Real Stories from Life with Three Australian Labradoodles
Picture this: I’m standing in our living room at 6 AM, still in my pajamas, holding a cup of coffee and watching what can only be described as the morning “pack meeting.” Gunnar sits perfectly by my side, reading my every micro-expression like he’s studying for a psychology exam. Sven is stretched out on the forbidden sofa, pretending to be asleep but occasionally opening one eye to monitor the situation. And Gösta? He’s doing his signature “happy feet” dance because he thinks ANY gathering of humans and dogs must surely mean it’s time for breakfast, training, or preferably both.
This is my daily reminder that Australian Labradoodles don’t just learn commands — they learn YOU. And sometimes, that’s both the most wonderful and most challenging thing about living with these incredibly intelligent dogs.
Living with three Australian Labradoodles has taught me that training isn’t just about teaching your dog to sit, stay, and come when called (though those are important too!). It’s about understanding their unique personalities, working with their natural instincts, and figuring out how to communicate effectively with dogs who are often smarter than we give them credit for.
In this section, you’ll discover:
Not the perfect, Instagram-worthy training sessions, but the messy, funny, sometimes frustrating reality of training dogs with three completely different personalities. From Gunnar’s instant learning abilities to Gösta’s “me first” attitude, every dog brings unique challenges and rewards.
Why does my dog limp when I limp? Why does another dog steal socks with the dedication of a professional thief? Why does the third dog think every piece of furniture was designed specifically for his comfort? We’ll explore the “why” behind the behaviors that make you laugh, cry, and occasionally question your life choices.
Managing one intelligent dog is challenging enough. Managing three? That’s like being a referee, teacher, and therapist all at once. Learn from my mistakes (and there have been many!) about pack dynamics, resource guarding, and keeping peace in a household where everyone thinks they should be the leader.
From puppyhood through the teenage phase and into adulthood, Australian Labradoodles need different approaches at different life stages. What works for a 5-year-old like Gunnar might not work for a 1-year-old hurricane like Gösta.
Training Gunnar taught me that some dogs are so emotionally intelligent that traditional training methods need to be adapted. You can’t fake confidence with a dog who reads your emotions better than most humans do. His empathetic nature means he responds best to calm, consistent leadership and positive reinforcement.
Sven introduced me to the concept of “selective hearing.” He’s perfectly capable of following commands — when he feels like it. Training him has been more about finding what motivates him (spoiler: it’s not always food) and learning to pick your battles wisely.
Training Gösta is like trying to teach a caffeinated tornado to sit still. His energy and enthusiasm are both his greatest assets and his biggest challenges. He’s taught me about the importance of mental stimulation and the art of channeling boundless energy into productive activities.
Through five years of living with dogs, I’ve learned that Australian Labradoodles have some unique characteristics that affect their training and behavior:
They’re Problem Solvers: These dogs don’t just learn commands; they figure out patterns, routines, and sometimes find creative solutions to problems you didn’t even know existed.
They’re Emotionally Intelligent: They pick up on your moods, stress levels, and even physical state. This can be wonderful for bonding, but it also means inconsistency in training is more noticeable.
They Have Strong Personalities: Each dog is an individual with preferences, dislikes, and opinions. One-size-fits-all training approaches rarely work with this breed.
They Need Mental Stimulation: A bored Australian Labradoodle is a creative Australian Labradoodle, and their creativity might not align with your household rules.
After years of trial and error (emphasis on the error), I’ve developed a training philosophy that works for our pack:
Before addressing any behavior, I try to understand why it’s happening. Gunnar’s empathy, Sven’s stubbornness, and Gösta’s enthusiasm all require different approaches.
With three dogs watching every interaction, consistency becomes even more important. If Sven gets away with something, Gösta will definitely try it, and Gunnar will judge the fairness of the situation.
Australian Labradoodles are intelligent enough to get bored with repetitive training. Keeping sessions short, varied, and engaging works much better than drilling the same command over and over.
These dogs want to please you, but they also want to understand the logic behind what you’re asking. Punishment-based training often backfires with this breed because they’re too emotionally intelligent and sensitive.
Just as all dogs, every Australian Labradoodle goes through a teenage phase where they temporarily forget everything they’ve learned and decide that rules are merely suggestions. This is normal, temporary, and survivable (barely).
In a multi-dog household, you’re not just training individual dogs — you’re managing group dynamics. Sometimes what works for one dog disrupts the balance with the others.
Just because your dog understands what you want doesn’t mean they’ll always do it. Australian Labradoodles are smart enough to make their own decisions, and sometimes their decisions differ from yours.
These dogs need both physical exercise and mental stimulation. They say that a tired dog is a well-behaved dog, but a dog who’s physically tired but mentally bored can still create chaos. Thats why our training has evolved and we have started to do it a bit diffrently.
In the Training & Behavior section, you’ll find:
Hear me when I say, that I am absolutely not a dog trainer. But during my time as a dog owner I have gone through A LOT of different training philosophies and programs, because of our sensitive pups. I have made progress, but also a lot of errors. And the journey is what I will share here. Australian Labradoodles isn’t just about teaching commands — it’s about building a relationship with incredibly intelligent, emotionally complex dogs who will challenge you, surprise you, and ultimately teach you as much as you teach them.
Whether you’re dealing with a sock-stealing puppy, a couch-conquering adult, or an empathetic soul who mirrors your every emotion, remember that every behavior challenge is also an opportunity to better understand and connect with your dog.
Ready to dive into the wonderful, chaotic world of Australian Labradoodle training and behavior? Browse our posts below, and don’t forget to share your own training stories in the comments — because sometimes the best training advice comes from fellow dog parents who’ve been there, done that, and lived to tell the tale!
