Dog breed · Australia
The Australian Cobberdog is a dog crossbreed developed in Australia by the Rutland Manor Breeding and Research Center and Tegan Park Labradoodle Breeding & Research Centres. The mix was created as a continuation of Wally Conron's efforts to create a definable and carefully researched labradoodle. This effort was also in response to the increase in demand for labradoodles which had led to breeders referring to any combination of Labrador Retrievers and Poodles as labradoodles without temperament or hypoallergenic criteria. The inconsistency of standards for labradoodles led to the distinction of Australian Labradoodle and the further distinction of Cobberdog attributed to a purebred dog breed with more strict standards for breeding, temperament, and appearance.
The Australian Cobberdog was bred to be an ideal candidate for being therapy and service dogs. Up until the creation of the Australian Cobberdog, no breed had been developed with the sole objective of having the ideal characteristics to serve as therapy and assistance dogs. This is in part because therapy and assistance dogs are relatively modern. Australian Labradoodles, as prescribed by the Australian Labradoodle Association of America, are derived from three breeds of previously purebred dog breeds. Cobberdogs are meanwhile derived from a combination of at least eight existing breeds in order to achieve the desired temperament.
The large pool for the development of the Australian Cobberdog led to the breed's disassoc
Behavioral Characteristics: The Cobberdog's original purpose for development was as an effort to breed a calm, compassionate and empathetic dog which is ideal for training as a therapy dog or service animal, the first pure breed with that as the initial purpose for breeding. Additionally, the hypoallergenic coat and low saliva production is meant to broaden the Cobberdog's usefulness as it allows the dog to be a companion to or visit individuals with allergies to dogs, dander, dog saliva, and who should avoid the presence of residual hairs left behind by shedding dogs.
Australian Cobberdogs are generally considered to be an intelligent breed which learns tricks and tasks more easily than most other breeds. Additionally, they are known to very rarely bite with an intent to harm. The Cobberdog barks less than most breeds and vocalization is generally limited to instances of extreme shock or distress. These characteristics, in addition to the breed's respectful and unimposing nature, make them particularly ideal for therapies involving individuals with difficulties interacting such as victims of trauma, certain individuals with autism spectrum disorder and a myriad of other socially sensitive groups.
Around other animals, the Cobberdog generally remains calm and unimposing. It is uncommon for an individual of the breed to be involved in a fight as a result of the dog's natural inclination to retreat from conflict. Oftentimes, the Cobberdog is uniquely capable of interacting with dogs which are generally incapable of cohabitation with other dogs. The Cobberdog can cohabitate in some circumstances with animals such as cats, birds or rodents, although the breed is generally very curious and should be supervised to avoid unintended harm or intrusion.
Coat: The Australian Cobberdog has single coat hair which is low to no shedding and produces minimal dander. This trait means that the dog is considered hypoallergenic. Contrary to the belief that dog hair is the cause of an allergy to dogs, allergies are primarily caused by a hypersensitivity to a protein found in a dog's saliva, dandruff and chafing skin. The Cobberdog has two principle coat types: fleece coats and wool coats.
A fleece coat is a single coat of soft, thin fibres which appear silky and slightly wavy. The coat's fibres generally create soft clusters called staples. Fleece coats have minimal shedding and dander, making them minimally odorous and largely hypoallergenic. Fleece coats require regular grooming to prevent matting. Without regular brushing and consistent care the fleece coat is more susceptible to matting, the formation of dreadlocks, hair-borne conditions and the capture of dirt against the skin which can cause discomfort and/or chafing. The lack of shedding also necessitates frequent trimming of the dog's hair as the hairs continuously grow and do not naturally maintain coat length.
A wool coat is a single coat of coarse, thick fibres which are grouped together as small, tight curls. Wool coats are non-shedding and low dander and they require attention similar to that of the fleece coat. A true wool coat was deemed as "highly undesirable" by the MDBA and has become increasingly rare in Cobberdogs. Instead of the original pure wool coat, the term has shifted to also apply to a curly variation of the fleece coat, again non-shedding and low dander, sometimes called the "spiral wool coat". This coat usually appears as multiple long and loose spirals which are considerably larger than the fleece coat's staples. This coat is similarly low odour and largely hypoallergenic. This coat is caused by the presence of both fleece and wool coat genes. The spiral wool coat, also called the curly fleece coat, is somewhat similar in appearance to the more common "straight" fleece coat and requires frequent grooming, trimming, and brushing in or to avoid matting. This type of coat, both true wool and curly fleece, requires closer and more frequent care than the aforementioned straight fleece coat.
Sizes: There are generally four size categories for Cobberdogs: miniature, large mini/small medium, medium and standard. Some breeders also include a "large medium" and/or "standard XL" category. The breed standard recognizes three size categories: miniature, medium and standard.
Lifespan And Aging: According to some sources, Australian Cobberdogs have an average lifespan of either 12–14 or 13–15 years, however no evidence of a meaningful and verifiable study is shown. They reach senior status at seven years of age and have a healthspan target of sixteen years. In depth studies of the aging process specific to Cobberdogs and the effects on their activity, vitality, temperament, and/or health are yet to be published under official means. This being the case, more information and observation is required for a verifiable and set standard.
