Australian labradoodles - COAT TYPES

Australian Labradoodle Coats - Did You Know?

Susan Minett  -  Accredited Member of the Australian Labradoodle Association

Kooee Labradoodle - Fleece Coats

The Australian Labradoodle has three  distinctly different coat types. Fleece, wool and hair coats which vary from feel to look depending on the curl and texture of the coat.
There are two coat types considered allergy-friendly.
1. Fleece Coat - has a soft textured fleecy feeling,  wavy fleece and curly fleece and low shedding.
2. Wool Coat -  has  a definite dense wool feel and is mild to very curly and low shedding. 
Another coat variation is the Hair Coat.  Hair coats are seen less frequently, and vary from short wiry to the long combination coats. Genetics play a huge role in determining the future development of the coats, and    we can now test for certain traits to help with the development of the fleece coat in the Australian  Labradooodle breed.

1. Fleece Coated Labradoodle (Shaggy)
This is my preferred coat type, the wavy fleece coat or ‘shaggy’ Labradoodle is among the major coat types.  The fleece-coated dog has a soft textured coat that you will love to touch. It may have a soft spiralling curl look or a wavy look.  This fleece Labradoodle’s low shedding needs weekly brushing to keep the coat healthy and matt free.
Labradoodle Fleece Coat Overview:

•  allergy-friendly
• require weekly brushing regimen
• loose and light locks with a  wavy appearance
• low shedding as all dogs even hair coats need tolose hair
• typical Labradoodle appearance

Best Suited for Owners Who:

• Love the typical breed appearance
• Can groom the dog on a weekly basis
• Have mild or no allergies
• Need a dog that with low shedding
  

Wavy Fleece Coat

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Wool Coat

2. Wool Coat Labradoodle (Curly)
 
 The Wool coat is like a lamb’s wool in texture. It should have the appearance of looser spiraling wool, which opens up easily to the skin. It should not appear thick and dense or tightly curled.
It is low shedding, making it ideal for allergy sufferers. Wool coated dogs need to be brushed daily, to ensure they dont get matted, matting is very uncomfortable for dog and will cause pain.

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3. Hair Coat

Usually seen in early generation dogs, and  coat may have odour and shed in varying degrees. Thes hair coats will soon be a thing of the past, but for now they still play an important part in the breeding and development of the fleece coat.
The parents’ genes determine the hair type of a Labradoodle puppy. The first-generation mixes result from Poodle and Labrador parents, increasing the possibility of variety. However, in later generations, most breeders may increase the possibility of particular traits, such as a low-shedding, curly coat.

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Genetics Can Create Less Common Variants

Open Face Variant
Occasionally labradoodle genetics combine to create individual puppies that have an open face. In this variation, puppies will not develop the long hair around the face that is normally associated with a labradoodle's appearance.  

Open Face

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Mixed Coat

Mixed Coats
Sometimes we see a “mixed” coat type,  the coat is made up of both fleece and hair, it can sometimes be referred to as a  'flat' coat.
Australian Labradoodles with a flat coat will shed but to a lesser extent than a hair coat.  Early Generation Labradoodle are much more likely to have  a flat coat, it varies have fuzzy tufts of hair and a short wavy undercoat. They can have medium-long hair growing around the face and feathering along the tail and legs.
It is generally difficult to determine a flat coat from a fleece coat when the puppies are newborn,  and is more evident by the time a puppy is six weeks of age.



We are proud to be associated with the Australian Labradodole Association (ALA) and endorse all their breeding ethics and regulations. https://australianlabradoodleassoc.org.au/history-of-the-labradoodle/
Contact us today at Kooee Labradoodles to learn about our breeding program.  

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