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Twenty years ago back
in the 1980's it was so easy to compile a list of
answers to the Most Commonly Asked Questions about
the Australian Labradoodle!
But
how things have changed....
Within ten years of the Australian
founders Rutland Manor and Tegan
Park Breeding and Research Centers
beginning their development of the
new breed, the Labradoodle had
become the third most popular dog
type in the United States of
America, and its fame had spread to
a dozen countries which were and
still are, importing puppies
from Rutland Manor since 1998.
"Doodle Mania" spread rapidly across
the world, with a media feeding
frenzy, and with it came the
expected rush of brand new breeders.
Breed
Associations were set up in America.
which later joined hands with those
in Australia and before long their
committees and breeder members,
(many of whom had never bred any
kind of dog before, let alone had
any experience with breed
development) had decided that
they preferred to do things their
own way. They openly disagree with
the direction which should be taken
for the future of the breed, as
defined by its very own founders.
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THE
FOLLOWING LETTER SENT BY ALAA TO
ITS MEMBERS CLEARLY ILLUSTRATES THAT THE
ASSOCIATION DOES NOT SHARE THE VISION OF THE
FOUNDERS OF THE BREED FOR ITS VERY FUTURE.
"Recently
the ALAA has evaluated the new ALPS/ASD
association and their vision for the Australian
Labradoodle as explained on their web page at
http://www.alpsdoodles.org/ .
It is the feeling of the Board that the ALPS/ASD’s
mission and purpose is contrary to the vision of
the ALAA. As ALAA Board members are involved with
establishing standards, procedures, and
regulations for our association we feel that it is
imperative that all Board members be committed to
our visionary direction. Therefore, it has been
determined that it is a conflict of interest for
policy setting members of the ALAA,
officers and committee members, to
pledge membership to ALPS/ASD. " |
What does this mean to you, the consumer?
.Simply
put, there are now so many different 'kinds' of
Labradoodles, that a blanket approach to defining their
qualities, including temperament, size or coat, is quite
impossible.
A Breed Association once
used to be the consumers/ protection, but in the case of
the Australian Labradoodle, American x Labradoodle,
Poodle back cross Labradoodle, F1 Labradoodle, F2
Labradoodle and a host of other so-called 'grading
scheme' Labradoodles, they are as unalike as
Chihuahuas to Great Danes in many cases.
The Breed Descriptions on
this website, are of the original genuine, dinky di, ASD
(Australian Service Dog) Australian Labradoodle - and
none other.
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Below are the most
common questions asked by those who are wondering if
the Australian Labradoodle is the right breed for them and their
families. You can click on any question
and it will take you to the answer, or merely scroll
through the all the questions and answers at one time. |
QUESTIONS
Q10.
What size is a Labradoodle?
Q11.
What kind of nature does a Labradoodle have?
Q12.
Does the Labradoodle like water?
Q13.
Can I feed COOKED BONES to my dog?
Q14.
I have heard that Labradoodles don't need to be bathed
much. Is this true?
Q15.
I don't understand about the different coats. Which
is easiest to care for and most allergy friendly?
Q
1. These dogs sound almost too good to be true. Are
they the perfect dog for anyone?
A.
NO.! The Labradoodle is intuitive, sociable, loving,
and easily trained, BUT they are intelligent almost
beyond belief. Many people think they want a dog with
superior intelligence, but do not realise that intelligence
can result in all kinds of unacceptable behavior if
not channelled the right way through early training. Just as an exceptionally
intelligent child, with no guidance, will soon become
a teenage rebel, so will the Labradoodle.
They are amazingly
easy to train but they need it very early and consistently
to reach their full potential. Labradoodles
learn 'bad' things as quickly as they learn the 'good'
. If left to run wild during their first year, they can become a naughty, attention seeking brat child, who will do anything to get your attention. So if you are not prepared to put in the early training with your puppy, then you should seek out another breed less intelligent, less intuitive & challenging, which may suit you more.
The Australian Labradoodle
is very much a 'people oriented' dog. They long to serve
and please you and they need to know that they are a
loved and true family member.
