Australian labradoodle

[Mrsplod]

Can anyone tell me a bit about their Australian labradoodle? Mainly temperament, size, energy levels, trainabillty?

[Trase]

Hia I'm just wondering if you ever got your Australian labradoodle.
If you did could you let me no where, and what your experience was please. Thanks so much

[MattMagnolia]

Isn’t it Australian labradoodles which are neutered at a few weeks old so their new owners can’t breed from them?
Absolutely barbaric.

[Aurea]

I hear what you're saying about poodle mixes, but Australian labradoodles are not cross breeds. They are a 'breed' of dog with specific characteristics, looks, temperament as many pedigree dogs. They have been bred for 30 years by infusing 6 different breeds: poodle, cocker spaniel, American cocker spaniel, Labrador, curly coated retriever, Irish water spaniel. There is an Australian labradoodle association which has breed standards, code of ethics, list of breeders that adhere to a strict code of conduct. The early neutering/ neuter contract avoids any old person messing with the breeding programme, although supply and demand then pushes up prices which of course the breeders benefit from.

Here is some information about the development of the 'breed' in Australia where it is officially recognised. It is not an officially recognised breed here but in the UK and there has been some reticence to have the breed officially recognised by the kennel club for various reasons.

www.laa.org.au/index.php/info/labradoodle-parent-breeds

Remember all breeds of dogs began this way by infusing characteristics together and breeding for specific traits.

The Australian labradoodle has been created to provide a more allergy friendly, assistance/therapy/ family-friendly companion dog. My dog's mum is now a therapy dog to a severely autistic boy and makes a huge difference to his family's life.

[HelenRivington]

I’ve met a LOT of Doodles and Poos. Cockapoos in particular are prolific round these parts.

I can honestly say that very few of them are dogs I’d want to take home.

A lot are far more high energy than their families anticipated. They’re often vocal. Some - not many but some - are very timid. Often the owners of the timid ones will say “Oh yes..... his mum was quite shy too” 🙄

The Labradoodles are even more of a lottery. I’ve met several with rather unpleasant, curly but coarse coats that, after the dogs coat matured, shed like a bastard despite the breeders assurances that they don’t. One owner described it as like having your furniture, carpet and clothes permanently covered in pubes.

[TrendyNorthLondonTeen]

Some Labradoodles not maybe!

[TrendyNorthLondonTeen]

Maybe Labradoodles just look like shaggy Labs and they shed like Hell. (Though as a dog groomer I find that these ones are much calmer than the more "poodley" doodles)

Though why not just get a poodle if you want a poodle cross...?

[howwudufeel]

That’s what they use for their breeding programme. The result is cross breed puppies.

[MustardScreams]

@howwudufeel the Guide Dogs UK website itself clearly states that they mainly use pure breed labs, goldens and GS. They have used cross breeds of labs and goldens also. They also state they use curly coated retrievers and 2 poodles. No poodle crosses though, unsurprisingly.

[howwudufeel]

MustardScreams In actual fact GDs aren’t mainly Labradors. They are crossbreeds, Labrador/Retrievers. This is considered to be the best mix although they do still train GSDs, labradoodles and Italian Spinones.

[fivedogstofeed]

My most recent direct experience of labradoodles? I was involved in the release of an elderly poodle stud dog from an Irish puppy farm - coat hacked off over pressure sores, testicular tumours et al.
I really wish people would wake up and stop believing all the cute FB pictures.

[MustardScreams]

@PinkOboe that’s really interesting, thanks for posting.

So the guy that actually invented the ‘breed’ is against the practices, if that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know then there really is no hope.

[PinkOboe]

i think this interview with Wally Conran who was the first to attempt a consistent cross of Labradors and poodles to use as service dogs, is essential reading.

[Booboostwo]

Aurea you are right, I apologize I did not see that they mentioned scores for each dog.

I’ve paid for pedigree dogs and horses from a particular studbook, the difference is that breeds are bred for a purpose. So for example, when I want a dressage horse buying a Hanoverian with Donnerhall lines (the most prolific sire of Olympic dressage horses) is more likely to give me what I want than buying a horse bred for the meat market. Buying a young animal for a specific purpose is always a gamble but you can take steps to minimize the risk, in this case the Donnerhall foal as opposed to the meat market foal.

In addition breeds are controlled by breed clubs which impose restrictions on breeders, e.g. not being able to breed a bitch before 2yo or after 6yo, no more than one litter a year, etc. The breed club also thinks about the future of the breed and imposes health screening requirements that improve the breed overall.

This doesn’t mean that any breed club breeder will be a decent breeder but it Ian a minimum threshold from which to start. It also doesn’t mean that any breed club isn’t a good club, e.g. brachycephalic breeds are harming their dogs, but it’s a framework within which to try to improve things.

