Very important safety information - a touching story ALL dog owners can learn from...Please Read....

The making of a Labradoodle…

A Labradoodle began as a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle.  The first person to intentionally breed the two was Wally Conran in 1988.  Conran was a breeder of guide dogs in Melbourne, Australia.  A request was made for a guide dog suitable for a prospective owner with allergies.  A litter of three was the result, and one puppy met the qualifications with neither its saliva or hair affecting the allergies of the applicant.  The rest you might say is history.

The Labradoodle as we know it today is breed with a great deal of complexity.  It is not as simple as introducing a Labrador and a poodle.  Reputable breeders breed for temperament, health, conformity and more.  After extensive health and genetic testing more potential dams and sires do not make the final cut than those who do. 

Australian, American, F1, F1B, Multigen ? 

Yikes!  Do you speak Labradoodle?  It is really not as intimidating as it might appear at first glance.  Generally speaking an American Labradoodle is a Labrador and Poodle cross, while an Australian Labradoodle is comprised of several* carefully selected infusions and is on the brink of recognition as a purebred.  Among Labradoodles you will see several ‘sub’ types that is really as easy as the following:

F1 = This is Lab to poodle cross and is a first generation doodle. Hair type can vary a great deal in an F1 and might result in hair, wool or fleece type. They may shed or not shed.  It is not uncommon for  pups in the same litter to vary in coat type and whether they are allergy ‘friendly’. This is not the best cross for people with severe allergies.

F1-B =  This is first generation Labradoodle bred back to Poodle.  While the F1B is more consistent in coat type, some variation is still seen.   It is thought that an F1B is the most likely of any American Labradoodles to be non shedding and Allergy friendly

F2 = F1 Labradoodle and F1 Labradoodle cross - this combination you get the same percentage of Lab Poodle mix as you would an F1 Labradoodle so they are more likely to shed.

F3 = F2 Labradoodle and F2 Labradoodle cross

Multi-generation = F3 or higher generation Labradoodle and F3 or higher generation Labradoodle cross - This is what the Australian Labradoodles usually are.

*at the time this was printed a new breed standard and its acceptable infusions is being voted upon.  For that reason I have not listed those previously acceptable infusions which are inclusive in the breed standard. 

Labradoodle Size (as taken from the Australian Labradoodle Association of America ‘Breed Standard’):

Standard:  21 to 24 (not over 25) inches (or about 53-63 cm) from the wither to ground measurement. The ideal size for the female is 21-23 inches and the male is 22-24 inches. Weight range tends toward 23-30 kg (about 50-65 lbs).

Medium:  17 to 20 (not over 21) inches (or about 43-52 cm) from the wither to ground measurement. The ideal size for the female is 17-19 inches and the male is 18-20 inches. Weight range tends toward 13-20 kg or (about 30-45 lbs).

Miniature:  14 to 16 (not over 17) inches (or about 35-42 cm) from the wither to ground measurement. There is no correlation between height and sex in the Miniature size. Weight range tends toward 7-12 kg or (about 15-25 lbs).

Labradoodle Coat Types

Fleece:  Light and silky, can range from straight loosely waved to tightly waved. 

Wool:  Similar texture to lambs wool, it is denser than fleece. 

Hair Type:  More likely to shed, and also to hold odor. 

Labradoodle Coat Colors (as taken from the Australian Labradoodle Association of America ‘Breed Standard’):

The preferred colours are as follows:

• Chalk This colour should be a white colour but when compared to white is rather a chalky white in colour. Nose pigment to be Black or Rose.

• Cream This colour should be a creamy colouring sometimes with apricot/gold hinting, all shades of cream are acceptable . Nose pigment to be Black or Rose.

• Gold This colour has also been referred to as “apricot” should be the colour of the inside of a ripe apricot to varying shades of rich Gold in colour. A true Gold will not have a lighter root than the outer coat and preferable have an even colouration over the entire body. This colour may fade as the dog grows older, senior dogs should not be penalized for paling of coat colour. Nose pigment to be Black in colour.

• Caramel This colour ranges from a rich gold through to a deep red the preferred colour is very much the same colour as its namesake “caramel” with even colouration over the entire body. Nose pigment to be Rose in colour.

• Red This colour should be a solid even rich red in colour. A true red must not be lighter at the root than the outer coat. Reds can fade as the dog grows older, senior dogs should not be penalized for paling of coat colour. Nose pigment to be Black. [Rare colour group]

• Black This colour should be a solid black in colour with no sprinkling of any other colour through the coat. Nose pigment to be Black.

• Silver This colour can range in shades from very light pewter in colour to a dark charcoal in colour it is preferred to see an even colour through the coat but acceptable to see uneven layering of colour in the coat. Silvers are born Black with the coat colour developing over time (1-3 yrs) . Nose pigment to be Black.

• Blue This colour should be a dark to medium smoky blue in colour. Blues are born Black but will have a Blue/Grey skin pigment. The blue coat colour will develop over time (1-3yrs) but as a developed adult should have an even coat colour, any other colour throughout the Blue is undesirable. Nose pigment to be Blue/Grey [matching the skin pigmentation]. [Rare colour group]

• Chocolate This colour should be a dark rich chocolate in colour. True chocolates are born almost black in colour and maintain the rich dark colour throughout their lifetime. Colour should be even, any other colour in the coat is undesirable. Nose pigment to be Rose in colour [matching the coat colour]. [Rare colour group]

• Café This colour ranges from a milk chocolate to silver-beige in colour and will develop over time (1-3yrs). Nose pigment to be Rose in colour [matching the coat colour]. Lavender This colour has a definite smoky lavender chocolate colour giving an almost pink to lilac appearance. Lavender dogs are born chocolate and will develop over time (1-3yrs). Any other colour in the coat is undesirable. Nose pigment to be Rose in colour [matching the coat colour]. [Rare colour group]

• Parchment This colour is a creamy beige chocolate colour reminiscent of a cup of coffee with a generous addition of milk. Parchment dogs are born milk chocolate and will develop over time (1-3yrs). From a distance adult dogs can be mistaken for a dark or smoky cream. Nose pigment to be Rose in colour. [Rare colour group]