About Australian Labradoodles

About Labradoodles

• About Labradoodles
• Colours
• Coat Types

The 'Labradoodle' idea of a Allergy and Asthma friendly service and assistance dog was originally a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle almost two decades ago. While many of the offspring showed service dog qualities producing a Labrador x Poodle progeny with both the service qualities and a non-shedding coat was not immediately a success. But the idea caught on and the result of this initial idea started the selection, crosses, back-crosses and carefully chosen breeding done by reputable breeders that has produced a wonderful allergy and asthma friendly dog with excellent health and fantastic temperament and service qualities.

Because of the Australian Labradoodles overwhelming success there can be found today more and more breeders of the 'Labradoodle'. Just like any other breed that becomes popular there are breeders who have started breeding for the popularity of these dogs and not for the benefit of the breed itself.

Choosing a Right Breeder

When looking for an Australian Labradoodle make sure that you are able to view and will be given a WRITTEN copy of the breeders guarantee. Many breeders and websites claim that they guarantee their puppies but fail to follow through with any guarantee or fail to provide you with a written copy, which can lead to problems of not knowing what is or isn't covered. Never purchase a puppy or agree to a guarantee that requires you to sign a "non-disclosure statement" for the guarantee to be in effect. This is a very unethical policy that does nothing to provide or protect the buyer, its only benefit is to the unethical breeder requiring the "non-disclosure", so that issues you or other buyers may have can not be discussed with any other party.

Make sure the breeder you select is health testing their breeding stock, no matter what breed of dog there is health testing that should be done to ensure the genetic soundness, as much as possible, of the puppy you are purchasing and the genetic health of the parent dogs used.

Inquire as to why they are breeding Labradoodles and make sure you feel comfortable with their knowledge of the breed, it's needs, temperament, health, grooming and routine care of the breed.

Multi-Gen, Early-Gen, Back Cross

In your research of the Australian Labradoodle you will come across breeders using the terms 'Multi-Gen' (Australian Labradoodle), "Early-Gen" (Labradoodle Origin) and "Back Cross". Here are some helpful tips to understand what a breeder means when they are using these phrases.

The multi-gen Australian Labradoodle is a dog who has had many years in its development and the selection of its foundation stock which includes 6 different parent breeds that have been used in the development of the breed as it is seen today. Multi-generation Australian labradoodles have been being bred here in Australia for over 15 years now. The Multi-gen Australian Labradoodle on the majority has Labradoodle x Labradoodle matings done usually for several generations in their pedigree . The Australian Labradoodle has long passed the Labrador x Poodle cross and has moved on in development of a breed in it's own right, it is no longer just a "Poodle Cross". You will find that the number of breeders who breed multi-gen Australian Labradoodles are rare compared to breeders of "Early-gens". Here in South Australian Sunset Hills is the only established breeder of the Multi-gen Australian Labradoodle.

The early-gen (Labradoodle Origin) is a dog from new bloodlines that has not had the multiple generations of Labradoodle x Labradoodle breeding nor the addition of Australian Labradoodle Foundation stock or multiple Parent Breeds. These dogs are Labrador x Poodle matings and have more tendencies to a shedding coat as they are closer to the genetics of the Labrador Retriever's shedding coat. The "Early-Gen" (Labradoodle Origin) play an important part in the development of the multi-gen Australian Labradoodle and we encourage responsible breeding of quality early-gens so that breeders can integrated them into the bloodlines of the multi-gen Australian Labradoodles to ensure a broad genetic base for the breed. If your family does not require the non-shedding coat there are some breeders who prefer to only breed the early-gen(Labradoodle Origin)for its hybrid qualities. Sadly, today Australia is very short on breeders who breed quality and health tested early-gens (Labradoodle Origin).

The term of "Labradoodle Origin" has been initiated for all bloodlines with only Lab x Poodle cross parentage to help the public differentiate those breeders, dogs and bloodlines who are "Origin Labradoodles" and the breeders, dogs and bloodlines who are "Multi-gen" or "Australian Labradoodle". We support these terms and the use of them to help with clear indication about the differences in the two types of Labradoodles found these days.

Back Cross refers to when a Labradoodle has be bred back to one of the Parent Breeds (usually the poodle, but not restricted). Different breeders do back crosses for different reasons, some will be doing back crosses to "correct" a coat type, or to establish a colour, or to bring in new bloodlines for their Australian Labradoodles. Sunset Hills currently is doing some back crosses to do all three of the above. We feel that it is important to use as little as possible back crossing. So if a back crossing needs to be done we try to ensure that it not only corrects a coat type but that the new bloodlines added are of top quality and that the colour used is rich to enhance the colours of the Australian Labradoodle.

Choosing a Right Puppy

When looking for a Australian Labradoodle make sure you let the breeder know if you or your family suffer from dog related allergies and asthma. This information is very important to give to your Breeder so that they are able to select a puppy who is suitable for your families needs. Remember not all Labradoodles are Allergy and Asthma friendly. This is very important to keep in mind when researching breeders for your puppy as usually only the multi-gen Labradoodle have consistent coat types that can usually be predicted for Allergy and Asthma friendliness. It is key to remember that it is not the "look" of a coat that determines Non-Shedding vs. Shedding but the texture of the coat. Make sure if you or your family have dog related Allergies and/or Asthma that you select a breeder who is knowledgeable and confident in selecting an allergy and asthma friendly puppy for you.

Because of the time and effort responsible breeders have put into the Australian Labradoodle they have developed into a well rounded dog with high vigor, great health, intelligence and low to non-shedding coat. It has filled the spot that many families have been seeking for an easy to train, family oriented, allergy and asthma friendly, companion or assistance dog with an easy to maintain coat.