Labradoodle
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| Labradoodle | |||||||
 Labradoodle with a fleece coat. The appearance of Labradoodles may vary. |
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| Country of origin | Australia | ||||||
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A Labradoodle is a crossbred or hybrid dog created by crossing the Labrador Retriever and the Standard or Miniature Poodle.
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[edit] History
The Labradoodle was first deliberately bred in 1989, when Australian breeder Wally Conron first crossed the Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle for Guide Dogs Victoria.[1]. His aim was to combine the low-shed coat of the Poodle with the gentleness and trainability of the Labrador. This provided a guide dog for the blind with less shedding, and hence more suitable for people with allergies to fur and dander. Today, Labradoodles are often used as Guide dogs, Assistance dogs, and Therapy dogs.[2][3][4][5][6]
[edit] Appearance and temperament
The Labradoodle as a dog breed is still developing, and does not yet breed true, i.e. the puppies do not have consistently predictable characteristics. While many Labradoodles display desired traits, their appearance and behavioral characteristics remain, from a breeding standpoint, unpredictable.
As such, Labradoodles' hair can be anywhere from wiry to soft, and may be straight, wavy, or curly. Some Labradoodles do shed, although the coat usually sheds less and has less dog odor than that of a Labrador Retriever. The color range includes white, cream, gold, apricot, red, brown and black, and most of the other colors seen in Poodles.
[edit] Types of Labradoodle
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There is much debate about making the Labradoodle into a recognized breed. [7]. By restricting breeding to early generation dogs (i.e. bred from a Poodle and Labrador rather than from two Labradoodles), they hope to maintain genetic diversity, and avoid the inherited health problems that have plagued some dog breeds.
Others are breeding Labradoodle to Labradoodle over successive generations, and trying to establish a new breed. These dogs are usually referred to as Multigenerational (abr. Multigen) or Australian Labradoodles [8]. Australian Labradoodles also differ from early generation or Multigenerational Labradoodles in that they may also have other breeds in their ancestry. English and American Cocker Spaniel/Poodle crosses, Two Irish Water Spaniels, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers and a Curly Coated Retriever have variously been used in some Australian Labradoodle lines.
Labradoodle coats are generally divided into three categories: Wool (with tight curls, and similar in appearance to that of a Poodle, but with a softer texture); Fleece (soft and free-flowing, with a kinked or wavy appearance); or Hair (which can be curled, straight or wavy, but is more similar in texture to a Labrador's coat) [9].
[edit] The labradoodle in popular culture
- The Oxford English Dictionary now lists "Labradoodle" [10]
- Monopoly board game included a Labradoodle icon in its "Here and Now" [11] and Australian [12] editions.
- New York department store Lord and Taylor raised $50,000 in 2004 and $55,000 in 2005 for Guiding Eyes for the Blind selling Labradoodle plush toys.[13]
- Macy's department store raising funds with plush Labradoodles "Grace" and "Courage" for Breast Cancer Awareness in 2006.[14][15].
- An animated soft toy Labradoodle, "Lucky the Incredible Wonder Pup", was also the 2006 "Toy of the Year" and an Oppenheim Platinum Toy Award winner.[16]
- In the 70th episode of Scrubs, "My Office," the character Dr. Cox tells JD and Elliot that together they barely make one doctor slash labradoodle.[17][18]
[edit] Notable Labradoodle owners
- Sir Donald Campbell, who broke land speed records in the 1950s in Bluebird, was one of the first Labradoodle owners.[19]
- Golfer Tiger Woods has two Labradoodles named Yogi[20] and Riley.
