Labradoodle

Labradoodle Information

• Exercise Needs: middle to high
• Typical Health Problems: hip dysplasia and eye problems
• Average Life Expectancy: 13 to 15 years
• Grooming Requirements: low
• Training Difficulty: easy
• Diet: normal for a middle sized dog
• Price and Cost: puppy price average around $800, but can be considerably higher, normal feeding and low grooming costs

Introduction

The story of the Labradoodle begins with a letter that Wally Cross, then in charge of the guide dog breeding program in Victoria (Australia), received in the late 1980′s. A blind woman was in need of a seeing eye dog, but as her husband was allergic to dogs, had difficulties finding a suitable one. Today the Labradoodle is worldwide recognized as being the first so-called ‘designer’ or ‘purpose bred’ dog and its intelligence, easy care and friendly temperament have captured the hearts of thousands. Few people can resist smiling, when they see one of these dogs with its bright smile and eager to please, intelligent character.

History and Future

Not recognized by any major kennel club, but represented by several national and international organizations, the Labradoodle is nevertheless a well known cross or hybrid dog that, in the foreseeable future, might well be recognized as an independent dog breed.

Labradoodles, that is the offspring of breeding between Labradors and Poodles, have been known since at least 1955, but only in 1988 did this hybrid breed receive attention when Wally Cross, then responsible for the breeding program of Guide Dogs Victoria, crossed a Standard Poodle with a Labrador with the aim to get a potential guide dog that was hypoallergenic for the husband of a blind woman in need of a seeing eye dog. The resulting cross, or hybrid, proved to be successful as a guide dog, and also most, if not all, Labradoodles can be considered hypo-allergenic and non-shedding. They soon became the first of the increasingly popular designer dog breeds we see today.

Two main strains of this breed how developed geographically, the ‘Australian Labradoodle‘ that, along with the standard Miniature Poodle and Labrador, also carries other dog breeds, such as Cockapoos (Cocker and Poodle Mixes), Irish Water Spaniels, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers and Curly Coated Retrievers (now excluded from the breeding program) in its bloodlines.

And the ‘Labradoodle‘, as it is bred in America and Europe, and that allows normally only Labrador x Poodle hybrids and their offspring in the pedigree. These dogs are also called Multigen, from multigenerational, when breeding only Labradoodles to Labradoodles or ‘early generation dogs’ when crossing the two different breeds. The first has the advantage of achieving a more stable look and character, whilst the latter insures that the gene pool stays varied. The American and the Australian association are working now, under the umbrella of ILAA, together in advancing the breed.

Appearance

This is a new dog breed that is still in its ‘development stage’ and while some breed standards have been defined, the appearance of the different dogs can vary. Here is a short overview of the two main varieties:

Australian Labradoodle

Also known as ‘Fleece Coated‘ or ‘Wool Coated‘ Aussie Labradoodles, terms that describe the two main coat varieties found. The coat is in all cases of middle length, but should not exceed 4in / 10cm in length and it should be even in length on the whole body. Any sign of an undercoat is a fault that excludes the dog in question from any breeding program, as the aim is to have a non-shedding, hypoallergenic dog breed. Both coat varieties should be soft to the touch, the fleece coat can be either wavy or spirally and the wool variety should have a spirally appearance similar to lambs wool.

Both coat varieties should be neither too dense in feel and look, nor too light and fluffy and it should be easy to reach the skin when passing the fingers through the coat.

Basically all colors and coat pattern are allowed…except albinism…with eye, nose and nail color appropriate for the coat color. Markings, when existing, should be well defined. The coat often lightens up during the life of the dog, due to the bleaching effect of the sun; a common occurrence with many working or service dog breeds.

The Labradoodle comes in three coat varieties, the two described above, plus ‘hair’, where the coat resembles more the coat of a Labrador and is still curly or wavy, but can be also nearly straight and has a texture similar to the soft coat of a Labrador.

These are dogs of an agile appearance that have a medium, but not too heavy, bone structure. The coat is preferred to be non-shedding, but shedding dogs do exist inside the breed. Like the poodle, they come in three sizes, ranging from Miniature (or Mini) Labradoodle over Medium to Standard, below are the measurement ranges for each variety. A square overall shape is desired (the dog is roughly as long as it is tall):

• Miniature Labradoodle: 14 to below 17in (35 to 42cm) height (wither).

• Medium: 17 to below 21in (43 to 52cm) height (wither).

• Standard: 12 to below 25in (53 to 63cm) height (wither).

The weight is not yet standardized, but should be below 15lb. / 7kg for a Mini Labradoodle and around 65lb. / 30kg for a standard one. As all three sizes come with two different coat varieties, or three in the case of the ‘Labradoodle, there are a total of 6 to 9 varieties of this breed in existence.