Inventing cross breeds and selling them for loads of money invites unscrupulous breeders and idiot owners. The high price tag only seems to attract more idiots.

If you wanted a hypoallergenic, family friendly breed why didn’t you get a poodle? What you want exists, in a well regulated breed, that comes in many different sizes. Why did you choose to fund an expensive cross breed when you could have had the same thing supporting a responsible breeder? Your purchase tells life long poodle breeders that they might as well give up their breeding lines and just mate their poodles to a Labrador, then a Goldie, then a chihuahua.

[MustardScreams]

But you need to see both sides of the argument, and if there isn’t people shedding light on how these dogs are bred, then people will go in blindly and continue purchasing them.

The dogs can’t do anything about it, they don’t have a voice. That’s why I will continue to try and raise awareness as much as I can. Even if it’s just raising valid points on a thread. Every little helps!

[Mrsplod]

"idoliketobebesidethesea" Thank you, if you could pm me I would appreciate it, they are fab!

[Mrsplod]

Honestly this is what puts me off posting at all. Thank you to the posters who replied with their experience of this lovely breed. I don't understand why people post on a thread just to have a go. I could pick up a poodle cross today, I'm living in the puppy farm capital of Europe! I'm trying to avoid that. I'm doing my research very thoroughly. Hence my post.

[idoliketobebesidethesea]

Hi @Mrsplod I'm in Ireland and have these two fabulous doodles. Feel free to pm me and I will tell you Price's I paid and where I got them. They have fabulous temperaments. Our boy is 4 and baby girl six months. VERY naughty ! Keen on sock and food theft ( the lab side I think) but massively loving loyal smart and once out of their puppyhood gentle too. A lovely breed for our family ( no shedding either!) btw I paid significantly less than that!

[MustardScreams]

Well it is failed, because otherwise all guide/therapy dogs would be poodle crosses wouldn’t they? They were meant to take over entirely from labs, but they haven’t.

Anyway, I can’t get behind anyone that supports a breeding industry such as poodle crosses because the popularity means people breed the bitches in hideous conditions, have unwell puppies and drive the market so more and more see dollar signs and continue the practice. Same with brachycephalic breeds. Every time someone purchases a poodle cross or a flat-faced breed they’re just adding to that. As an actual animal lover I just find it ridiculous that there are people stupid enough to believe it’s not bad practice for these animals.

[Aurea]

*Booboostwo
*
I think you may not have looked through the website throughly. If you click on each breeding dog it gives you all the health test scores. Each dog is also DNA provided so they are who they say they are. At a very minimum they test for:
hip scored, Elbow scored, Optigen DNA tested and CERF eye tested at a minimum, these health tests go back a minimum of five generations.

Each to their own.....some people will pay for a thoroughbred horse or a special breed of cat but they don't lambasted. If everyone was committed and looked after their dogs in the first place there would be very few in rescue. At least the high prices put off impulse buys and they are less likely to fall into the wrong hands, especially since they are neutered.

My son is allergic to many dogs, hence our selection. Our dog gives us a lot of pleasure and is treated like a prince. What's the harm in that?

[Booboostwo]

I was referring to the HISTORY of the labradoodle and the ORIGINAL breeding line which was abandoned. Have you ever heard the words breeding line before in your life? Do you know what it is for a breeding line to be abandoned? Did you read the interview where Wally Conron talks about creating the original breeding line and then abandoning it because he could not produce guide dogs? Which of these actual facts do you find to be untrue?

[howwudufeel]

You’re words don’t stand. There are guide dogs working today and more being trained which are labradoodles. You said they were a failed experiment. I don’t understand why you are arguing against actual facts?

[Booboostwo]

Honestly people it’s just simple words...the OP asked about the labradoodle breed and I told her about the history. It’s not a breed, it’s a failed experiment in creating a hypoallergenic guide dog. The link I posted tells you all about it in the original breeder’s words. Then it was picked up as a silly fashion in dog breeding which has led to cross breeds of every kind, i.e. mongrels, selling for thousands of pounds. The result is a huge increase in puppy farming as these are the easiest kinds of dogs to mass produce.

Can you find the odd labradoodle that is a successful guide dog? Sure, why not, there is also a miniature horse that is a successful guide horse for the blind, so what? What I said about the history of the cross breed still stands.

[howwudufeel]

Luna the labradoodle is matched with her owner here.

www.itv.com/thismorning/hot-topics/guide-dog-puppy-luna-meets-her-new-owner

[howwudufeel]

I should also point out booboostwo that Luna, the This Morning Guide Dog is a labradoodle. Information here.

www.guidedogs.org.uk/itv-this-morning-puppy/

[howwudufeel]

booboostwo There are labradoodles being trained by GD as we discuss this issue.