Labradoodle

Labradoodle

A brown Labradoodle with a fleece type coat. The appearance of Labradoodles may vary.
	Labrador Retriever, poodle
Variety status	Not recognized as a standardized breed by any major kennel club.
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

A labradoodle (/ˈlæbrəˌduːdəl/) is a crossbreed dog created by crossing the Labrador Retriever and the Standard, Miniature or Toy Poodle. The term first appeared in 1955, but was not popularized until 1988, when the mix began to be used as a hypoallergenic guide dog. Currently, they are not considered a breed by any major fancier and breeder organization. Not all labradoodles are hypoallergenic, but it is a quality that many look for and appreciate in this type of crossbreed.

The labradoodle became known in 1988, when Australian breeder Wally Conron crossed the Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle at the Royal Guide Dogs Associations of Australia in Victoria.

Conron's aim was to combine the low-shedding coat of the poodle with the gentleness and trainability of a Labrador retriever, and to provide a guide dog suitable for people with allergies to fur and dander. Sultan, a dog from this litter, displayed all the qualities Conron was seeking and worked as a guide dog for a woman in Hawaii for ten years.

Although Guide Dogs Victoria no longer breed labradoodles, they are bred by other guide and assistance dog organizations in Australia and other places. The Association for the Blind of Western Australia has introduced labradoodles into their training program, and their first, Jonnie, graduated in November 2010. Labradoodles are now widely used around the world as guide, assistance, and therapy dogs as well as being popular family dogs.