They need to have a clear
understanding that they are NOT the 'leader of their
pack' (you and your family). Their active mind
does not do well in situations where they are left alone
day after day whilst the entire family works. The practice
of crating all day every day may soon produce a hyperactive
frustrated and ultimately unhappy dog who may be difficult
to control. Too much 'soppy love' combined with too
little guidance in the form of early training, is a
recipe for problem behavior later on down the track.
Think
carefully if you are prepared to put in the same early
training for your puppy as you would do for your child. if you are looking for a dog to be a true member of
your family, and whom you are prepared to train for
the first year, then I can think of no other breed
more superlative as a family member who will continually
delight you with its endearing, goofy, comically clownish
and loveable ways.
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to Questions
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Q
2. MALE or FEMALE? Which is best , especially
with children ?
SHILOH & Charles. Photo Courtesy Michelle & family
Melbourne Australia
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A.There
are many breeds in which a female makes the better
pet, as the males can be dominant.
In
the Australian Labradoodle, however, we have found that the nature
is not gender related in our dogs. This may be because
we never use dominant males as stud dogs in our breeding
programs.
As all non breeding puppies are desexed
before they leave us, ( i.e. before puberty
) the testosterone-related behavior usually associated
with male dogs, doesn't develop. Therefore a male
makes the same clean, affectionate and loving companion
as any female.
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Q
3. Why are male puppies cheaper than female
ones?
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A. male puppies are cheaper than our females, because
it is more expensive to desex a female than it is
a male. Also traditionally, many people believe that
a female makes the better companion, based on their
previous experiences with males in other breeds, and
this can tend to make the females more in demand.
Because of this, we make the desexed boys cheaper to give the guys
the chance to show what wonderful family pets they
really do make !!
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Q
4. Are all Labradoodles bred by the centre non shedding
and/or allergy friendly?
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A.
No. Most are, but the AUSTRALIAN LABRADOODLE is still
a developing breed and occasionally there is a puppy
who will shed later on. But if this is important for
you and your family then you need to make this known
on the application form/wish list you will complete
when placing your order for a puppy.
Our
years of experience and ongoing research have resulted
in us being able to predict with 98 % accuracy the
coat type our homebred Labradoodle puppies will develop
as they mature.
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Q
5.How much exercise does a Labradoodle need?
A.
Labradoodles are athletic dogs and need regular exercise
although not excessively so. It is just as important
to exercise their minds ( through training ) as their
bodies. Sometimes an overly energetic Labradoodle
is trying to get the message across that it's MIND
needs more to occupy it. An untrained Labradoodle
can become naughty, and attention seeking. They will
get your attention any way they can if they become
bored through lack of stimulation of their very clever
and intuitive minds. Any effort put in during the
early formative months to a year and a half, will
be repaid a hundredfold with a dog which is pure delight
to live with. But if you don't have the time or the
desire to put in quality time when your Labradoodle
is still young, then you should consider another breed.
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Q
6. Are
Labradoodles good with young children?
LINDSEY_W.jpg)
A.
Yes, they make fabulous children's dogs. But it is important to
realize that all young
puppies of any breed will mouth and nip and as
with all dogs, this should be corrected immediately.
Children should never
be given the responsibility of training a puppy, and
should always be supervised when playing......for
the puppy's sake as well as for the children's.
Some
dog breeders refuse to let families with children
have their puppies, because they will not subject
their puppies to the non-stop play and sometimes rough
overtures of young children.
We prefer to help you understand that puppies need
plenty of time away from young kids, to chill out,
and have their own space for sleeping where they will
not be continually dragged around by the children
when they need their 'time out' to rest their little
minds and growing bodies.
The mature Labradoodle tends to gravitate towards
the young members of the family and will usually be
found wherever the children are. They are non aggressive,
but seem to take on baby sitting roles by choice if
allowed to grow and develop properly when young puppies
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CASEY
photo courtesy Giglio family Ohio |
BRYN Photo
Courtesy Maggie South Australia |
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Q
7. What are the health problems found in the Labradoodle?
A.
