History of the Australian Cobberdog
The Australian Cobberdog originated in Australia in response to a growing need for a specialist breed with a low- to non-shedding coat and a therapy/service dog-type temperament. Unlike many breeds established for form or function alone, the Australian Cobberdog was envisioned a breed that could meet specific needs in emotional support, assistance, and therapeutic work, while also being allergy-friendly.
Over decades, carefully timed infusions and breed combinations were used to fine-tune temperament, structure, coat type, and predictability. Some infusions were retained; others were discontinued. As a result, the breed has a diverse ancestry, with some foundation dogs sharing background with multiple breeds—used strategically to meet the breed’s purpose.
Formal Recognition and Development
In 2011, Beverley Rutland-Manners the founder of the breed submitted her detailed records and data to the Master Dog Breeders & Associates (MDBA), seeking to register the Australian Cobberdog as a pure breed in development.
To protect the integrity of the developing breed—and informed by the challenges experienced by other developing breeds, such as the Labradoodle—the founder selected the MDBA as the sole registry to guide the breed’s official development, maintain its studbook, and ensure consistent standards. The aim was to prevent fragmentation of the gene pool and ensure every dog entering the registry was accountable to the original vision for health, structure, and temperament.
Science, Ethics, and Breed Integrity
Every infusion used during the breed’s development was monitored over several generations. Only when the progeny consistently met health, temperament, and structural goals were they introduced into the general breeding population. Infusions were otherwise kept in separate “pods” to avoid diluting the gene pool with traits that didn’t meet the breed’s purpose.
The Australian Cobberdog stands as an example of how modern science, traceability, and ethical breeding can create a predictable, recognisable breed with a clear purpose and future.
Today, the breed continues its progress toward full MDBA Breed Recognition, with more than 31,769 dogs registered as of November 2024 in the MDBA Intermediate Registry.
Protecting the Breed’s Future
The MDBA is the only registry authorised by the breed’s founder to issue officially recognised Australian Cobberdog pedigrees and to maintain the official stud registry. While others may use the term “Cobberdog,” only dogs with MDBA-issued pedigrees are recognised within the official development program.
This centralised approach ensures that the breed develops in alignment with its founding goals: to be healthy, sound in mind and body, and predictable in both appearance and behaviour—especially in roles involving therapy, service, and emotional support.
The future of the Australian Cobberdog depends on dedicated foundation breeders who commit to health-tested, purpose-aligned breeding dogs that can carry the breed forward with integrity. Their work focuses not just on the current litter, but on generations to come—building a legacy of dogs that are truly “cobbers” in every sense of the word.