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49-586: A labradoodle ( / ˈ l æ b r ə d uː d əl / ) is a crossbreed dog created by crossing a Labrador Retriever and a Standard or Miniature Poodle . Labradoodles were intended to be a good choice for people with allergies to canine dander . The Australian Labradoodle Association, an organization run by labradoodle breeders, says they are "generally considered healthy dogs". However, they also state that hip and elbow dysplasia are common problems affecting labradoodles. Other ailments include eye diseases and Addison's disease . Wally Conron of Australia, who

98-472: A guide dog suitable for people with allergies to fur and dander . He hoped the catchy name and claims regarding allergies would offset the stigma associated with being a mixed breed and thus help him sell his litter. Sultan, a dog from this litter, displayed all the qualities Conron was seeking and worked as a guide dog for a woman in Hawaii for ten years. Conron has since repeatedly stated he regrets initiating

147-534: A reaction to them. In addition to their coat, the Irish Water Spaniel has several other distinguishing characteristics which places it amongst the more unique breeds, among these the most distinguishing being the smooth "rat tail", completely free of long hairs (except at the base, where it is covered for 2–3 inches with curls). The face is entirely smooth and, unlike the poodle , should require little or no trimming to stay that way. An Irish Water Spaniel

196-461: A deep bark, and will protect their human families. Not usually an aggressive dog, Water Spaniels are nonetheless highly alert and sensitive to their surroundings. All Irish Water Spaniels require a grooming regimen that includes maintaining healthy ears, teeth and nails. The tight double coat of the Irish Water Spaniel sheds lightly, thus many allergy sufferers have found them to be a comfortable breed with which to live or associate with. The texture of

245-539: A keen sense of being a "team-player", which makes it a relatively easy breed to train and discipline from a young age. Because of its great intelligence and "quizzical" nature, it has the reputation of being the "clown" of the spaniels, and will often do ordinary things in extraordinary ways. Some individual dogs may be very wary of strangers, if not properly socialised early in life; likewise, not every Irish Water Spaniel can be trusted to get along with cats or small pets, including smaller dogs. Early socialisation and training

294-800: A lot of crazy ones." Currently, as with other mixed breeds, labradoodles are not considered a purebred or breed by the AKC and other major kennel club associations in North America and across the world. Technically, they are a hybrid of two pure breeds rather than a new breed. In 2010 the AKC began allowing owners of mixed breeds to register their dogs through an alternative listing program to receive an AKC ID number. Guide Dogs Victoria no longer breeds labradoodles, although they are bred by other guide and assistance dog organizations in Australia and elsewhere. The Association for

343-478: A lower morbidity these are in order of highest risk to lowest risk: Drever , Norwegian Buhund , Schillerstövare , Jämthund , Gråhund , Siberian Husky , Karelian Bear Dog , Smålandsstövare , Finnish Spitz , and Norbottenspets . Notably all the breeds are native to the Scandinavian peninsula and are most commonly used as working dogs. Some health issues not common in either parent breed may be more common in

392-478: A number of eye disorders. There have also been cases of neurological disorders, including epilepsy. Elbow dysplasia is a known common issue in the parent breeds, similar to hip dysplasia. This issue becomes more prevalent as a result of rapid growth during the puppy stage. One study has found that UK labradoodles have a higher incidence (4.6%) of multifocal retinal dysplasia (MRA) compared to Labrador retrievers. Cataracts are common as well (3.7%) but prevalence

441-563: A poodle with a labrador results in variations in appearance, size, coat, and temperament. So while most labradoodles share some common traits, their appearance and behavioural characteristics are widely variable. Labradoodles' hair can be anywhere from wiry to soft, and may be straight, wavy, or curly. Labradoodles often display an affinity for water and strong swimming ability from their parent breeds. Like most Labrador retrievers and poodles, labradoodles are generally friendly, energetic, and good with families and children. However, since this mix

490-436: A working environment, where the dogs' minds, as well as bodies, are exercised. Many Irish Water Spaniel owners work their dogs in the shooting field, in obedience tests, in agility competitions, or in the conformation show ring. The IWS is a versatile breed and is found in all types of canine events including: The Irish Water Spaniel Club of Ireland is one of the oldest dog clubs in the world, supporting and promoting one of

