The Australian Labradoodle breed began in the 1980’s when an Australian breeder of guide dogs, Wally Conran, sought to breed an allergy friendly guide dog for a vision impaired woman in Hawaii. The result was an allergy/asthma friendly dog that had a temperament appropriate for service dog training. Careful attention to maintaining consistent coats and temperaments in the breeding practices of the Australian Labradoodle has led to the amazing breed we are enjoying today. They continue to make incredible companion dogs as well as trained therapy and service dogs.
Their temperament as described by the ALAA(Australian Labradoodle Association of America) is “extremely clever, sociable, comical, and joyful. Energetic when free and quiet when handled. Should approach people in a happy friendly manner. Keen and easy to train. Should display an intuition about emotional state of family members or handler’s current emotional state or needs. This ability to ‘know’ is what has made the Australian Labradoodle an excellent dog for individuals with special needs.”
The breed comes in 3 sizes, miniature(15-25 pounds), medium (25-40 pounds), and standard(40-65 pounds). Coats should be non-shedding and easily maintained. They can be fleece or wool and be straight, wavy or curly. They should be soft and not harsh to the touch.
