Labradoodle

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Crossbreed dog

title: "Labradoodle" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["companion-dogs", "dog-crossbreeds"] description: "Crossbreed dog" topic_path: "general/companion-dogs" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labradoodle" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Crossbreed dog ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox dog breed"]

Field	Value
name	Labradoodle
image	File:Labradoodle-Brown-Male-SideFace.jpg
caption	A brown male labradoodle
country	Australia
cross	yes
breeds	Labrador Retriever, Poodle
notrecognised	yes
altname
::

|name = Labradoodle |image = File:Labradoodle-Brown-Male-SideFace.jpg |caption = A brown male labradoodle |country = Australia |cross = yes |breeds = Labrador Retriever, Poodle |notrecognised = yes |altname = |note = A labradoodle () is a crossbreed dog created by crossing a Labrador Retriever and a Standard or Miniature Poodle. Labradoodles were intended to be a good choice for people allergic to canine dander.

The Australian Labradoodle Association, an organization run by labradoodle breeders, says they are "generally considered healthy dogs". However, they also state that hip and elbow dysplasia are common problems affecting labradoodles. Other ailments include eye diseases and Addison's disease. Wally Conron of Australia, who is credited with inventing the breed, has commented that healthy labradoodles are "few and far between" and most are "crazy or have a hereditary problem".

Breeding history

Origins

Australian breeder Wally Conron introduced the cross-breed to the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia in Victoria. Conron hoped that the combination of the low-shedding coat of the poodle, along with the gentleness and trainability of a Labrador retriever, would provide a guide dog suitable for people with allergies to fur and dander. He hoped the catchy name and claims regarding allergies would offset the stigma associated with mixed breeds and thus help him sell his litter.

Sultan, a dog from this litter, displayed all the qualities Conron was seeking and worked as a guide dog for a woman in Hawaii for ten years.

Conron has since repeatedly stated that he regrets initiating the trend for this type of crossbreed and maintains it caused "a lot of damage" and "a lot of problems", largely stemming from the genetic unpredictability of combining breeds. He felt he was to blame both for the spate of unethical breeders producing labradoodle puppy mills and for creating a "Frankenstein", adding that problems were being bred into the dogs rather than selectively breeding away from problems and towards a recognizable standard. Conron is further quoted as claiming that "for every perfect one, you're going to find a lot of crazy ones."

Follow-on guide-dog breeding programmes

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Labradoodle_Assistance_Dogs.jpg" caption="A group of labradoodle [[assistance dog]]s"] ::

Currently, as with other mixed breeds, labradoodles are not considered a purebred or breed by the AKC and other major kennel club associations in North America and across the world.

Guide Dogs Victoria no longer breeds labradoodles, although they are bred by other guide and assistance dog organizations in Australia and elsewhere. The Association for the Blind of Western Australia has introduced labradoodles into their training programme. Their first, Jonnie, graduated in November 2010. Labradoodles are now widely used around the world as guide, assistance, and therapy dogs. They are also popular family dogs.

Appearance and temperament

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/A_dog_sitting.jpg" caption="A female labradoodle"] ::

Because the labradoodle is a cross between two dog breeds and not a breed itself, puppies in the early mixed generations do not have consistently predictable characteristics. The first crossing of a poodle with a labrador results in variations in appearance, size, coat, and temperament. So while most labradoodles share some common traits, their appearance and behavioural characteristics are widely variable.

Labradoodles' hair can be anywhere from wiry to soft, and may be straight, wavy, or curly. Labradoodles often display an affinity for water and strong swimming ability from their parent breeds. Like most Labrador Retrievers and poodles, labradoodles are generally friendly, energetic, and good with families and children.

Types

Breeding line issues

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Gävle_S,Sweden-panoramio(1).jpg" caption="Black labradoodle"] ::

Others are breeding labradoodle to labradoodle over successive generations, and trying to establish a new dog breed. These dogs are usually referred to as multigenerational (multigen) labradoodles or multigeneration Australian labradoodles.

Australian labradoodle breeding programme

Australian labradoodles also differ from labradoodles in general in that they may also have other breeds in their ancestry. English and American cocker spaniel × poodle crosses (i.e. cockapoos). Two Irish water spaniels and soft-coated Wheaten Terriers were used in some Australian labradoodle lines. Curly-coated Retrievers were used too, but these lines were unsatisfactory and are no longer used for breeding. Disagreements within the programme have led to some groups continuing with different lines as in the case of the Australian Cobberdog.

Coat texture and color

Labradoodle coats are divided into three categories: wool, fleece, or hair.

Labradoodles' coat colors include chocolate, café, parchment, cream, gold, apricot, red, black, silver, chalk, lavender, and blueish gray. Coat patterns can be solid, white abstract markings, parti, phantom, or tri-coloured. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Labradoodle_Flowers.jpg" caption="Fleece-coated"] ::

Size

Labradoodles can be different sizes, depending on the size of sire and dam used, and their size-names generally follow the names used for poodles: miniature, medium, and standard. Miniature labradoodles typically weigh around 18–28 lbs, medium around 26–45 pounds and standard can be from 45–75 lbs.

