What are Multigenerational Australian Labradoodles?

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The Australian Labradoodle breed dates back to the 1980's and was initiated by Wally Conran of Royal Guide Dogs located in Victoria Australia. The intent was to create a breed that was allergy and asthma friendly with the temperament of a service dog. This journey was inspired by a vision impaired woman in Hawaii needed a Guide Dog which wouldn't aggravate her husband's allergies. Of the 31 Labradoodles bred at Royal Guide Dogs, a staggering 29 made it through as Guide Dogs... an accolade of paralleled proportion for this "new breed' of Guide Dog. 

 

To continue the efforts of Wally Conron, breeders in Australia began breeding Labradoodles determined to produce litters with superior traits, consistent physical conformation, coat type, and mental temperament that were required of an assistance dog. During the 90's, a number of other dog breeds were bred into the Labradoodle lines to assist in this effort. Most often the English Cocker Spaniel and American Cocker Spaniel were the breeds used, however, it is reported that a few other dog breeds, namely the Irish Water Spaniel and Curly Coat Retriever were also introduced into certain lines. DNA evidence of these dog breeds are still found in a few lines today, while others were bred out and not re-introduced into any other blood lines. 

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Today, Australian Labradoodles are wonderful, intelligent dogs with lush coats that are more reliably low to non-shedding and allergy friendly than other types of Labradoodles such as first generation Lab/Poodle crosses(F1), or first generation crosses bred back to Poodles (F1B).  Even when the other types of Labradoodles are bred on for generations, the result is not an Australian Labradoodle, as the attributes of the infused breeds were not included in their ancestry.

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Organizations have been formed to protect the continued development of the Australian Labradoodle lines, and guidelines for the continued introduction of English and American Cocker Spaniel are followed carefully. Infusion committees also discuss the merits of other possible dog breeds being allowed careful introduction into select lines. It is an exciting time to be involved in the development of this breed.

 

 

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