539-846: Is a mix of two very smart dogs, they themselves are highly intelligent and likely to destroy or chew if not properly mentally and physically fulfilled. Others are breeding labradoodle to labradoodle over successive generations, and trying to establish a new dog breed. These dogs are usually referred to as multigenerational (multigen) labradoodles or multigeneration Australian labradoodles. Australian labradoodles also differ from labradoodles in general, in that they may also have other breeds in their ancestry. English and American cocker spaniel × poodle crosses (i.e. cockapoos ). Two Irish water spaniels and soft-coated Wheaten Terriers were used in some Australian labradoodle lines. Curly Coated Retrievers were used too, but these lines were unsatisfactory and are no longer used for breeding. Disagreements within

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588-570: Is a must. The modern breed as we know it was developed in Ireland in the 1830s. It is not known from which other breeds Irish Water Spaniels were developed, as the acknowledged father of the breed, Justin McCarthy (from Dublin), left no breeding records. A range of breeds have been suggested, based largely on superficial traits, including the Poodle , Portuguese Water Dog , Barbet , generic "old water dogs", and

637-545: Is comparable to that of Labradors. There is evidence of some occurrence of Addison's disease in the Australian labradoodle. Labradoodles are very prone to ear infections due to their long floppy ears. Crossbreed dog Dog crossbreeds are combinations of lineages of the domestic dog ; they are distinguished from canid hybrids , which are interspecific crosses between Canis species (wolves, coyotes, jackals, etc.). Several types of working dog crossbreeds date from

686-554: Is credited with inventing the breed, has commented that healthy labradoodles are "few and far between" and most are "crazy or have a hereditary problem". Australian breeder Wally Conron introduced the cross-breed to the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia in Victoria. Conron hoped that the combination of the low-shedding coat of the poodle, along with the gentleness and trainability of a Labrador retriever, would provide

735-589: Is reflected in its endorsement of transparency in health findings in accordance with organisations such as Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA), Canine Health Information Center (CHIC), Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) and Canine Health Foundation. Most of the breeders in the IWSCA belong to the Breeders Education Committee (BEC) The BEC exists to inform and educate IWSCA breeders on issues of health, genetics and breeding practices designed to promote

784-596: Is ruggedly built and, given its name, is bred for the water. The breed has naturally webbed feet which aid in its powerful swimming skills. Altogether, the Irish Water Spaniel presents a picture of a smart, upstanding, strongly-built (but not leggy) dog, combining great intelligence and rugged endurance with a bold, dashing eagerness of temperament. They are the largest of the Spaniel group . Dogs range in height from 22 to 24 inches (56–61 cm), and weigh 55 to 65 pounds (25–30 kg). As with most breeds classed within

833-404: Is that they are usually bred as companion dogs and pets . Working and hunting dogs deliberately crossbred for a particular working purpose are not generally given portmanteau names; they are most often referred to by a type name, such as eurohounds (racing sled dogs) or lurchers (hunting dogs). These dogs could be considered only as crossbreeds, not as designer animals, since appearance is not

882-435: Is the famous case of Lord Orford 's Greyhounds , which were improved by adding courage through the crossing with Old English Bulldogs , achieving the desired result after six generations. With the success of Lord Orford's dogs, the practice was adopted by other Greyhound breeders and became more common. Crossbreeding has played a key characteristic in the development of sled dogs with various crossbreeds developing to meet

931-484: The American Kennel Club 's Sporting group , such as the various other spaniels , retrievers , setters , and pointers , the Irish Water Spaniel is, essentially, an active, willing and energetic companion. Similarly to its fellow sporting breeds, it has been bred from stock used to fetch game and return it undamaged, thus it maintains the natural instincts of loyalty and of wanting to please. The Water Spaniel has

980-523: The American Kennel Club , the United Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club do not recognize designer crosses as dog breeds. If crossbred dogs are bred together for some period of time, and their breeding is well documented, they may eventually be considered a new breed of dog by major kennel clubs (an example of a recent crossbreed becoming a breed recognised by all major kennel clubs is

