Coat  Types  in the  ASD Australian Labradoodle

By the Co Founder of the Breed

 

As of 2008, the breed has come a long way over the past few generations.  There are still some  breeders  with earlier generation stock, or still back crossing to Poodles, or even Labs ( why?) who will still be producing hair coats, or the old hair/Borderline Coat.  But there are now only two correct basic coat types,  which are either WOOL  or FLEECE.  The FLEECE coat does have variations in the amount of curl or wave  and these variations may continue for another few generations, or even remain as permanent features of the breed. 

In the interests of accuracy and correctness, we will deal here with just the two basic coat types  with some explanation of the variations of curl in the FLEECE coats. Features of both coat types are absence of doggy odour, and a natural repelling of dirt unless bathed too frequently. If you notice an odour coming from your ASD Australian Labradoodle, check the ears for yeast infections, and the mouth for tartar or an infected baby tooth in a puppy during teething.  Or perhaps she or he has simply rolled in something disgusting!  Both coat types come in the whole range of colors.

The reader should be advised that coat descriptions in this article do not apply carte blanche to any of the numerous kinds of Labradoodles being bred within or outside of the registry associations, but apply only to the genuine ASD Australian Labradoodle.  Photos are Thumbnails for a nice close viewing. All photos are Rutland Manor bred dogs.

 Coat Type Development

For the first ten years there were basically four coat types.  The short Labrador coat throwback, the hairy slightly longer coat, the curly wool Poodle type coat and then the big breakthrough with the lovely  'Borderline' coat which described as such because it was 'bordereline' between Curly and Wavy.  All except the Curly Wool, were heavily shedding. Trouble was that these Borderline Hair Coats can look just the same in a photograph as a Fleece Coat and there was much confusion even amongst those breeding them!

 Short Hair Coat - Heavily Shedding

Longer Hair Coat - Heavily Shedding

 Borderline Coat - looked like Fleece but Shed

Curly Coat - wool (non shed) or hair (shedding)

 

Around the year 2000, another coat was developed which was and still is, called the 'Fleece' coat. This coat is soft and silky and can be either curly or wavy. 

Wool Coat
The Wool Coat has  very soft, tight circular curls which grow denser and thicker if not trimmed. .  When the dog runs, the Wool coat remains stationary on the body and legs, unlike the Fleece coat which ripples and flows when the dog is in movement.  Wool coats need to be clipped two or three times a year to keep them looking tidy.

The coat under the throat, on the under sides of the ear flaps, under the jaw line and going from the underneath of one ear, under the throat and up to the other ear  for a neat appearance and for air flow to the ears.  There is a complete lack of shedding in the Wool Coat. and no doggy odour. The change from puppy coat to adult coat is not as pronounced in the Wool as it is in the Fleece due to the clipping which has already been done.
 

Fleece Coat - Wavy
Young puppies with the Wavy Fleece Coat often do not look as 'cute' as the curlier coated puppies.  But when their coats grow as they mature their grace and beauty develops along with it.  The Wavy Fleece Coat hangs down to a length of between four and six inches in even length over body legs and tail. 

The face needs to be scissor trimmed three times a year tor tidiness and hygiene and the beard should be trimmed off in a round shape and not left long like a goat's beard.  In movement the coat ripples and flows and is very beautiful.  The downside of the Fleece Coat is that when the dogs go through their change from puppy to adult coat, because the puppy coat does not shed out, it must be stripped out by hand or else clipped off to avoid the puppy coat matting with the new adult growth coming through.  The change of coat can begin at around ten months and continue for several weeks. 

 Fleece Coat - Curly

The Curly Fleece Coat differs from the Wavy Fleece only in the amount of curl.  Whereas the Wool coat's curls are circular shaped and as they grow, curl tighter and tighter, becoming dense and thicker as they grow, the shape of the curl  in the Curly Fleece coat is quite different, being more of a long spirally tendril than a tight round curl.  The maintenance of the Curly Fleece is the same as for the Wavy Fleece.  The change of coat from puppy to adult occurs at the same time as the Wavy, and requires the same amount of maintenance if matting is not to ruin the coat leaving it impossible to save without clipping right off.. 

