Labradoodle
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox dog breed A labradoodle (Template:IPAc-en) 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.<ref name=Miller-2019-article/>Template:Efn Other ailments include eye diseases and Addison's disease.<ref name=Oliver-Gould-2012/><ref name=Goldendoodles-Addisons-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".<ref name="Miller-2019-article" />
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.<ref name=Hot-Dogs-2007/><ref name=AnimalWorld-Labradoodle-2008/><ref name=Conron-ReadersDigest-2007/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name=Hot-Dogs-2007/>
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."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Follow-on guide-dog breeding programmes
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.<ref name=AKC-breeds/> Technically, they are a hybrid of two pure breeds rather than a new breed. In 2010 the AKC began allowing owners of mixed breeds to register their dogs through an alternative listing programme to receive an AKC ID number.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Guide Dogs Victoria no longer breeds labradoodles,<ref name=Hot-Dogs-2007/> although they are bred by other guide and assistance dog organizations in Australia and elsewhere.<ref name=guidedogswa-2010-09-07/> The Association for the Blind of Western Australia has introduced labradoodles into their training programme. Their first, Jonnie, graduated in November 2010.<ref name=guidedogswa-2010-11/><ref name=guidedogswa-2010-09-02/> Labradoodles are now widely used around the world as guide, assistance, and therapy dogs.<ref name=Colchester-GazetteNews-2008/><ref name=Altonn-2004/> They are also popular family dogs.<ref name=Hot-Dogs-2007/>
Appearance and temperament
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.<ref name=Hot-Dogs-2007/>
Labradoodles' hair can be anywhere from wiry to soft, and may be straight, wavy, or curly.<ref name=Hot-Dogs-2007/>Template:Efn Labradoodles often display an affinity for water and strong swimming ability from their parent breeds.<ref name=Hot-Dogs-2007/> Like most Labrador Retrievers and poodles, labradoodles are generally friendly, energetic, and good with families and children.<ref name=Hot-Dogs-2007/>
Types
Breeding line issues
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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.<ref name=Hot-Dogs-2007/><ref name=Goldendoodles-Aus-Labradoodle/>
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.<ref name=goldendoodles-faq/>
Coat texture and color
Labradoodle coats are divided into three categories: wool, fleece, or hair.<ref name=coats group=lower-alpha/><ref name=Hot-Dogs-2007/>
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.<ref name=IALA-2007/>
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.<ref name=Hot-Dogs-2007/>
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.<ref name=Lust-et-al-1993/> 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.<ref name=labradoodlemix-common-health-issues/><ref name="Mäki-et-al-2001"/>
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.<ref name=Oliver-Gould-2012/>
Addison's disease
There is evidence of some occurrence of Addison's disease in the Australian labradoodle.<ref name=Goldendoodles-Addisons-disease/><ref name=ilainc-Addisons-disease/>
Ear infections
Labradoodles are very prone to ear infections due to their long floppy ears.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>