To be honest: quite a lot. Certainly in the beginning, but still even when the dogs are bigger. Not because a Cobberdog needs to be kept busy or entertained all day long, but because this breed is strongly focused on humans. And that is no coincidence: precisely that need for contact, cooperation, and closeness is an important part of what the Australian Cobberdog was bred for.And for us, that also entails a self-evident responsibility. A breed so strongly focused on humans deserves to be with its people. We therefore find it important that, before choosing a Cobberdog, you honestly consider how much time you can actually spend with your dog.The keyword, therefore, as far as we are concerned, is: together .A Cobberdog wants to be with you and be part of your daily life. Walking, playing, training, and discovering new things together are, of course, wonderful moments. Especially in the beginning, being together is important for getting to know each other. And being together also means that your dog simply lies with you in the living room while you read a book, work, or are busy with something else.You don't need to constantly entertain your dog. You also take time to rest together . A puppy needs to learn to relax and get enough sleep and rest, but adult dogs also enjoy being with you, even during quiet moments. Even if they are fine being alone, they prefer being with you. Especially when you spend a lot of time together, it is important that this dog learns that there doesn't always have to be something going on.We think it is wonderful when a puppy learns to simply find rest right in the middle of family life. We consciously work on this ourselves during socialization. In the final weeks of Ted’s previous litter, we had a large basket right in the middle of the kitchen. The puppies no longer needed to sleep in a crate or separate pen. They sought out the basket themselves and fell asleep there together, right in the middle of the hustle and bustle. Funnily enough, it actually happened naturally. They learned that they are safe and that they can also rest and sleep while the family carries on as usual. Much more relaxing.As an owner, you sometimes have to actively help create that calm. So, that will also take up your time in the beginning. After playing and exploring, for example, it might be time for a potty break, followed by rest. You learn to recognize your puppy's signals and reduce stimuli when necessary: put toys away for a moment, take things a bit easier yourself, and give your puppy the opportunity to sleep. Especially with children, it is important to make agreements about this beforehand. When the puppy is resting, we really leave him alone.Another tip that we, as well as owners of our previous puppies, have found very valuable is to bring rest along during a walk . You can head out together, discover the world, and gain new experiences. But when the walk has been long enough for a young puppy, you can carry him in a carrier. This way, he doesn't have to keep walking when he is actually getting tired. He can look around calmly, process impressions, and sometimes even falls asleep during the walk. In this way, you discover the world together, without your puppy having to constantly push himself beyond his limits.The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a dog needs naturally varies by age and by individual. We also see differences within a single litter. The four boys from Ted's first litter demonstrate this beautifully. Guus is enthusiastic and eager to learn, and clearly enjoys working and learning together. Sammy is naturally a bit calmer and adapts easily. Boris Beer is social, curious, and enthusiastic, and his character strongly resembles his mother Teddy. Lou is somewhat more sensitive and sometimes needs a bit more support and reassurance in stressful situations. These differences beautifully show that you are not just getting a Cobberdog , but above all an individual dog with his own character that you must first get to know and understand well.An Australian Cobberdog is therefore suitable for people who are willing to spend a lot of time with their dog, who enjoy exploring and learning together, but who also understand that doing nothing can also be a way to spend time together.For us, therefore, the investment lies primarily in time, proximity, and attention . You don't have to keep your dog occupied all day. Above all, you need to want to be with him.You see, he really wants to be with you too... 🤎

A Cobberdog wants to be with you. Precisely because this breed is so strongly focused on people, we believe it is important for prospective owners to carefully consider how much time they will spend alone in their dog's daily life.Of course, a puppy also needs to learn to be alone occasionally. That is part of life. But being alone is something you build up step by step . You start small and give your puppy the chance to learn that you will come back and that he can feel safe when you are not in the same room for a while.We therefore believe it is important that you take an honest look at your own daily life before bringing a puppy home. What does a typical workday look like? How many hours would your dog be alone? Can you take him with you? Is there anyone at home? Or is there an option for childcare or companionship when you are away for an extended period?We do not expect you to be with your dog 24 hours a day. It is perfectly fine for a dog to learn to be alone. However, in our opinion, a Cobberdog is not the most suitable choice if he has to stay home alone for a large part of the day on a regular basis.If you choose a dog that wants to be with you so much, we also find it important that you can offer him that closeness.Here too, we see differences among the puppies from Ted's first litter. Actually, being home alone is not a problem for any of the puppies. Sammy, for example, handles being alone well and relaxes easily at home. That is nice to see, but it does not mean that every Australian Cobberdog is the same. The character of the individual dog, the upbringing, and the way in which being alone is built up all play a role.As far as we are concerned, the goal is therefore not to teach a dog to be able to be alone for as long as possible. The goal is for your dog to feel safe and relaxed when he is alone for a short time if necessary , while above all being allowed to be a dog who enjoys being with his people often. Because that is what they love most of all, and what we wish for them.

