Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel and a couple other breeds in very small
percentages. The major contributors to the breed are the Lab and the poodle.
Labradoodles first originated in Australia in the 1970's. Labrador
Retrievers were the main dog used in the guide dog program but it was
discovered that some people were alergic to the hair of the Labs. The need
for an allergy friendly guide dog caused a man by the name of Wally
Cochran to experiement with the crossing of the Lab and the Poodle. The
first generation Labradoodle, know as F-1 did not always breed true.
Some got the allergy friendly coat and some did not, so it was discovered
that by crossing only the ones who got the curly non-shed coats and
using them in the breeding program, while the others were used as pets and
service dogs, a new breed was born. It is occasionally necessary to
cross back in the poodle to correct coat conditions but there are strict
guidlines as to how much poodle percentage can be used. It is not
permitted to back cross to the poodle in more than one consecutive
generation. Only dogs with the best coats and temperments were used in the
early breeding programs so the Labradoodle evolved into a breed apart from
either original parent and interestingly enough, they truly do seem to
combine the best of both breeds.
Labradoodles are very intelligent and trainable. They are loving,
friendly and loyal to their people. They are non agressive but they will
let you know when a stranger approaches their territory. They are
intuitive and very much a part of the family. They crave human
companionship and this is why many breeders who have several dogs, find foster or
guardian homes for some of their dogs. It is a win win situation for
both the dog and the breeder as well as the guardian family. They get to
enjoy the benefits of having a Labradoodle without having to pay the
large cost of acquiring one. Each foster situation is worked differently
but in most cases after a litter or two, the dog becomes the property
of the guardian family and the dog has a loving home for the rest of its
life.