Smart breeding – increasing your Australian Labradoodle’s chances to a good life

Behavior issues are the primary reason why owners give up their pets. We’re all talking about the latest behavior modification technique, and often blame poor handling or inexperience, but at the core of many behavior problems lies a basic genetic predisposition of the dog to react in certain ways. With less emphasis on physical traits, and more focus on eradicating certain behavioral traits, breeders make a real difference in the welfare of our canine companions in both good and bad ways.

Today’s modern urban lifestyle forces dogs to put up with many stressful situations. The demand to be highly social and friendly has increased and our acceptance for some of their natural drives has diminished. Dogs are required to be more tolerant towards one another as well as towards people. A dog’s genetic predisposition for adaptability, confidence and friendliness, are big advantages. Those traits will increase his chances of staying in his initial family of adoption and living a good life.

A dogs’ behavior is determined by both his genetics and his interactions with the environment. In other words the dog’s genetics will define, or predispose him to reacting in certain ways to different situations. Most trainers are familiar with the basic drives of today’s breeds and some breeds will present behaviors that will be difficult to live with. Breeds such as Border collies  and Australian shepherds are known to be compulsive herders that may present real challenges when brought into a family lifestyle. Beagles may create problems to those with a low tolerance to barking. A Weimaraner’s need for activity will often wear out their owner, and so forth…

While bred for health or confirmation (AKC or ALAA standards), certain breeds have also developed behavioral traits that may compromise their relationship with unsuspecting owners. We mostly expect aggression issues in breeds such as pit bulls or Chows, but they’re also quite common in other breeds such as English Springer Spaniels, Doberman Pinschers, Toy Poodles, Lhasa Apsos and terriers. Even within the same breed, not all dogs are born equal when it comes to trainability, aggression thresholds, reactivity to environmental stimuli, etc… It only took 5 generations to obtain lines of dogs that are more nervous than typical. Those dogs were timid, less active, less curious and sometimes catatonic when people approached them (Murphree et al. 1974). This study also pointed to the limits of how much we can affect those behaviors through behavioral and pharmaceutical therapy, leaving owners with limited options. Environment will affect our dogs’ behavior but, even if we strive to provide the best of conditions and training, we’re still limited to increasing or decreasing the behaviors that are already part of the dogs’ genetic predisposition. Many will tend to automatically attribute mishandling as the cause of a shy dog’s behavior, when even in the most gentle of hands, genetics coupled with lack of socialization could be the cause.

According to (Houpt (2007), we’re only steps away from finding the genes responsible for canine aggression, but in the meantime, no matter how beautiful dogs can be, if they have shown any signs of aggression, or other problematic behaviors, they should not be bred. With today’s advances on dog’s behavior, training and cognition, we have better tools to deal with some of the common issues, but at the basis of many of them lie genetic influences that could have been avoided through more intentional breeding. Breeders are at the forefront of our dog’s welfare and reproduction practices should focus on developing dogs that have the best chances of making good pets.

There are plenty of responsible breeders who care about their dogs’ health as well as their chances to a great life as a pet. As consumers, we’ll encourage and validate those we choose to give our money to. So, just like we’re ready to buy the cheapest items from stores that promote products from China or poor animal husbandry, as long as we’re ready to pay for poorly selected dogs, we’re encouraging practices that lead to the suffering of our companions. As dog lovers, we have the power to make a real difference in how dogs are bred, for our own benefit, that of the dogs, and maybe even to society with fewer animals ending up at the pound.

What is THAT?

There isn’t a day that I am out with my dogs that some one doesn’t asks “What is THAT?” or I will hear some one whisper as they pass “that’s a psss psssps!”  Some people ask if our dogs are Portugues Water Dogs, Curly Coated Retrievers, Soft Coated Wheatens, some type of Spaniel… the list goes on.  I always smile as they try to guess.  Then I usually answer YES.  I watch their eyes grow with interest because they can’t believe that they guessed it right!  Then I lean in and tell them that they were really only about 1/10 correct.

It is believed that the Australian Labradoodle is actually a mix of nearly 10 breeds.  It is this unique mix that contributes to their non or low shedding coat, laid back personality, love for all things and exuberance.  Some still are very confused about what a Labradoodle really is.  Some think that the mix is purely a blend of the Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle.

I often try to explain the difference between the Australian Labradoodle and the Lab Poodle mix.  The Lab Poodle mix unfortunately sheds horridly, they are generally very large and have an enormous amount of energy.  Some will ask me about the Golden Poodle mix too, having been around several Golden Retrievers growing up I noticed two things more so than anything else~ they shed more than any other dog I know and they have a musky oil smell to their coat.  The Golden Poodle mix takes on a lot of those characteristics and like the Lab Poodle mix is a huge dog full of energy that sheds.

