VERY IMPORTANT CROSS POST FROM THE DOODLE ZOO

[Kate C Pappas]

CONSUMERS BEWARE

These people/kennels listed here below are proud to display the ALFA logo despite the fact that it was founded by Bev Manners of Rutland Manor, who is the creator of ALFA. These kennel owners supposedly adhere to the Code of Ethics that Bev has stipulated, yet she herself does not follow. 

Had this been eight years ago or so, I could see how breeders would want to join. In those years Rutland Manor Labradoodles were first being exported to an admiring public. Back then the rumblings of discontent were just beginning. Today those cries of disgust and deceit about RM and Bev’s breeding and business practices have become a deafening roar. In this day and age of internet research there is no excuse to claim ignorance about the abuses that have gone on at RM from day one: the breeding stock coming from Puppy Mills, the cruelty forced on the dogs who were unlucky enough to become breeders, the terrible deaths many of them suffered at the hands of those who followed the directions of its owner, the unbearable conditions many have had to live in at RM and then later, dumped back at another puppy mill to continue on in their life of misery even though Bev announced to all that would ask about their whereabouts that they had been rehomed to a loving family, and of course, the duped owners and breeders who received their pups and stock with made-up Pedigrees and continuing health worries. 

Many of these ALFA breeders say that they know what has been going on at Rutland Manor all these years. Despite this admission they justify their ALFA Membership by saying that they have very limited interaction with Bev Manners so it is OK for them to belong to this organization even though Bev is still so closely associated with it and continues to run her kennel the way she always has. Do they not understand that being an ALFA member actually is hurting their reputation publically amongst owners as well as other breeders? AS A CONSUMER I WOULD NEVER BUY FROM SOMEONE WHO ASSOCIATES THEMSELVES WITH BEV MANNERS IN THIS DAY AND AGE and I know many other consumers who feel the same way. 

These ALFA Members are no better than Bev Manners in my estimation. Instead of looking for a mentor or group of like minded honest breeders (those who have done years of extensive testing on their RM stock above and beyond just the basics, those who have culled lines when they have found a problem, those who have excellent Health Warranties for things like Addisons and HD, those who don’t have long lists of customers with legitimate complaints against them the way Bev Manners has) who have the same vision as they do for the Australian Labradoodles future, they have turned a blind eye and have joined ALFA, a group that associates itself with someone who continues to be shrouded in deceit and controversy. And as an owner of two RM dogs who is asked all the time where I recommend purchasing an Australian Labradoodle, I will continue to tell people to stay away from Rutland Manor AND any ALFA Member Kennel.

I implore anyone who is considering purchasing an Australian Labradoodle to stay away from

the list of following breeders. They are aligning themselves with Beverely Manners of Rutland Manor.

She is a well know puppy miller.  There is documented proof and untold stories listed on

 http://stoprutlandmanor.wordpress.com/

Beverley Manners is a mastermind at luring in the unsuspecting consumer. She has now taken yet

another approach to market her failing business due to the countless hours of concerned individuals 

who will never give up until Beverley Manners does what is right... RETIRE from Puppy Milling.

Listed below is ALFA's Executive Board Members. One has to question their morals, values and ethics.

Registrar 
Jill Crenshaw 
 
 Assistant Registrar 
Helen Lawrance  
 
 Social Club Co-ordinator
Esther Hatch  
 
 Therapy & Service Dogs Promotions Officer
Christine Jordan  

Newsletter Editor
Ted Powell    

Activities Co-ordinator,Tech Advisor, Graphics Design and Multi Media
Laura Powell 
 
 Breed Avisory,  Classifier and Website
Beverley Manners 
 
Public Relations
 Rick Doyle
 
Hi Point Co-ordinator,
 Companion Dog Competitions
 Jane Richards

Luke Erb
Arrowhead Australian Labradoodles
Listowel, Ontario, Canada http://www.minilabradoodle.biz/SCMLabradoodleAboutUs.html

Sandra Walker and Tasha Potter
Coastal Maine Australian Labradoodles
Arundel, Maine, USA http://www.australianlabradoodlesofcoastalmaine.com/

Elizabeth Ferris
Country Australian Labradoodles
Paso Robles, California, USA http://www.australian-labradoodle.com/Contact%20Us.htm

Grace George
Green Gables Australian Labradoodles
South Carolina, USA http://www.greengableslabradoodles.com/

