Breed

Australian Labradoodle (ALD)

Temperament:

Australian Labradoodle is clever, friendly, gentle, open, joyful and
sociable. Approaches people in a happy and trusting manner; any sign of aggression is
unacceptable. Should never be restrained or shy. Eager to serve and please.

Origin, parent breeds and breed group:

The Australian Labradoodle breed originated in
Australia in the late 1980s. Parent breeds to the Australian Labradoodle include Labrador Retriever, Standard Poodle, Irish Water Spaniel, American Cocker Spaniel and English Cocker Spaniel. Because ALD is not a breed recognized by the Finnish Kennel Club and the FCI, Finnish ALD dogs are registered with the international ALD organisations: WALA (Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association), ALAEU (Australian Labradoodle Association Europe) and ALAA (Australian Labradoodle Association of America).

History:

The Australian Labradoodle breed was developed to meet the need to create an
allergy-friendly guide dog. Because Labrador Retrievers have a long history as guide
dogs, the development of the new breed began by breeding Labrador Retrievers with
Standard Poodles. The Standard Poodle was selected for the purpose because of its coat. It requires trimming but sheds less dander, which is a major allergen. The ALD breed was presented in the US in the 1990s and it became popular both there and in Australia.

Utilisation:

Originally, ALD was a guide dog, but today, it is more common as a
companion dog and multipurpose dog, suitable for a wide range of hobbies. ALDs are able to adapt to a wide range of purposes, but not for keeping outdoors at all times. Neither should they be kept as pets only at home, without any specific activity. The ALD is an ideal breed for families with children, and as the owner’s first dog.
Australian Labradoodle was originally developed to be an allergy-friendly breed. These
dogs have much less dander than most other breeds and since they have no undercoat,
they are non-shedding, which is why allergy and asthma sufferers often choose this breed.
However, it is impossible to say how much and in which way an ALD dog may cause
allergic symptoms. That is why it is advisable to familiarise yourself with the breed first by getting in touch with a breeder or owner and visit them to get hands-on experience of the dog. This way, you can test how you react to exposure to ALDs before registering on the waiting list for a puppy. A puppy causes more allergic symptoms than an adult, so you should start with an adult dog when testing contact with ALD to see whether symptoms appear.

Suitability for training: Excellent

Activity level: Medium

Size and colours:
Height at withers: Mini 35–42 cm (weight 7–13 kg),
Medium 43–52 cm (weight 13–20 kg),
Standard 53–63 cm (weight 20–40 kg).

Most colours are acceptable, including cream, chocolate, red, black, silver and
parti/tricolour, but merle colouring is a major fault.

Coat:
Three types of coat: curly and dense wool, curly fleece and wavy fleece. No undercoat.
Non-shedding but the coat requires trimming 3–4 times per year. Regular brushing is a
must in order to avoid matting.

Expected life span: 12–15 years