1029-550: The Cesky Terrier ). New breeds of dogs must have a breed club that will document the ancestry of any individual member of that breed from the original founding dogs of the breed; when the kennel club that the breed club wishes to join is satisfied that the dogs are pedigreed, they will accept and register the dogs of that breed. Each kennel club has individual rules about how to document a new breed. Some minor registries and internet registry businesses will register dogs as any breed

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1078-524: The English Pointer . The Encyclopædia Britannica traces what was the "designer dog" fad to the late 20th century when breeders began to cross purebred Poodles with other purebred breeds to obtain a dog with the Poodle's hypoallergenic coat , along with various desirable characteristics from other breeds. The resulting puppies are called by a portmanteau word made up of syllables (or sounds) from

1127-435: The phenotype of the offspring, is one strategy breeders can use to decrease the incidences of genetic defects. Knowing the disease incidence in the breed, and the genetic history of the individual, is important. Some crossbred dogs, created by breeding two purebred dogs of different breeds, may have the advantage of heterosis , or crossbreed vigor. This advantage can be progressively diluted when two crossbreeds are bred in

1176-444: The 14th century or earlier, such as the lurcher or the longdog . Historically, crosses between dogs of different types were more well accepted at a time when modern purebred breeds (based on the eugenics principles) did not yet exist. These types of crosses were performed to aggregate qualities of two different types in the same dog or to perfect an already fixed type of dog, always for working purposes. An example to be cited

1225-567: The Blind of Western Australia has introduced labradoodles into their training program. Their first, Jonnie, graduated in November 2010. Labradoodles are now widely used around the world as guide , assistance , and therapy dogs . They are also popular family dogs. Because the labradoodle is a cross between two dog breeds and not a breed itself, puppies in the early mixed generations do not have consistently predictable characteristics. The first crossing of

1274-468: The German Chusky (German Shepherd Dog, Siberian Husky and Chow Chow cross). Like children in a family, a percentage of designer dogs with the same breed ancestry will look similar to each other, even though crossbreeding does not result in as uniform a phenotype as the breeding of purebreds. Often even pups in the same litter will look quite different. Another defining characteristic of designer dogs

1323-665: The US shows the difference in life expectancy between mixed breed dogs and pedigree dogs to be minimal. A review of cemetery data in Japan found that the Shiba Inu had a life expectancy greater than crossbreeds; however crossbreeds still had a higher life expectancy than the average pedigree dog in this study. A Swedish study reviewing over 200,000 dogs registered for a veterinary insurance company in 1995 and 1996 found morbidity to be higher in most pedigrees than mongrels; however several pedigree breeds had

1372-504: The attempt to create a breed, narrowing the gene pool. The best way to continue taking advantage of crossbreed vigor is from the breeding of dogs of purebred ancestry, as this vigor is typically seen only in the first generation cross of two purebred animals of separate breeds, thus taking advantage of genetic diversity . Health of crossbred dogs depends on their being descended from healthy parents. Breeders who select their breeding stock for cost-effectiveness and who skip health testing for

1421-476: The breed names of the two purebred parents, such as Schnoodle ( Schnauzer and Poodle cross), or Shepsky ( German Shepherd Dog / Siberian Husky cross). Other purebred breeds are being crossed to provide designer dogs described with an endless range of created labels, such as the Puggle (Pug and Beagle cross). There are even complex crosses (with multiple breeds in recent ancestry) being labeled in this manner, such as

1470-436: The coat. Scissoring will be required every 6–8 weeks to neaten and shape the coat while regular exposure to water will promote the correct "ringlets" over the body coat. Although happy to curl up and sleep at home, regular (possibly 2-3 times, daily) walks and exercise excursions are essential for a healthy, content Water Spaniel. An unexercised Water Spaniel may become a naughty, mischievous animal. An ideal home though would be

1519-468: The crossbreed than both of the parent breeds. Prolapsed nictitating membrane gland is a condition more common in the Puggle and Jug than both of the parent breeds, which shows the complexity of genetics and provides evidence against the theory of hybrid vigour . Overall designer dog breeds had lower rates of PNMG. Crossbreed dogs are not recognized by traditional breed registries, even if both parents are registered purebreds. Breed associations such as

