There are many rumors circulating about the origin of Labradoodles.  The truth is that it all started in Australia where the desire for a Service Dog with a non shedding coat and low to nonexistent allergic characteristics was developed producing the Australian Labradoodle.

The story continues with inclusions of several breeds to produce this dog starting obviously with a Poodle and a Labrador Retriever and later mixed with other breeds to produce the desired result.  While it is obvious that Labs and Poodles are the dominant breeds in the mix it is not at all clear what that mix is.  Also, the Australians are not telling the other breeds in the mix making the Australian Labradoodle a mystery dog.

Until recently, here in the United States, we called these dogs Mutts.  Some of the best dogs around are Mutts.  They get past the problems of overbreeding and inbreeding of many of the pure breed dogs and seem to be a hardy lot.  I feel, like many that I have discussed this problem with; that mixed breeds are in many respects better.

We are not talking about irresponsible accidental breeding allowed by people who do not care, but a deliberate, thoughtful breeding program designed to obtain desired results in a dog.  This has been happening for centuries ever since the wild canines were domesticated.  The number of breeds available is quite large and diverse.

The problem with breeding pure bred dogs is that eventually the gene pool becomes limited due to selective breeding and genetic abnormalities begin to show up.  Throw in some irresponsible accidental breeding and you get unwanted dogs.  Our animal shelters are full of these dogs - dogs with bad habits, unwanted behaviors, poor health risks, or aggressive personalities.  Again, we are back to Mutts.  Out of all this chaos of deliberate and accidental breeding come hardy dogs again.  The gene pool is mixed up again.  Ever see the Australian Dingo?  It is the hardiest, smartest, wiliest dog on the planet.  You wouldn’t want this dog in your house.  The Dingo though is probably the remaining primordial canine on this earth.  However, combining two or more breeds from diverse lines to produce a desired effect has the benefit of mixing up the gene pool again and producing a hardy dog.  Not that we want a Dingo in the parlor but we do want a dog designed to suit our civilized tastes.  A Designer Dog!

The idea of the Designer Dog took off several years ago with wealthy dog connoisseurs as a status symbol and a family pet designed to urban living.  There is good reason for this as the Labradoodle properly developed is one of the sweetest, loving, playful, non shedding, hypoallergenic dogs available.  But, Oh Boy!  The price.  Only the wealthy could afford the asking price not to mention the shipping.  The Australians had a corner on the market and they still do.  Not that you can’t get a domestic bred Labradoodle here in the United States, you can.  Since the Labradoodle craze began there are thousands of breeders gathering up any Poodle and Labrador together and producing Labradoodles.  What they don’t produce is the desired Designer Dog many want.  It obviously takes many generations of selective breeding to produce a Designer Dog, a Labradoodle.

To properly breed a Labradoodle one must juggle the mix of Poodle and Labrador.  A one to one cross of the two breeds produces a rather rangy, straight coated dog that appears like a shrunk down Irish Wolfhound.  It sheds its coat profusely and is not good in the allergy department.  Some like this cross; and, I have to admit it is a rather nice dog all by itself.  It is not a Designer Dog, Labradoodle yet!  Breed this cross to another non related Poodle and you start to get the desired results.  Some call these Second Generation, F1B’s, etc.  The ILAA has a whole list of possible combinations in its registry and classification codes to fit.  Out of the F1B’s one then picks out of a litter the dog with the desired coat, color, temperament, and size.  Now comes the hard part.  What dog does one mate this F1B to?  Another F1B?  A Poodle?  A Labrador?  How about an Australian Labradoodle?  Those breeders who want to develop a Domestic Labradoodle have to experiment with these factors and not just cash in on the Labradoodle craze and breed whatever to whatever.  One might get lucky this way, or not. 

The American Designer Dog, Labradoodle, is being developed here at Coyote Creek Kennels.  Yes, we have first crosses, F1B’s, Poodles and Labs here.  We also have Australian derivatives.  We plan to have three non related breeding pairs of multi-generation American Labradoodles in residence in our kennels.  While the Australian Labradoodle is a desirable dog its cost is prohibitive to many families seeking a Designer Dog.  Looking at the current crop of American Labradoodles one can find some that are indistinguishable from the Australian Labradoodle.  It is this type of Labradoodle we strive to breed here at Coyote Creek Kennels.