Background Information
Description
The Labradoodle was first bred in Australia. Its early origins date back to a man named Don Evans, although credit is usually given to the Guide Dog Associations due to the media coverage gained at that time as the search for a low allergy Guide Dog led to the breeding of Labradoodles. A Standard Poodle and a Labrador Retriever were bred together in response to an inquiry by a blind lady in Hawaii who needed a low allergy guide dog. The Labrador's easy going ways and the Poodle's intelligence made for an interesting combination and an exciting discovery was that a percentage of each litter had puppies which appeared to be allergy friendly. An added bonus for the Labradoodle was the lack of shedding in some of these puppies, and the absence of doggy smell. Today, there are three sizes of the Labradoodle: Standard (size of a Standard Poodle ), Medium (Labrador size) and Miniature (around the size of a Cocker Spaniel). Labradoodles are slightly heavier than the Standard Poodle with strong front limbs. They are an overall balanced dog with a slightly longer than square build. There can be curly or wavy coats. The Labradoodles' heads are broad and their eyes are large, slightly round and set apart. Their nose is square and large. The tail is like a saber and should be low set.
Labradoodle Generations
What is the Difference Between the Different Generations of the Labradoodle?
Every breed of purebred dog we see today began as a mixed breed. These breeds were created by carefully selecting which animals should breed to obtain a desired characteristic. After years of selective breeding the result we see is the purebred breed standard. However, with this selective breeding we also increased the occurrence of breed specific conditions and diseases seen in each of these purebred breeds. Mixed breed dogs are said to be healthier and live longer due to "hybrid vigor". Hybrid vigor is a phenomenon in animal breeding referring to the fact that the first cross between two unrelated purebred lines is healthier and grows better than either parent line. Hybrid vigor is due to the increased amount of genes in the gene pools of these mixed breeds which can result in a healthier and sturdier dog. Being that Labradoodles are a relatively new breed of dog, there is not yet a definitive breed standard, nor are they yet recognized by the American Kennel Club, you have a choice of different generations of the Labradoodle as the breed is developing. The generations are as follows:
F1B Generation Labradoodles ( ¾ Poodle; ¼ Labrador Retriever): the result of a purebred Poodle being bred with a first generation Labradoodle. Because this generation has more Poodle genes it is more likely to display the low to non-shedding coat of the Poodle. This generation is the one most recommended for allergy sufferers. It is usually thicker and curlier than a first generation Labradoodle with a wavy or curly coat. Their coat continues to grow in length and requires occasional grooming. Although there is less vigor in this crossing than in the first generation Labradoodle, the first generation back-cross still is close enough in the breeding tree to benefit from hybrid vigor. With each successive generation vigor is lost.
- Second Generation Labradoodles: The result of a first generation Labradoodle being bred with another first generation Labradoodle. Because of the great gene variation in this generation it is very hard to say which breed their characteristics will take after. This is the generation that is hardest to predict coat type, shedding and size. However, this generation is a step closer to a true breed of Labradoodle. This generation is not recommended for moderate to severe allergy sufferers.
- Multi-generation Labradoodles: are the result of breeding second generations or multi-generation Labradoodles with other second or multi-generation Labradoodles. It is breeding among Labradoodles with longer Labradoodle pedigrees. This is the generation that is closest to achieving a breed standard and are sometimes referred to as Australian Labradoodles since many of these multi-generation dogs originated from Australia and have very lengthy pedigrees. Many times the Australian Labradoodle has more than just the Poodle and Labrador genes within their pedigree. Other breed that are commonly used in the Australian Labradoodle are: Irish Water Spaniels, Curly Coat Retrievers and Cocker Spaniels. American Labradoodles are generally just the Poodle/Labrador Retriever crosses, regardless of generation. Australian or American, multi-generation Labradoodles (depending on the length of the pedigree) are generally non-shedding. Their coat continues to grow in length and requires combing and occasional grooming. It is thicker than a first generation Labradoodle and can have a curly, fleece or wavy coat type.