The authentic Australian Labradoodle is so far relatively disease-free. But
they do share with other long eared, coated dog breeds,
a tendency towards ear infections. With regular deep
cleaning, and the hair trimmed away from the underneath
of the ear flap and on the cheeks beneath the ears,
better air circulation will help prevent ear infections
from developing. Some Labradoodles need the hair inside
their ears plucked from time to time.
It
is important for breeders to continue health testing
their breeding stock so as to maintain the well bred
Labradoodle's current vibrant health status.
The
larger sized Labradoodle especially, should not be
allowed to go up and down stairs until their rapidly
growing joints, ligaments and tendons are fully mature
at not less than a year of age. Puppies under a year
old should not be taken jogging on leash, and leashed
walks should be restricted to no more than a half
hour at a time for the first three months, gradually
increasing as the puppy grows older. Free romping
and playing is fine, because puppies will flop down
and rest whenever they need to, which is not possible
on leash.
HD
and elbow disorders can be induced by improper excercise,
and a too-high protein diet in the rapid growth phase
of the puppy.
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Q
8. Should we crate our puppy when we take it home? What
sized crate should we buy?
A.
We recommend crating your puppy especially during
the potty training phase. There is lots of crate information
on the puppy care page of this website. Suggested
size is 80 cm x 60 cm approx. ( 31 inches x 23 inches)
Puppies
and/or dogs should never be left crated for lengthy
periods during the day. A couple of hours at
a time is okay with breaks for exercise, drinks, food
or play and training. If crating overnight (recommended)
make sure that the last drink of water or other fluids
is given no later than an hour before crating for
the night.
Very
young puppies should be carried from the crate outside
to the place you want them to potty. Make sure
you give the puppy at least fifteen minutes without
distractions to enable it to 'let go' before taking
back inside. If at all possible, let the puppy
go off leash in a safe area to potty. It is not natural
for baby puppies to do their toilet on leash and they
may wait until being let off leash again inside the
house before they feel 'free' to choose their spot.
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Q
9. What colors do Labradoodles come in?
A.
Black - can have brownish tonings around the face
and legs or sprinklings of white or silver hairs if
brown or silver is behind them. Nose must be black.
Browns - Chocolate or Cafe. Chocolates will
look like Cafes when the coat tips are bleached by
the sun. Nose must be brown. Eyes hazel or green.
Silver
- Born Black or very rarely, Chocolate. Silvering
starts around the eyes and face, then the legs and
tail and finally the entire body.
Cream - In several shades from pale chalky white to
Golden Cream and Apricot Cream (Cream with apricot
ears and often an apricot colored band along the backline).
Nose can be either Black or brown. Black nose goes
with brown eyes and brown nose goes with hazel or
green eyes.
Apricot
- True Apricots are the color of the inside of a ripe
apricot. Most fade over time to a paler apricot
color. Nose must be black. Eyes can be
brown or golden hazel.
Red
- True Reds are rare with many breeders mistaking
Apricot for Red. True Reds are a vivid red although
they do fade over time. Nose must be black.
Eyes should be brown or gold.
More Information on Coats and Colors
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Q
10. What size is a Labradoodle?
A.
They come in three sizes:.
Miniature
- A true Miniature is about the size of a Pug Dog
Medium - is around the size of a smallish Labrador
Standard - is a large dog the size of a Standard Poodle
or above.
As with all living creatures, prediction of size, is an estimation only. As in every dog breed, there will always be individuals who will be either over or under their size category when mature.
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Q
11. What kind of nature does a Labradoodle have?
Always ready
for fun
A. The Australian Labradoodle is an intoxicating blend of clown and intuitive intimate friend.
They love to make you happy and will go to great lengths to see you burst into laughter. They have moments of solemnity, and are just as happy to lie at your feet for hours,soaking up your company as they are ready to run outside and have a game.
They make great running/jogging companions, excel at Agility and Obedience, adore a game of frisbee or fetch, but are just as content to snuggle up with you whilst you read or watch TV or work on the computer.
