How Much 'Labra' is in your Labradoodle? Or
How Rutland Manor Developed the Australian Labradoodle, by Beverley Manners
How Rutland Manor Developed the Australian Labradoodle, by Beverley Manners
Copyright 2010 Beverley Manners. All Rights Reserved. May not be reproduced in part or in whole. Links to this page are permitted.
 Beverley Manners with some of her dogs in 1993 or 1994  Sultan the first Labradoodle Guide Dog  Typical Modern Day Wavy Coat  'PHOEBE' A typical Curly Fleece or Wool Rutland Manor Australian Labradoodle in 2010 | The Australian Labradoodle was created and developed by the two original Breeding and Research Centres in Australia, Tegan Park and Rutland Manor. Due to unreconcilable philosophical differences between mother (RM) and daughter (TP) Tegan Park and Rutland Manor each went their own way and continued with the development of the new breed according to their own philosophies.
It is important to note that this history refers to the way Rutland Manor developed the Australian Labradoodle and does not imply that Tegan Park breeding principles were the same or similar. But whatever they did, they bred beautiful and wonderful dogs. The original crossing of a Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle carried out by the Guide Dog Center in Melbourne Australia produced a small litter of three puppies, one of which, Sultan, was allergy friendly although he had a shedding flat coat. To continue breeding Lab to Poodle, or to breed with progeny derived from a two breed foundation would soon have led to a restricted gene pool, itself the forerunner to unavoidable health problems, so it made good sense to infuse another pure breed into the breeding program. Tegan Park suggested the non shedding Irish Water Spaniel and after I researched the breed and studied its own health status I went ahead and did my first infusion with an imported field champion Irish Water Spaniel sire and later on with a female of a different bloodline into a separate Rutlands lineage. The popularity of the Australian Labradoodle has always been its own worst enemy and it has suffered as previous breeds have before it, by indiscriminate breeding carried out by people eager to cash in on the boom, as opposed to being dedicated to remain true to its heritage and the ideals of its founders. From the year 1997, many pet shops routinely advertised 'Labradoodles' which were often any poodle/terrier cross or other 'fluffy' cross breed puppies. Hardly anyone knew what a Labradoodle really looked like and because of the exhorbitant prices being paid, the cycle continued as the non spayed females and non neutered males went on to be bred in people's back yards to turn a dollar. |
THE WORLD'S FIRST LABRADOODLE REGISTRY/CLUB.. THE LABRADOODLE ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INC (LAA)
LAA Certificate of Incorporation No. A0039798P. Registered by Beverley Manners as Public Officer and Secretary.
Cashing in on a Name
The authentic breed was getting a bad name because so many of these 'pretend' Labradoodles shed, triggered people's allergies, or had non typical natures and temperament. Some were already being surrendered to shelters and Rutland Manor and Tegan Park decided that something had to be done to protect their new breed, and that one way to do that was to begin a registry especially for Labradoodles. They hoped that by doing this, people would be more cautious when purchasing their family pet and prefer a registered puppy as a form of protection.
And so the first Labradoodle registry in the world, the LAA was registered and Incorporated on 14th June 2004 with 'Angela Cunningham as the Registrar and Beverley Manners as the Public Officer/Secretary. Later, Beverley founded the ILA (International Labradoodle Association) where she served as it's President and Breed Advisor for its first two years. The ILA has changed name since then and amalagated with the LAA to become IALA.
The authentic breed was getting a bad name because so many of these 'pretend' Labradoodles shed, triggered people's allergies, or had non typical natures and temperament. Some were already being surrendered to shelters and Rutland Manor and Tegan Park decided that something had to be done to protect their new breed, and that one way to do that was to begin a registry especially for Labradoodles. They hoped that by doing this, people would be more cautious when purchasing their family pet and prefer a registered puppy as a form of protection.
And so the first Labradoodle registry in the world, the LAA was registered and Incorporated on 14th June 2004 with 'Angela Cunningham as the Registrar and Beverley Manners as the Public Officer/Secretary. Later, Beverley founded the ILA (International Labradoodle Association) where she served as it's President and Breed Advisor for its first two years. The ILA has changed name since then and amalagated with the LAA to become IALA.
Why Were Infusions Necessary While Creating the new breed? Why not keep breeding Labradors to Poodles and then the progeny to each other?
I wanted to develop a new breed which would stand the test of time in health and conformation (skeletal and musclatural structure). To continue by criss crossing between Labs and Poodles would narrow the gene pool and inherited diseases would be multiplied many times over. The challenge was - which breeds to infuse, when to infuse them, and which bloodlines to use with them first.
