Labradoodle -What is a Labradoodle?

According to the Daily Mail (UK national newspaper) Barak Obama, United States president elect has decided that the dog selected for the presidential office will be either a Labradoodle (Ella sits up looking smug) or an Irish water spaniel. These have been selected as one of the children suffers from allergy and both 'breeds' are low shedding. The Labradoodle varies considerably from the almost non shedding poodle end of the spectrum to the heavier shedding labrador end of the spectrum. I just hope that their selection is correct.

Whilst Mr Obama intends to source his dog from a 'rescue' centre I wonder how practical this will be. One reason for these dogs to be re-homed is that they do shed and hence this would be impractical in Mr Obamas situation.

Overall though an admirable choice.

While it is fairly obvious from the name the labradoodle is a cross breed dog from a Labrador and, usually, a standard poodle and to me it is the epitome of good breeding.

I have a labradoodle called Ella, I also have a second dog called Sam which causes some amusement as when asked I respond "I have two dogs Sam'n Ella (Salmonella)" There is a story about how we acquired them later.

What is a Labradoodle? - The labradoodle is claimed to have been deliberately bred by Wally Conron in Victoria, Australia in 1989 in order to provide a dog suitable for the visually impairedwho also suffered from allergies. Most of the allergies are a reaction to either the shed hair or dander and the labradoodle was developed to limit this.
The basic premise was that the poodle's non shedding coat could be allied to the labradors intelligence although as they still do not breed true to type this cannot be guaranteed. The resultant labradoodle would be an ideal seeing eye dog, or as we say in the UK, a guide dog. Both the labrador and the poodle are water loving dogs and were originally working dogs out in the field hunting and retrieving gun dogs.

Despite my efforts I still cannot get Ella to stay out of the muck! Once again she has come back covered in filth and smelling dreadful. I am considering sending her to boarding school for four weeks residential training where the trainer can get busy on a one to one basis. What is your opinion?

BTW After her regular, too regular, baths I can confirm that Labradoodles do have webbed feet.

Once again Ella has investigated the muck midden - I you do not aready know what one is see below. She obviously requires training. She has now decided that she really does love her dad and is sitting at/on my feet smelling disgusting. Oh hum - a shower once again looks in order! More time away from the computer!

Tomorrow I will restart her training Honestly.

Ella has been so annoying today as she has been out rounding up the sheep, and rounding them down, and across and diagonally and up and down AGAIN - you get the message!

She decided that she would not ignore my recall commands - no! - she would turn around, look at me, and then totally disregard what I wanted. I was livid but what can one do? Reward them whe they eventually return to you.

The sheep have been brought in, as they need to be sorted for market, and have been shut in the barn. Fortunately Ella was kept indoors while that was going on otherwise we would still be at it. When I let her out later she wandered down to the barn to have a look and then found a very large door which was nearly closed and proceeded to nudge it open with her nose. This door has to be at least 12 foot square! I was impressed - annoyed but impressed!

Ella and I have moved to a farm out in the north of England where she has the time of her life chasing the animals and being bullied by Nell a rather vicious Border Collie sheepdog. I suspect that this might be Sam getting his revenge! She has visited with all the animals and 'had a chat' with BOB. Bob is a HUGE Hereford bull and did not take too kindly to being shouted at.

Another joy for Ella is chasing the chickens and sheep into the muck midden - here she gets absolutely covered in s*&^ ( a local farming technical term for POO!) She seems able to get out but we have to send a worker in to get the sheep out.

Ella our labradoodle has proved to be very, very bright but she tends to naughtiness. She has spent the last two years bending us to her will. Her training involves us leaping to her attention refilling her water bowl after she has informed it is empty by rattling it around the kitchen and bouncing it beneath the sink. Rattling the unit beneath the TV when she has pushed her ball or bone beneath them. What is a labradoodle? - Amusing - Or, making a point of first sitting, then lying down at your feet when she has decided that she deserves a biscuit. She is always hungry (this is from the Labrador we think)so we make sure that she gets good food. For advice on your dogs diet click here! . The good news is that she was easily house trained (potty trained) as she is motivated by food and has not had any mistakes since. Click here to find out how we did it! There will be more about this in a later article.

Overall I cannot say more than that I am besotted by my labradoodle Ella who is the most delightful companion and is constantly at my side - or more often 'under my feet' She is beautiful, blonde and has a well developed sense of humour - more in a later article. On the bad side - she is a consummate thief and is the labradoodle equivalent of Steve McQueen i.e. a great escaper!

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