The Breed

The Labradoodle Puppy

This wonderful cross between the friendly Labrador Retriever and the Standard Poodle was created to develop a low-shedding, more allergy-friendly breed of dog. Originally bred as guide dogs, health and intelligence were also selected for which to breed. The result, with the infusion of four other breeds, (American and English Cocker Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel, and Irish Soft Coated Wheaton), was this fantastic lovable creature called the Australian Labradoodle. When bred for health, conformity, and betterment of the breeds, Labradoodles are known for characteristics that make them an ideal family pet, namely:

• Allergy Friendly
• Highly Intelligent & Trainable
• Loving & Intuitive
• Playful & Interactive
• Non-shedding (in Multigens)
• Bred to Exact Breed Standards

Once part of your family, they will become a loving member for life!

The Labradoodle originated in Australia from The Guide Dog Association of Australia, when the association received an inquiry from a blind woman in Hawaii, requesting a guide dog that would not aggravate her allergies. Mr. Wally Conron was the driving force behind this program, which first bred a Labrador to the Standard Poodle. After years of research, the Australian lines have been brilliantly developed. These highly developed lines are consistent in gentle temperaments, allergy/asthma friendly, non-shedding coats, and wonderful intelligence. The Australian Labradoodle continues to be the gold standard by which all Labradoodles are measured. These are the qualities we want in our dogs, as we continue this incredible line!

Overall, the Australian Labradoodle is a fun-loving, quiet, calm yet comical, loving companion for families, as well as a fantastic service animal, being easily trainable, loyal, and intelligent. The Labradoodle is not a recognized breed as of yet, however, many breeders are working toward developing a breed standard for the future recognition of the Labradoodle.

Sizing Classifications of Labradoodles:

Miniature/Small (15-25 lbs, 13-17 in” at the shoulder) – This is a medium-sized dog by general dog standards, but in “doodle” terms, constitutes a “mini/small”.

Medium (30-45 lbs, 17-21″ at the shoulder) – This is a larger dog, often closer to a Lab size.

Standard (45-90 lbs, 22″ or more at shoulder) – The typical weight is between 60-70 pounds. This is a very large and sturdy dog.

Important Information RE Generations of Labradoodles:

Anyone can breed a Labrador Retriever to a Poodle and call those puppies “Labradoodles,” which is technically correct. However, there is a HUGE difference between a first-generation Labradoodle (F1, Lab bred to Poodle) and an Australian or Multigenerational Labradoodle whose lines have been developed for many years, if not decades, with purposeful and well-thought-out pairings. Early generation Labradoodles may have inconsistent coats and shed, and not possess the hypoallergenic qualities that so many seek. Also, if a breeder does NOT conduct proper health testing to screen out genetic disorders, you may end up with a wonderful puppy, but one that sadly develops life-altering health issues, even in its early years. Breeders like myself who do COMPLETE health screenings and choose only from the finest lines, and then create pairings based on the optimal results for health and temperament above all, as well as overall conformity of the breed, would like to differentiate the terminology behind the generations and what each may “mean.”

F1 = 50% Labrador and 50% Poodle (most likely shed, size restrictions, usually standard)

F1-B = 25% Labrador Retriever and 75% Poodle (F1 Labradoodle and Poodle cross) – Still may shed, coat quality uncertain, size restrictions

F2 = F1 Labradoodle and F1 Labradoodle cross (still questionable coats and size restrictions)

F3 = F2 Labradoodle and F1 Labradoodle cross or similar, and so on. F3 or above is considered “Multi-generation” (see below).

(LO) = Labradoodle Origin – This term describes the dogs above or dogs that have exclusively Labrador and Poodle Parent Breeds in their background.

(AL) = Australian Labradoodle – a dog made up of six different breeds: Labrador Retriever, Poodle, Irish Water Spaniel, Irish Soft Coated Wheaton, American Cocker Spaniel, and English Cocker Spaniel. These breeds were selected over many years by researchers in Australia to develop specific traits and qualities. These dogs must have over three generations of AL-to-AL in their pedigree to be considered a Multigen Australian Labradoodle. According to new guidelines from the Australian Labradoodle Association of America, to be considered an “Australian Labradoodle”, the dog must at least contain Lab, Poodle, and Cocker. **

Multi-generation = This is an F3 generation or greater. Multi-generation can also refer to an Australian Labradoodle Foundation Dog (ALF) – This term describes dogs that have both the Labradoodle Origin (LO) and an Australian Labradoodle (AL) Parent Breed in their heritage.

**IMPORTANT NOTE** All dogs formerly referred to as ALFs are now considered Australian Labradoodles.

Infusion – In the development of any new breed, a dog breed is “infused” with another breed (as those mentioned above were “infused” into the AL) to develop whatever traits the breeder is trying to achieve. With the Australian Labradoodle and the Labradoodle, the infusion of the list of dogs above is an accepted and expected process. Infusion is important not only to improve the looks or temperament of a dog breed but also to create a larger gene pool.

We hope this helped to clear things up a bit if you are a bit confused! (I know I was at first!) Enjoy our website and feel free to inquire more with us about these wonderful breeds!