Eyes:
"Slightly" round, large and expressive, always offering eye to eye contact when engaged in activity with a human. Protruding or sunken eyes are a fault. Watery or tearful eyes are a fault. Wide round or narrow almond-shaped eyes are considered a fault.
Eye Color:
Eye color should complement and blend with the face color. Black, Blue, Red, Dark Chocolate, and Silver dogs must have dark brown eyes. All shades of Cafe', Milk Chocolate, Gold/Apricot, Cream, and Chalk should have dark hazel to brown eyes if they have black pigment. Caramel and dogs with rose pigment may have either dark eyes or "ghost" eyes. Ghost is a brown color range much the same as it is in humans. Flecking with different shades of hazel with green and a blue/green make this eye color unique. Ghost eyes must always remain soft in appearance. Cold staring expressionless appearance in all eye colors is a severe fault.
Teeth:
Scissor bite only is acceptable, being neither undershot nor overshot. Miniatures must not have crowding teeth.
Nose:
Large square and fleshy. Pigment: Black or Rose. Pigment should be strong. Black pigment dogs must have dark brown eyes. Pink spots or patches on the nose, lips, eye rims or pads are a fault. Dogs with rose pigment can have dark hazel, brown, or ghost eyes. Eye rims should be rose, as should nose, lips, and pads. Pink spots or patches are a severe fault. Rose should be a rich liver color.
Neck:
The firm, the well-muscled neck should be moderately long, slightly arched, and flow into the well-angled shoulders with no abrupt appearance. The neck should not be coarse nor stumpy and should lend an air of elegance to the dog. A short thick neck is a fault.
Color:
Any solid color, including Cafe' and Silver, is preferred. Minimal white on the chest and toes is acceptable. Light chalky coarse hairs (kemp) sprinkled through a dark coat is permissible but very undesirable. Parti (patched) and Phantoms, though undesirable, are considered an acceptable color. Parti can be any color (except Phantom) with white on the face, head, and body. Phantoms are any shading or two-tone coloration, such as a Black dog with lower legs showing a soft toning of silver or gold or a dog born dark with a golden shading at the roots or a slight brindling effect. True pure solid colors except for Silver and Cafe' are highly prized and are the ideal for the Australian Labradoodle. Normally, all colors may show bleaching and discoloration over the topcoat. This is called sunning and is quite expected and acceptable, as the Australian Labradoodle is an active dog and often a service dog that enjoys the outdoors. Weather bleaching or sunning must not be penalized.
The Breed Standard of Excellence colors are:
- Apricot/Gold, Red, Black, Silver, and Blue - must have black pigment
- Caramel, Chocolate, Café, Parchment, and Lavender - must have rose pigment
- Chalk (appears white but when compared to a true white, it is a chalky white) - may have risen or black pigment
- Cream and Apricot Cream (all shades and combinations of cream shades are acceptable) - may have risen or black pigment
- Caramel: A rich Gold/Apricot very much the color of its namesake - caramel through to a deep red - must have rose pigment.
Red:
A solid, even, the rich red color should have no sprinkling of other colored fibers throughout the coat. A true Red must not be lighter at the roots than at the tips of the coat. Red can fade somewhat with age, and senior dogs showing paling of coat should not be penalized.
Apricot/Gold:
The color of ripe apricot on the inside. A true Apricot must not be lighter at the roots than at the tips of the coat. It can come in varying shades and may fade as the dog grows older. Senior dogs should not be penalized for paling of coat color.
Blue:
A dark to medium smoky Blue. Blue also belongs to the Rare Color Group. Blue dogs are born Black but will have Blue skin and undertones at a young age. Any other color throughout the Blue is undesirable.
Silver:
Born Black but will have more grey skin and will develop individual silver fibers at a young age. Silver dogs can take up to 3 years to color out and become a beautiful smoky grey through to light iridescent platinum and varying shades in between at adulthood. The uneven layering of color in the silver is normal.
Chocolate:
Dark and rich, born almost Black, they maintain a dark chocolate throughout their lifetime. Color should be even. Any other color throughout the Chocolate is highly undesirable. Chocolate belongs to the Rare Color Group.
Café:
Born Milk Chocolate of varying shades, and have the same gene as the silver dogs, often taking up to 3 years to fully color out to multi shades of chocolate, silvery chocolate, and silver throughout. When given plenty of time in the sunshine, they develop stunning highlights.
Lavender:
A Definite, even smoky lavender chocolate, giving an almost pink/lilac appearance. Lavender dogs are born Chocolate and can be difficult to distinguish at a young age. Any other color throughout the Lavender is highly undesirable. True Lavender belongs to the Rare Color Group.
Parchment:
Born Milk Chocolate will pale to a smoky, creamy beige. Paling usually starts from an early age, often as early as 6 weeks. As adults, they can be mistaken for dark smoky Cream from a distance. Parchment belongs to the Rare Color Group.
COAT:
Coat types are also still very sporadic, with many dogs showing a combination of multiple types. As the genetic values stabilize, we hope the "Ideal" coats are as follows:
Fleece:
Length is usually around 5 inches long. The Fleece coat texture should be light and silky, quite similar to that of an Angora goat. Appearing "to contain a silky lanolin," the fleece coat can be from loosely waved, giving an almost straight appearance to deeply waved. Kemp is often found around the eyes and topline. The absence of kemp is highly prized. Fleece coats rarely, if ever, shed. A slight shedding may occur and may be determined to the degree of wavy/curly. The less curly, the more chance of slight shedding. During the age of 8-12 months, during the adolescent/maturing time, you will need to groom your fleece every week. After this "transition" period, the coat will settle down, and maintenance will return to normal, requiring a comb out every 3-4 weeks. The fleece coat is allergy-friendly.
