The Origin of the Labradoodle
The Labradoodle is the result of a cross between the Labrador Retriever and the Standard Poodle. Wally Cochran was the man that first started this cross breed in Australia in the 1970's. He was encouraged to do so by a blind woman. This woman needed a service dog but suffered from allergies to dogs. They very first mating between the Standard Poodle and the Labrador Retriever was successful. This breeding produced three puppies that were low in allergens. This is because the Standard Poodle is considered a hypo-allergenic dog. This breeding caused a surge in Labradoodle breeders in Australia. In the 1980's two research facilities (Tegan Park and Rutland Manor) were developed in Australia to further develop successful Labradoodles. Today both are successfully exporting Labradoodles all over the world to asthma and allergy suffers. The Labradoodle Association of Australia Inc. has been formed to provide guideline on breeding and as a support for Labradoodle owners worldwide.
The Labradoodle is a people dog. They love the companionship of their owners. They make great service dogs for people with disabilities, visual impairments, young children and the elderly. They are super trainable and get along with other dogs well. The Labradoodles are incredibley loyal to their family and that makes for a great watchdog. They adapt well to different situations. They are content to run along side you jogging or join you for a hammock session in the backyard.
Characteristics
The Labradoodle is known for its outstanding intelligence and trainability, low allergy and low to non-shedding coat. They have a lack of the usual doggie odor. They are slightly heavier than the Standard Poodle. They are an overall balanced dog; they are not square in body but slightly longer. They come in three sizes: Standard, Medium, and Minature. There are curly or wavy coats and they come in several different colors. Black, choclate, apricot, cream and silver is just to name a few. The Labradoodle's head is 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.
Sizes
Standard: Height- 21-24 inches
Standard :Weight- Female- 45-60 pounds
Standard :Weight- Male- 55-80 pounds
Medium :Height- 18-21 inches
Medium :Weight- 40-50 pounds with males being larger
Minature: Height- 16-19 inches
Minature: Weight- 25-40 pounds with males being larger
Life Expectancy
About 13-15 years
Grooming
The wavy coat Labradoodle does not need very much grooming. Curly coats require regular grooming and should be clipped several time a year. The coats do not require frequent bathing because their coats repels moisture