Yes, a Cobberdog is generally very nice to train, but it is not a dog that raises itself or understands everything right away.Cobberdogs are intelligent dogs that enjoy working with their humans. They want to understand you and often enjoy learning something together. That makes training incredibly fun. But of course, intelligence does not mean that a dog automatically understands everything or always does what you ask.Furthermore, a Cobberdog is sensitive. Calm, clear, and consistent guidance is therefore better suited to these dogs than harsh corrections or excessive pressure. For us, a good relationship and trust form the basis of both upbringing and training.So, as an owner, you don't just invest time in teaching commands. You get to know your dog, learn to read his signals, set clear boundaries, and help him understand what behavior you expect from him. That requires patience. Especially when puberty sets in. That is when they become more independent, discover their own interests, and sometimes test their limits. You call your dog and he has heard you perfectly... but finds what is happening on the other side of the field much more interesting. So, bananas in the ears. 😉That is the phase Ted's sons are currently in. Therefore, we cannot yet say with certainty how trainable these boys will ultimately be as adult dogs. As puppies, they all did well, but we now see clear differences in their learning and cooperation styles. Guus, for example, is enthusiastic and eager to learn and loves spending time with his owner. Lou is more sensitive and sometimes needs a bit more support and reassurance in stressful situations. These are not good or bad traits. They are traits that you, as an owner, must learn to recognize and tailor your guidance to.And both boys have found fantastic families who are a good match for what they need. And that is what it’s all about for us: not that every dog is the same, but that you get to know your dog and give him the guidance that suits him.Moreover, you do not have to be able to handle all the upbringing and training yourself. We recommend a good, expert trainer to all our families; it is an absolute must. We know the breed, the parents, the pedigrees, and the traits we see within our lines. In contrast, there is an experienced trainer who actually sees your dog and observes you in daily practice. That is invaluable! We, too, still very gladly seek advice from people who have studied for this and have extensive experience with dogs from their field. We see our role primarily as part of a network surrounding your dog: we are there for questions about his background and lineage, while a good trainer or other expert can guide you in daily practice.The short answer is: raising a Cobberdog doesn't have to be difficult, but it does require time, patience, clarity, and the willingness to keep learning together.

One of the attractive features of the Australian Cobberdog is its coat, which typically sheds little to no hair. Our dogs also have a non-shedding coat . That might sound like little work, but the opposite is actually true: this coat requires quite a bit of maintenance.The hairs do not simply fall out. They remain, as it were, in the coat until you comb them out. Without regular brushing, tangles and eventually matting can easily form. A Cobberdog therefore requires time and attention for brushing, combing, and regular trimming . That is something to think carefully about before choosing this breed. The beautiful, soft coat does not come as a bonus; you must be prepared to maintain it well.The four boys from Ted's first litter have all developed beautiful, non-shedding coats by now. And all four have the stunning, deep red color that we also see in Ted and Nacho. Nacho is slightly deeper in color than Ted. The color may still change or become lighter over time, but at this moment, they are all beautiful deep reds. They are not yet a year old, so their coats and color are still fully developing. We will, of course, continue to monitor this, together with their owners.You can read more about the care and maintenance of the Cobberdog coat on our page about the disadvantages of the Australian Cobberdog breed .We also want to be honest about allergies. An Australian Cobberdog is not allergy-free itself, and no dog can be called completely hypoallergenic. Moreover, people can react differently to a dog. Do you have a dog or hair allergy yourself? Then we always advise spending plenty of time with dogs of a similar coat type before purchasing. This way, you can experience for yourself how you react. You can read more about this in our frequently asked questions about hypoallergenicity .At the same time, Cobberdogs themselves can also be prone to allergies. With our first litter, the owners have not shared any signs or reports of allergies in the four boys with us so far. In the previous family, too, we are currently unaware of any indications of allergy issues. That is positive, but it remains important not to attach any guarantees to this.