The Australian Labradoodle gets it’s name because it was originally bred in Australia not because its mix includes such breeds as the Australian Cattle Dog or the Australian Sheppard.  The mix was originally bred with the purpose of producing an allergy friendly breed that could also serve as a seeing eye dog.  Several litters were bred but there were many disappointments as the early generation cross of the Lab and Poodle did shed.

The research was abandoned but all was not lost.  A mother and daughter team in Australia stepped in, believed to have experimented with breeds such as the Curly Coated Retriever, Portuguese Water Dog, Irish Water Spaniel and several other breeds; some litters were a success and some where not.  The Irish Water Spaniel and Curly Coated Retriever were two breeds that brought in diversity but also produced shedding coats.  After many years and careful mixing the Australian Labradoodle as we know it today is a people pleasing, loving, laid back companion that sheds about as much as you and I.  They can be found in three sizes: mini, medium and standard.  With coats ranging from wavy to curly.  In rich reds, chocolates, velvety blacks, cool cremes and golden apricot.

Noblesville dog to be Euthanized

I rarely watch TV and never watch the news as it is too depressing but on Friday night as I sat on the sofa relaxing with Sweetie and Atta Girl by my side and my son on my lap my husband turned on the TV.  The news was on and the story being told was of a boy who was visciously mauled by the families dog!  I was shocked and horrified to say the least, my heart broke for the family and the young boy. 

Hook…. Line…. Sinker…. I fell for it….

Now for those of you who know me well, know I can’t keep my mouth shut and I have to speak up when something is wrong.

The news story continued to tell the story of how the family earlier that day picked up their new family dog at the shelter and took him home.  They had no real history on the dog, no proof of vaccinations of any type let alone state mandated rabies vaccine.

The family took the dog home, let it loose in their back yard with the kids.  They claimed it was a good day, the kids were playing fetch with their family dog then all of a sudden their 7 year old son bent over the dog to give him a hug~ then all of a sudden their 7 year old son bent over the dog to give him a hug~ then all of a sudden their 7 year old son bent over the dog to give him a hug~   WHAT??  this doesn’t sound right does it?  The boy was showing his new family dog that the family just brought home that very day love, right?

Lets break this down so you can get a mental picture.  Dog standing or sitting in an unfamiliar place with strangers.  Human Stranger bending down over Dog with arm wrapped around his neck and head.  OK if you aren’t having an anxiety attack imagining you are the dog in this strange new place with strange new people around you throw in the fact now that dogs and humans communicate very differently.  Studies by animal behaviorist have shown that animals including dogs are intimidated by having people hoover over them.  In the animal world this is an act of intimidation.  Grabbing an animal around the neck and or head is considered a physical threat.  Now knowing this, think about this poor dog again.  He is in a strange new place with strange people, a male figure hovers over the dog, arms wrapped around his head and neck.  The poor dog was scared and threatened, to him it was not an act of love or affection.  He did was was natural in the animal world.

Yes a child was bite in the face and arm bruised, the doctor stopped counting stitches reported the news.  The dog is being held for 10 days to check for rabies and will be euthanized for his acts of viciousness on the boy.

I sat there angry, not at the shelter for adopting the dog out to the family, not at the dog who protected himself but at the family for not educating themselves before they brought the dog home.  Who these days buys a shelter dog with no known history and sets it loose in their back yard with kids.  Who hasn’t watched 100 episodes of The Dog Whisperer and doesn’t already know that these acts would be scary to the dog?  I shake my head.  This poor dog is going to be killed next Sunday.

10 Simple Rules to a Better Dog

Firstly, the bad news
Generally, humans have no idea how to look after dogs. Generally most dogs have very bad manners,
and for a large number of reasons, humans let them get away with it. Generally, humans have no idea
how get good behavior from dogs and resort to inappropriate training mechanisms and violence.

But here’s the good news
Actually, getting the right behavior from dogs is very, very easy. Firstly, forget the cute idea they are
humans with furry coats. Dogs have their own specific needs, and are incapable of understanding
human society. In order to communicate effectively with your dog/s you need to really understand the
way they function, and how to get the best out of them. If you remove the confusion, and implement
good pack management techniques, your dog will be happy, and an absolute joy to live with.  I’ve got
my 10 simple rules listed below. All of my puppy people are now given this rule sheet and coached
through the rules. Regardless of your breed of dog, or where you got it from, following these simple
rules below will help you sort out your dog. These rules provide clear indication to the dog/s that you
are the pack manager, and this is the way your pack operates.