The head of the dog should be in harmonious relation to the body size, with large eyes that are set well apart and are attentive, intelligent and expressive. The ears hang on the sides of the head and the leather shouldn’t reach below the lip line. The neck connects to the body in a flowing, slightly arched line and shouldn’t be too short. The legs should be straight and strong, without appearing massive. The tail is carried on the height of the top line, but shouldn’t curl up.

Traits that are undesirable, and will exclude a dog from the breeding program, are any that would be unsuitable for a guide or service dog such as aggression and dominance issues. Nervousness, excessive barking and shyness are also negative traits.

Temperament

Bred as service and guide dogs, the Labradoodle has inherited the intelligence from its parent dog breeds, is calm, clever, mellow, amenable and active. A certain amount of ‘making independent decisions’ and initiative for the benefit of the dog handler / owner should be present. When off duty, it is a playful dog with a great sense of humor that likes to entertain people with its antics or go for a good, long swim. It is a dog that generally gets on well with strangers, other dogs and pets and shows a special affinity towards children. It is an emphatic dog breed that instinctively knows how to judge the feeling and emotions of the people around it.

Training

Easily trainable and highly intelligent, this breed is not only great as a service or guide dog, but also as a family and companion dog. Due to its mellow character, it does best with methods of positive reinforcement and will easily react negatively to harsh correction or punishment. This dog lives to please its owner and family and as long it understands the command, will follow it joyfully. When kept as a family or companion dog, it still needs a task and will often adopt the job of entertaining the children. When it comes to dog sports, this breed excels in agility and other related disciplines. Due to its desire to please and intelligence, it can be considered a good choice as a dog for a ‘first time dog owner’.

Exercise Needs

When kept as a family dog, daily walks and playtimes are a must to keep the dog fit and entertained. A good run in the park with other dogs or some sort of dog sport at least once a week are recommended. A dog that is not exercised enough will find something to do and that might not always be something that the owner appreciates. When living as a working or service dog, regular playtime and ‘time off duty’ will help the dog to keep its spirit and get rid of excess energy.

Grooming Requirements

These are low, especially when having a truly non-shedding Labradoodle, but the coat should be brushed twice weekly, to remove dust and dirt and sometimes it is necessary to clip excessive hair between the toes. Nail clipping shouldn’t be necessary for a well exercised dog, but can be necessary if the dog is walking mostly on soft ground.

Common Health Problems

Labradoodles can suffer from hip dysplasia, which is common also in the parent breeds, and should therefor always get an OFA or PenHip certificate before being included in a breeding program. Eye problems of different kinds are also reported and a DNA testing for this is recommended before breeding, in order to avoid problems in future generations. A relatively new problem, especially amongst ‘Australian Labradoodles’ and ‘Multigen’ Labradoodles is Addison’s Disease which is currently being investigated to determine how widespread it has become in the breed. Addison’s Disease is a hormone disorder that can lead to several neurological problems, but can be treated successfully with hormone supplement therapy. Obviously dogs that are diagnosed with this kind of disease should be excluded from any breeding program and their already existing offspring has to be watched carefully. If you like do know more about this disease >Addison Dogs<, a non-profit and self-help organization of owners of affected dogs is a good place to start.

Price and Costs

Prices for puppies vary greatly, but typically start at an average of around $800 for puppies from reputable breeders. Feeding costs are normal and grooming costs are low.

Other Important Points to Consider

• Unfortunately a lot of puppy mills and other, irresponsible, breeders are trying to take advantage of the popularity of the breed and are selling poorly bred and overpriced Labradoodles via pet shops and even by ‘mail order’. Before considering buying a dog, please check the official association for the bred and its website to find a list of reputable breeders. Don’t support puppy mils by buying from pet shops! Additionally you can also check your local dog shelter or rescue association for Labradoodles that are looking for a new, forever home.

• If you need to be sure that you buy a dog that is truly hypoallergenic for you and / or your family, ask the breeder to provide hair and salvia samples and get tests done before you settle for a specific dog. Be also aware that some characteristics might change as a puppy grows older and it can cause allergies when grown up, despite the fact that it didn’t do so when it was a puppy. If allergies are a major concern for you, consider getting an adult dog, either from a rescue shelter or a retired breeding dog, as their hair and salvia can be tested more reliably for possible allergy causes.

Summary

The Labradoodle is a great family and companion dog and is also a gifted service and guide dog. It is a breed that is ideal for a first time dog owner and gets along well with children and other family pets. Its friendly and sociable character means that it enjoys to meet new people and situations. When trained gently and exercised regularly this is a happy dog that brings lots of joy to its owners while being low maintenance. To learn more about this fascinating new, emerging breed go to the International Labradoodle Association Website.

Synonyms, nicknames and common misspellings include: Doodle, Labadoodle, Aussie Labradoodle or Labrodoodle.