Labradoodle is a mixed-breed dog developed for service as a guide dog. The labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador retriever and a poodle. Labradoodles were first bred in Australia in 1989.
Labradoodles vary in color and size. They can be black, silver, cream, red, or chocolate in color. Labradoodles are classified by their height at the shoulder. A standard labradoodle is 21 to 24 inches (53 to 61 centimeters) and weighs 50 to 65 pounds (23 to 29 kilograms). A medium labradoodle is 17 to 20 inches (43 to 51 centimeters) and weighs 30 to 45 pounds (14 to 20 kilograms). A miniature labradoodle is 14 to 16 inches (36 to 41 centimeters) and weighs 15 to 30 pounds (7 to 14 kilograms). Coats can be shaggy, curly, or wiry. Their coats do not shed. Labradoodles tend to be energetic and sociable.
The Australian breeder Wally Conron is credited with creating the labradoodle. He was the breeding manager for the Victoria chapter of the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia (now known as Guide Dogs Victoria). A woman in Hawaii who was blind wrote to Conron, asking him to create a guide dog that did not shed, because her husband had allergies. Conron tested more than 30 poodles, which shed very little. However, he determined that none of them had the right temperament (attitude) to be a guide dog. He then crossbred a standard poodle with a Labrador retriever. Nine weeks later, the first labradoodles were born. There were three puppies: Sheik, Simon, and Sultan. Conron sent the dogs’ hair and saliva samples to Hawaii, and Sultan proved to be the only dog that did not cause an allergic reaction in the woman’s husband.
Labradoodles inspired the creation of other popular poodle cross-breeds. These include the golden doodle (a poodle crossed with a golden retriever), the cavoodle (a poodle crossed with a cavalier King Charles spaniel), and the schnoodle (a poodle crossed with a schnauzer).
