Labradoodle - anyone own one?

Is there anyone on here with a Labradoodle? Interesting name but they look like beautiful dogs and is it true they were bred for the temperament of the Labrador Retriever and the allergen-reduced coat of the Standard Poodle?


I'd love to hear more about your dog if anyone has one.

The Labrador x Poodle was produced to make money from the 'interesting' name. As they do not breed true to any type, the appearance varies, and some shed their coat and some do not. No guarantees in anything, much like any other cross breed.

I don't have one but I've read a bit about them.

Dawn R.

Edited to add, both breeds have Hip dysplasia problems, and also eye problems with PRA.

Hi LS, I have an acquaintance that owns one - from what brief general chat there was about it, he is a very gentle, patient and easy dog to have.

I've seen one out and about in our village and it is a very elegant, beautifully proportioned and well behaved dog, it almost trots like a horse really

Unfortunately from what I understand there is a bit of controversy with the breed....surprise surprise

Apart from this, the knowledge is sparse on my side of the fence.

Were they not going to be used as guide dogs??

Found this on a site wondered if you may be intreseted

Labradoodles
Lisa Carson, ukdoodles.com

Labradoodles are truly marvellous dogs and make fabulous family pets. Many people assume that Labradoodles are simply a crossbreed, however they are now a distinct type of dog. Labradoodles have a Breed Standard and breeders are working to gain recognition with kennel clubs abroad.

They come in three sizes:
Standard : 21 - 24+ inches and weighing between 20 kg and 40 kg.
Medium : 17 - 20 inches and weighing between 15 kg and 19 kg.
Miniature : 12 - 16 inches and weighing between 10 kg and 15 kg

They are bred in a variety of colours from Chocolate, Café au Lait, Apricot and Cream through to a true deep Red. Their coats vary from hair in the early generations to curly coats and finally the perfect silky fleece of a pure Labradoodle, which should have the texture of an angora goat. The terminology used is slightly confusing. Basically F1 means first Labrador/Poodle cross then with each crossing the generation increases (F2, F3 …) for several generations until an “A” pure Multi-Generational Labradoodle emerges.

First Crosses

In the UK the majority of doodles are first crosses or low generation crosses (F1, F2B). These doodles are slightly unpredictable in appearance - their coats can be hairy and they usually shed like a Labrador or they are curly with hairy/coarse patches. Some take after their Poodle parent and have a woollier coat. First crosses also tend to be the largest size – Standard. They are lovely pets and make wonderful companions with a cheeky, scruffy irresistible quality. They are very clever and do need human contact during the day and if left to their own devices will find their own form of entertainment!

Multi-Generational pups are more consistent in appearance and size and low-shedding – their coats are woolly or a curly fleece, soft and sometimes long, with the texture of an angora goat. Also the three sizes are quite distinct in Multi-Generational Labradoodles and it is possible to breed the tiny true Miniatures. Multi - Gen Labradoodles are loving, intuitive and friendly however the same as F1 crosses, they require training and companionship in order to thrive in a family environment.

History

Labradoodles are Poodle/Labrador crosses originally intended as assistance dogs for people with allergies and/or asthma. In the eighties Wally Cochran at the Royal Guide Dog Association in Australia wanted to place an assistance dog with a vision-impaired woman in Hawaii whose husband suffered from allergies. There were 3 puppies in the first litter. One pup named Sultan proved to have an allergy-friendly coat and was suitable to be a guide dog. Unsure what to call the pups they coined the phrase “Labradoodle”.

Two Breeding and Research Centres for the Labradoodle were established, also located in the state of Victoria – Rutland Manor and Tegan Park . These Breeding Centres bred Labradoodle to Labradoodle, seeking consistency and uniformity. Some early litters had low to no shedding dogs whilst other matings produced shedding pups. But it was encouraging enough results to continue and preserve.

