Labradoodle Creator Says the Breed Is His Life's Regret

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/25/us/labradoodle-creator-regret.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur

“I opened a Pandora box and released a Frankenstein monster,” said Wally Conron, who developed the mopheaded dog.



By Emily S. Rueb and Niraj Chokshi - Published Sept. 25, 2019 - Updated Sept. 26, 2019, 11:07 a.m. ET

The inventor of the labradoodle, the ubiquitous, mopheaded designer dog, said that creating the mixed breed was one of his life’s regrets.

“I opened a Pandora box and released a Frankenstein monster,” the creator, Wally Conron, said on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s podcast “Sum of All Parts” last week.

Mr. Conron, who has been credited with sparking a crossbreeding frenzy resulting in cockapoos, shih poos and puggles, said the labradoodle was originally intended as a guide dog, not a fashion accessory.

“I bred the labradoodle for a blind lady whose husband was allergic to dog hair,” Mr. Conron said, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

<snip>

“I find that the biggest majority are either crazy or have a hereditary problem,” he said.

Amy Murphy, the president of the Australian Labradoodle Club of America, begged to differ.

“All dogs are crazy,” she said.

Based in Denver, Ms. Murphy has been breeding labradoodles since 2006 and said that, despite some ups and downs, demand for what she called “a hearty breed” had continued to increase.

“They are quirky and fun-loving,” she said. But they don’t like to be left alone.

“If they are not challenged and don’t have people around, then they act out,” she added.

</snip>

NO dog likes to be left alone. Not sure why they're picking on Labradoodles for this...

[TreasonousBastard]

1. Alfred Nobel felt the same way. His invention wasn't so damn adorable, though.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

5. it sure beat nitroglycerin

No telling how many lives it saved.

[Kaleva]

2. A neighbor has one and from what I see, he's a great dog.

Friendly as heck. Likes to come up on our porch when my wife and I are sitting out there drinking coffee and likes to be petted.

[Drahthaardogs]

3. Poorly bred must from indiscriminate breeding

For outrageous prices.

[maxsolomon]

4. My neighbors had one, and it got suddenly sick and died. Genetics.

It was big and dumb as a rock. They're being "overbred" to serve market demand.

Of course, I had an "overbred" breed that died of a genetic disease as well. No more dogs for me; too heartbreaking.

[CountAllVotes]

8. +1

I'm done too.

I had a purebred dog that was in inbred nightmare.

I had to have the poor thing put down not long after I got her.

It broke my heart smack in half.

Have never had a dog since this happened.

[customerserviceguy]

6. We crossed

a laughing hyena, a dachshund, and a poodle.

Not sure what it is, but we call it a snickerdoodle.

[New Breed Leader]

7. Relax, dude. You're no Oppenheimer.

[StarryNite]

9. Opt to Adopt!

[MineralMan]

10. I'm not a fan of any of the poodle mixes.

Poodles, themselves, are weird enough. Mix them with some other breed and it's like Parisian Roulette. You never know when they'll go off.

My neighbor has a "shitty poo," a nasty little ankle biter of a dog. I finally befriended it with offerings of Li'l Smokies. But it's still absolutely an insane little dog.

Breeding a Lab with a Poodle. OK, you get the rambunctious side of the Lab and the unpredictability of the Poodle. What could go wrong?

[The_jackalope]

11. I have an 11-yo schnoodle named Buddha who is an interesting character.

He's very smart, independent and dominant, is totally bonded to me, but is not the least bit snuggly. He got me through the death of my last wife, and is now learning to coexist with my new partner's 3 dogs - a very alpha Bichon Bolognese, and two tiny female Bolonkas that are the essence of snuggle.

I've met a lot of other poodle crosses on my walks. I may have some issues with the whole -oodle craze, but many of the dogs are quite lovely. My previous dog was a purebred apricot miniature poodle, and I was quite happy to see my previous wife claim him in the divorce.

[TlalocW]

12. Just... quit breeding purebred dogs

They're all inbred, genetic cul-de-sacs, most of which have breathing problems. Let dogs be dogs. We can survive without a bunch of Westminster dog snobs doling out prizes every year.

TlalocW

[Drahthaardogs]

16. There are still WORKING dogs

I have some myself.

[SMC22307]

13. My neighbor had one that was nuts. I'm glad they moved.

Now two delightful corgis live next door.

[Blue_Tires]

14. I love dogs, but I'll never own an "-oodle" anything....

[hunter]

15. All our dogs come from the animal shelter. They've all been "fad" dogs of various sorts.

Our husky had been kept chained up in a yard 24/7 by owners who didn't know how to deal with him. His teeth were worn down from chewing on his chain. He was missing hair around his neck. Some of his teeth had to be removed after we got him and it wasn't cheap. He's a big cuddle monster now but he had some issues at first. He'd pee in the house, and he'd panic at any quick movement as if he was afraid someone was going to hit him.

He's dug huge craters in our yard but it's not likely that will change. Huskies dig. He's the one of the few dogs I've met who has the persistence to dig up gophers.

I have a pretty dim view of dog breeders in general, especially those who breed the problem dogs that end up in shelters. Everyone in my bleeding heart family will walk into an animal shelter and pick out the most misfit high maintenance dog they see, the one they figure no one else is likely to adopt.

Anyone who wants a dog should look in the shelters first. There's always some great dogs st the shelters who would be wonderfully well behaved and loving companions from the first day. Not that anyone in my family is ever likely to bring a dog like that home.

[Whiskeytide]

17. We have a Lab/Poodle mix, but not ...

... the expensive "boutique" version of the Labradoodle (I think that's referred to as an F-1 or an F-1A, which requires some more breeding sequences). He's just the 50/50 result of a Lab and Poodle that got carried away one night.

He is an awesome dog. Very smart, loves attention, stays home by himself many days with zero anxiety as far as we can tell, travels well, loves to cool off in the pool, has never chewed on anything, and adores my kids. He's cream colored, has the long legs and high, narrow frame of the Poodle, but the face, eyes and non-stop tail wag (that will bruise you) of the Lab. He has a great spirit.

He sheds like a Lab, unfortunately - so we missed that benefit of the Labradoodle. And he's more than a little co-dependent - he very much likes to be with his family. He will press up against your legs until you pet him - and you WILL pet him. He insists. But we could not ask for a better member of the family.