When your dog understands that they do not rule your house and its people, they will settle, become
less anxious, and lose a lot more undesirable behaviors resulting in significantly less barking, much
less jumping up, and other neurotic behavior.
Before you start any groovy training mechanism such as clicker training (which I completely
recommend), you need to get the basics right first. If you neglect to implement these basics, when you
come back to me later with your problem puppy/dog, we will firstly work at getting these rules right
first. Neglecting these rules will result in problem behavior for your dog, and big issues for you. I can
guarantee this.
For those of you new to the dog world, or if it’s been some time since you’ve had a dog, can I give the
following straightforward advice:

10 simple rules to a Better Dog

1.        When you come home from work, totally ignore your dog for the first 5-10 minutes. Do not
look at the dog. Do not blow kisses to the dog. Do not talk to the dog. Let me know if you need me
to clarify this.

2.        Do not make any big deal of comings or goings from your property

3.        Always eat first, and feed the dogs after you have eaten. Do not feed your dog from the table.

4.        You must, must, must go to basic obedience and socialization classes. These must be based
on positive reward only.

5.        Do not let your dog on your bed or on your couch. There is nothing wrong with restricting
your dog from certain rooms in the house.

6.        For 10 minute sessions at a time, put your dog in a crate and ignore them, or tie their leash
to a post or similar for 10 minutes and ignore them. Do this at least 3 times weekly for the first 12
weeks, and then every so often. Do not look at the dog. Do not blow kisses to the dog. Do not talk
to the dog. Let me know if you need me to clarify this.

7.        Exercise your dog every single day. They must have more than walking. Teaching them to
retrieve is the absolute first “trick” you must teach. Then they can do lots of running, which they
need to get every day.

8.        Absolutely the dog is part of your family, but everyone else in your family must be higher in
the pecking order than them (yes, even your partner must be higher than them!)

9.        Do NOT carry your puppy or dog around.

10.        Ensure all guests and family members follow all the rules as listed above.
Now tick these off and let me know which ones you CAN’T or are NOT prepared to do, and we’ll
problem solve those together.

If anyone wants an example of badly behaved dogs, when you next visit me, I’ll take you to my
friend’s place to show you what not to do.

Look, I don’t have it 100% right all the time either. But we’re getting there, and together we can learn.

Let’s work together to get well behaved dogs.

Importantly, you are the pack manager. Do not shirk this responsibility. If you don’t take on this
responsibility, your dog will, and then you will have the consequences of effectively what can only be
referred to as “neglect”. It is never too late to implement these techniques. Remember, your dog is part
of a general society. Badly behaved dogs reflect badly on you, the dogs, and the breed in general. Too
many breeds have bad reputations only because of their incompetent handling.

This also means if you are a breeder, of any breed, you have an inherent responsibility to ensure your
puppy people know how to get appropriate dog behavior.

How Do I Find the Time?

Ok, so you’ve read the information above, and you’re not quite convinced. I know you won’t be. I
wasn’t either. I have done a lot of reading, and tried a whole lot of different approaches. I have a large
pack of dogs, and at times, with puppies, can have a large number of dogs in my pack.

You’re probably going to say, “Well I don’t have the time to do this”.

Tip: Give up watching TV and the playstation, and you’ll have a lot more time.

Your Education About Puppy Education

Sadly, the majority of puppies fail to live long enough to enjoy their second birthday. They suffer from the terminal illness of being unwanted — failing to live up to the expectation of the Lassie–Benji–Eddie dream. Instead they develop a number of extremely common and utterly predictable behavior, training, and temperament problems and are surrendered to animal shelters to play lotto with their lives. Many people blame irresponsible ownership for this tragic situation. I would simply cite lack of know-how. Most prospective puppy owners are simply unaware of the problems that lie ahead and unfortunately, they have little idea how to prevent or resolve them. Ironically, the demise of many dogs stems from novice owners following misleading, erroneous, and in some cases downright bad advice from out-of-date training books.

 

If you have your heart set on raising and training a puppy, do make sure you train yourself beforehand. Remember, it takes only a few days to ruin an otherwise perfect puppy. Without a doubt, the most important developmental deadline comes before you even think of getting your puppy — your education about puppy education!

Many first-time puppy owners are surprised when they discover their new companion bites, barks, chews, digs, and marks the house with urine and feces. Yet these are all perfectly normal, natural, and necessary doggy behaviors.

Your canine newcomer is just itching to learn human house manners. He wants to please, but he needs to be taught how to please. It’s no good keeping house rules a secret. Somebody has to tell the puppy. And that somebody is you.

 

Puppy Pointers

Whether selecting your prospective pup from a professional breeder or from a family breeding a litter for the very first time, the criteria are the same. Look for puppies raised indoors around human companionship and influence — specifically around people who have devoted lots of time to the puppies’ education.

Your puppy needs to be prepared for the clamor of everyday domestic living — the noise of the vacuum cleaner, pots and pans dropping in the kitchen, football games screaming on the television, children crying, and adults arguing. Exposure to such stimuli while his eyes and ears are still developing allows the puppy (with his blurred vision and muffled hearing) to gradually become accustomed to sights and sounds that might otherwise frighten him when older.

