Labradoodles dissed by AKC official

[Ginny Nightingale]

Oh brother--stuff like this makes me angry--how many AKC breeds out there were once "crossbreeds"? Hundreds? How do people think new breeds came along--magic?? In an article about the Westminster dog show, now taking place, they mentioned how many new breeds were being added and ended with this totally bogus paragraph:

"In a few years, there could be up to 240 breeds at Westminster. But there won't be a puggle, labradoodle or Maltipoo among them. A "designer dog" is more than OK for the White House — President Barack Obama and his family considered a labradoodle before getting a Portuguese water dog — but they're absent at the Garden.

To get to Westminster, a breed must meet American Kennel Club criteria — there has to be an ample population with a three-generation pedigree, a geographic spread of those dogs and a parent club to establish breed standards.

"All dogs are lovable," said the AKC's Lisa Peterson. "But a crossbreed is not a breed.""

Geesh!! What are they talking about? There are so many AKC breeds that started out as a mix of established breeds, aren't there?? And Labradoodles certainly have " three generations of pedigrees, a geographic spread and parent clubs with standards!!" WTD!!? 

Actually, I will be very happy if Labradoodles are NEVER recognized by the AKC. I had a Lakeland terrier once and we got involved in dog shows with him (he finished his championship). I saw the dark side of dog shows--Some handlers do some pretty despicable things to dogs to increase their chances of winning....not for me.

[Lorraine Bromley]

I do say that I wish they were a breed standard so buying one would be much less a crap shoot. But I worry about anything that is the ORIGINAL AUSTRALIAN LABRADOODLE or the NEW COBBA DOODLE. Due to the ORIGINAL BREEDER, that makes me worry about the breeders who brag about having HER stock in their homes.

If that question could be asked and answered for future owners by having a breed standard that would make me happy. It would also allow for more interaction in competition for our doodles with out having angry outbursts!

Neely is an F1,golden doodle. against my original plan. He suits the breed standard for coat that I would love. Little to no shedding (I don't have allergies so can't say about that) Fleece, easy maintenance.

I think that if I look at the breed standards for each of his parent breeds he may have some faults if he was in the CKC. We could avoid that if they were a registered breed.

My son has now got two great danes, pure bred but not Registered with the CKC. I don't know why. But they have natural ears and tails. The colour of one is a fault. 

All we can do now is ask for the genetic testing and parentage back as far as there are, and look at the kennel or breeder.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

There is a breed standard for the Australian Labradoodle.  I have two dogs from "HER" stock in my home. 

http://www.ilainc.com/AustralianLDBreedStandard.html

[Ginny Nightingale]

Yes, that is it--thanks--I knew I saw a standard somewhere. Of course, since they are not being shown and there are no "champions", there is nothing to stop people from breeding the ALDs that do not meet the standards and call them the "authentic" or "genuine" ALDs--when you buy an AKC pup, you can check the pedigree for champion stock. You can do that with LDs and GDs too, sometimes--but very often the  parent stock of labs and poodles are not revealed by the breeder because the lab or poodle owner does not want their identity disclosed. 

[Richard Crowe]

Here's an open letter from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to the "Kennel Club" which is the U.K. equivalent of the AKC.  This would go the same for the AKC and their comments at Westminister.

http://pedigreedogsexposed.blogspot.com/2011/03/rspca-slams-crufts-...

 

The conditions of many dog show participants are not much better than shelter dogs...

 

There are many Maltese for instance whose feet never hit the floor.  They live in pens with wire grates for the floor so that their long coats will not get stained.

 

Our Maltese show dogs lived in our home as pets, the way that dogs should live.  We were particular to whom we sold our dogs and would never sell to a breeder or a person who shows because we wanted our puppies to grow up as normal dogs...

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

So sad.

[Pat and Traveler]

One of the comments concerning that open letter, having to do with labradoodles:

AnonymousMar 16, 2011 12:25 PM

Met a charming lady on my way to Crufts on Saturday on the train, she works for the Guide Dogs for the Blind, training new guide dogs, I asked her about labradoodles, she said it was recognised as the biggest mistake the Guide dogs had ever done, they did not work as well, were harder to train and unreliable, had poor temperaments, their coats were more problems for owner to look after than a normal Lab or Goldie, they also found more ear and skin problems in the numbers they had, in short a big mistake that they were happy to finish with, shame that so many think Hybrid vigour is a big thing to beat the world of pedigree dogs with, when they don’t have any proof to make such claims. Interesting point the lady in question was off to look at the PBGV and the Rhodesian Ridgeback, to which would be their new family pet, her husband’s family having had the latter for many years all being long lived very healthy and happy and well tempered, this despite what was put in PDE!!

[Lorraine Bromley]

I still find it difficult to understand that the breed history is now totally different on the associations site than what so many Authentic Australian Labradoodle breeders have on their sites. Even some that are listed as recommended breeders. I also find that anyone who says they were the worlds first to do anything is most likely not FINDING or LOOKING for anyone else. So far I have read two peoples info that says they are both the first to breed Labradoodles?

So for having these dogs meet the breed standard when there have been allegations against one of the people who claims to have bred them first with questionable stock, how do you trust that you are indeed getting what your paying for.The heritage of some of the breeding stock is only one generation back or two from her kennels, does DNA allow for using her stock to take the breed standard for those pups seriously?

I did alot of research before purchasing Neely and he is a golden doodle. I was looking for an AALabradoodle to start with. I guess knowing exactly who his parents were being a first generation and having the ckc registration for his parents and grandparents and great grandparents plus the health testing is what I went for. 

I just think that any purebred organization that doesn't support rescue and continues to support breeding for looks over health is very narrow minded and self serving. Any mixed breed association that doesn't acknowlege the history or the controversy within their past breeding stock doesn't do much to support the publics confidence in them when all it takes is a google search to find so much negative accusations and legal ramifications. If either could improve and make it easier for me an uneducated person in this area I would love to see it. Maybe there are answers out there that I just haven't found.

There are definitely good breeders in both worlds. I just wish they were easier to find.