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!

[Patty Griffin]

This was  a good question to ask and I enjoyed reading everyone responses because we never know what to say either when people ask...  It's bad enough that some people don't even know what a labradoodle is, let alone an Australian Labradoodle - it really starts to get complicated to explain! 

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

I had Simon out for a little field trip today. Toward the end of our outing, a man approached me and asked, "Is that poodle or one of those mixes." I replied neither, Simon is an Australian Labradoodle. He then chuckled and said, "Oh, I know about those." I asked if he had one. He told me no, but he knew all about *chuckle* designer dogs "like that."

I generally try to smile, nod and ignore ignorant people, however, his smugness just hit me the wrong way. I said then he must realize that ALDs were developed for a purpose - that of a service dog. While the initial cross was a standard poodle and an English lab, other breeds were outcrossed as they developed a social, genetically strong, intelligent, easily trainable breed that was also low-to-no shed and low allergy.

In my opinion, ALDs were first developed for the noblest of causes - helping humans in need. I love my two doodles - their uniqueness, their humor, their kind hearts, their strong desire to please and their incredible cuddle factor. I am proud of Simon's heritage and also Connor's background as a puppy mill puppy who became a therapy dog who works with the elderly and special needs children.

 

[Patti]

When we explain the "Australian Companion Dog' and Australian Multi Generation, people are happy to know the difference.  

 

http://labradoodleasd.com/Tegan-Learn.htm

[Gayle Miller]

Karen, I would like to introduce my new pup (getting in July) as that as well.  Had  my 1st go-in with a pedigree snob, so to speak, yesterday.  Was on my way to the food store and saw a sign "Dog Show" and thought, what the heck, I have the time.  Turns out it was the end of an agility competition with just two remaining groups to go; the rookies.  I've never been to an agility competition before.  In talking with one of the owners, I had mentioned I was getting a pup in July.  She asked what kind and I said, an Australian labrodoodle...and she when..."oh."  by the tone in her voice, it was obvious it was with much disdain!!  And then she told me if I'm ever interested in doing agility with my dog, to make certain it one that will include mixed breeds because most only will admit pedigrees.  When I told her we  fell in love with what we've researched about the ADL as well as mentioning one family member being very allergic to dog dander, she said, "Why didn't you think to get a Porteguese Water Spaniel"???  And I said very politely, while the ADL is multi-generational with water spaniel as part of it's lineage, we did not want just a water dog!!  Wow...gets me a little angry!!

[Gayle Miller]

Thanks for your words, Karen!  Wouldn't it be wonderful if the ACK recognized the ADL!  I think it will be years and years, unfortunately!  Now I'm nervous for you about the breeder!  I hope he doesn't do anything too extreme!  Please keep me posted....and post a photo! 

[Gayle Miller]

I meant to say nervous for you about the "groomer"....not the "breeder"....:)

 

 

[Gayle Miller]

I've got my experiences ahead of me with groomers!  I've learned a lot from the forums here and have cut-and-pasted grooming pictures and keep in a notebook that I've started!  One day we will have to compare stories!  The profile picture of Spencer  is a beauty!  Ohhh....on the bed....you're a good Mommy!

[Adina P]

I'm not a big fan of that term "Australian Companion Dog" mostly because it's not very descriptive, to me.  DOGS of all breeds (mostly) are already considered companion animals already.  "Companion dog" just sounds like a fuzzy lap dog--which isn't very descriptive as there are other fuzzy lap dogs.

[Adina P]

Another place the "Companion Dog" term comes into play in the dog world is in obedience titles.  That's the first level obedience title available from the AKC or even UKC.  So the term "Australian Companion Dog" sounds also like a dog that comes ready for a title or one who has earned such a title in Australia.

[Adina P]

I can get nitpicky about names.  Old breeds had names that more or less identified their working jobs.  Retriever, shepherd, etc.  I like "labradoodle" very much for the straight lab-poodle crosses because it is a true combo of two names labrad(or) + (p)oodle.  But I don't like 'goldendoodle" because the 'd' in doodle doesn't come from any breed.  And I don't like other ___ - doodle names because again it sounds like they are copying the 'doodle' from labradoodle which was there as a real combo of two names.  I KNOW...I'm nuts for this to bug me but then everything with poodle is called "doodle" and then all the poodle mixes are assumed to be relatively the same as though the other breed in the mix makes no difference in the type of dog one could get.  This should NOT be translated to mean that I look down on other mixes. 

 

And really I think when pure breed snobs show their snobbery it's not really because a whats-a-doodle is a horrible dog on its own...but merely because they don't trust what went into breeding mixes (the motives, quality of stock, etc) and see it as a fad for $$$.  If I brought home a pound mutt and took it to my AKC club events, they wouldn't care.  Although they have been really polite so far when I do bring Rosco and call him a labradoodle.

[Adina P]

That's harder than naming a baby! LOL.  I think it should have been done differently from the start, but now at least among doodle owners the Australian Labradoodle makes sense--is recognizable.  And at least historically it began with a labradoodle.  So that part fits.  It's more of a 'too bad they didn't think ahead' better.

[Donna K & Quincy]

A labradoodle by any other name is still a labradoodle, and I don't know  if you realize it but some of  you are sounding a little snobby too. I'm not trying to tick anybody off, but reading these posts it's coming across that way even if that's not the way you want it to.