About Australian Labradoodles
The Australian Labradoodle is a purpose-bred family companion and therapy dog, originated in Australia. Unkety Brook Labradoodles are strong advocates of the breed type as developed by the founders and have no intention of changing this. For a full and detailed breed history including the breed standard.
Our Australian Labradoodles are not the same as a Labradoodle or an American Labradoodle or even some Australian Labradoodles bred in the US today from older lines. Ours have been around for generations, with discreet infusions and developed for the health, intuitive nature and type that makes them unique in the world of the Labradoodle. They have a non-shedding, allergy friendly coat. But this isn't just what the Australian Labradoodle is all about...
Brief History:The Australian Labradoodle was originally bred, by Wally Conron, in 1988 as a service dog for people with (or family with) allergies. Two breeding and research centers opened in the 1990's, Rutland Manor Breeding and Research Center and Tegan Park, who wanted to take these early crosses and develop the breed. Rutland Manor remains open today and has continued to develop the Australian Labradoodle adding their valuable insight and experience to develop the Australian Labradoodle that we know and love today. When you look at an Australian Labradoodle the first thing that will stand out is their beloved temperament and gentle nature followed closely by their looks, excellent non-shedding coats and their conformation.
Australian Labradoodle Infusions: (summarized from the ALFA website - please look at their website for complete information). It is important to note that without these infusions the Poodle/Labrador crosses were not producing the healthy, consistent, non-shedding dogs that we know and love today. Our dogs do not have Cockapoos, Goldendoodles or any other designer crosses infused in the breed.
- Initial Cross: the Australian Labradoodle started as a Poodle and Labrador Retriever cross. However, there were some problems with this developing dog. There were many shared hereditary diseases between the breeds, the size of the dog was too big and the resulting dogs had inconsistent coats and body types.
- First Infusion: to improve health by widening the gene pool and reduce the size of the Australian Labradoodle, the Irish Water Spaniel was infused in discreet lines. (This is also where the chocolate color came from).
- Second Infusion: to introduce a smaller sized Australian Labradoodle. As demand increased for smaller sized Australian Labradoodles the Cocker Spaniel was infused in discreet lines. Three generations past the original infusion the line stabilized and began to produce consistent results.
- Third Infusion: at this point the lines were still having some throwbacks to the original dogs. So, to further widen the gene pool the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten (as bred in Ireland only) was introduced in 2004 to both miniature and standard lines. The results are amazing - take a look at Alfie!
In 2009 the ALFA stud book was closed. There will be no other infusions in the Australian Labradoodle as designed by the breeding and research center in Australia.