The History of the Labradoodle

The History of the LabradoodleAt Agape Labradoodles in Denver, we enjoy sharing the history of the Labradoodle with our clients. If you are a Labradoodle lover or prospective owner, knowing a bit about the Labradoodle history is helpful in knowing how and why this breed was developed. And it’s actually a pretty interesting story.

In the Beginning

In the 1970s a blind woman from Hawaii contacted the Australian Guide Dog Association. She was looking for a guide dog that would not cause allergy flare-ups. She turned to the Australian Guide Dog Association because Australia had equally strict quarantine laws. These similar laws would allow the dog to enter Hawaii without any quarantine time at all.

Unfortunately, the woman could not be helped because at the time. The Australian Guide Dog Association had no dogs that would help this woman, but they saw that this need was one that others would have and they had great, proven Labradors, so they set to work developing a new breed stemming from their Labradors.

The First Litter

In their search for a hypoallergenic dog, they needed a breed that was already known for its non-shedding trait. The Standard Poodle fit the bill. The Australian Guide Dog Association imported a white Standard Poodle from Sweden that was high quality and had come from working bloodlines.

When the first litter was born, Mr. Wally Conren was the man in charge of development. He called the first litter a Labrador-Poodle litter. Eventually, the name morphed into Labradoodle. A few years later, a breeder who bred puppies for pet shop started to breed the fine-looking new type. He took a Labradoodle and bred it back to a poodle and later bred Labradoodle to Labradoodle. He did not keep records though. He continued breeding Labradoodles but retired after a few years.

Labradoodle Interest

According to the history of the Labradoodle, the Australian Guide Dog Association only achieved minimal success and never really recognized the mutated gene that would make the Labradoodle the hypoallergenic dog it is today. Interest in the breed, though, had grown and other breeders in Australia had started to deliberately breed the dogs with more planning. In a few short years, the Australian Labradoodle became the dog we enjoy today.

Other Positive Traits

Though the main attraction to Labradoodles was its low to non-shedding coats, other wonderful Labradoodle traits started to be apparent. People began to see these dogs for the kind, intelligent creatures that so many Labradoodle owners love. Labradoodles also started to be recognized for their versatility and intelligence. Today, Labradoodles are used as seizure alert dogs, guide dogs, agility dogs and more.

Today

Currently, the Labradoodle comes in a variety of colors. There are Standard (over 22 inches), Medium (17-22 inches), and Miniature (14-17 inches) sizes. They also have two different coats: a wool coat and a fleece coat, both of which have different variations.

Now that you know the history of the Labradoodle, you may want one for yourself or family. Come see us at Agape Labradoodle of Denver to see what we have that might be the perfect match for you. We have winter 2017 puppies on the way, so feel free to contact us for more information.

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