Labradoodle Dog Breed

Although the Labradoodle comes from two breeds that are in the Sporting and Non-sporting groups (as recognized by the American Kennel Club), this hybrid tends to be more of a companion in the United States despite the original intent of producing a hypoallergenic guide dog which would have put the Labradoodle in the Working group.

Unlike most designer dogs and recent hybrids, the Labradoodle was distinctly bred to serve a relatively singular purpose. Still, there tends to be some confusion regarding Labradoodle facts even as this hybrid has a very well-known conception and history: there is the Australian Labradoodle — which is said to be a purebred — and the American Labradoodle, which is a hybrid but is essentially an exported Australian Labradoodle line. These highly trainable, excellent guide dogs are good for those who are getting their first dog, but it should be noted that patience is required to train them well.

PROS

• Very low to non-shedding
• Highly trainable
• Extremely friendly
• Makes a great watchdog
• Great with kids
• Superb family and companion pet

CONS

• Requires lots of daily exercise
• Needs outdoor space
• Doesn't do well as a guard dog
• Coat needs constant and frequent brushing and trimming
• Can develop separation anxiety and destructive behavior if not exercised frequently and regularly
• Prone to food allergies

The Labradoodle, while not the granddaddy of Poodle mixes, is the hybrid that prompted a craze that has yet to die down. Produced from cross-breeding a Labrador Retriever with a Poodle (almost always a Standard Poodle, but Toy and Miniature Labradoodles are becoming popular and as such, Toy and Mini Poodles are being used), your 'Doodle pup may have more Lab than Poodle or vice-versa, or she may be a perfect mix of both. Even within the same litter, Labradoodle puppies can vary in their inherited characteristics. It's best to learn about both parent breeds and as much qualified Labradoodle information as you can find if you plan on adopting a Labradoodle.

Labradoodles are generally very headstrong as they come from two highly trainable and very intelligent parent breeds. As such, a fair amount of patience is required when training and socializing them, and this must be done early and consistently. Proof of their intelligence is found in the hybrid dog's conception: a breeder with the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia sought to produce a hypoallergenic guide dog for blind people.

Although Labradoodles make great family pets, they must be made aware that you are the leader of the pack. They come from parent breeds that work in packs (Labradors) and have a long history of being used in war (Poodles), and they are instinctively inclined to shoot like a pistol through the family's "weaker links" and commandeer the household. It may be as subtle as being pushy during playtime or as obvious as begging and barking for food, but it can be greatly mitigated with early training and daily exercise. While 'Doodles are loyal and will follow you all around (that's the Poodle in them), they want what they want, and they should be taught early to work with all family members.

Under that oft-curly coat, there is a Labradoodle that needs to stretch his legs and will be happy to spend hours running around the yard, going on long walks and playing at the dog park. To not oblige this will prompt that energy to be released in unpleasant ways such as incessant barking, chewing on things other than toys, and developing various bad behaviors. There are many Search & Rescue units that use Labradoodles, and the flip-side is that, as a family pet, they have that energy, strength and stamina in reserve and as such, need to burn it off every day.

Most designer dogs and hybrids have little history about their conception and development — but not the Labradoodle. This dog was credited to Wally Conran, a trainer with the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia. In the late 1970's, Conran started cross-breeding dogs to produce a hypoallergenic guide dog for people with sight impairments. (In particular, it was a blind woman in Hawaii who, because of Australia's strict quarantine laws and Hawaii's then-recently relaxed laws, allowed a dog bred and raised in Australia to arrive and deplane in Hawaii without being quarantined.) Other breeders — such as Beverly Manners — claim it was a man named Don Evans. Both men lived in the Australian province of Victoria, as did (and does) Manners.

Conran used the term "Labradoodle" for a TV interview that was meant to help find temporary homes for unassigned guide dogs, and the gimmick worked: soon the phones were ringing off the hook as the 'Doodle became a national fad. (Although Conran was credited with conceiving the name, the term "labradoodle" — with a lower-case "l" — had been coined 33 years earlier in a 1955 book titled "Into the Water Barrier" by Donald Campbell and Alan W. Mitchell wherein was a "labradoodle" named Maxie.) A year later, in 1989, Manners made the hybrid dog an international trend when she exported Labradoodles to the United States. (Since then, Manners has become infamous for alleged neglect and mismanagement of her dogs, and Conran has publicly apologized for having produced the Labradoodle as he felt responsible for the aftermath of unlicensed breeders seeking quick profits at the expense of dogs and people alike.)

In any case, the Labradoodle was successfully produced in 1988 after years of attempts that led to crossing a Labrador Retriever with a Standard Poodle. Many claim that the Australian Labradoodle is a pure breed, and yet the American Labradoodle comes directly from the Aussie 'Doodle but is not recognized as a purebred by the American Kennel Association (AKC).