- Actor Jennifer Aniston also owns a Labradoodle, bought for her by former husband, Brad Pitt.[21]
- Actors and sisters Courtney Peldon and Ashley Peldon have two Labradoodles named Odysseus and Calypso.[22]
- Actor and TV presenter Graham Norton has a Labradoodle named Bailey.[23]
- Top Gear presenter, Jeremy Clarkson and his wife Francie have a Labradoodle named Dodger.[24]
- Richard Hammond (also a presenter of Top Gear) owns a Labradoodle called TG (often referred to as "Top Gear Dog") which occasionally features on the BBC show.[25]
- Model Christie Brinkley owns a Labradoodle named Maple Sugar.[26]
- Actor Barbara Eden has a Labradoodle named Djinn Djinn (named after her invisible dog in the TV show I Dream of Jeannie).[27]
- Actor and Director Henry Winkler of Happy Days has a Labradoodle named Charlotte.[28]
- Musical star Hugh Panaro (who played the lead role in the Broadway production of Phantom of the Opera) has a Labradoodle named Soot.[29]
- Political folk/rocker Billy Bragg also owns a Labradoodle. [30]
- NFL Miami Dolphin Derrick Pope and his wife Denise own a parti-coloured Labradoodle.
- Writer Carolyn B. Ellis and her three children own a Labradoodle.[31]
- Middlesbrough F.C. (UK) player Andrew Taylor has a Labradoodle named Sonny. [32]
- Tom Griswold of WFBQ in Indiana has a Labradoodle named Tazzie.[33]
- Author Garth Stein owns a Labradoodle.[34]
- Blogger Perez Hilton owns a labradoodle named Teddy Hilton.[35]
- Legal thriller author David Baldacci's Labradoodle is named Finn.[36]
[edit] Labradoodle Gallery
 A photograph of a labradoodle lying down. |
 A 6 month old Labradoodle puppy sleeping on a bed. |
 2 year old labradoodle with dominant labrador traits |
 3 month old labradoodle pup with dominant lab traits. |
 A gold labradoodle with a hair type coat. |
 An Australian labradoodle puppy. |
 A black labradoodle with a wool type coat. |
 2 black labradoodles. |
 A labradoodle in the Christmas spirit. |
[edit] References
- ^ Labradoodle FAQ
- ^ Guide Dog FAQ: Guide Dogs Victoria
- ^ Guide Dogs
- ^ http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/nagdu/2006-October/017315.html
- ^ Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News
- ^ Therapy dogs are bridge to the world for autistic children - Boston.com
- ^ http://www.goldendoodles.com/labradoodle_faq.htm
- ^ The Australian Labradoodle
- ^ Coat Types
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1434937.htm
- ^ USATODAY.com - Move over, Rover: Hybrid labradoodle replaces Scottish terrier token
- ^ The Sydney Morning Herald Blogs: Stay in Touch
- ^ CDC.GuidingEyes.Org - GEB Community News
- ^ http://www.bcrfcure.org/part_promo06_macyslabradoodles.html
- ^ Designer Dog-Fights - Jon Mooallem - New York Times
- ^ Zizzle Lucky the Incredible Wonder Pup
- ^ FamilyFun Magazine Toy of the Year - Raving Toy Maniac - The Latest News and Pictures from the World of Toys
- ^ Platinum Award Winners 2008: Toys
- ^ Hounded out: Fur and loathing in the dog world - This Britain, UK - Independent.co.uk
- ^ ABC News: Is Tiger the U.S. Team's Hope at The Ryder Cup?
- ^ The Labradoodle Dog in the News
- ^ Celebrity Dog Watcher - Digging up Celebrity Dog News - Arf! » Celebs Turn out for BowWowWeen
- ^ Q&A: Graham Norton | Weekend | Guardian Unlimited
- ^ http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2339260.ece
- ^ http://richardhammond.bravehost.com/index.html http://richardhammond.bravehost.com/index.html
- ^ Christie Brinkley: A CoverGirl at 51
- ^ We Love 'Letters'
- ^ Animal Wellness Magazine - devoted to natural health in animals
- ^ Hugh Panaro Online - 12/28/2004 Article
- ^ http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/2002/101702/music2.html
- ^ The Student Operated Press
- ^ icNewcastle - It’s a dog’s life as Andy waits on op
- ^ The Bob & Tom Show
- ^ http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6542290.html?industryid=47175
- ^ http://www.perezhilton.com/category/teddy-hilton/
- ^ http://www.roanoke.com/smithmountainlake/dockside/wb/158581
