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AUSTRALIAN LABRADOODLES
The Australian Labradoodle breed dates back to the 1980’s and was initiated by Wally Conran of Royal Guide Dogs located in Victoria Australia. The intent was to create a breed that was allergy and asthma friendly with the temperament of a service dog. This journey was inspired by a vision impaired woman in Hawaii needed a Guide Dog which wouldn’t aggravate her husband’s allergies. Of the 31 Labradoodles bred at Royal Guide Dogs, a staggering 29 made it through as Guide Dogs… an accolade of paralleled proportion for this “new breed’ of Guide Dog.
Two Australian Labradoodle Breeders, Tegan Park and Rutland Manor picked up from where Wally Conron left off, realising that more than two breeds were going to be required to create an non shedding, allergy and asthma friendly service dog and to influence the size, conformation and temperament four other breeds were infused over multiple generations, the English and American Cocker Spaniels, the Curly Coated Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel. These infusions resulted in producing beautiful and very different dogs and were carefully chosen over many generations of breeding to produce the lovable dogs that we refer to as multi-generation Australian Labradoodles or as RM and TP named them the ASD (Australian Service Dog) And quickly became a success with allergy and asthma sufferers and did fantastic work in both Service and Therapy work.
This new Breed made its way to the USA in the 1990s and then to the UK in 2006. Shortly thereafter. The breed became popular throughout much of Europe. Nowadays Australian Labradoodles can be found working in service, as therapy dogs and as much loved family pets in all corners of the globe.
The Perfect Australian Labradoodle
The recipe for the perfect Labradoodle is still being developed and monitored adapted by these associations. Labradoodles are becoming very consistent in type and now breeding true, but of course new lines are still needed to ensure the genetic diversity of the Australian Labradoodle. It will only be a few short years before the required criteria is met; to become a recognised breed with the International Kennel Clubs.
For a new breed to become recognised it must be more than the combination of two breeds. Labradoodles in the past are known to have in addition to Poodle and Labrador Retriever; American/English Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Curly Coated Retriever and Irish Water Spaniel.
It appears that the Curly Coated Retriever and Irish Water Spaniel were very minor contributors to the breed and will probably never be used further. Though the name Labradoodle is a bit of a misnomer, it is the name that everyone knows and recognises and to change names now would only create confusion.
Australian Labradoodle Characteristics
One of the biggest differences between the Ladradoodle (Labrador x Poodle) and the Australian Labradoodle is the coat type – Australian Labradoodles have non-shedding fleece and wool coats which will grow quite long which is easily trimmed to your preference whereas Early Generation Labradoodles have much shorter coats which shed to varying degrees. Australian Labradoodles also have a much more square shape and solid build than the Early Generation.
They are easy going, fun loving and have amazing characters. Being incredibly sociable, loving, comical, keen and easy to train and love being around people their temperament lends them to being a fantastic choice as a companion or perfect family pet.
Being highly intelligent and well balanced, calm and gentle the Australian Labradoodle displays an intuition about the emotional state of family members and their needs. This ability to “know” is what has made the Australian Labradoodle an excellent dog for individuals with special needs
The breed is athletic and graceful with a compact, medium-boned body. They are energetic when free and and quiet when handled. Their coat is non-shedding and easy to manage.
Size
At this stage in the breed’s development, the Australian Labradoodle comes in three sizes:
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Miniature: Between 14-16 inches (35-42 centimetres) in height at wither, but not more than 17 inches.
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Medium: Between 17-20 inches (43-52 centimetres) in height at wither, but not more than 21. Ideal size for a female is 17-19 inches; for a male, 18-20 inches.
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Standard: Between 21-24 inches (53-63 centimetres) in height at wither, but not more than 25 inches
Coat
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Coat length should be 4-6 inches long.
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It should be straight, wavy or forming spirals and should naturally grow in staples with a soft texture.
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It should not be too thick or dense nor should it be fluffy or fuzzy. It should be a single coat; any sign of a double coat is a fault.
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The ideal fleece and wool coats can be spun successfully. Hair coat (hair texture that sheds) is undesirable and is a major fault.
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It is important that the coat gives the impression of being a fleece in type rather than dog hair.
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It is acceptable to see a coat change from the puppy to adult coat, and also during hormonal changes in fertile bitches.
Colours
The Australian Labradoodle comes in a variety of colours, mostly cream, apricot, red, black, chocolate, parti and abstract colours.
Australian Labradoodle size, coats, colours source: Australian Labradoodle Association
The Australian Labradoodle is the 21st century’s dog breed
Innovation: Not designer or mutt
Doodles have been gaining popularity in recent years as a new type of designer dog breed. These dogs, which are a cross between a Poodle and other breeds, have been selectively bred for their unique traits and characteristics. While some newer doodles, such as the Bernedoodle and the Cavapoo, can be considered designer breeds, others, such as the Goldendoodle, and especially the OG Doodle, the Australian Labradoodle, have established themselves as their own distinct breeds. These breeds have their own established pedigree databases and breed standards, which are recognized by organizations such as the ALAA, GANA, and WALA. This distinction sets them apart from designer breeds and highlights their unique characteristics and qualities.
ALD Breed Innovation
One reason why Australian Labradoodles are their own breed is their unique genetic makeup. Doodles are created by breeding a Poodle with another breed, such as a Golden Retriever or a Labrador Retriever. The result is a puppy that inherits the best traits of both breeds, creating a unique combination of characteristics. Among the different types of doodles, the Australian Labradoodle is the oldest, most established, and consistent in terms of temperament and suitability as a service dog. They were first bred in Australia in the 1980s with the purpose of creating a hypoallergenic guide dog for people with allergies. The Australian Labradoodle has a unique genetic makeup that makes it highly trainable, social, and adaptable to different living environments.
Another reason why doodles are their own breed is their suitability as a companion animal. Doodles are known for their friendly and outgoing personalities, making them perfect companions for families with children or elderly individuals. However, Australian Labradoodles are particularly known for their intelligence, trainability, and ability to form strong bonds with their owners. They make excellent therapy dogs and service dogs due to their trainability and social nature.
Finally, Australian Labradoodles are their own breed because of their low-shedding coat. Doodles are often bred with Poodles for their hypoallergenic coat, which makes them a great option for individuals with allergies or sensitivities to dog hair. The Australian Labradoodle coat can vary in texture, including curly, fleece, wavy fleece, and straight. While the coat may require regular grooming, it should not affect shedding and can be a good option for busy individuals.
Just like a tech startup, the Australian Labradoodle breed was created by bringing together the best traits from different breeds to create something new and innovative. And just like a tech startup, the Australian Labradoodle breed is constantly evolving with responsible breeders always in the process of ongoing parent breed infusion to improve the breed’s temperament and genetics health. This is the key to success and to ensure that each generation of Australian Labradoodles is healthier, more trainable, and has a better temperament. With the right training and care, Australian Labradoodles can make loving and loyal companion for many years, while being a joy to be around.Responsible breeders, are always in the process of on-going parent breed infusion in the Australian Labradoodle breed for the purpose of temperament as well as to improve genetic health by limiting diseases. This ensures that each generation of Australian Labradoodles is healthier, more trainable, and has a better temperament. With the right training and care, Australian Labradoodles can make loving and loyal companion for many years, while being a joy to be around
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