Labradoodles ~
What
Need Do Australian Labradoodles Meet?
Australian
Labradoodles are a relatively new breed created in Australia with the
intent
to provide non shed, less allergenic dogs for use as service dogs for
the
blind, hearing impaired and other needs. The steady, calm
disposition
of the Labrador Retriever coupled with the noted smarts of the Poodle,
along with judicious small additions of other breeds, seemed to be the
perfect combination for the creation of a new dog breed now known as
the Australian Labradoodle. Much work
has also gone into selecting for a soft, loosely curled coat that does
not demand as much grooming as the poodle coat often needs. A
true Australian Labradoodle
coat should not require more than an occasional trim and weekly
brushing,
making them an easy care dog for those with disabilities.
The traits
that make a perfect service dog are also the traits that are highly
desirable
for the perfect family pet... A dog that is sensible, smart,
loyal,
calm, loves people and void of aggression in a non shed, allergy
friendly,
easy care "wrapping" describes the ideal qualities looked for in a
family
pet. There is a huge demand for well bred Australian
labradoodles
and wait lists are common for reputable labradoodle breeders.
Good labradoodle breeders are
working hard to ensure that health testing is done on the dogs used in
the breeding program to try and prevent the health problems commonly
found
in many breeds today. And when you are choosing a breeder,
you should
ask questions about what health testing has been done on their
labradoodle
breeding stock and what health guarantees they offer.
What
Is An Australian Labradoodle?
Most
breeds originated for use as hunters, herders, guard dogs or draft
animals,
and breed traits were selected for that purpose. Australian
labradoodles
bear the distinction of being a breed created to be companions and
helpers
to people. The Australian
Labradoodle is a distinct breed
in its' own right, differing from straight poodle/lab crosses of
various
percentages. This is due, in part, to generations of
selection
based
on temperament and type, and to the infusion of other breeds that
contributed
to the characteristics now seen in the breed. The true
Australian
Labradoodle has infusions in the background of their pedigrees of
English and American Cocker Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel, Curly Coated
Retriever as well as the Poodle and Labrador Retreiver.
Australian Labradoodles
are characterized first and foremost by temperament.
Labradoodles are
to be a sweet, friendly, loving intelligent dog void of
aggression.
The founder of the breed has said that they particularly focused on
breeding
for excellent temperament and health. Only non dominant males
and
females were used in their labradoodle breeding program, regardless of
what other attributes they may have possessed... generations
of this
kind of selection has now consistently produced a sweet natured,
friendly
dog. Labradoodles are a solid bodied dog, sturdy in type,
with a non shed
coat. The Australian Labradoodle breed is now a recognizable
breed
in its own right with a breed standard of its' own and will breed true
to itself. Here at Copper Canyon Labradoodles, we have chosen
to
begin our breeding program with multigenerational Australian
Labradoodles
direct from Tegan Park Breeding and Research Centre, one of the breed
founders,
and will continue to breed carefully, so as to maintain the high
standards
of this lovely breed.
Click here
to go to the Australian Labradoodle breed standard.
Labradoodles:
F1 ~ F1B ~ Multigens... How Is The
Australian Labradoodle Different?
The
primary difference between Australian Labradoodles (sometimes referred
to as "multigens") and other labradoodles is consistency...
consistent non-shed and less allergenic coat, consistent
sweet
temperament, consistent body type. Australian Labradoodles
have
many generations of labradoodle bred to labradoodle on their pedigrees
as well as more breeds in their lineage than just lab/poodle. And as
mentioned above, Australian Labradoodles have English and American
Cocker Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel and Curly Coated Retrievers in
their background as well as Lab and Poodle.
F1's
Since
the very first crossings done in Australia in 1989 when
the labradoodle breed was developed, there are a range of other types
of labradoodles
being bred to meet the demand for this popular new breed.
First generation
labradoodle crosses (poodle x lab) are called F1 crosses and will have
attributes of both the lab and poodle. Many F1 labradoodles
will
shed to some degree (though generally less than a pure lab or other
hair
coated dog) and some will not.
F1B'sand F2's
Other breeders are breeding a first
generation labradoodle with a standard or miniature poodle (75% poodle
25% lab) and calling that cross an F1B. F1B labradoodles do
not tend
to shed and can show more of the characteristics of the pure poodle in
type. Second generation labradoodle crosses (F1 x F1) will
show more
variation, both in body type and in coat type, with some of them
showing
a flat lab type coat, a low to moderate shedding
coat and some
a non shed poodle or 'fleece' coat and varying degrees of lab or poodle
body type.
As a general statement, there is more variablity found
in the earlier generations of labradoodles as type and temperament
traits
are not yet 'set'. By the third generation (F2 x F2), both
body type
and coat type will be more predictable, depending on the individual dogs
selected in the breeding program. It is not
enough to only choose
for coat type, the whole picture should be kept in mind. It
is a
challenge to breed for temperament, coat AND type when developing this
breed from 'scratch', not forgetting the health testing of parent stock
along the way!
Also gaining
recognition are other various 'doodle' breeds. Shepadoodles,
goldendoodles
and aussiedoodles all have their loyal following. The same
discussion
above regarding coat types and shedding applies to these other doodle
breeds
as well.
Labradoodle
Breed History
The first
recorded
purposeful breeding of a lab to a poodle was done in 1988 by
Wally Conran, who was working for the Royal Guide Dog Association.
A client's husband had allergies to dogs... over
twenty
poodles had saliva and hair samples taken and sent to where they
resided, but her husband was allergic to all samples sent. A
while later, Wally suggested crossing one of the Labrador Retrievers
with a Standard Poodle. This was done and one of the
resulting
three puppies did NOT aggravate her husband's allergies. He
was
named Sultan and successfully competed his training as a service dog.
Although the lab x poodle program at the Royal Guide Dog Association
was eventually abandoned, of the 31 puppies bred by the RGDA, 29 of
them passed the qualifications to be service dogs, demonstrating the
wonderful potential of the early labradoodle breedings. It
should
also be mentioned that the sires and dams of these 29 labradoodle
puppies were in the breeding program of the guide dog association
because of their attributes of intelligence, trainability, willingness
and loyalty. Not just ANY poodle crossed with ANY lab
produced
these exceptional results!
After the RGDA abandoned the breeding program, likely because of the
lack of consistency regarding non-shed coats and non-allergenic
characteristics in the lower generations, Angela Cunningham, founder of
Tegan Park Breeding and Research Centre, took up the challenge.
Purchasing dogs from the guide dog association as well as
various
crosses from another dog breeder named Don Evans, she began to build a
breed type. Other breeds were infused to achieve the vision
of
what she believed a labradoodle should be and then bred back into
existing lines to create the Australian Labradoodle as we know it today.
Labradoodles ~
Special Requirements
Australian
Labradoodles are not a breed that will suit every person!
Labradoodles are
a smart breed and need stimulation, attention and some
grooming.
They will not suit a family or person where they are kenneled for most
of the day or left to their own devices in the house, as left to their
own, they may find their own amusements! Labradoodles are NOT
a
dog that you can leave tied or penned in the back yard. They are a very social breed,
learn quickly and want to be with their people as a part of the
family. They will need brushing once a week, a light trim
every two or three months
and baths occasionally. A well bred labradoodle is a pleasure
to
have around, is remarkably healthy and has an average life span of 12
to
15 years or longer. If you are looking for a family companion
that
is loving, smart, playful, non shedding and you have the time to train
and love a dog, an Australian Labradoodle may be the dog for you!