Wool:
Coats are denser to the feel of a sheep's wool. The "Ideal" wool coat should "hang" in loose hollow spirals. Most wool coats are still exhibiting a good texture but take the appearance of a Spring, not a Spiral. The sprung wool coat is not desirable. A thick (dense) coat is also not desirable. The Australian Labradoodle has a single coat. Both the Fleece and the Wool coat should naturally grow in "staples" and be of a soft texture. Both the "Ideal" Fleece and Wool coats spin successfully. Hair coats (Hair texture that shed) is a fault and are undesirable. It is extremely rare for a wool coat to shed and is the preferred coat type for families with severe allergies. To keep the wool coat long and flowing will require more maintenance. The wool coat looks beautiful cut shorter and is very easy to maintain. Grooming and a trim or clip three or four times a year are all that is required to keep the short wool coat looking great.
Used with the permission of www.AustralianLabradoodleClub.us
Does a Male, or Female, Adjust Better to Family Life?
Males and females are equally cuddly and mild natured. The slight difference we have noticed with some pups is that females like to bond with one family member while males bond with everybody. The males are just a tad less complicated.
Because we only breed males and females with sweet natures, our puppies’ dispositions mirror their parents.
What Products Should I Have on Hand for my New Puppy?
Puppy Supply List
Fromm Surf N' Turf Dog Kibble
- Adjustable Nylon Collar (8” – 12 “ for miniatures, 10” – 14” for mediums)
- 6’ Leash
- Stainless Steel Food & Water Bowls – ceramic can grow bacteria
- Medium Size Wire Crate
- Child’s toothbrush & dog toothpaste
- Baby Wipes & Q-Tips for Ear Care
- Puppy Shampoo
- Stainless Comb with Handle
- Grooming Brush
- Nail Clipper (you can share yours!)
- Orange handled dog nail clipper for a puppy over five months
- Styptic Powder or Gel
- Nature’s Miracle Odor Neutralizer
- Bitter Apple to Spray on Items to Stop Puppy Chewing
- Nylabone Chew Toys
- DOG TIPS FROM DOG TOWN: A Relationship Manuel For You and Your Dog. Book
- Kong Chew Toys
- Soft Dog Bed You Can Wash (frequently!)
- Living with Kids and Dogs, by Colleen Pelar, CPDT
- A Case of Paper Towels – No, Make that Two Cases
- Plastic Spray Bottle – Fill with Water & Splash of White Vinegar. Use to Stop Unwanted Behaviors
- Pooper Scooper and Bags
- Kaopectate for Minor Diarrhea
Are There any Negatives Associated With the Australian Labradoodle?
There are two negatives I share with my puppy buyers: ear infections, coat management.
Because Labradoodles have ear flaps, moisture can get inside and cause yeast infections. Weekly cleansing with q-tips and ear cleaner helps to stay ahead of the problem.
If you experience frequent infections, this is the remedy we use and strongly recommend:
Ear Wash Solution
- 16 oz. bottle isopropyl alcohol (91%) – if the ears are bleeding, use Witch Hazel
- 4 tablespoons Boric Acid Powder
- 16 drops Gentian Violet 1% Solution
Pour out & discard a bit of the alcohol. Mix all ingredients in the alcohol bottle & shake. (Make sure you shake before every application).Treatment: Fill ear with solution & massage gently for 30 seconds and wipe with a tissue. Fill a second time and just wipe without massaging. The dog will shake the excess out. Be careful; the Gentian Violet can stain. I use an eyedropper to fill the ear.
Treatment:
- 2 times per day for the first 2 weeks
- 1 time per day for the next 2 weeks
- Store mixture and use once a month
Coat care is found under “COAT” in the Breed Standard question, which follows.
What are your thoughts about Puppy Temperament Testing?
Like John Bradshaw, author of DOG SENSE: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet, we do not endorse temperament testing. Puppies' behavioral approaches shift from day to day; thus, temperament testing results are not true on young puppies. According to Bradshaw,
Numerous scientific studies have failed to find any validity in puppy testing as a predictor of future character. The only personality trait that seems resistant to change is extreme fearfulness.
Again, commenting on puppy temperament testing, Bradshaw states,
It is important to look at the litter's environment--how is the female kept, for example? Puppy tests carried out at seven and eight weeks of age are being conducted when a puppy is
most malleable.
I believe that breeding mild-tempered, healthy sires and dams and raising adults and puppies in our home offer a better predictor of a pup's personality. This, plus socialization is given between weeks three and sixteen, is extremely important! I believe our approach of melding nature and nurture has produced the sweetness found in our puppies through the years.
Yikes, my puppy has diarrhea! Help.
It is not unusual for a puppy to have diarrhea. This often results from introducing new kibble, tap water, or fatty foods, or stress. You can add a couple of teaspoons of canned pumpkin or a tablespoon of Keopectate to his next meal. If loose stools continue, call your Vet for advice.
What do I do if my new puppy won't eat when I bring him home?
Not to worry. A new puppy entering a new home often exhibits little appetite. Allow the pup to show you what it does and does not need regarding food. After not eating for 24 hours, I would sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top of his kibble. If this doesn't tempt him, call your Vet. I believe that healthy puppies and dogs will eat when they are hungry.