Friday, April 6, 2018

Searching For An Australian Labradoodle Breeder

By Deborah Thompson


There are many breeders offering Labradoodle puppies as they have become extremely popular and sought after. However, finding an Australian Labradoodle breeder may not be as simple as a quick look on your favorite search engine. This true breed is not just Labrador cross poodle, but in fact a complex mix of breeds which is very different from a straight two breed cross.

This particular breed started first in Australia back in the 1980's when a lady called Beverly Manners and Angela her daughter, used other bloodlines to improve their original cross for size, coat and temperament. Amongst the breeds they added were Cocker and American spaniels, Portuguese water dog and Wheaton terrier. To distinguish it from any other Poodle Labrador crosses, this original bloodline has been renamed the Cobberdog by Beverly Manners.

There are breeders in the US who do have the true Aussie Line imported directly from Australia. There are also some disreputable people who may forge pedigrees and pass off any old cross as an Aussie labradoodle. This is a sad side effect of the popularity of the dogs and the prices they command; like watches, the good ones are often copied and passed off as original. The ALAA (Australian Labradoodle Association of America) will have a list of reputable breeders who have the real deal not a poor copy.

Anyone who breeds pedigree dogs will be able to give you a full history of the bloodlines. The pedigree document will list Dam, Sire, Granddam, Grandsire and so forth back many generations. Breeding dogs which are too closely related can lead to genetic defects, so do not be surprised if one parent is pure bred and not AL.

When you have located a good reliable breeder, then you can go ahead and choose your puppy. The size, temperament, color and coat may all vary depending on the original parents, grandparents and so on. Shedding might be your priority so check that the puppies have sufficient poodle to accommodate this. Back breeding might dilute some traits so they are not as strong as the original cross.

While cross breeds tend to suffer less from inherited diseases, it is still worth checking that the parents have been checked as free from certain conditions. Hip dysplasia and PRA (Progressive retinal atrophy) are both common defects as well as the bleeding disorder Von Willebrand's. A puppy with these conditions will spend a lot of time at the vet and have a lowered quality of life.

Do not forget that your puppy will be intelligent and will want to work and please you. These dogs need to be trained and given stimulus. A bored puppy will soon become a naughty puppy finding its own entertainment by chewing or perhaps becoming an escape artist. Training classes are widely available from basic obedience to retrieving and agility.

If this lively and intelligent breed is the dog you want then be prepared to do some research. Locate a reputable breeder through the ALAA or American Kennel Club. Check that the dam and sire have no genetic diseases and then select your puppy to take home and enjoy.




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