*Allergy sufferers refers to an allergy to dog fur
Labradoodle Temperment and Appearance
Temperament
Labradoodles are social, friendly, non aggressive, and extremely intuitive. Their intelligence and high train-ability make them well suited for guide dogs, therapy dogs, and other assistance dogs. They are happiest when they are with people or other dogs being that they are such social animals. They are great family pets. Labradoodles require a moderate amount of exercise and are happiest when trained correctly and allowed to show off to and be with their human family. Labradoodles do not do well when in an environment where they are frequently left alone for long periods of times. These are very social animals and do best when able to socialize frequently.
Sizes
Three sizes of Labradoodles are currently distinguished.
The Standards are 21 - 24 inches tall.
The Mediums are 17 - 20 inches tall.
The Miniatures are 14 - 16 inches tall.
Weight
The Standards: Females - 45-65+ pounds; Males - 55-80+ pounds.
The Mediums: 40-55 pounds, Males being the larger.
The Miniatures: 26-55 pounds, Males being the larger.
Coat
Labradoodles are bred to have either the truly fleece coat or the wool curly coat. Both coat types can be non-shedding and allergy friendly. The fleece coat has a distinctly soft fleecy feel unlike any other dog coat. It hangs in loose loopy spirals like that of the Angora goat. The wool curly coat resembles that of a poodle and feels like a soft woolly sweater. First generation labradoodles may exhibit a coat like the Labrador, the poodle, or a mix of the two. These generations are not recommended for someone looking for a truly low allergy dog, as they may shed.
Colors
The coat color of the Labradoodle is highly variable due to the high color variability in the Poodle. It is important to note that the true color of your puppy's coat may not entirely show up until they reach two or three years of age. However, a good breeder should be able to give you a good estimate about the true color of your Labradoodle's coat when they reach adulthood.Parti: White with black patches (or any color combination) throughout coatCream and Apricot Cream: Cream in color, like the name implies; may have rose or black pigment.Caramel: A rich gold/apricot very much the color of its namesake - caramel through to a deep red.Apricot/Gold: The color of a ripe apricot on the inside. It can come in varying shades and may fade as the dog grows older.Chocolate: Dark and rich, born almost black, they maintain a dark chocolate throughout their lifetime. Color should be even. A true chocolate is a very rare color .Red: A solid, even, rich red color which should have no sprinkling of other colored fibers throughout the coat. A true red must not be lighter at the roots than at the tips of the coat. Red can fade somewhat with age.Blue: A dark to medium smoky blue. Blue is a rare color. Blue dogs are born black but will have blue skin and under tones at a young age which develop more as they age.Silver: Born black but will have more of a gray skin and will develop individual silver fibers at a young age. Silver dogs can take up to 3 years to develop their true color and become a beautiful smoky gray through to a light iridescent platinum and varying shades in between at adulthood.Cafe': Born milk chocolate of varying shades, and have the same gene as the silver dogs, often taking up to 3 years to fully develop their multi shades of chocolate, silvery chocolate and silver throughout. When given plenty of time in the sunshine, they develop beautiful bronze highlights.Sable Brown: Black with Brown throughout the coat, they have a silver-ish base coat. They have tan, silver, brown and black and lighten as they mature.Chalk: This color appears white but when compared to a true white it is a chalky white. They may have rose or black pigment.
Hypoallergenic Labradoodles?
Are Labradoodles Really Hypoallergenic?
First and foremost it is important to understand that there is no such dog that is truly hypoallergenic. A hypoallergenic dog is said to be one that does not irritate allergies in humans that have dog allergies. Although there are cases of certain Labradoodles being "hypoallergenic" to some people, the very same dogs may cause allergic reactions to other people. A Poodle’s hair is often believed to be preferable over other dog fur for allergy sufferers; however hair is not the cause of allergies. The allergy lies within the skin of the dog as well as body fluids such as saliva, tears and urine, plus dead skin cells, called ‘scurf’ can all contribute to make an allergy sufferer’s life miserable. A wool-like coat that doesn’t shed may be a godsend for some allergy sufferers, though not all. And not all Labradoodle coats are non-shedding.
Remember, it depends on what exactly the person may be allergic to, and they may very well be sensitive to more than one allergen. Or they may become sensitive to an allergen over time if constantly exposed. If you are an allergy sufferer hoping to find that perfect dog, expose yourself to the prospective animal for as long and as often as possible before you make your selection.
