Rutland Manor Australian Labradoodles

Breeding & Research Center for the ASD Australian Labradoodle since 1989.  We have no other breed.

This section discusses Linebreeding and Inbreeding -  Canine Disease  - How Dog Breeds are Created and Developed and Rutland Manor's Breeding Practices and Health Policies. 

Let's Talk About Disease.

Disease can have either hereditary or environmental causes or both, and can be inherited on either  recessive or dominant genes, or due to a predisposition with variable causes  including dietary deficiencies or imbalance, stress, administration of certain drugs, or anything which compromises the immune system of the individual dog such as over vaccination or the feeding of -               Unwholesome Commercial Dog Foods.  (links coming shortly)

Diseases Inherited Via Dominant Genes

Diseases transmitted through dominant genes can be relatively simple to breed out of a particular line of dogs by either terminating the bloodline from whence it has come or by judicious breeding practices.  An example is the eye disease  prcd-PRA.  This disease can be idendified via a  DNA test which became available in 2007.  Dogs are classified as either 'Clear'  'Carriers' or 'Affected'.  By  DNA testing progeny prior to retaining breeding stock and keeping only  'Clear' dogs for further breeding this disease can be stamped out of that bloodline in one generation. 

There is a modern trend for breeders to test for a number of diseases in their breeding stock and it can look very impressive to see a list of health testing results displayed as some kind of badge of honour which places them above the rank and file.  In principle this is impressive.  In reality it is pointless to test for a dominant gene disease which has already been eliminated from that breeding line unless there is a loose cannon by way of a new unknown bloodline which has been used with it in the breeding program. 

Let's clarify this.  Let us suppose that a dog tested 'clear' for prcd-PRA is mated with another also tested 'Clear'.  Because it is impossible for any of the offspring to be anything other than 'Clear' it would be pointless testing that offspring. But it would look impressive (to the uninitiated) added to the health testing list!

Diseases Transmitted Via Recessive Genes

Not so easy are the diseases transmitted through Recessive genes.  These tricky little genes  can skip a number of generations and be 'silently' carried through dogs which are themselves perfectly  healthy and who show no clinical or symptomatic signs of the very disease they are  'carrying'.

An example of a recessively carried disease is Hip Dysplasia (HD).  Progeny of several generations of parents with excellent hips on both sides can still produce dysplastic offspring without warning.   Conversely certain individuals with poor graded hips can produce offspring with excellent hips!  This disease's very unpredictability makes it necessary to test every successive set of parents before they are bred.  It is no guarantee of producing good hipped dogs but it is the best a breeder can do.

Inherited Canine Disease Can Be Breed Selective

This means that particular breeds are prone to develop their own sets of inherited diseases and the list of possible canine diseases is overwhelming.  Tests are available for some, but many others can only be identified post humorously.  Some occur at a young age and others are mature onset.

List of Inherited Diseases Shared by the  Labrador and the Poodle  (link coming shortly) Even if all these diseases were able to be tested for the sad truth remains that if breeding stock were tested for each and every one, the price of a puppy would escalate to such highs that only the very wealthy would be able to afford one.  The best that any breeder can do is to test for any disease which is known to be present in their own breeding lines, and to either cull those lines altogether or continue testing every parent and every puppy before sale, and as many of these diseases are mature onset with no process as yet in place to test for predisposition, it would no longer be possible for anyone to adopt a puppy, but only adults which the breeder has kept for testing up to two and three years of age.   

It is 'fashionable' to lay blame at the breeder's door if a puppy grows up to develop a disease, but in reality every conscientious breeder is devastated to hear of any of their stock becoming ill despite their best efforts.  Nevertheless breeders of integrity still offer generous health warranties on the puppies they breed and most work hard at keeping abreast of new technologies which become available regarding testing, treatments and preventions.

An owner's responsibility is to themselves keep abreast of breaking news regarding the advisability or otherwise of feeding commercial dog foods, for over vaccinating and in questioning their vet when certain drugs are used to treat health problems that may occur over time.

 

Rutland Manor's BreedingPractices

Rutland Manor's Policy on Health Management

As my first  driving motivation to create a new breed of dog was based on my disillusionment with the health status of the pure breeds, it stands to reason that this continues to be an issue close to my heart. Rutland Manor  Breeding and Research Center pioneered several history making initiatives in the breeding of dogs, whether pure bred or hybrid.  These initiatives were mandated into the then ILA ( International Labradoodle Association - now called IALA).

1. Rutland Manor  pioneered mandatory juvenile desexing (speying and neutering) of all pet puppies prior to leaving for their new homes.  We met strong opposition to this from other breeders and from the general public, but we stuck to our guns and nowadays it is common practice amongst breeders of integrity to desex their family pet puppies prior to adoption.

2.Rutland Manor pioneered the Guardian Home Concept   In keeping with its abhorrence of dogs being kept in a 'kennel' environment.

3. Rutland Manor  pioneered mandatory DNA profiling of all breeding stock, against much opposition, but this practice is now recognized as the valuable tool it is in verifying correct parentage of breeding stock across the world.

