How Do You Respond?

[Harper]

Usually when I am out with Harper and people ask what kind of dog she is, I go the easy route and respond that she's a Labradoodle.  When I meet other doodle owners at the dog park I tend to go a bit further and say she is an Australian Labradoodle.  So far, I've only met a few people in-the-know who know what an Australian Labradoodle is, and the rest always ask what it means to be an Australian Labradoodle.  I go back and forth between giving long and short answers to this question and I was wondering how other ALD owners respond - or do you even try? 

 

Thanks!

[Harper]

Thanks for your reply, Karen.  I want to be an advocate for the breed, but I guess I was getting discouraged by the weird looks people give me!  You are motivating me to be more assertive, though!

[Adina P]

Remember that for a dog to be recognized by the AKC (which I don't personally think is really that important) there has to be a breed club that applies for membership at some point when the dog is ready as a 'pure breed'.  The club doesn't just go looking and award a breed recognition.  I'm not really sure any of the ALD breed clubs are vying for AKC recognition--maybe they are but I have never heard that as a goal.  Plus I believe it's not uncommon for stud books to be closed once recognized or to be recognized.  Not sure on that--don't hold me to it. 

 

The AKC is a club like any other club.  They aren't the gold standard of how things should be, although there are very good things about it and obedience and conformation trials are useful.

 

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

i have tried to explain the difference between Australian and American several times..., not too well. I got asked just yesterday (from the grown up son of the owners of the pet food store I work at) if i was given a guarantee from my breeder that Cooper wouldnt shed as many people are told that then their dog sheds. I said yes, as she is an Australian Labradoodle not an American labradoodle, though of course theres always a chance of a rare throwback I guess. I said an Australian isnt just a lab and poodle bred together, its much more complicated. careful breeding has gone on infusing a few other breeds too to create predictable characteristics.

 

When I say Austalian Labradoodle many people think I mean a mix of a lab, poodle and Ausralian shepherd

People are coming up with crazy names for any random mixed breed - I had a customer the other day tell me she had a PomChi (pomeranian/chihuahua), a ShiPoo (shitzu/poodle), a SpanTer (spanier/terrier) and some other random named mix!!!!!!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

yep we sell frozen raw, freeze dried raw, dehydrated raw, holistic dry and treats (digestible grains and grain free, no corn, wheat or soy) and natural medicines, cleaners, etc oh and toys, beds, collars etc! No animals!

 

unfortunately we do carry some not so good stuff - such as Royal Canin due to demand. We often switch people off that onto something better though!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned is an Australian labradoodle by heritage, not by birth, but officially it makes him and Australian labradoodle.  Ned happens to be multi-generational and I think people are more interested in the fact that he looks like his parents for several generations than in where his roots are.  I usually tell people he is a poodle mix, and then that he is a labradoodle if they are interested, and then if they are more interested I tell them that he is multi-generational and resembles his parents.

Clancy is a rescue that we assume is a goldendoodle, and we tell people that he also is a poodle mix and that he is a rescue. I find people are far more interested in Clancy and that he is a pound puppy.  We really emphasize that he is rescued hoping that others will check their local shelters and find a wonderful dog and save a life.

[Gayle Miller]

I so agree!  My reason is two fold.  My DH is always "joking" me in saying the breed I've chosen to get this time around "is not a real dog".....he knows it gets me mad but he also knows the breed is not recognized by the AKC.  Also, while I love dogs in general, before doing my own personal research and knowing the difference between the ALD and GD or LD, I would see many in the State park that I walk in daily...some looked just as I liked (the ALD) others would look so different; more like a poodle with a flowing flag tail, more like a yellow lab with a poodle nose, etc., etc.  While there are many beautiful Doodles (and loveable mixed breeds) once I got on to the ALD, I could compare from breedeer to breeder the consistency in the way this dog looked.  I personally believe there is a great difference; especially in learing that a dog must be multli-generational to ever be approved by the AKC.  So, when my friends ask me "what kind of dog are you getting", I go to lengths in explaining the differences between an ALD and a Doodle.  I agree with Karen.  I want to spread the word aboaut the wonderful ALD...and I hope they one day are recognized by the AKC...at least in my lifetime!                 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

And people compliment me on Ned - my wonderful poodle!  Everyone recognizes Clancy as a doodle - truthfully we don't know what he is.

[Nugget's Family]

We always say Aus Labradoodle, too.  We live in an area where there are actually quite a few ALDs, so most people (who are interested) know the deal.

[Kimberly Keenan]

I DH & I both tell people Bindi is an Australian Labradoodle. Most people have heard of labradoodles but not Australian Labradoodles. They usually ask what is the difference. I explain that Australia was the first to come up with them and that they are multigeneration labradoodles not just a poodle lab. mix. They all think she is a unique dog & they love how soft her coat is. 

[Jacqui and RosyNose]

95% of the time I tell people Rosy is an ALD and try to spread the word on the breed.  I like to get the word out since breeders and other ALD devotees are trying to put standards in place so ALDs are recognized as a true breed.  When describing an ALD I usually say Rosy is 8+ generation Labradoodle meaning her parents are ALD, parents parents are ALD, parents parents parents are ALD, etc.  If there's time and the persons eyes haven't glazed over I tell the story of ALD origin (trying to breed non-allergic variety of seeing eye dog).

It always makes me a little crazy when people smugly refer to Labradoodles as "designer" dogs...really, what recognized breeds didn't originate because of specific desired traits/characteristics???  Anthropologists and Archaeologists say evidence shows that wolves were the first domesticated "dogs".  Wolves showing more social behavior with humans were deliberately mated (designed) ...  Some breeds have have been standardized/designed (and "perfected") a very long time ago but they were definitely bred for specific outcomes.

 

OK, that's all, I'll go back to my mild manners now :-)  Happy Friday everyone!

[Gayle Miller]

Oh you are soo right!!!

[Lynda Kamrath]

I loved when I was out walking the dogs on Wednesday and a little girl was singing to Harpo RAGGMOPP.  He had been playing in the creek and swimming in the pond and he definitely fit the description.  Now I have started calling him Raggmopp too.  So, I have an Australian Raggmopp Doodle.