Nick and Samantha La Barrie
Highlands Australian Labradoodles
Colorado, USA https://highlandsaustralianlabradoodles.com/Home_Page.html

Christine Jordan
Maine Light Australian Labradoodles
Maine, USA http://www.mainelightlabradoodles.com/

Kari Morgan
Sequoia Haven Australian Labradoodles
California, USA http://www.theaustralianlabradoodles.com/

Cynthia Williams
Talaki Ridge Australian Labradoodles
Santa Maria, California, USA http://www.talakiridgelabradoodles.com/

Wayne Kartzinel
Tortoise Island Australian Labradoodles 
Florida, USA http://www.tortoiseislandlabradoodles.com/

Jill Crenshaw 
Unkety Brook Australian Labradoodles
Massachusetts, USA http://www.unketybrook.com/

Michelle and Jamie Walker-Thomas
Waltzing Matildas Australian Labradoodles
Hanover, MD USA http://www.waltzingdoodles.com/About%20Us.html

Hilary Hammer (PENDING)
GreenwoodPark Labradoodles
Bowling Green, KY USA http://www.greenwoodparklabradoodles.com

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thank you for this information!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Thank you Kate!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Good to know.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

The thing though, Kate is that the Australian labradoodle is an Australian labradoodle.  The whole thing should be bigger than one person.  Because bad things are at one place should not condemn all breeders who have Australian labradoodles and because Beverly Manner turned out to be such a fraud, does not mean that all breeders of Australian labradoodles are puppy mill breeders themselves and that they don't believe in the ideal of the Australian labradoodle, the multi-generational labradoodle,  medical testing of parents.  The dogs I have are what they are and saying that Ned is a multi-generational labradoodle is what he is.  He was bred in America but his 'ancestors' are from Australia.  Do I actually care?  Nope - he is a mutt just like our rescue, Clancy and mostly we just call them both poodle mixes.

[gkce5pjesxm9]

Hi Nancy,

I am a breeder of 'blended' Australian/American Labradoodles and while I agree that an Australian Labradoodle is bigger than one breeder, you must take into account how many breeders in the U.S. BEGAN their programs with RM and TP stock that were untested with faulty pedigrees.  This means that those dogs keep sharing their DNA every time they and their progeny are bred for generations and generations.  It does and will have an affect on the future of each and every Labradoodle whelped.  So, it is VERY important to investigate every ancester of RM & TP Australian Labradoodles.

Responsible breeders here began testing and realized there were problems - some big and some small.  Miss Manners was not cooperative at all about fessing up to the issues and blamed everyone but herself.  As a matter of fact, she made it her mission to berate all U.S. breeders as test crazy and ridiculous right on her website.  To avoid more questions and concerns, she made her Chat Pages private.   

Because of the incredible popularity of the Labradoodle, many breeders, such as myself, want to move forward in a positive way by testing to the highest degree and avoiding the pitfalls in some of the stock from RM & TP lines.  We keep researching and posting on the Rutland Manor Exposed site so others can witness the abuse this woman raged on this lovely hybrid.  We also hope that anyone having issues will share their pedigrees so we can continue to help navigate the health problems.  Anyone willing to share this can reach me via my website.  

In the beginning, everyone believed that the 'Research Center' tooted by Bev Manners was indeed just that and she had all the testing records and pedigrees up to snuff like any research center would.  It was not until much later that some of us realize her 'research center was actually a puppy mill'.  Like most puppy mills, there was virtually no testing,  worse record keeping and cruel abuse of the dogs both in mating and maintenance. The fact that her glossy website was extremely misleading with lots of nurturing pictures of wagon rides and 'romping in the meadows', the true facts are posted (with pics) on the Rutland Manor Exposed sites.  Any breeder aligning with The 'Cruella of This Century' should take another few days reading the Rutland Manor Exposed Sites.  They are supporting this woman so she may continue to abuse our dear hybrid.

 

 

[Tante & Jordan & now Annie!]

I 100% agree with you!

[Kate C Pappas]

HI joyce: You are 100% accurate in your post and knowing what we know saddens us because it's all unnecessary and it's all about MONEY AND EGO when it comes to Rutland Manor!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thank you for enlightening me.  I am very far from this fight and didn't understand Kate's and your point.  I just feel that it is important that responsible breeders' reputations not be blackened because they have Australian labradoodle lines that are healthy.  Since you are a breeder, you have a much better handle on the situation and don't feel any condemnation because some of your dogs are Australian.  I stand corrected.