The Early Days
Early puppies were a mixed bunch. In each litter there were puppies who were either short coated and looked just like a Labrador, or else were short coated and often spindly. Others looked just like Poodles. Seldom were there two puppies the same in one litter. The natures on the puppies were not dependable either, many being over excitable, and headstrong. Most matured to be huge dogs with up to 30 inches not being uncommon.
I love the head on a good Labrador and I wanted to put these on my Australian Labradoodles. But I didn't want the weak loins, with their predisposition for badly placed hip joints, and I didn't want the loaded heavy shoulders, which are I believe, a major cause of the frequent OCD's in Labradors' elbows. I considered that the elbows and hips were major parts of the Labrador that I didn't want to see continued in the Australian Labradoodle.
I am fanatical when it comes to soundness (form to function), and I knew from the start, that no matter how beautiful a nature, or perfect a coat I may be able to achieve, it they were not encased in a healthy sound body, then they would be as good as useless.
I love the head on a good Labrador and I wanted to put these on my Australian Labradoodles. But I didn't want the weak loins, with their predisposition for badly placed hip joints, and I didn't want the loaded heavy shoulders, which are I believe, a major cause of the frequent OCD's in Labradors' elbows. I considered that the elbows and hips were major parts of the Labrador that I didn't want to see continued in the Australian Labradoodle.
I am fanatical when it comes to soundness (form to function), and I knew from the start, that no matter how beautiful a nature, or perfect a coat I may be able to achieve, it they were not encased in a healthy sound body, then they would be as good as useless.
First Infusion - Irish Water Spaniel
I was particularly interested to learn that the Irish Water Spaniel had only five congenital and genetic diseases that were found with greater than average frequency, when compared to the 41 found in Labrador Retrievers, 31 in the Standard Poodle and 39 in the Miniature Poodle.
As a working water retriever, The Irish Water Spaniel had the reach of neck I was looking for, strength over its loins and a nice sloping stifle and hip conformation. It was also upright on its forehand, a big plus when trying to eliminate the loaded shoulders of the Lab influence.
All was not plain sailing though. The Sire line was a huge success, but the infusion done through the IWS female was a different matter. Although her own temperament and nature were excellent, her line brought in serious character flaws, of shyness, and an obstinate stubborn streak. I bred only the one litter from this female, no breeding stock was kept from her and she was spayed and placed with a family as a pet where she was dearly loved as a companion dog. One of my concerns had been that the IWS's prized hairless 'rat tail' would persist in the progeny, but there were only a couple in the first generation past the infusion. The clean muzzle and distinctive face pattern however did persist and can still popped up unexpectedly even in 2010 although now very rarely.
 | <<<<<<<<<The distinct face pattern in throwbacks to the Irish Water Spaniel. This was invariably accompanied by the most wonderfully expressive eyes, and a higher prey drive (making them excellent working or service dogs) |
2nd and 3rd Infusions
Although my new breed was coming along quite nicely since the Irish Water Spaniel infusion, they were still huge dogs and the size needed to come down. I used a Miniature and a Toy Poodle at first to accomplish this, but I didn't like the way many of the progeny were foxy faced and spindly. So to correct this, I infused the pure bred AmericanCocker Spaniel and pure bred English Cocker Spaniel, once again, not both into the one breeding pod, but each in a separate Rutlands Labradoodle line.
I was pleased with the physical results. The faces were broader, bodies compact and strong and the few shedding coats I expected, had disappeared by the third generation following the infusions.
The Cockers had brought with them an excitable nature, so that now needed work. To correct this, I bred the infused progeny back to an unrelated mellow natured larger sized Rutlands line. This interfered for a time, with maintaining the true small Miniature size, but I traded that off for the improvement in their nature.
Claims that Rutland Manor infused other breeds, including cross breeds such as the Cockapoo are without foundation and completely untrue.
I was pleased with the physical results. The faces were broader, bodies compact and strong and the few shedding coats I expected, had disappeared by the third generation following the infusions.
The Cockers had brought with them an excitable nature, so that now needed work. To correct this, I bred the infused progeny back to an unrelated mellow natured larger sized Rutlands line. This interfered for a time, with maintaining the true small Miniature size, but I traded that off for the improvement in their nature.
Claims that Rutland Manor infused other breeds, including cross breeds such as the Cockapoo are without foundation and completely untrue.