4.  Rutland Manor  pioneered mandatory health testing of breeding dogs at a time when this was unheard of in either pure breed or cross breed dog breeding circles.

5. Rutland Manor  founded the first Labradoodle Association in the world,   also facing much opposition from those who claimed it was not necessary.  RM founded firstly the then Labradoodle Association of Australia (LAA) and later, the International Labradoodle Association (ILA) now known as IALA. The purpose was to monitor and track the breeding practices of the hundreds of new breeders who sprang up almost overnight, and to provide them with a place where they could find breeding guidelines and register their Labradoodles.

How Were The 'Pure' Breeds Created & Developed?

Many of today's 'pure' breeds originated from a foundation of as few as five individuals.  The genetic dead-end in which many modern day 'pure' dog breeds find themselves, has come about by too - close inbreeding and line breeding especially in inexperienced hands.  Rutland Manor  carries out continuing anecdotal research in the pursuit of ongoing health and vitality in the dogs it breeds, as well as the ongoing stability of the truly non shedding and allergy friendly coat. 

Each  alternative year, usually in September,  Beverley of Rutland Manor tours the United States, which is the country currently importing the largest number of our ASD Australian Labradoodles, for the purpose of monitoring the development of our dogs,  gathering further information and giving  free instruction on care, training and breeding.    Similar services are also provided on request throughout Australia and other countries.

Line Breeding, In breeding and Out Crossing

The main difference between these  lies in the level of breeding one relative to another, as there is no clear cut definition of any of these terms and each breeder has their own idea of where the lines are drawn.   Highly incestuous matings such as father or mother to their own progeny, or brother to sister etc are considered by most breeders to be 'inbreeding'  whilst others will consider less incestuous matings such as bringing a grandparent back into a line to be line breeding.

Line breeding can be a valuable tool in the hands of a thoroughly experienced breeder who is familiar with the health status debits and credits behind their breeding stock, but in less knowledgable hands can be a recipe for disaster.

Inbreeding co-efficients of up to 30% are considered low in 'pure' breeds. Rutland Manor  breeds using an inbreeding co-efficient of less than 10% with most in the range of 0.5% to 3%.

During the development of the Australian Labradoodle, and following diligent research, Rutland Manor thoughtfully infused four breeds at specifically appropriate times in pursuit of the wide and diverse gene pool necessary to build a strong oundation for the ASD  (Australian Service Dog)  Australian Labradoodle, yet at the same time, not sacrificing the standards of soundness,  temperament and coat type  which had already been achieved.

Skip a Cycle?  Or Breed Each Successive Cycle?

At Rutland Manor  we breed our girls  back to back ( each successive cycle)  and desex/retire them young. There are very good reasons for this. 

Firstly -  Modern veterinary research indicates that it is healthier for the breeding females themselves to be bred on concurrent cycles and can reduce the  incidence of uterine cancers.

Secondly - By breeding successive cycles and then retiring the breeding females several years younger than if they skipped a cycle each year, these still-young females have the chance to find a loving forever  home where they can spend the rest of their lives as the adored single dog family companion they deserve  to be. 

Genetics and Breeding - In Simple Terms
 The Maternal Grandsire Effect
 Why Breeding Females Shed Coat
Read About Juvenile Spey/Neuter

Update 2007:   IALA/ALAA/ILA  publishes on its website that "two breeders under the 'TERM' of Breeding and Research Centers  began developing the breed......" 

Rutland Manor considers this public statement to be inflamatory and offensive.   Our original purpose and ongoing dedication when developing the ASD Australian Labradoodle as a breed, was and still is,  ongoing research, which has been diligently carried out since the  90's. We are pleased to say that every word in the  paragraph below was  approved  by the legal department of Consumer Affairs Victoria and is correct in every detail. (9th March 2004).

 

Consumer Affairs Victoria Australia received a request In 2002, from a lady in America who wanted Rutland Manor's claim to be a Breeding and Research Center to be thoroughly investigated.  

After an exhaustive three months of providing full documentation we are pleased  to announce that Rutland Manor was able to supply sufficient evidence to substantiate to the satisfaction of Consumer Affairs Victoria, that we are indeed a Breeding and Research Center for the Labradoodle. 

 

During the early development of the breed, Rutland Manor infused four  pure breeds at appropriate intervals, and for specific reasons in some bloodlines.  Each infusion was done once only. Results were monitored and recorded for several generations before being filtered into some of the remaining bloodlines.

N.B.  I have read on several websites that the Curly Coated Retriever was also infused into the Australian Labradoodle.  If it was I have no knowledge of it.  It is not a breed I would personally have chosen for an infusion.

Beverley

Irish Water Spaniel, a close relative of the Standard Poodle

 

American and English English Cocker Spaniel

Click on the 'About Infusions' Link below to follow the fascinating Infusion Story Pictorial

Soft Coated Wheaten  -  IRISH lines

 

 

ASD AUSTRALIAN LABRADOODLE..2008... WHAT NOW? 


