Quezi

Chocolate colored Labradoodle dog (photo by ArborGate Labradoodles - CC-BY)

Rumor has it that President Obama was considering a Labradoodle dog  for their new home at the White House.  The family decided on a Portuguese Water dog instead.

The Labradoodle dog is a  popular dog that is very intelligent and lovable, easy to train, has a low to non-shedding coat/ low allergy coat, and no doggie odor.

The origins of the Labradoodle dog go back to 1988, when Wally Conran of Royal Guide Dogs, Melbourne Australia, was asked by a woman in Hawaii, if there was any way to get a low or non-shedding guide dog who wouldn’t cause her husband’s allergies to flare. Wally began cross breeding Labradors and Poodles with the goal of developing a non-shedding dog that also had the temperament of a service dog. One of the three puppies from this mating produced a dog with a low-allergy coat.  Wally Conran called his breed the Labradoodle.

Labradoodles come in three size categories that is dependent upon the size of their Poodle parent.

Miniature: 14 – 16 inches and 15 – 25 lbs.
Medium: 17 – 20 inches and 30 – 45 lbs.
Standard: 21 – 24 inches and 50 – 65 lbs.

The coat color is white, brown, grey, black, tan, or red. The type of hair ranges from short  and sparse to long flowing coats, or wooly and short.  The texture of the hair is harsh and can be straight, wavy, curly, short or long.

The temperament of a Labradoodle is a combination of the Labrador Retriever and Poodle dog:  obedient and devoted, playful and kid-friendly, very clever, sociable and gets along well with other dogs.  Other than being a family pet, Labradoodles are trained as Guide dogs, Assistance dogs, and Therapy dogs.

Labradoodles have a life expectancy of 13 – 15 years.  Generally they are very healthy dogs, but problems that Poodles or Labrador Retrievers have can arise.

Other types of  “Doodles” include:

Chi-Poo – Chihuahua and Poodle
Goldendoodles – Golden Retriever and Poodle
Bich-poo – Bichon Frise and Poodle
Cockapoos – Cocker Spaniel and Poodle
Schnoodles – Schnauzer and Poodle
Pekepoo – Pekingese and Poodle
Pomapoo – Pomeranian and Poodle
Malti-Poo – Maltese and Poodle
Shepadoodle – German Shepherd and Standard Poodle
English Boodle – English Bulldog and Poodle
Pugapoo – Pug and Poodle

In 1998 the AKC allergy information page listed the Poodle, Bichon Frise, Bedlington Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Kerry Blue Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Maltese, Portuguese Water Dog, Italian Greyhound, Basenji, and the Chinese Crested as being low dander dogs.

You will find more information on allergy free dogs at: How to pick a hypoallergenic dog.

About Wally Conran and how he turned the canine world upside down.  “My Story: I Designed a Dog”