What is a Labradoodle?   An Australian Labradoodle?

Are All "Australian Labradoodles" Born Equal?  

What is an F1b - a Multi Gen - a LaL2 etc ?

 Why all the Confusion?

The history of  the Australian Labradoodle is as fascinating as the breed itself, with twists and turns of intrigue, power struggles and political dramas which would rival a best selling mystery novel as many new breeders  clamber their way over the destroyed reputations of  other breeders they perceive to be their competitors.

No  dog breed in history has rocketed to international fame and popularity as quickly as the Australian Labradoodle.    Major retail chain Lord and Taylor knew they were on a winner when they chose the Labradoodle as their annual cancer fundraising plush toy.    They were not wrong.   They sold 60,000   over the Christmas period in 2004 and even more the following year.  With tags on the toy dogs' ears saying 'Labradoodle' success was assured.

Macys  followed suit in 2006 with proceeds going to Breast Cancer Research, and it was announced in September 2006 that the legendary Board Game Monopoly was replacing its Scottish terrier with a Labradoodle.

Thousands of Australian Labradoodles are Service and Therapy Dogs and one has recently  launched the 'Reading to Dogs' school program in California.  Watch the TV Clip

The Labradoodle has been featured on National Geographic, and countless magazines and newspaper articles and in 2005 was polled the third most popular dog in America.

In 2007 the Scottish Terrier play token of the board game MONOPOLY was replaced with a Labradoodle and a Sheridan Hotel  in the United States recognized the magnetic pull of the 'Labradoodle' by formally putting a  black Labradoodle puppy 'on staff' ' with his own email address; his portfolio being to greet guests and accompany them on walks around the grounds.

So - All This is Good - Do You Think So?
 

In some ways we think it is.  But the breed itself  is already paying the high price of over popularity.  The original  Australian Labradoodle was  first a cross between the Poodle and the Labrador, BUT it has since been carefully developed  with infusions of several other breeds, carefully selected at appropriate stages to maintain a  wide gene pool in the interests of canine health.  This carefully thought out program has spanned twenty one years to make the dog what it is today....the dog the whole world has fallen in love with.  But the Associations originally set up to protect the breed, the ILA, and LAA, later to become IALA, ALAA  etc  and now the combined forces of the so called 'Australian' Labradoodle Association of America have decided that they know best how the breed should be bred into the future, and have shocked many by the following open letter sent to their members -

Quote

"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. "

 

 

The 'Labradoodle' was the victim of the most incredible explosion of popularity I have ever witnessed.  Literally hundreds of new breeders sprang up almost overnight.  They bred all kinds of 'Labradoodles' and regardless of the dogs' parentage or ancestry, all paraded under the name 'Australian Labradoodle' .  Even the Associations and Registries originally set up to protect the breed  chose to go their own way, with various mix and matches  all claiming to be 'Australian Labradoodles'.  Confusion was wide spread!      

In an attempt to protect the dog itself as well as the confused public, the  prefix ASD (standing for Australian Service Dog) in front of the name "Australian Labradoodle" was internationally trademarked at a cost of almost $34,000.00 to Rutland Manor and a list of breeders was compiled as a guide for those families who wanted to be sure that their puppies were coming from the original root stock from Australia.

It was impossible to monitor the breeding practices of other breeders across the world, and following many complaints from private families and other breeders on the ASD list, it was discontinued during 2008.

 

A small handful of breeders are breeding the Australian Labradoodle as developed by the Founders.   But increasing numbers are breeding  'copies' .  either by  trying to re-invent the wheel,  crossing Labradors and Poodles, or back crossing to Poodles with no real knowledge of what they are doing.  Some Associations even sanction infusing with Curly Coated Retrievers and Golden Retrievers! 

Because the breed is not recognized by kennel clubs, it is open slather for breeders to  say whatever they wish about their dogs and do whatever they like in their breeding programs.  Terms like 'multi generation'  'back cross' and 'infusion' have lost their meaning and significance in the hands of so many people playing at 'breeder'.

The TRAGIC result of this is that because the dogs they are mass producing  all parade under the name 'Labradoodle' or even 'Australian Labradoodle'  they are not the same dog at all.  Thousands of these are being abandoned or rehomed when their owners discover that the puppy sold to them as an "Australian Labradoodle'  ( even many of those registered in the various Associations )  DOES shed its coat, DOES affect their allergies and DOES NOT have the temperament they were led to expect in the breed.

THERE IS A GREAT DEAL MORE TO A DOG THAN COAT AND COLOR

Breeders and potential owners need to be aware that what has made this breed so great and so beloved across the world, is not only its allergy friendly coat, but its amazing, wonderfully intuitive nature.

It will be a tragedy if by sheer weight of numbers, breeders destroy the very traits which have made the ASD Australian Labradoodle beloved across the globe.

Once upon a time when someone said they had a 'Shepherd'  you knew right off,  that it was a German Shepherd.  Now, you respond with   'What KIND of Shepherd'?   An 'Australian Shepherd'?   (which has nothing at all to do with Australia incidentally)   or a  'Belgian Shepherd?'   or a German Shepherd?  They are all Shepherds but are totally different breeds. 

Likewise, the many different  'registered grades'  and names given to the copycat Labradoodle are all designed to cash in on the reputation of the REAL and GENUINE Australian Labradoodle as first developed by the founders and exported across the world.

Some Amazing Claims!

I have seen websites claiming that the 'breeder' is breeding with 30 generations of 'Labradoodles' behind their puppies.  Impossible!    More are claiming to be breeding the authentic Australian Labradoodle ( or the popular mis-nomer "multi generation"  )  and proudly cite such kennel names as 'Majestic' and 'Neiger' which are old Standard Poodle kennels.  Many breeders have no idea of what lies behind their own dogs.

Ask your breeder how long they have breeding, and expect some kind of verification, such as some referrals from people who have their puppies born as far back as the breeder says they have been breeding.

It is many times a 'given' that a breeder who uses the term 'multi generational'  has in reality very little understanding of the genetics and background of the dogs they breed.