HAS THE ASD AUSTRALIAN LABRADOODLE REALLY BEEN BRED INTO A GENETIC DEAD END REQUIRING CONTINUING INFUSIONS OF OTHER BREEDS AS SOME ARE SAYING ?       SEE WHAT YOU THINK
 
IMPORTANT NOTE:    Because there are so  many different kinds of so-called  'Australian Labradoodles' being bred these days by so many breeders and in so many different ways  it is no longer possible to attribute  a carte blanche description of the breed. Descriptions regarding  temperament, intuitive nature, coat type, size and any other feature of the breed appearing on this website refer to dogs bred by Rutland Manor or to dogs bred by member breeders of the Accredited Australian Labradoodle Breeders (AALB) ONLY.   In fact, with the ongoing  infusions being sanctioned by the various breed registries, and lines known to carry disease being sanctioned for breeding by certain breed associations,  within a few short years the Australian Labradoodle will be unrecognizable from the dog which has become the beloved of families across the world.  For instance why would anyone want to infuse the Curly Coated Retriever into this wonderful dog breed?  What is to be gained?   Read  A brief overview of the Curly Coated Retriever by one of its  own enthusiasts to make up your own mind. 

It is being said and was printed in a Quarterly edition of the Australian Labradoodle Protection Society (ALPS)  that Rutland Manor infused 12 or 13 different breeds into the ASD Australian Labradoodle and that some of them were 'secret'.  This is most definitely NOT true!  At all times I have been upfront and honest about each of the infusions I have done while developing the breed and published my intention and the results on the website.    Beverley

At Rutland Manor, Beverley Manners called upon  her thirty plus years of experience which encompassed  dog breeding, showing, judging, and behavior counseling and training, to devote the following twenty one years as at  2008 to developing the vision she has for the Australian Labradoodle as the ultimate allergy friendly, service / assistance dog, family companion and therapy dog....  The ASD  (internationally trademarked)  Australian Labradoodle)

By the year 2000, Rutland Manor Australian Labradoodles  had established their reputation in many countries across the world. A veritable avalanche of breeders soon followed and it is saddening to see that the associations Beverley originally set up to protect and nurture the future of the breed, have now decided that they want to do things their own way by re-inventing the wheel with complicated grading and ill advised infusion schemes  that vaguely mimic the original recipe but can never replicate it.  The following email which was sent out to all ALAA members and which was also published on the ILA/ALAA etc website clearly sets out their position.  One can not help but wonder by what qualifications and/or experience these board members  consider themselves equipped to change the direction of the breed from that of the Founders.   Perhaps it is a question which needs to be asked.

CONSIDER THIS:   The method used to define the Breed Standard is by vote of the entire membership!  In other words, Mr Joe Bloggs who has owned one pet Labradoodle and has absolutely no experience with dog breeding actually has a say in how the breed should continue to be developed for the future.

Quote from ALAA Email sent to its membership.

"Recently the ALAA has evaluated the new ALPS/ASD association and their vision for the Australian Labradoodle as explained on their web page at http://www.alpsdoodles.org/  . It is the feeling of the Board that the ALPS/ASD’s mission and purpose is contrary to the vision of the ALAA.  As ALAA Board members are involved with establishing standards, procedures, and regulations for our association we feel that it is imperative that all Board members be committed to our visionary direction.  Therefore, it has been determined that it is a conflict of interest for policy setting members of the ALAA, officers and committee members, to pledge membership to ALPS/ASD. "

How sad!  They want to change this wonderful breed to their own way of thinking.

 

Development of the Coat Type

For the first ten years there were basically four coat types.  The short Labrador coat throwback, the hairy slightly longer coat, the curly wool Poodle type coat and then the big breakthrough with the lovely  'Borderline' coat which described as such because it was 'bordereline' between Curly and Wavy.  All except the Curly Wool, were heavily shedding. Trouble was that these Borderline Hair Coats can look just the same in a photograph as a Fleece Coat and there was much confusion even amongst those breeding them!

 Short Hair Coat - Heavily Shedding

Longer Hair Coat - Heavily Shedding

Curly Coat - wool (non shed) or hair (shedding)

 Borderline Coat - looked like Fleece but Shed

Around the year 2000, another coat was developed which was and still is, called the 'Fleece' coat. This coat is soft and silky and can be either curly or wavy.  See Coat Types  for full information & pictures of today's modern coats.

It is our belief that breeding with Poodles and producing the F1B dog is a backward step and does not produce the most easily maintained allergy friendly coat on the breed nor the solid 'labby' conformation which is so desirable.    But perhaps the greatest sadness in the  attempts of so many breeders to take short cuts and mimic the breed,  is the loss of the oh - so - special intuitive nature which has been developed over the years.  Click the thumbnail photo below and  look into this Rutland Manor dog's face  and you will see the intrinsic qualities and special intuitive nature which makes the genuine ASD Australian Labradoodle so unique.

Thumbnail. Click to Enlarge

 

 

Development of the Temperament & Nature

The Intuitive Nature and brilliantly intelligent nature of the breed has been carefully and judiciously developed over the past two decades by constant vigilance; by tracking the temperament on adopted adults; by  the informed and meticulous choice of breeding partners and by ruthless culling ( termination of variant natured bloodlines)