Australian Cobberdog

Gentle and people-focused; said to read human moods.
An Australian Cobberdog
Photo: Dionysius Miller
Adult male
13–30 kg
29–66 lb
Adult female
13–28 kg
29–62 lb
Lifespan
12–15 yrs
Handler demand
Suits a first-time owner
Class · Companion
also Family

What it's like

In temperament the Cobberdog is described as gentle, sociable and focused on people. Breeders say it is quick to pick up on human moods, which is one reason given for its use in therapy work. The coat keeps growing and needs regular brushing and clipping.

Day to day
Activity
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Independence
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Sensitivity
Average
Voice
Quiet
Prey drive
Usually fine with small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour1. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home2,3.
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Size and growth

An Australian Cobberdog is a medium dog, heavier than a Border Collie and lighter than a Golden Retriever. Males end up a little heavier than females. Its weight is an estimate, not a published figure.

It is a balanced, athletic dog with a moderate muzzle, drop ears and a level back. The coat comes in two textures. Fleece is soft and falls in waves or loose spirals, while wool is denser, with tighter spirals rather like a lamb's coat. Colours include chalk, cream, caramel, red, chocolate, café, lavender and black.

Varieties

MDBA divides this breed by height at the withers. Pick the variety your dog is for a band that fits.
Variety
Weight
Height
Miniature
33–42 cm (registry figure)5
Medium
42–51 cm (registry figure)6
Standard
51–61 cm (registry figure)7

Puppy growth

Reference curve · community data appears as owners log
By about 3 months, a male Australian Cobberdog puppy is already as heavy as a grown Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They grow fastest between 3 and 4 months old.
Fully grown
11 mo
Both sexes, at 99% of adult weight9
Male
Female
Shaded: expected range
01020302m4m6m9m12m18m
01020302m3m4m6m9m12m18m
Age
Male
Female
2 months
2.8–6.5 kg 6.2–14.3 lb
3.1–6.7 kg 6.8–14.8 lb
3 months
4.2–9.6 kg 9.3–21.2 lb
4.4–9.5 kg 9.7–20.9 lb
4 months
6.0–14.0 kg 13.2–30.9 lb
6.3–13.6 kg 13.9–30.0 lb
5 months
7.8–17.9 kg 17.2–39.5 lb
8.0–17.2 kg 17.6–37.9 lb
6 months
9.3–21.4 kg 20.5–47.2 lb
9.4–20.2 kg 20.7–44.5 lb
7 months
10.4–24.0 kg 22.9–52.9 lb
10.4–22.4 kg 22.9–49.4 lb
8 months
11.2–25.9 kg 24.7–57.1 lb
11.1–23.9 kg 24.5–52.7 lb
9 months
11.8–27.2 kg 26.0–60.0 lb
11.6–25.1 kg 25.6–55.3 lb
10 months
12.1–28.0 kg 26.7–61.7 lb
12.0–25.8 kg 26.5–56.9 lb
11 months
12.4–28.6 kg 27.3–63.1 lb
12.3–26.4 kg 27.1–58.2 lb
12 months
12.6–29.1 kg 27.8–64.2 lb
12.4–26.8 kg 27.3–59.1 lb
15 months
12.9–29.8 kg 28.4–65.7 lb
12.8–27.6 kg 28.2–60.8 lb

Lifespan

No vet study has measured how long Australian Cobberdogs live yet. The 12–15 years shown is a general figure without a published source.

Where it comes from

The Australian Cobberdog's registry names Beverley Rutland-Manners as its founder, and by her account she developed it in Australia partly from Labradoodle lines, adding breeds such as the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten. She says the Master Dog Breeders & Associates would not take the Labradoodle name, so she chose cobber, Australian slang for a trusted friend; the MDBA accepted it as a breed in development in January 201210,11.

The Australian Cobberdog grew out of the Australian Labradoodle programme at Rutland Manor, a breeding kennel in Australia. Its supporters present it as a distinct breed that breeds true from closed lines, not a cross, and the new name was partly meant to set it apart from Labradoodle crosses. It is still outside the main kennel clubs: neither The Kennel Club nor the FCI recognises it. The breed was developed mainly as a therapy and assistance dog and household companion, and a low-shedding coat was one of its central aims.

Breed standard

One registry divides it into three varieties by height, each with its own weight range.

Questions people ask

General guidance for dogs rather than a measured Australian Cobberdog figure: most females have a first season somewhere between six and fifteen months, and cycles then settle to roughly every 180 days. Smaller breeds tend to start earlier and larger ones later, so a medium-sized breed is most likely somewhere in the middle.

Compare with related

Labradoodle
Non-sporting · Medium
Poodle (Standard)
Companion & toy · Medium
Goldendoodle
Non-sporting · Medium
French Bulldog
Companion & toy · Small
Or compare the Australian Cobberdog with any breed you choose
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Sources

Uncited on this page: Lifespan — no reviewed source yet, so it is a general reference figure rather than a published one.
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Parts of this page were written by AI ·