The Labradoodle has been described as a “crossbreed to the stars”. The point being made is that this newish dog breed is very popular particularly with celebrities. I confess that I have seen several of them myself where I live and they are very attractive. They are designed to be attractive by combining the traits from poodles and labrador retrievers. They have become one of the world’s most popular dogs.
The emphasis on this hybrid dog has been placed upon the poodle element as many are mostly poodles, a genetic analysis discovered with only a relatively small bit of labrador and several types of spaniel also thrown into the mix.
A study in Australia made the finding. The initial objective was to create a hypoallergenic service dog. And the breeders wanted to combine the working dog ability and gentle temperament of the labrador with the poodle’s non-shedding coat.
The Labradoodle is an intelligent and docile dog with soppy good looks. They are a nice size as well which makes them more manageable. Owners have included the actress Jennifer Aniston and Joe Biden, the current US presidential candidate who also lives with a Labradoodle. Jeremy Clarkson the well-known television presenter and journalist and Neil Young the musician also have the pleasure of living with Labradoodles.
The development programme of the Labradoodle included mating Labradoodles with each other and this gives a clue as to why they are mostly poodle. It seems that the breeders wanted to selectively breed for an attractive curly-coated dog hence the emphasis on poodles. There did not seem to be any specific or strong preference for labrador retriever traits.