Labradoodles were originally bred to possess the Poodle's relatively hypoallergenic coat and the hard-working and highly trainable aptitude of the Labrador Retriever, but they were quickly bred more for their looks and, for the most part, remain so.

Although the parent breeds are very different-looking, most 'Doodles tend to have the coat of the Poodle with the tall, slim and athletic build of the Lab. They often appear to have a large head due to the big hair and large ears. The snout is usually somewhat large and long, and the medium-length tail should curl upward slightly. Except for the Mini- and Medium-Labradoodles (which continue to grow in popularity), the legs will be long, the paws medium-sized and there should be no dewclaws on the rear feet. (Dewclaws on the front is fine and there is no need to remove those!)

There are many Labradoodle coat types, but the most common is the very Poodle-esque one of silky, curly ringlets.

As most designer dogs tend to have four basic variations, so too does the Labradoodle: F1, F1B, F2 and F3. There is also the F2B Labradoodle, which many consider basically an F2.

An F1 Labradoodle is crossbred from a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle, both purebred. F1 Labradoodle puppies may turn out in many different ways, colors and coat styles.

An F1B Labradoodle is an F1 bred back to a Poodle — which makes the F1B 25% Lab and 75% Poodle. The reason that Poodles — rather than Labs — are used when breeding back an F1 is to make the coat more hypoallergenic as well as less-shedding.

An F2 Labradoodle is produced when two F1 Labradoodles are crossbred, and it has been remarked by many breeders and Labradoodle-lovers that F2s offer very little difference in shedding, health concerns, etc., from the F1. The F2B is an F2 bred back to an F1B.

An F3 Labradoodle, which is also the first generation that can be called a multi-generational (or multi-gen), comes from crossing two F2s. At this stage of cross-breeding, experienced, knowledgeable breeders can begin to control the multi-gen hybrids' personalities, coat styles, hair colors and more.

Labradoodles make great pets for families seeking a dog for the first time, but due to their easy excitability, high intelligence and preference for control (i.e., they will be "leader of the pack" if allowed), they must be trained and socialized very early and with patience, persistence and gentleness. Still, they are eager to please and always ready for action.

Exercise is mandatory for your Labradoodle, and she'll need a lot of it every day. If not exercised frequently and regularly, she will quickly develop bad habits to burn off all that energy that otherwise makes her a great guide dog or part of a search-and-rescue unit. It's best to have a securely fenced yard in which she can run.

Labradoodles love to play, and they will appreciate children so long as the kids know how to play and aren't so small as to be bowled over by accident if your 'Doodle gets excited. While they make good watchdogs, they usually don't make good guard dogs because they would prefer to meet new people. Getting along with other dogs is one aspect of the Labradoodle personality that can be appreciated too.

Despite a lot of publicity claiming Labradoodles are practically disease-free dogs, you should be aware that that is not the case. It is easy, however, to find good breeders who will provide the health histories of the parents so you can be aware of any possible concerns. The most common issues are hip and other joint dysplasias that can provoke arthritis; eye problems and ear infections (which can be prevented if their eyes and ears are kept clean and dry — especially after swimming, which they usually love to do!); food allergies; Von Willebrand's disease; and the relatively rare but increasingly possible Addison's disease.

Nevertheless, if you keep your Labradoodle well-exercised, healthy and happy, you should expect his life span to be about 12 to 15 years.

Some interesting facts about the Labradoodle mixed breed:

• One of the first "designer dogs": The Labradoodle is one of the earliest examples of a "designer dog" (a purposeful mix of two purebreds to produce specific results). In the 'Doodle's case, Labs and Standard Poodles were first crossbred in the 1970s in order to create a hypoallergenic guide dog for the visually impaired.
• Three Labradoodle sizes: Though a majority of 'Doodles have a Standard Poodle parent and average 22 inches and 55 pounds, the two smaller Poodle types are sometimes used in the breeding. Medium Labradoodles (Lab x Miniature Poodle) are about 19 inches in height and 35 pounds in weight; Miniature Labradoodles (Lab x Toy Poodle) average 15 inches and 20 pounds.
• "Ugly Labradoodle" Christmas apparel: Most owners would vehemently disagree with the statement that Labradoodles are ugly! Even so, some clothing retailers sell comically hideous holiday-themed clothing, complete with an "Ugly Labradoodle" logo and the breed's image on front.
• Celebrity Labradoodle owners: Lots of famous people have owned 'Doodles, including golfer Tiger Woods, actress Jennifer Aniston, politician Joe Biden, and musician Neil Young.