Rutland Manor Australian Labradoodles Coats and Colors
Australian Labradoodles (distinct from 'Labradoodles') come in three Coat types and a rainbow of colours. Coat type can be identified soon after birth. All three coat types are single coats, which means that they don't have a fluffy undercoat and do not shed. They each come in the full range of colors and in the 3 sizes of Standard, Medium and Miniature.
THE WOOL COAT
 WOOL COAT IN PALE CHALKY CREAM. THIS COLOUR HAS BLACK PIGMENT I.E. BLACK NOSE LIP RIMS & EYE RIMS, BLACK PAW PADS AND DARK BROWN EYES. WOOL COATS COME IN THE FULL RANGE OF COLOURS IN ALL THREE SIZES.
|  A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WOOL COAT
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The Wool coat is very curly with soft tight curls and a soft texture similar to the Poodle. Wool coats need to be clipped or trimmed two or sometimes three times each year to keep them tidy and neat. In between clips or trims they are quite easy to maintain, needing only a quick brushing about once a week.
When freshly brushed, the Wool coat is soft and fluffy, with no real definition in the curl. A light spray of water and leave - in conditioner after brushing will settle the coat back down again quickly.
When freshly brushed, the Wool coat is soft and fluffy, with no real definition in the curl. A light spray of water and leave - in conditioner after brushing will settle the coat back down again quickly.
CURLY FLEECE .
 THIS CURLY FLEECE IS A CHOCOLATE. THIS COLOUR HAS LIVER PIGMENT AND HONEY BROWN TO HAZEL EYES. CURLY FLEECE COMES IN THE FULL RANGE OF COLOURS
|  CLOSE-UP OF A LONG, UNTRIMMED CURLY FLEECE THIS TIME IN BLACK. OFTEN WRONGLY DESCRIBED AS A 'SPIRAL FLEECE'. ONCE IT GROWS LONG THE CORDS MATT AND THE COAT NEEDS TO BE TRIMMED OR CLIPPED SHORTER, WHEN IT WILL LOOK THE SAME AS THE CURLY FLEECE PICTURED ON THE RIGHT.
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The Curly Fleece coat is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a 'Spiral Fleece' which in reality, is simply a Curly Fleece which hasn't been clipped or trimmed yet. As it grows it drapes down in spiral shaped tendrils or staples similar to those of an Angora goat. As the dog matures, the Curly Fleece coat becomes more difficult to keep tidy and most owners clip it off short or at least scissor trim it.
Once clipped short, the 'Spirals' are no longer apparent, and the coat is then seen to be simply a Curly Fleece. The difference between a Wool and a Curly Fleece is that in the latter, the curls are wider softer loops than the tight round curls of the Wool coat.
WAVY FLEECE
 THIS WAVY FLEECE IS IN PARCHMENT, USUALLY BEGINS AS A CHOCOLATE AND PALES OVER THE FIRST YEAR TO TWO YEARS OF AGE. EXPERIENCED BREEDERS CAN TELL WHEN A CHOCOLATE WILL TURN INTO PARCHMENT, AS YOUNG AS SIX WEEKS OF AGE. WAVY FLEECE COMES IN THE FULL RANGE OF COLOURS
|  CLOSE-UP OF WAVY FLEECE SHOWING THE GENTLE FLOWING WAVES, THIS EXAMPLE IN CREAM
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As the name suggests, the Wavy Fleece has much less curl. The head body and legs are draped in flowing waves of the same length. The face needs to be trimmed to shorten the beard and allow the eyes to be seen. Some grow back curlier after they have been clipped or trimmed short with electric clippers, but not all do this.
The Australian Labradoodle is still a very young and developing breed and there are so many breeders playing around with breeding them, that there can be quite a lot of variation between one breeder's coat types and another's.
The true Wavy Fleece ( on dogs who have the final infusion of the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten ) is not as dense as the other two coat types and is therefore lower maintenance. As puppies they may not look as 'cute' as the curlier puppies, but they mature into magnificent looking dogs with easy coat care.
The Australian Labradoodle is still a very young and developing breed and there are so many breeders playing around with breeding them, that there can be quite a lot of variation between one breeder's coat types and another's.
The true Wavy Fleece ( on dogs who have the final infusion of the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten ) is not as dense as the other two coat types and is therefore lower maintenance. As puppies they may not look as 'cute' as the curlier puppies, but they mature into magnificent looking dogs with easy coat care.
RARE THROWBACK FLATCOAT
 | The Flatcoat started to appear as a throwback mutation after the infusion of the Irish Water Spaniel.
These dogs are particularly beautiful and are known for their wonderfully expressive eyes and extreme intelligence. Rutland Manor selectively bred away from this coat because of its shedding and as of 2011 it is very rare, occurring in only one in two thousand. |
COLOURS
Many dog breeds change colour as their puppy coat changes to adult. For instance the Dalmation is born pure white with no spots and the Sable (Gold) Scotch Collie puppy is a soft greyish colour before the lovely rich golden coat comes with maturity. Similarly, Australian Labradoodle puppies may also change their color as they mature. Some darken, and others lighten. Not all brown haired people have the same natural color as each other, neither do blondes or even redheads. Just as with humans, the Australian Labradoodle can vary in shades of colour within the same colour classification.
The 'weathering' of coats will also influence their appearance, with sun wind and rain bleaching the tips of the coat especially in the Chocolates and Cafes, whose copper highlights are greatly admired especially by the ladies who say it would cost them a fortune at the hairdresser to get the same affect!
AUSTRALIAN LABRADOODLES COME IN A RAINBOW OF COLOURS:
BLACK - Black pigment, eyes darkest brown to sparkling black
BLUE - Rare. Look black but have blue skin and pigment. Eyes grey to hazel
CHOCOLATE AND CAFE AU LAIT - Liver pigment, eyes honey brown to hazel
APRICOT - Black pigment, honey coloured to dark brown eyes
CARAMEL - WARM - similar to Caramel Toffee with Liver pigment and transparent hazel eyes
CARAMEL - COOL - pale cream with Liver pigment and transparent hazel eyes
CREAM - varying shades of Cream with Black pigment and dark brown eyes
PARCHMENT - born Brown. Change colour each year paling to lilac. Liver pigment, honey or transparent hazel eyes
RED - vivid rich red with black or red pigment. Eyes honey coloured to rich brown. The darker the coat the darker the eye colour. Many Apricot puppies are born Red and pale to Cream or Apricot by two years of age. Genetic true Reds are rare
SILVER - born Black and grey out with age, beginning on the face, legs and tail. Occasionally may pale out to Platinum but not always. Silvers were unpopular and have become rare as they were phazed out from breeding programs due to their unpopularity
PARTI COLOUR - a combination of any of the solid colours with cream or white. Not preferred in the Breed Standard.
1.= Chocolate long Curly Coat (weathered on tips) 2.=Parchment Wavy Fleece,
3.=Cafe Wavy Fleece,
4.=Black long Curly Fleece,
5.=Chocolate Curly Fleece trimmed,
6=Apricot Curly Fleece (not trimmed),
7.=Caramel Wavy Fleece,
8.= Parchment Curly Fleece trimmed,
9.= Cream Wavy Fleece.
Click Photos to Enlarge and read captions
Often, when that rich dark Chocolate puppy looks paler later on it can be mistaken for a Cafe au Lait. The true Cafe au Lait is a softer paler color at the roots as well as on the outer coat.
Click photos to enlarge and read captions
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