Labradoodle

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{{Infobox Dogbreed | country = Australia | image = Labradoodle Sitting.jpg | image_caption = The appearance of Labradoodles varies. | name = Labradoodle | notrecognized = true }} A Labradoodle is a crossbred dog created by crossing the Labrador Retriever and the Poodle. Their temperament makes them good service dogs.

The impetus behind experiments with this type of cross was the desire to achieve a service dog that would not shed and so produce a hypoallergenic dog that is suitable for people with allergies to fur and dander. This has not yet been reliably achieved, as Labradoodles have varying coat lengths and textures, and crosses beyond the first generation do not yield a predictable coat type. However, the coat usually remains freer from doggy odours than that of some Labradors.

The Labradoodle is still under development. Strictly speaking, the Labradoodle cannot yet be described as a dog breed because it does not breed true. In breeders' terms, breeding true means that, when two specimens of the same breed are mated, the puppies will have consistently predictable characteristics, and will resemble their parents, rather than exhibiting random characteristics of the dog breeds in their parents' ancestries. Further, the breed standards of breeds-under-development are invariably freer, more open to interpretation, and cover more observable types than those of established or kennel club-recognized breeds.

Image:Anotherdoodle.jpgSome breeders want to avoid making the Labradoodle into a recognised breed in the belief that genetic problems, such as the Labrador's weak hips, will otherwise continue. By restricting breeding to F1 dogs (bred from a Poodle and Labrador rather than from two Labradoodles), it is hoped to maintain a wide gene pool.

Labradoodles can be very demure.

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