Labradoodle

The Labradoodle is a popular designer dog created in Australia in the late 1980s by a retired veterinarian named Wally Conron.  He knew someone who needed a guide dog but happened to be allergic to dogs.  So, he mixed a docile and intelligent dog, Labrador Retriever, with another smart and low shedding dog, poodle, to create a service dog for someone who has allergies.  However, Labradoodles are not hypoallergenic.  In fact, no dog is.  Labradoodles are simply a better choice for allergy sufferers because they secrete less dander than other breeds.  It is important to know that people with allergies have sensitive immune systems that react to some proteins in the dog's dander (dead skin that is shed), not the fur.

Labradoodles' coats come in many different colors, and because they are crossbred, you never know what kind of coat you're going to get.  There are three basic coat types.  There's hair, which is straighter, fleece, which is wavy, and wool, which is the curliest and the most allergy friendly.  But, most Labradoodles are low maintenance, since they hardly shed.

 

Nice variety of colors!

Hair

Fleece

Wool, looks almost like a poodle

Labradoodles can be great family dogs thanks to their gentle and social personality.  Intelligent and eager to please, they are easy to train too!  They are also versatile in that they can live in small or large environments.  But, they are energetic dogs and need lots of exercise.

Labradoodles can have some inherited health problems.  Hip dysplasia is the biggest and they can develop some genetic eye problems as well.  So, regular visits to the vet mandatory.