THE LABRADOODLE ORIGIN

Labradoodles are an intentional cross between a Labrador and a Poodle. The breed originated in Australia in the 1970’s when Wally Cochran was prompted to breed a dog for a blind woman who suffered from allergies.
 

The result was somewhat of a success as some of the puppies inherited the genes from the poodle which provided the curly non-shedding coats combined with the trainable loving nature of the Labrador.  Most of the Labradoodles bred as a result of this fusion became guide dogs.
 

This was the beginning of the type of dog we know today as the Labradoodle. Labradoodles are now widely bred in Australia, America and in the U.K. The aim of the breed is to produce a puppy with either a curly or wavy, low or ideally non-shedding coat. Although no one can guarantee this with English Labradoodles, it would be fair to say that many are light shedding and some are non shedding while others do shed - a lot! 
 

The Australian Labradoodles have a wool or fleece coat and they are non shedding.  T English Labradoodles may have hair coats which can shed in varying degrees. Some puppies in a litter will be more smooth coated but they will still have the delightful Labradoodle personality!

Labradoodles are loyal, loving companions who prove to be good guard dogs in the home. They enjoy the company of people and other dogs and their temperament makes them an ideal choice for families with children. They are usually very energetic and agile and enjoy dog agility.

Labradoodles are very intelligent and trainable. They are often used as working dogs and perform a variety of roles which is why they are a popular choice with the charities Canine Partners for Independence and Guide Dogs for the Blind. They can be taught many commands and can transform the lives of people with disabilities.

It is essential that the parents to have the relevant health tests. 

See our Health Testings Page for information relating to the Health Tests carried out by Breeders who are Members of the UK Doodle Club.

50 50 (Half English Half Australian)

Some breeders of Labradoodles are crossing the Australian Labradoodle with the English Origin.   These puppies have LOW shedding coats and are LOW odour too, which makes them immensely popular and highly sought after.  Their superior genes and high trainability, as well as slightly lower cost that a 100% Pure Australian make them a very happy and intelligent mix - suitable for families and individuals who want a fun-loving and sociable dog, happy to tag along and be part of the family, but with the added bonus of a quality coat.

As with ALL Labradoodles, they are companion dogs, and therefore respond well to lots of attention, consistent training and positive discipline.  The 50 50 is predominantly sold as a Pet, rather than for breeding from.

WHY HAVE A LABRADOODLE?

This is a serious question that you MUST ask yourself before going any further.

Some Labradoodles shed (a lot!). Some grow to the height of the Standard Poodle (up to 28" at the shoulder) AND carry the bulk and weight of their Labrador ancestry ... In short you could end up with a canine "donkey".   The Miniature version has a Miniature Poodle as the Sire and produces a much smaller Labradoodle which is more the size of a Cocker Spaniel when fully grown (approx 18").
 

Most doodles are HUGELY intelligent.  Intelligence x boredom = mass destruction.  Don't even contemplate this breed unless you are home for the VAST MAJORITY of the day or you won't have a house or garden left to be proud of!

They LOVE exercise and lots of it! All sizes will benefit from an hour to an hour and a half's off-lead exercise daily once they reach adulthood.  That's not "play on your own in the garden" type exercise, its physical graft, chasing balls, smelling new smells and seeing new sights in the park, on the downs, on the beaches stuff. If you don't have the time, forget this breed!

In short, they are hard work, so why bother?

Well, some of the pups will have light to non-shedding coats and if properly bred, all will be full of cross-bred vigour. 

They are born with fantastic temperaments, they are intelligent, affectionate, playful, extremely sociable, friendly and non-aggressive which makes them perfect companions - being especially good with children of all ages.
 

They are very trainable, quick to learn and eager to please, and yes, they are absolutely beautiful to look at.
 

Some people only breed first generation puppies (Labrador X Poodle) saying that these have the best ‘hybrid vigour’ and temperaments. These are referred to as F1 Labradoodles.

Other breeders will back-cross this first generation Labradoodle to a pure-bred – usually a Poodle - to strengthen the Poodle coat influence – saying that the resultant cross - an "F1b" - is most likely to have a coat that sheds less.
 

Hypoallergenic?

There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog!  Contrary to many lines of thought, the Labradoodle Origin DOES shed to varying degrees, but it is the allergy that needs to be addressed, and what in actual fact triggers the allergy - saliva, or dander/hair.  Anecdotal evidence suggests that some allergy sufferers can deal with Labradoodles, but we recommend that you visit an allergy specialist to determine what triggers your allergy before buying a Labradoodle.  Many Labradoodle breeders naturally have dogs that DO moult on their premises (such as the Labrador!) so it would not be realistic to expect a visit to the breeder to 'see' if an allergic reaction is provoked.  Some Labradoodle Origin puppies may not cause a reaction in some sufferers, but they may do when their coat develops in adulthood. 

The 100% Pure Australian Labradoodle is the only type of Labradoodle that should NOT moult.  They have been bred over the years to produce a non-shedding coat and, if bred sympathetically, they should continue to do so well into the future.