Labradoodle 'creator' regrets his decision

from News Hound

on Thursday May 6th, 2010 at 02:24 AM -

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If you own a Labradoodle, you might be surprised to learn that the man who bred the first one now regrets it.

Wally Conran, 81, who crossed a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle in 1988 and then coined the term "Labradoodle," wishes he'd never done it. He originally bred the two dogs after receiving a letter from a woman in Hawaii who was looking for a seeing-eye dog for her husband, who had allergies.

Conran was the manager of the puppy program at the Royal Institute of the Blind in Melbourne, Australia, at the time.

"But now when people ask me, ‘Did you breed the first one?' I have to say, ‘Yes, I did, but it's not something I'm proud of,'" he said. "I wish I could turn the clock back."

Conran doesn't explain why, but it's possible he regrets seeing the popularity of the hybrid designer dog surpass purebred dogs. Some Australian pet shops report that Labradoodles outsell pure-bred puppies by 3 to 1.

"I'm not at all proud of my involvement in it," Conran told The Australian. "But the genie's out of the bottle, and you can't put it back."

The American Kennel Club doesn't recognize the Labradoodle, but there's no denying they're a popular dog - and darn cute, too.

Tags Labradoodle American Kennel Club Royal Institute Of The Blind Wally Conrad

	@ cdbrand: Any dog can be "difficult" and unfortunately the problem is more due to the owners than the dog. To say that all Doodles are out-of-control from the behaviour of a few shows you obviously don't know any, or indeed have never owned a dog yourself. over 1 year ago by Taekwondodo
	Why does Wally Conran regret experimenting with mixing Poodles and Labradors? You have only to spend a day or two lurking on Doodle owner forums to see how difficult these dogs are. Doodle owners routinely complain about hyper, out-of-control Doodles who bite, run away, counter surf, chew up everything in sight and worst of all have serious issues with resource guarding. almost 2 years ago by cdbrand
	I am proud to be a Labradoodle/Goldendoodle breeder. We supply service dogs to disabled individuals. We fully health test our parent dogs before breeding and we raise them from pups so we know their temperaments (alos researching their ancestors). Our dogs live in our home, as pets and family. They run free on our property (8 acres) and they enjoy the best food, treats, toys and health care. __Our puppies are well adjusted, social, are bonded to humans and are easily trained. We provide clicker training materials and puppy training books for all new pet puppy owners.__We provide a 2 year genetic health warranty and include a clause in our contract that requires return of the dog FOR ANY REASON if the new owner can't keep it. __How does this practice add to shelter overcrowding? Simply by adding a wonderful breed that people love? __Your reasoning is obscene and bigotted. __It is not the GOOD breeders (of any breed) that create overcrowding in shelters, but BAD breeders and IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS.__This article is outdated (very old information) but even so, I understand Mr. Conran's shame...at those who would profit in a bad and unconscionable way with this breed...and there are those who will. This is not unique to Labradoodle breeders.__But if you are a smart buyer, you will not buy from a puppy mill, back yard breeder or pet store.__Owners must share the blame for the agony of abandoned animals. Does that make all of you liable for the puppy in a shelter? No. It makes irresponsible breeders and owners liable.__Private shelters make their money by the number of animals they "save" so, many of them IMPORT dogs from Mexico or from states with a large puppy mill population. Can you honestly say that they are doing a good service? (Again, not ALL rescues do this, but should all rescues be penalized because some are importing dogs?)__Puppy brokers make their living from providing dogs to pet stores.__To blame the plight of abused, neglected and abandoned dogs on breeders of a popular "new" breed shows just how irrational your point of view is.__Since fining these wonderful dogs, I have studied genetics, human/animal interaction, antrozoology and I am proud to offer my clients healthy, intelligent, loving dogs and to back my sales up with lifetime support and communication.__How many of your "papered" dogs have such a good start? about 2 years ago by utahjac
	@ Sheri - I think you could say that about any dog breeder who make any money from breeding dogs. I agree that ALL breeders should follow ethical breeding guidelines and many do! Don't single out labradoodle breeders just because they breed a non pure bred dog. Not all "designer dogs" are selling for "a grotesquely high dollar with no standard of what they should look like or act like." Just like pure bred breeders, there are good ones and bad ones. I think you are just as likely to find a pure-bred breeder who has no standard for what their "pure-bred" dog looks like or acts like as long as they have the papers.____@ Mary Ann - Are you seriously saying that pure breds should only breed with breeds of their own kind? How natural is that? If left to their own devices, there would be no pure breeds because dogs would breed with whoever they wanted! Maybe we don't have the right to breed dogs ONLY with the dogs we find acceptable!___Just in general, I encourage all people to do a bit of research on the doodle mixes. I will reserve my opinion on them so that I don't seem like the author who obviously starting writing with the goal of smearing Labradoodles. Just google Labradoodle and read the wikipedia article and any other article out there on Labradoodles and they will tell you that breeding two different pure bred dogs of high quality health standards (because in this day, if a breeder has not had genetic testing done on their stock dogs, you shouldn't buy from them anyway) will result in hybrid vigor. Because Labradors and Poodles do not share all the same recessive traits, they are much less likely to develop genetic disorders and have a better chance for living a longer, more healthy life. But it is up to the buyer to make sure they are buying from a reputable breeder. Ask to see those genetic testing papers whether you are buying a pure bred dog or a "designer" dog. It's about the health of the dog, not about what they are called. about 2 years ago by paralee