From Origins to Present Day Labradoodles First Bred and Evolved

Labradoodles were first bred in the 1980s by Australian breeder Wally Conron, who aimed to create a guide dog that was low-shedding and hypoallergenic.

Wally Conron's goal was to combine the intelligence and friendly nature of the Labrador Retriever with the low-shedding coat of the Poodle, resulting in a unique and versatile breed.

The name "Labradoodle" was coined by Conron, a clever combination of the Labrador and Poodle breeds that would become the foundation of this new breed.

The first Labradoodles were bred in 1988, with the first litter being born on April 20th of that year.

For your interest: Labradoodles Breed

Wally Conron, an Australian, is credited with creating the first Labradoodle in the late 1980s.

He was trying to create a guide dog that would be hypoallergenic, so he bred a Labrador retriever with a standard poodle.

The Labradoodle exploded in popularity due to its cute looks, friendly demeanor, and minimal shedding.

The breed is a combination of two of the 10 most popular breeds, making it no wonder people sought it out.

A fresh viewpoint: Labradoodle Bernese Mountain Dog Mix

Wally Conron regretted his creation due to the intense demand for Labradoodles, which led to the rise of puppy mills and inexperienced breeders.

The original creation date for Labradoodles is marked as 1989, when Wally Conron created them for the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia.

He was tasked with creating a service dog for people with a dog allergy, and after several attempts, he found the perfect mix between the Poodle's intelligence and low dander count and the Labrador Retriever's friendly and trainable behaviors.

Wally Conron worked with 33 large-sized poodles for three years before deciding to cross one of his Labradors with a Poodle to create a guide dog that was hypoallergenic.

The first Labradoodle was born in this litter, and it had the necessary aptitudes to become a guide dog.

Despite the success of the first Labradoodle, Wally Conron faced a problem - people didn't want a dog that wasn't a purebred, and he had trouble finding socialization homes for the Labradoodle puppies.

He decided to call the media and announce the creation of a new breed, conceived to do assistance and therapy work, which led to a surge in interest and demand for Labradoodles.

Wally Conron needed male Poodles for mating, but purebred breeders were against his breeding program, threatening to remove him from the registry and impede him from presenting at exhibitions and championships.

For another approach, see: Labradoodle

There's actually a big difference between the Labradoodle and the Australian Labradoodle.

The Australian Labradoodle was originally developed and named by two dog breeders in Australia, Beverly Manners of Rutland Manor and her daughter Angela Cunningham of Tegan Park.

They started with the first generation Labradoodle mix and over 30 years infused four more pure breeds into the mix to create a more allergy-friendly, non-shedding coat and a service and therapy-type temperament.

The Australian Labradoodle came to the USA in the 1990s and the UK in 2006 and became very popular throughout much of Europe.

Rutland Manor and Tegan Park were selling their Authentic Australian Labradoodles for tens of thousands of dollars in the early 2000s, but other dog breeders couldn't afford them and started making their own versions.

These knock-off versions were created by mixing the Lab, Poodle, and Cocker Spaniel breeds and calling them "Australian Labradoodles", but they're missing the full genetic makeup of the original bloodline developed by Beverly Manners.

Suggestion: Australian Labradoodles vs Labradoodles

The Australian Labradoodle has a unique history. It was developed by Beverly Manners of Rutland Manor and her daughter Angela Cunningham of Tegan Park in Australia.

They started with the first generation Labradoodle mix and over 30 years infused 4 more pure breeds into the mix to create a more allergy-friendly, non-shedding coat and a service and therapy type temperament.

The Australian Labradoodle came to the USA in the 1990s and the UK in 2006, becoming very popular throughout much of Europe.

It's worth noting that the authentic Australian Labradoodle comes from a very specific bloodline of dogs in Australia, developed by Rutland Manor and Tegan Park.

Unfortunately, dog breeders around the world capitalized on the "Australian Labradoodle" name without owning any Rutland Manor or Tegan Park dogs, missing the full genetic makeup of the original bloodline.

This means that many "Australian Labradoodles" bred by other breeders are knock-offs, lacking the amazing coats and temperaments that made the authentic Australian Labradoodle so popular.

A different take: Australian Doodle Dog