COBBERDOG TRAITS
An Honest Look at the Pros and Cons
​Read the Small Print!

Undoubtedly the Australian Cobberdog is a wonderful dog breed, attested to by thousands of owners across the world who claim their Cobberdog is the most amazing dog they've ever had.  But like most things that sound too good to be true there is a "BUT" lurking.  There can be a tendency, especially for 1st time dog owners, to expect a puppy to arrive from the breeder, a ready made model of the perfect Therapy dog.  This is an unrealistic expectation of ANY puppy, including Cobberdogs.  

All puppies will try you out to see who is pack leader. This could include nipping and jumping,  or leaping on and off the furniture, uninvited.  They are watching you all the time, weighing up your weaknesses and strengths.  And if you don't provide firm and consistent guidelines to what you expect from them the roles will quickly be reversed until they are training you!  The intuition this breed has, is as equally applied to what you don't want, as to what you do want.
 We strongly recommend that you arrange for a trainer to visit your home  for the first few weeks if you are a 1st time dog owner, or if you are a busy parent managing special needs children .  

Training your Cobberdog Puppy

Pros

*    The ultimate Therapy Dog and family companion, wise and gentle
*    Goofy fun nature, they love to make you laugh!
*    Sensitive affectionate, loving, empathetic and respond intuitively to human emotion 
*    ​Sociable and non aggressive, patient with children
*    Intuitive, eager to please and thrive on training
*    Seek a deep connection with human eyes
*    No Shedding, No doggie smell even when wet 
*    Respond best to positive but firm and consistent training methods
*    Three sizes - Miniature Medium and Standard                                                              
​There should be no difference other than their size. I have heard that some  are saying that smaller sizes are not suitable as Therapy dogs due to higher energy levels.  This should not be so. 
Cons
*    Can be too smart  for their own  good  and need early training to reach their full potential.   But early consistent training is essential from day one with such a smart and intuitive breed.
*    They have an irrepressible sense of humour.  It can be hard to be firm with a goofy clownlike puppy who loves to make you laugh!  
*     Cobberdogs are so intuitively in tune with your thoughts that  until they have some training and know their place they can be  cute and loving one minute and attention seeking baby brat children the next!
*     They're sensitive and their feelings are easily hurt.  Always use their name to praise or reprove your puppy.  If for instance you're yelling at the (human) kids, then your puppy will know he/she isn't the one in trouble and wonder why.