs from unhealthy parents.
We test all our parent dogs before breeding them. We check their hips, elbows, hearts, and eyes. We test their genes for diseases. If a dog has bad hips or carries a disease, we don't breed that dog.
When you breed healthy dogs, their puppies are healthier. When you do this for many years, you get really healthy dogs.
Australian Labradoodles have been bred carefully since the 1980s. That's over 35 years of making them healthier.
Size Makes a Difference
Smaller dogs usually live longer than big dogs.
Small Australian Labradoodles (15-25 pounds) often live 14 to 16 years. Medium ones (25-45 pounds) live 13 to 15 years. Big ones (45-65 pounds) live 12 to 14 years.
Scientists don't know exactly why. They think it has to do with how fast big dogs grow.
Weight Is Really Important
This is big. Fat dogs die younger than skinny dogs.
A university studied over 50,000 dogs. Skinny dogs lived 6 months to 2.5 years longer than fat dogs¹.
Another study followed 48 Labrador Retrievers their whole lives. They split them into two groups. One group ate less food. Those dogs lived 18 to 24 months longer. They also had less arthritis¹.
Keeping your dog at a good weight is one of the best things you can do.
Exercise Helps
Dogs who exercise live longer. Australian Labradoodles need 30 to 60 minutes of activity every day. This can be walks, playing fetch, swimming, or running in the yard.
Exercise stops them from getting fat. It keeps their muscles and joints strong. It keeps their heart healthy. It also keeps their brain working well.
Vet Visits Matter
Take your dog to the vet every year. The vet can find problems early. They can hear heart problems, see bad teeth, and check joints.
Older dogs (age 8 and up) should go twice a year. Finding problems early gives you more ways to fix them.
See Available Australian Labradoodle Puppies →
Health Problems That Can Shorten Life
Australian Labradoodles are pretty healthy. But like all dogs, they can get sick.
Bad Hips and Elbows
Some dogs have joints that don't fit together right. This causes pain and arthritis. Really bad cases need surgery.
This problem is genetic. That's why we test all our parent dogs. We only breed dogs with good hips and elbows. This makes it less likely your puppy will have this problem.
Eye Problems
Some dogs go blind from eye diseases. Others get cataracts. Testing the parents helps stop these problems.
Heart Issues
Some dogs get heart problems when they get older. The vet can hear these during checkups.
Addison's Disease
This affects the adrenal glands. Dogs with this need medicine their whole life. But they can live normal lives with treatment.
Ear Infections
Australian Labradoodles have floppy ears. Water and dirt can get trapped inside. Clean their ears regularly to stop infections.
Cancer
All dogs can get cancer when they get old. Finding it early helps treatment work better.
Most of these problems can be treated. The trick is finding a breeder who tests their dogs and a vet who catches problems early.
How to Help Your Dog Live Longer
You can't change your dog's genes. But you can control a lot of other things.
Feed Good Food
Buy good quality dog food. Feed the right amount for your dog's age and how active they are. Don't give too much food.
Treats should be less than 10% of what they eat each day. It's easy to give too many treats without thinking about it.
Keep Them at a Good Weight
Ask your vet if your dog is too fat or too skinny. You should be able to feel your dog's ribs without pushing hard. When you look down at them from above, you should see a waist. When you look from the side, their belly should tuck up.
If your dog is fat, ask your vet how to help them lose weight. Even losing 5 pounds on a 50-pound dog helps a lot.
Exercise Every Day
Walk your dog every day. Play fetch. Take them swimming. Keep them moving.
This also keeps their brain sharp as they get older.
Clean Their Teeth
Brush your dog's teeth a few times a week. Bad teeth and gums can make them sick. The bacteria from their mouth can spread to their heart, kidneys, and liver.
Your vet might need to clean their teeth as they get older.
Go to the Vet
Take adult dogs once a year. Take older dogs twice a year. Blood tests can find kidney problems, diabetes, and thyroid problems before you see any signs.
Keep Their Brain Active
Give them puzzle toys. Train them. Let them meet other dogs. This keeps their brain working well.
Old dogs can get confused just like old people. Keeping them busy helps stop this.
Make Your Home Safe
Keep trash cans where they can't get into them. Put medicines away. Watch them around pools.
Stop accidents before they happen.
What Scientists Have Learned
Scientists study dogs to learn what helps them live longer.
The Dog Aging Project is huge. Over 50,000 dogs are in the study. Scientists watch their health, food, exercise, and home life. They want to find out what makes dogs live long lives.
They've found that food, exercise, and friends matter. Dogs who live with other dogs are healthier. Skinny dogs live longer. Dogs whose owners play with them and train them age better.
This helps both dogs and people. Dogs age like we do but faster. So studying them teaches us about aging.
Apply to Reserve an Australian Labradoodle Puppy →
Comparing to Other Breeds
Australian Labradoodles often live as long or longer than their parent breeds:
Labrador Retrievers: 10 to 12 years
Standard Poodles: 12 to 15 years
Cocker Spaniels: 12 to 15 years
Australian Labradoodles: 12 to 15 years
Australian Labradoodles get good genes from all their parent breeds. Careful breeding for many years has made them healthy.
Taking Care of Old Dogs
Around age 8, your dog becomes a senior. You'll see changes:
Less energy
Gray fur on their face
Stiff when they first get up
More naps
Weight changes
Here's how to help:
Change Their Food: Senior dog food has fewer calories and helps their joints.
Shorter Walks: They still like walks but get tired faster.
Soft Bed: A good bed helps sore joints.
More Vet Visits: Go twice a year now.
Steps or Ramps: Help them get on furniture without jumping.
Be Patient: Old dogs move slow. They might have accidents. They're not being bad. They're just old.
Many Australian Labradoodles stay happy and active into their teens if you take good care of them.
Stories of Long Lives
We started breeding in 2020, so our dogs are still young. But other breeders have told us stories.
One breeder in Ohio has several dogs that lived to 15 and 16 years. These dogs came from tested parents. Their owners kept them at a healthy weight.
Another breeder in Wisconsin knows a family whose dog lived to 14. That dog went hiking until age 12. He stayed smart and happy until the end.
These stories show what's possible with good breeding and good care.
Why Health Testing Matters
When you buy a puppy from tested parents, you're buying more than just a dog. You're buying years together.
A $3,200 puppy from tested parents might live 13 healthy years. That's $246 per year.
A $1,000 puppy from untested parents might need $6,000 in hip surgery at 18 months. If problems make them die at 9 years, you paid more per year. And you had less time together.
We test all our dogs because we want our puppies to live long, healthy lives. We want you to have 12, 13, 14, or even 15 years with your dog.
Every puppy deserves a good start. Testing gives them that.
Are Australian Labradoodles affectionate and cuddly dogs?
Find out more about Australian Labradoodle temperament here.
References
¹ Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine Clinical Nutrition Service. (2019). Research Review: A Simple Step for Extending Your Dog's Life. Petfoodology. https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/2019/04/01/research-obesity-and-lifespan