Since that time the Labradoodle has seen an explosion of popularity in countries across the world. In an effort to protect the Labradoodle's future, national associations were set up, and recently the International Labradoodle Association (“ILA”) was created. The ILA is creating a Registry, similar to the Kennel Club, for recording litters and registering dogs. ILA breeders adhere to a Charter , Breed Standard and Code of Ethics . doodleDogs is a member of the ILA and we are represented on the committee (Vice-President).


doodleDogs – http://www.ukdoodles.com
We'd like to introduce two of our special dogs – “ Curly ” and “ Lucky ”. They are siblings from a Rutland Manor line in Australia . The line is bred for assistance dogs in Australia and America , helping children with special needs, and for family pets.

“Curly” is a Multi-Generational Chocolate Medium Curly Fleece . Conceived in Australia at Rutland Manor (one of the two founder breeders of Labradoodles), from Coco-Pops (Cafe 20” Fleece) and Milky Bar Kid (Cream 18” Fleece). His mum and siblings live in Hawaii – who breed assistance dogs for children and family pets.

Curly is to be mated to Labradoodles and backcrossed to Poodles and Labradors . We are hoping for Chocolate and Cream pups with Curly, Woolly or Fleece coats. A very handsome gentleman with a loving nature. We think his pups are going to be simply adorable.
“Lucky” is an Apricot Cream Multi-Generational Labradoodle with a brown nose. Also conceived at Rutland Manor, she is smaller than her brother. She was born named “Loki” – a Hawaiian name but re-named her “Lucky” as the children misprounced Loki. Her coat is silkier than Curly's. Whilst she has not shed yet, she has a 20% chance of shedding based on the characteristics of her coat at birth. She is very clever and here in the photo is looking guilty, having been caught sneaking into a forbidden bedroom for a nap!

doodleDogs are starting to breed Australian Labradoodles in the UK . We are the first (as far as we are aware) in the UK to import Australian Labradoodles from the Rutland Manor/Tegan Park lines (the founding Labradoodle research/breeding centers in Australia ) to start a breeding program. Concentrating on Chocolate, Cream, Apricot and Red lines we hope to breed Multi-Generational Labradoodles with Woolly, Curly and Fleece coats. First crosses (“F1”) and backcrosses (Multi-Generational Labradoodle bred back to either a Labrador or Poodle), are planned – thus giving us a wider gene pool.

Labradoodles are lovely dogs, a couple i know down my street have two, one looks like a very large loose curled labrador, the other a very small built tight curled lab. Both from repeat matings. Lovely dogs, alot of variation in litters!

The last sentence of that(ellenlouise's post) make no sense whatsoever. Breeding a Labrador X Poodle back to a Poodle only increases the Poodle traits. It does nothing to fix 'Labradoodle' traits.

Dawn R.

Have to agree with you here Dawn, surely to start to breed a type true to form, and to begin to breed in 'labradoodle' traits you would have to mate a labradoodle to a labradoodle, not to a poodle.
I may be completley wrong but this is how it seems to me.


Anyways, a friend of mine has a labradoodle, she is 4 now, Tina is great, she has the poodle, low casting coat which is great considering her mom is alergic to dog hair,
Very lovely dogs, i would love to own one as they just remind me of sheep, i don't know why

Hi as you know i dont own one but because they have been crossed with a labrador i have done quite abit of reading up on them, they were breed orginally to have the temperament of the Labrador Retriever, and the allergen reduced coat of the Standard Poodle.
Labradoodle is known for its intelligence and trainability, low allergy coat, low to non-shedding coat and is said to be good with children too and are quite active and enjoy agility and obedience. Respond well to positive training methods most love water and are natural swimmers and retrievers. And are said to be good guide dog, and help with asthma suffers.
But health problems are said to be a concern because of mix in them, problems could accur due to genetic problems in the parent breeds. If anyone was thinking about purchasing a puppy i would ensure the parents have been screened for hereditary problems. Like Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy should be tested for. Ear Infections are also known of because of the Poodle parent, hair grows in there ears which should be checked regularly to reduce the risk of infection.

I couldnt tell you how accurate the information I have read up on is as i dont know anyone who has this breed so couldnt possibly say how accurate it is, its just what i have found out about them

Ooh this is a can of worms... on the labrador site... american...

I wouldnt want one....

I could think of other breeds I would rather cross, if I wanted a crossbreed....