3 min read (Articles narrated by Mabel)
Labradoodles, Goldendoodles, and just about any other dog mixed with a poodle are very popular right now. Sure, they’re adorable, but they’re the type of dog that won’t frequently be at a shelter or rescue. In fact, they’re not even an official breed at all, yet everyone has fallen in love with them. The truth is, Labradoodles weren’t even meant to be a designer breed at all, and the man who created them regrets what he did.
History of the Labradoodle
A man named Wally Conron bred the first Labradoodle back in 1989, but it wasn’t for style or for popularity. He worked for Guide Dogs Victoria, and he met a blind woman who wanted a guide dog, but she was allergic to dogs.
Conron tried to find a breed with minimal shedding to help the woman, but he kept running into issues. He thought a Standard Poodle would work perfectly, but he couldn’t seem to train a Poodle to properly do the job. He realized that the perfect guide dog for this woman would be a dog with the personality of a Lab, but the coat of a Poodle.
I like to believe that no dog can be defined by their breed, but it was certainly a much different time for dogs. So, Conron bred a Lab and a Poodle together to create the Labradoodle. It was the perfect guide dog for this woman, so he was happy to have helped.
However, when he tried to advertise this mixed breed to other blind people looking for guide dogs, they sadly wanted nothing to do with a mutt. That is, until he referred to the new breeds as ‘Labradoodles’. Suddenly, it sounded like a special new breed, which started the craze.
People became so obsessed over the Labradoodle that people started buying them and breeding them for more than just guide dogs. The poor man never intended for the dog to be used in that way.
What Have They Become?
Today, many humans just think it’s the norm to breed expensive Labradoodle puppies. In fact, there are many mixed breeds out there that are considered “designers breeds”. But how is selling expensive mixed breed puppies okay when there are plenty of great dogs already waiting for homes?
If you have a Labradoodle or another poodle mix, I’m not trying to say there’s anything wrong with your dog. All dogs are amazing and adorable, but breeding is getting out of hand. In fact, Conron has even said that he created a monster by breeding the Labradoodle.
With so many humans getting Doodles, they forget about rescue dogs. Sadly, many people think of breeders and pet stores as the first choices for getting a new dog. But why spend so much money on some fancy puppy when you can save a life by adopting? If the creator of the Labradoodle is so against this whole situation, then I think everyone else should be too.
If you’re thinking about getting a new dog, please adopt. Many humans don’t know the importance of dog adoption, so it’s important for us to spread the word.
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