TIP:  Matting can be caused by washing and drying the dog in the wrong manner.  When circular 'scrubbing' motions are used during shampooing rinsing and drying, this can cause matts to form.  The shampoo should be squeezed through the pre-wetted coat with the fingers in a downward movement.  When towel drying, the same squeezing movement with the towel will help prevent matting, whereas the rubbing around and around can cause matts to form.  If the coat is blow dried, the coat should be brushed at the same time, layer by layer.  It will dry puffed up and fluffy and should be sprayed liberally with water that has a little 'leave in' conditioner added. This will help the coat to re-form its natural tendrils and help prevent matting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colors As Puppies and Adults

 

 

COAT TYPES

There are Fleece coats - and then there are Fleece coats!

 

Beautiful Correct Fleece Coat -every strand the same. If shaved, it will not bunch into tight curls but will grow back its lovely loose tendrils.

Poor Quality Fleece Coat

 

Poor  quality Fleece - Too Woolly This coat will matt very easily as it is a mix of two coats.

This Fleece will have kemp fibres in it The almost 'hairy' texture can easily be seen.

 

Kemp fibres in a Wool Coat

Kemp fibres in a Fleece Coat
Kemp is a coarse micron fibre which is a chalky white in color.  It appears in goats with poor quality fleece, and in sheep with poor quality wool.  Kemp occurred in the Labradoodle during the coat mutation between Labrador and Poodle.  Kemp sheds.  It is rare to find it in the latest generations of the authentic Australian Labradoodle ASD but still appears frequently in early generation or back crossed Labradoodles.  Kemp is not present in the coats of puppies, but develops as the dog matures.

SPIRAL  FLEECE                           WAVY FLEECE

The correct Fleece Coat, whether Curly or Wavy, will ripple and flow when the dog runs.  The Wool Coat will stay put when the dog is in movement.

Flat Coat

Occasionally a Flatcoat will appear in a litter.  They have a distinct look and are quite beautiful but they do shed in varying degrees.

    WHAT IS CONFORMATION ?

 

Conformation  describes the anatomy of the animal.  Conformation is 'form to function'.  Breed Standards go into a lot of detail about the required  conformation  for every breed whether it be dog, horse or other animal.  This is not done just for the 'look' of the animal, but to ensure that they continue to be bred in such a way that they remain suitable for the purpose for which they were originally developed.  Trotting dogs have different conformation to galloping dogs.  Dogs who hunt and run with their noses to the ground have different conformational structure than dogs who don't, and so on.

In four legged animals all impulsion (movement) begins at the hind end.  But there needs to be balance between hindquarters and forequarters and a strong connecting back in between.  If the hind legs reach far forward in a deep stride but the shoulder angulation is too upright to allow a long enough stride in front for the hind legs to come underneath them, then the impulsion is interfered with, the stride becomes uneven and stress is placed on various parts of the dog's anatomy.

A racehorse needs a tuck up in the flank to allow its hindquarters to come well underneath it for galloping.  But a draught horse who needs slow pulling power, does not have this tuck up in the flank.  Similarly, a galloping dog has a tuck up in the flank whereas a trotting dog doesn't as the mechanics of its movement are different.

When we talk about 'balance' in the structure of the dog, what we mean, is that the angulation of bone and therefore the connecting tissues of muscles, ligaments and tendons, needs to have the same angles in front as it has behind.  This ensures an effortless flowing movement which puts the least strain on the anatomy. 

 

A. Moderate length of well muscled neck provides strength to support the weight of the dog as it is propelled forward.
 B.  Short strong back slightly sloping to the croup (set on of the tail)
 C.  The angle where the Scapula and Humerus meet
 D.   Symmetrical angle of the Stifle
 E.  Short Strong hocks mean long powerful stifles.		 The photo above shows the effortless trot of well balanced structure.  Notice the symmetry of motion and complementary angulation which allows the back to remain level and straight during motion thus allowing the transfer of energy from the rear to the front. 

This dog will avoid unnecessary wear and tear on his joints due to his balanced conformation.