Avoid pups that have been raised in an outdoor run or kennel. Remember, you want a puppy to share your home, so look for a puppy that has been raised in a home. Basement- and kennel-raised puppies are certainly not pet-quality dogs. They are “livestock” on par with veal calves and battery hens. They are neither housetrained nor socialized, and they do not make good companions. Look for litters that have been born and raised in a kitchen or living room.

Choosing a breed is a very personal choice — your choice. But you will save yourself a lot of unnecessary problems and heartbreak if your choice is an informed and educated one. Choose the breed you like, investigate breed-specific qualities and problems, and then research the best way to raise and train your pup. Make sure you test-drive several adult dogs of your selected breed or type before you make your final choice. Test-driving adult dogs will quickly teach you everything you need to know about a specific breed. Test-driving adult dogs will also pinpoint gaps in your education about dog behavior and training.

Regardless of your choice, please do not kid yourself that you will get a “perfect” adult dog simply by selecting the “perfect” breed and the “perfect” individual puppy. Any puppy can become a marvelous companion if appropriately socialized and trained. And, no matter what the breed or breeding, any puppy can also become a doggy delinquent if not properly socialized and trained. Please make an intelligent, researched choice when selecting your puppy, but remember: appropriate socialization and training is the single biggest factor determining how closely the dog will approach your view of perfection in adulthood.

No matter your eventual choice — success or failure is entirely in your hands. Your puppy’s behavior and temperament now depend completely on good husbandry and training.

Your puppy’s living quarters need to be designed so that housetraining and chewtoy-training are errorless. Each mistake is a potential disaster, since it heralds many more to come.

Long-term confinement prevents your puppy from learning to make mistakes around the house, and allows your puppy to teach himself to use an appropriate toilet, to settle down quietly and calmly, and to want to chew appropriate chewtoys. Confinement with chewtoys stuffed with kibble and treats teaches your puppy to enjoy his own company and prepares him for those times when he might be left at home alone.

Short-term close confinement also prevents your puppy from learning to make mistakes around the house, while allowing your puppy to teach himself to settle down quietly and calmly, and to want to chew appropriate chewtoys. Additionally, short-term confinement enables you to accurately predict when your puppy needs to relieve herself, so that you may take your puppy to an appropriate toilet area and reward her for using it. The knack of successful housetraining focuses on being able to predict when your puppy “wants to go.”

Without a doubt the most important developmental deadline comes before you even begin your search for a puppy: namely, your education about puppy education. Just as you would learn how to drive before setting off in a car, you should learn how to raise and train a puppy before you get one.

Some owners want heaven and earth from their pups; others only demand magic and miracles. Owners want the puppy to be perfectly well-behaved and to amuse herself when left at home alone for hours on end. And they assume the pup will magically grow up to act this way without guidance.
It is simply not fair to keep house rules a secret from your puppy, only to moan and groan when she predictably finds doggy ways to entertain herself and break rules she didn’t even know existed. If you have house rules, somebody needs to teach them to the puppy. And that somebody is you.

Luckily, dogs have their natural activity peaks at dawn and dusk, so many are quite happy to settle down and snooze the day away. However, some dogs are not. Some dogs are simply more active than others, and when left at home alone become exceedingly stressed and may destroy the house and garden in the space of a day.

Puppy owners are often surprised when their new puppy bites, barks, chews, digs, and decorates the floors with urine and feces. Yet this is what dogs do. How did you expect your dog to communicate? To moo? To meow? And what did you expect your dog to do to pass the time of day? Housework? To mop and clean floors and dust the furniture? Or to amuse herself reading books, watching television, or doing crosswords?

Many owners appear to be at a further loss when confronted by utterly predictable problems, such as jumping up, pulling on-leash, and expressing the boundless energy and exuberance accompanying doggy adolescence. Additionally, owners are incredulous if their adolescent or adult dog bites or fights. When dogs are undersocialized, harassed, abused, frightened, or otherwise upset, what do we expect them to do? Call a lawyer? Of course they bite! Biting is as normal an ingredient of canine behavior as wagging the tail or burying a bone.

Before inviting a puppy to share your life, surely it is only wise and fair to find out beforehand what you might expect from a normal developing puppy, which behaviors and traits you might consider unacceptable, and how to modify the pup’s inappropriate behavior and temperament accordingly. Specifically, owners need to know how to teach the youngster when to bark, what to chew, where to dig, where to perform his toilet duties, to sit when greeting people, to walk calmly on-leash, to settle down and shush when requested, to inhibit his otherwise normal biting behavior, and to thoroughly enjoy the company of other dogs and of people, especially men, strangers, and children.

Adapted from BEFORE You Get Your Puppy by Dr. Ian Dunbar