What is the history of the Australian Labradoodle breed?

The story of the Australian Labradoodle began in—you guessed it!—Australia. In 1988, Wally Conron, a breeder of Royal Guide Dogs, wanted to create a hypoallergenic breed to be a suitable seeing-eye dog for owners with allergies. After examining samples of hair and saliva from numerous poodles to find a good match, none of them passed the test. As an alternative, Wally crossed a Labrador with a Poodle. One puppy from this litter passed the test. This dog, named Sultan, would go on to sire other Labradoodles. Dr. Kate Schoeffel, a veterinarian from Australia, then started crossing labradors with miniature poodles as the parent breeds. More breeders started popping up and strict standards were implemented. In 1989 in Victoria, Australia, the Rutland Manor Breeding and Research Center and the Tegan Park Breeding and Research Center were created to breed Labradors, Poodles, and Labradoodles with strict health testing to detect genetic diseases and ensure the highest quality puppies.

Over the years, breeders have worked to completely eliminate shedding. The lineage also included mixing with other breeds such as the Irish Water Spaniel, the Curly Coated Retriever, the American Cocker Spaniel, and the English Cocker Spaniel to further improve the coat, temperament, and overall health of the Australian Labradoodle that we know and love today.

When can I take my puppy home?

Our puppies are ready to go home when they are 8 weeks old. Before they go home, all puppies are:

• Microchipped

• Vaccinated

• Dewormed

• Spayed or neutered

• Fully vet-checked

• Two-year health guarantee

• Handbook with bloodlines, tests, & ALAA registration application

How do I care for an Australian Labradoodle’s coat?

There are different Australian Labradoodle coat types: wool coat, hair coat, and fleece coat. Fleece coats can have wavy coat or curly coat textures. Colors include black, chocolate, cream, gold, red, and apricot.

All of our Claremont Labradoodle puppies are fleece coats so that they are hypoallergenic and non-shedding. But all that fluffy cuteness still comes with considerable grooming needs! To keep coats healthy and prevent matting, we recommend brushing your Australian Labradoodle 2 to 3 times per week. Don’t forget to brush their teeth, trim their nails, and clean their ears, too!

Do Australian Labradoodles make good service dogs or emotional support animals?

Absolutely. Because Australian Labradoodles are kind and intuitive, they can generally assess the situation and adapt to it. Their many wonderful qualities make them an ideal breed for going where other dogs might panic or lash out. In busy airports, crowded supermarkets, or anywhere else you might need guidance or comfort, Australian Labradoodles have the intelligence and temperament to be your constant companion.

What is the difference between a poodle and a labradoodle?

The Labradoodle is a simple cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. The Australian Labradoodle, on the other hand, has more dog breeds in its ancestry and more consistent characteristics. These include the Irish Water Spaniel, the Curly Coated Retriever, the American Cocker Spaniel, and the English Cocker Spaniel. The Labradoodle and the Australian Labradoodle are considered separate breeds by some organizations such as the Australian Labradoodle Association of America (ALAA) and the Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association (WALA).

What are the personality traits of a labradoodle?

The Australian Labradoodles temperament is known for being friendly, loyal, intelligent, and fun-loving. These dogs are also very social and enjoy being around their people. This makes them great with children and other pets, easy to train, and eager to please. For these reasons, they make great service dogs and great family pets. In addition, these active dogs need daily exercise.

How do I reserve a labradoodle puppy?

Claremont Labradoodles is now accepting deposits to reserve your puppy! To reserve a puppy from one of our upcoming litters, you need to fill out our online application form and pay a $500 deposit. The deposit can be transferred to hold a spot in another litter if needed. Once we receive your application and deposit, we will contact you to confirm your reservation and discuss your preferences for your puppy.

How do you choose which puppy goes to which family?

We do our best to find the perfect match for each puppy and each family. We match each puppy to their new family based on their temperament, personality, size, color, and coat type. We also take into account your lifestyle, preferences, and expectations for your puppy.

We do not provide open litter visitations. Instead, after we receive your deposit and send over a contract, we will select one or two puppies that we feel are a great match. If these puppies do not meet your expectations, we will return your deposit and cancel the contract.

What if I can’t keep my puppy? Is there a return policy?

We hope that you will love your puppy for life, but we understand that sometimes circumstances change and you may not be able to keep your puppy. If that happens, we ask that you contact us first before rehoming your puppy. We do not want any of our beloved puppies to end up in shelters or rescues. We have a lifetime take-back policy for all of our puppies, which means that we will always take them back if needed.