4th and Final Infusion Rutland Manor did not infuse Cockapoos, nor any other breed than the 'pure' breeds on this record.
By the year 2002 there were some elements creeping into the developing breed that I still wasn't happy with. Many of the dogs especially the Standard size, had long backs and weak loins, chronic ear infections were occurring too frequently, and coats were mostly too dense, curly and high maintenance. Added to this, were narrow deep ear canals with too much inner hair.
One more infusion was needed. It had to be a pure breed which was non shedding, or all my years of work to develop a non shedding breed would have been for nothing. I researched several breeds but there was always a reason that turned me away. I was very hopeful about the Soft Coated Wheaten, but decided against it when I learned of health and temperament issues that seemed to be prevalent.
Then completely by accident I stumbled across the IRISH Soft Coated Wheaten in 2004. A small number of breeders world wide were passionately protecting the breed as it had been developed in Ireland, the country of the breed's origin. My research thus far had only taken me to the modern day version of the breed, which had strayed far from the original Irish type.
I did a one time only infusion using two unrelated Irish SCWH sires over two unrelated Rutlands Australian Labradoodle females, one Miniature and one Standard sized. I chose two females who had tight wool coats in order to more accurately guage the influence of the infusion under the most challenging circumstances.
One more infusion was needed. It had to be a pure breed which was non shedding, or all my years of work to develop a non shedding breed would have been for nothing. I researched several breeds but there was always a reason that turned me away. I was very hopeful about the Soft Coated Wheaten, but decided against it when I learned of health and temperament issues that seemed to be prevalent.
Then completely by accident I stumbled across the IRISH Soft Coated Wheaten in 2004. A small number of breeders world wide were passionately protecting the breed as it had been developed in Ireland, the country of the breed's origin. My research thus far had only taken me to the modern day version of the breed, which had strayed far from the original Irish type.
I did a one time only infusion using two unrelated Irish SCWH sires over two unrelated Rutlands Australian Labradoodle females, one Miniature and one Standard sized. I chose two females who had tight wool coats in order to more accurately guage the influence of the infusion under the most challenging circumstances.
Movement Demonstrates Soundess
Rutlands Australian Labradoodle-athletic,sound and graceful
MOVEMENT TELLS THE STORY It's all about balance and synergy. When you study this photo, notice this Rutland female's long floating stride. She has quality and substance without being cloddy or clumsy. As she trots, her limbs are effortlessly at full extension because her conformation is balanced and each joint, muscle and sinew works together synergistically to produce the charactistic floating, light and joyful movement so characteristic of the correct examples of the breed.
Her tail (an extension of the spine) is carried happily aloft but not over her back, which is level and straight and her forehand and hindquarters are connected with well angulated shoulders and complementarily angulated hind end. It's all about balance.
To complete the picture, is the goofy 'are you watching me?' look which is such an endearing quality of the clown like nature which is such a trademark of the Australian Labradoodle.
Footnote:
As of 2011 there are three coat types occurring in the Australian Labradoodle, the Wool, Curly Fleece and Wavy Fleece. My forward vision is to see all Australian Labradoodles with thinner, easier maintenance Wavy or Curly Fleece Coats, with the least curl the better as long as the non shedding and allergy - friendly traits are not compromised. I have observed that the curlier the coat, the more likelihood there is that ear canals will be narrower and have more inner hair, and that the coat itself can be high maintenance to keep it looking its best.
Click on each photo to enlarge
Her tail (an extension of the spine) is carried happily aloft but not over her back, which is level and straight and her forehand and hindquarters are connected with well angulated shoulders and complementarily angulated hind end. It's all about balance.
To complete the picture, is the goofy 'are you watching me?' look which is such an endearing quality of the clown like nature which is such a trademark of the Australian Labradoodle.
Footnote:
As of 2011 there are three coat types occurring in the Australian Labradoodle, the Wool, Curly Fleece and Wavy Fleece. My forward vision is to see all Australian Labradoodles with thinner, easier maintenance Wavy or Curly Fleece Coats, with the least curl the better as long as the non shedding and allergy - friendly traits are not compromised. I have observed that the curlier the coat, the more likelihood there is that ear canals will be narrower and have more inner hair, and that the coat itself can be high maintenance to keep it looking its best.
Click on each photo to enlarge
Copyright: All Rights Reserved. Beverley Rutland-Manners, Co Founder and developer of the Australian Labradoodle.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Reproducing this website in part or in whole is strictly forbidden.