[Kate C Pappas]

Nancy, with all due respect you're not understanding the point of this cross post. To quote you here "The whole thing should be bigger than one person.  Because bad things are at one place should not condemn all breeders who have Australian labradoodles and because Beverly Manner turned out to be such a fraud, does not mean that all breeders of Australian labradoodles are puppy mill breeders themselves and that they don't believe in the ideal of the Australian labradoodle, the multi-generational labradoodle,  medical testing of parents."

 

The list of breeders are going forth today using RM stock that is known for a fact to be UNTESTED.G-d willing, they will test their stock and go forth with their breeding program only IF their dogs test out perfectly.

NO ONE is able to get any test results about the Rutland Manor breeding dogs period. That is because there aren't any done. NO ONE, including the poster of my cross post or me, is condemning any breeders that are ethical and do proper testing. I have a huge problem with a breeder today, with all the information available who will associate themselves with Rutland Manor/ALFA to begin with, when it's simply not necessary. There are many GOOD breeders in Australia right this minute and if a person wants their dog from Australia, *I* will direct them to one of the finest breeders there. Additionally I have a huge list of breeders in America who I regularly recommend.

What you also need to know is that MOST of the breeders who bought RM UNTESTED stock, did their due diligence and tested those dogs. Some breeders were royally screwed out of tens of thousands of dollars when they found the breeding dogs to be unsuitable for breeding. Some breeders found the DNA of Chows, or Borzois to name a couple in their supposed 'authentic RM Labradoodle'! They did the right thing, in spite of their investments, and desexed those dogs. Others were lucky to find their RM dogs suitable for breeding and THAT is why you'll still see RM and TP lines today.

There is just NO reason to rely on RM/TP lines today in 2011. None whatsoever! My two girls are directly from RM and are wonderful; I wouldn't trade them for anything....but every day they remain healthy is a day for which I'm grateful. Dealing with current puppies and breeding dogs from RM is like playing Russian Roulette.

Additionally, the 'authentic' Australian Labradoodle you mention is many things. And RM changes that definition on a regular basis. The infusion of the Soft Coated Wheaten (Irish Lines only) was recently up on RM's site as being the "ONLY TRUE AUSTRALIAN LABRADOODLE!"

 OK, so what about the breeders and consumers who's dogs did not have the Wheaten infusion? (Yarra doesn't) That was a HUGE controversy and the comment is no longer there. Screen shots have been taken of changes that occur on a regular basis on the RM site.

Since I'm now aquatinted with a some American, Australian and Scandinavian Labradoodle breeders I can tell you this, not ONE of them would have ever infused any kind of Terrier into the Labradoodle! A Terrier is a Terrier. Period. And don't misunderstand that I'm implying a Terrier is not a great dog. This is a big issue I have with the temperament of my Yindi. Her Mother, Ava also has temperament issues and I saw them up close and personal. 

Don't forget that rather than keep reading rumors about RM, of whom I was a supporter for years, I got on a plane within three days and flew there to see for myself. I returned when Yindi was born and REALLY got more than I bargained for. If you don't recall it or didn't see it, here is a link to the story I posted almost one year ago. http://stoprutlandmanor.wordpress.com/2010/07/29/in-her-own-words/

What it did was generate over TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY emails and posts of support and people breathing sighs of relief and coming forth with their own horror stories of RM experiences and information comes in daily about sick RM dogs.

This topic is my biggest 'hot button' and now that I know what I know, I speak with passion and knowledge and share this information with many many people.

Let's all go hug our Doodles regardless of their origin and be thankful for every minute they're healthy and happy. Yindi has still a long road ahead to become balanced and a good "spokes-doodle" for her breed.

Cheers, Kate

[Michael Gurley]

Oh, no... I had no idea. My Sunny is supposedly from a RM line. I will give her another big hug.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks, Kate, for correcting me.  I have taken your opinions as my guidelines all along because you DID go to RM personally and shared your experiences.  I misunderstood what you wrote in this post.  I am so ignorant of what is going on that I shouldn't have posted any comment.  I appreciate your and Joyce' patient explanations.

[Kate C Pappas]

Thanks Nancy. I just don't want any mis-information or misunderstandings. The post originally wasn't even mine. It was from AnnR on the ZOO and she is one the most highly respected Doodle people ever and she has two RM Doodles. Her post and all the posts that I've seen thus far, are factual.

Hope to see you over the summer!

Ta, Kate and the "Y" Girls