The Australian Cobberdog was originally bred after the Breed Founder decided that the Australian Labradoodle had certain early deficiencies and her wish was to make certain corrections and an additional infusion of the Champion Irish soft coated wheaten was the ideal addition to make certain changes for the betterment of the breed: For 1, the ear set needed to be higher to reduce ear infections, 2 a stockier body type as opposed to a spindly more “poodle” like look and 3 a temperament fit for a family, as well as a therapy and service dog.
Now that you’ve decided that an Australian Cobberdog is the dog for you, working with a responsible and reputable breeder is paramount to getting all the qualities that the Australian cobberdog provides.
Unfortunately, not all dog breeders have the best interests of their dogs or their customers in mind. Additionally, if most of your communication with your potential breeder is happening only online (on Facebook, instagram etc) with very little actual conversation, a good breeder will make sure to encourage having at least several conversations prior to selling a puppy to you. If the buyer would prefer to only reach out online then this can be a red flag that the potential puppy buyer may not be ready to bring home a puppy and do what it takes to raise and train a puppy.
A good breeder will often engage with a potential buyer by asking some leading questions to gauge if they will make a good “puppy parent” for their new cobberdog puppy. For example, the breeder will want to know if they have ever had dogs before and have been used to being around dogs; Particularly, when young children are around, it is key to supervise them especially in the first weeks of bringing a puppy home, and should make sure the puppy is being trained and the childrens’ interactions should be safe, and gentle. If a puppy feels threatened, they can do what is called “puppy nipping” in retaliation for being poked, pushed or thrown. Puppy Nipping is a No -No and will be easily stopped with good training.
A good breeder will have socialized their puppies fully, so that their transition to their new home will be much easier. They will also provide a lot of information to a potential buyer before any purchase is made to make sure that the buyer is willing to do what is needed to successfully bring home a puppy and interact with that puppy in a way that makes the puppy feel at home and not scared.
If necessary, with the information gathered it may in the end be that the breeder and potential buyer may not carry through with a purchase.
A good question: Do You Breed Australian Cobberdogs or Labradoodles?
The Australian Labradoodle is a particularly adored pet, but the breed as it’s known today has deviated from its origins into a separate breed altogether. As mentioned earlier in this article the Australian Labradoodle is the “origin” of the Australian Cobberdog, the latter also having the additional infusion of the Irish soft coated wheaten from Champion Irish lines.
How Are Your Puppies Socialized?
Puppies spend the first eight weeks + of their life in the care of their breeders. The first four weeks puppies are firmly cared for by a doting mother, that mother puppy bond is crucial at that stage and even after; between 4 and 8 weeks the mother still plays a major role and puppies and mom are often together more of the time than not. At this stage, the breeder is also like an attentive mother, touching, rolling over, holding puppies and giving them enough opportunities to run around and play, this is a big part of our day. This way they know human comfort and are totally sucking it up. Also, at this time the puppies are playing a lot with each other, start eating solid food, putting on weight and getting used to new toys and going outside on the grass, supervised of course. During this time a lot of crucial personality development happens and it’s wonderful to see who is the leader of the pack and who prefers to be by themselves or just playing with each other.
Prioritizing plenty of playtime is important so puppies learn how to respectfully interact with other dogs. Any puppy you adopt from a breeder should also already have experience interacting with people so that they are able to adjust more easily to their new home and family dynamic.
What Is Your Breeding Experience?
Dog breeding is a highly skilled and specialized trade. You would want a breeder who has years of experience raising puppies. A good breeder will have repeat buyers, good reviews and is well known in their puppy buyer community. If your breeder is breeding only a year or two, the experience level is not fully reached so that is something to take into consideration. Make sure to ask your breeder about their experience breeding puppies in general, as well as their experience with Australian Cobberdogs and Labradoodles in particular.
Every breed has different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to behavioral tendencies, speed of learning new skills, and physical abilities, as well as increased or decreased risk for different health issues.
Your breeder should have extensive knowledge about Australian Cobberdogs and Labradoodles and be able to explain in detail what your experience raising a puppy of this breed will entail.
Are the Puppy’s Vaccinations Up to Date?
In order to ensure optimal health for their puppies, all high-quality highly experienced dog breeders make sure their puppies receive their age appropriate vaccinations they need at the proper ages, especially before they go home with new owners.
Make sure your breeder provides you with your puppy’s health record which should include any medications, vaccinations, wormings, and microchip information, as well as information about the vaccinations your puppy will need in the future.
The breeder should encourage you to have your new puppy seen at your vet within 3 days of picking up your puppy. Take your health record with you to your vet and have him/her do a wellness check at that first visit.
How Do You Choose Owners for Your Puppies?
Though a breeder having strict guidelines for who is allowed to adopt their puppies can make the process of adopting from them longer and more involved, high standards are a great sign of a responsible dog breeder. It means that they value the health and safety of their dogs and are willing to take extra care to make sure they end up in the right home.
Can We Stay in Contact After Taking Our Puppy Home?
Absolutely!!! A good established breeder will stay in touch, answer any questions as they come along, and if there are problems, address them with the puppy owner.
Is There a Health Guarantee Provided with Your Puppies?
If you are adopting a puppy, your breeder should provide a 2-year Adoption/Health Guarantee for your puppy, along with the health record of your puppy in your care so you will know what age-appropriate vaccines your puppy may have received while in your care and if needed even minor issues that came up while the puppy was in your care. Failure to provide this guarantee is a red flag.
How to Find a Reputable Dog Breeder
Looking for a high-quality Australian Cobberdog breeder to help you expand your family by one more? Contact us at Highlands Australian Cobberdogs to work with experienced, compassionate breeders you can trust.