They crave your approval and long to serve and please you.They need to know that they are a part of your family, and thrive when living close to you. They are tough and healthy physically, adapting well to severe changes in climate. Their lifespan is 14 to 16 years.
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Q
12. Does the Labradoodle like water?
A Picture Speaks
a Thousand Words !
Above
is Lara's WESLEY in Melbourne Australia.... and
on right is Jim Bain's Chocolate girl showing the
others how it's done Olympic Style at the Los Angeles
Rutland Manor Tour 2003.
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Photo COBBER courtesy
Linda K CA USA
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Photo MAGIC courtesy
Monica & Magic & Suzie Sydney NSW Aust.
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Photos
of SUZIE courtesy of Monica Suzie Magic & Suzy
Wingham NSW Australia |
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13. Can I feed COOKED BONES to my dog?
A. NO NO NO. NEVER EVER feed cooked bones
of any description.
RAW meaty bones are excellent sources of nutrition for your dog as well as providing beneficial jaw exercise and natural teeth cleaning. Dogs have powerful stomach acids ten times stronger than a human, and these stomach juices are designed by nature to dissolve and assimilate RAW bone. Thin, flat rib bones from a young animal will be eaten up completely by your dog and are emotionally and physically satisfying.
We recommend flat young rib bones from lamb, or beef. Raw Chicken Backs Wings or Chicken Necks are loved by most dogs and they will crunch up and eat the whole thing with immense satisfaction.
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Q 14. I have heard that Labradoodles don't need to be bathed much. Is this true?
A. Yes, this is true with multi generation Labradoodles. In fact if they are bathed too often a self perpetuating cycle is set up and they then need to be bathed whenever they get dirty, as the protective coating of natural oils in their hair is stripped away by the frequent bathing with shampoo. Even a light coloured Labradoodle, dripping in mud, will dry clean itself if kept in a dry clean area until dry. Try it..it really works !!!
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Q 15. I don't understand about the different coats. Which is easiest to care for and most allergy friendly?
A. Unfortunately the two do not really go together.
 WAVY or HAIR coats are easiest to care for. Require no trimming, except perhaps around the eyes and chin, and very little grooming. But most of them will shed in varying degrees. Shedding has not conclusively been linked to allergy friendliness however.
CURLY or WOOL coats do not shed at all. But they do require trimming or clipping two or three times a year. They also need to be groomed thoroughly about once each week or so. They are the 'safest' coat type around people who have dog related allergies or asthma.
SHORT STRAIGHT COATS "Flat Coat" These are always more hair, than wool or fleece textured, and will definitely shed to some degree. Are lowest maintenance of all, and can sometimes not be allergy friendly. An experienced breeder can usually tell either at birth or by six to eight weeks which way a short straight coat ( flat coat) is likely to go. Very few multi generation Labradoodles have flat coat any more, although it is still common amongst the earlier generation Labradoodles
.FLEECE Coats (USED TO BE CALLED 'BORDERLINE) These are a
relatively new coat type and still being developed. Some
are wavier or curlier than others, but they all have the
distinctive 'fleecy' feel to them which is different to
the wool or hair coats. Just as the Angora Goat has fleecy
stapled coat, so does the fleece coat in the Labradoodle.
Best examples do not have any kemp fibres, once again like
the top quality Angora fleece. Until recently the Fleece
coats were called "Borderline" coats. But because they were being confused with 'look alike' coats in earlier generations, which don't have the same feel or low shedding trait the name was changed to Fleece, more in keeping with the feel of this particular coat.
Fleece coats require practically no maintenance until between eight and fourteen months of age, when the adult coat starts to grow through the puppy coat. The puppy coat needs to be stripped or raked out weekly until the change is complete. If this is not done, then the coat will form matts and the dog may need to be shaved.
FOR A
FULL REVIEW OF COATS AND COLORS CLICK HERE
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Thinking about changing your dog or rearing your puppy on a Raw Food Diet? Wondering what all the fuss is about in the Raw vs dry dog food debate? "Switching to Raw" is a well written, easy to understand book which you are sure to find informative and helpful. To read reviews, and to order, visit
Switching To Raw web site. |
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