Health

Labradoodles can have problems common to their parent breeds. Poodles and Labrador retrievers can have hip dysplasia. The parent breeds can also have a number of eye disorders. There have also been cases of neurological disorders, including epilepsy.

Joint dysplasia

Elbow dysplasia is a known common issue in the parent breeds, similar to hip dysplasia. This issue becomes more prevalent as a result of rapid growth during the puppy stage.

Congenital eye diseases

One study has found that UK labradoodles have a higher incidence (4.6%) of multifocal retinal dysplasia (MRA) compared to Labrador retrievers. Cataracts are common as well (3.7%) but prevalence is comparable to that of Labradors.

Addison's disease

There is evidence of some occurrence of Addison's disease in the Australian labradoodle.

Ear infections

Labradoodles are very prone to ear infections due to their long floppy ears.

Footnotes

References

|title=Australian Labradoodle Association of America |url=https://alaa-labradoodles.com/

|title=Hypoallergenic Dogs: Does such a thing really exist? |url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/do-hypoallergenic-dog-exist/ |website=American Kennel Club |language=en |access-date=2022-01-27

|last=Campbell |first=Donald |year=1955 |title=Into the Water Barrier: The development of the jet-propelled motor-boat |pages=2, 125, 151 |publisher=Odhams Press |place=London, UK |oclc=17992992 |quote=Labradoodle

|title=Addison's Disease |publisher=Goldendoodles.com |url=http://www.goldendoodles.com/health_hereditary/addisons_disease.htm |access-date=2011-01-02

|title=The Australian Labradoodle |website=Goldendoodles.com |url=http://www.goldendoodles.com/faqs/australian_labradoodle.htm |access-date=2011-01-02

|title=New dog in town |date=2010-09-02 |publisher=Association for the Blind of Western Australia |agency=Guide Dogs Western Australia |url=http://www.guidedogswa.com.au/resources/Jonnie-Training-Press-Release-final_Sep-2010.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706104529/http://www.guidedogswa.com.au/resources/Jonnie-Training-Press-Release-final_Sep-2010.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-06

|title=A guide dog with a difference |date=2010-09-07 |publisher=Association for the Blind of Western Australia |agency=Guide Dogs Western Australia |url=http://www.guidedogswa.com.au/resources/Wickham_Press-Release_Sep-2010.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706104513/http://www.guidedogswa.com.au/resources/Wickham_Press-Release_Sep-2010.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-06

|title=Busselton guide dog graduation |date=November 2010 |publisher=Association for the Blind of Western Australia |agency=Guide Dogs Western Australia |website=guidedogswa.com.au |url=http://www.guidedogswa.com.au/articles/latest-news/busselton-guide-dog-graduation |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217091124/http://www.guidedogswa.com.au/articles/latest-news/busselton-guide-dog-graduation |archive-date=17 February 2011

|title=Her er kronprinsparets nye kjæledegge |date=3 July 2009 |lang=Norwegian |url=http://www.kjendis.no/2009/07/03/kjendis/kongefamilen/kronprins_haakon/kronprinsesse_mette-marit/skaugum/7033442/ |quote=When it became known that the Crown Prince couple's new dog would be a so-called "Labradoodle" there was no lack of critical voices |access-date=17 May 2013 |archive-date=6 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006191640/http://www.kjendis.no/2009/07/03/kjendis/kongefamilen/kronprins_haakon/kronprinsesse_mette-marit/skaugum/7033442/ |url-status=dead

|first=Ellie |last=Krupnick |date=17 May 2012 |title=Norway's royal family gets decked out for Norwegian Constitution Day |website=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/17/norway-royal-family-norwegian-constitution-day_n_1525115.html

|title=Common health issues and life expectancy of the Labradoodle |website=labradoodlemix.com |publisher=Lab Land |url=http://labradoodlemix.com/common-health-issues-and-life-expectancy-of-the-labradoodle/ |access-date=2017-03-19

|last=Miller |first=Ryan W. |date=26 September 2019 |title='A Frankenstein monster': Why the Labradoodle creator regrets breeding the dogs |publisher=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/09/26/dog-breeder-who-created-labradoodle-regrets-frankenstein-monster/3772586002/ |access-date=27 September 2019

References

"Witness History – The world's first labradoodle – BBC Sounds".
Walker, Ben. (February 6, 2014). "Labradoodle creator laments designer dog craze". [[Associated Press]].
"AKC Announces New Program for Mixed Breeds".
Hospital, My Vet Animal. (2016-12-12). "Ear infections in Dogs – Tips on Prevention and Treatment".

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