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1568-439: The crown of the head and often covers the eyes, with a "beard" growing at the back of the throat often being accompanied by "sideburns". The coat colour is a liver-puce to chocolate-brown hue, with a distinct "purple" undertone, not seen in many other breeds. The minimal coat shedding does not mean Irish Water Spaniels are necessarily " hypoallergenic ", although people who may be allergic to dogs could potentially experience less of

1617-684: The desired trait being bred for (such as a hypoallergenic coat) needs to be known; "Heritability is the proportion of the measurable difference observed between animals for a given trait that is due to genetics (and can be passed to the next generation)." In addition, the goals of dog crossbreeding may be harder to define than the goals of livestock crossbreeding; good temperament may be harder to define and measure than high calf weight. Designer dog breeders are often criticized for being more interested in profitable puppy production than in dog health and welfare. Wally Conron, writing in Reader's Digest , comments on

1666-575: The development of the eurohound and greyster , crosses utilizing German shorthair pointers with Alaskan huskies and greyhounds, respectively. While the Mackenzie River husky has been largely replaced by mechanized travel, Alaskan huskies continue to be the most commonly used type of dog for competitive sled dog racing today. Other historical examples are the bull and terrier ( Old English Bulldog and terrier cross) and crosses between foxhounds and Old Spanish Pointers that later resulted in

1715-469: The fashion for this type of crossbreed and maintains it caused "a lot of damage" together with "a lot of problems", largely stemming from the genetic unpredictability of combining breeds. He also felt he was to blame for "creating a Frankenstein ", adding that problems were being bred into the dogs rather than selectively breeding away from problems and towards a recognizable standard. He is further quoted as claiming: "For every perfect one, you're going to find

1764-414: The hair prevents the coat from becoming tightly woven into fabric and upholstery and any stray hairs are easily removed as they will gather together to form "dust bunnies". The coat can be maintained by even the novice owner if a regular effort is maintained to keep it clean and free of mats. A thorough combing to the skin should take place every 1–2 weeks to promote healthy skin and to remove any objects from

1813-404: The life of that dog. Individual B.E.C. breeders can be found on the IWSCA website. The IWS Health Foundation's aim is to serve the worldwide Irish Water Spaniel community by providing a forum for internet-based collection and circulation of information, research and educational materials relating to the health and life expectancy of the breed, and for anyone with an interest to promote research for

1862-456: The main reason for them to be bred. An exception to this is the Labradoodle , which although having a portmanteau name, is often used as a Guide or Assistance dog as well as being a popular family dog. Although designer dogs are often selected by owners for their novelty, reputable breeders sometimes use crossbreeding in an attempt to reduce the incidence of certain hereditary problems found in

1911-514: The most distinguished and oldest breed of dog in the world. The club is registered with the Irish Kennel Club. The IWSCA is the AKC parent club for the IWS. The club exists to preserve and protect this rare breed. The Club helps educate owners and breeders and welcomes all members who share our love of this extraordinary, versatile dog. The IWSCA's commitment to the health of the Irish Water Spaniel

1960-694: The now-extinct English Water Spaniel , as well as the Northern and Southern Water Spaniels. However, whether or not Irish Water Spaniels are antecedents, descendants, or hybrids of these other breeds is a matter of some speculation. It is believed, in Irish folklore , to be the descendant of the mythological cryptid , the Dobhar-chú . Irish Water Spaniels may make good family dogs, as they are usually excellent with respectful children and with other pets. They can make good guard dogs if they have been trained to do so, giving off

2009-630: The ongoing health and welfare of the Irish Water Spaniel. To this end the BEC breeders have agreed to a rigorous set of recommended breeding practices such as: open information exchange, health testing in accordance with the Irish Water Spaniel CHIC protocol, collaboration with the IWSCA Health and Genetics Committee, participation in breed-specific health studies, promotion of responsible pet ownership, and responsibility for any puppy they have bred – for

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2058-481: The owner chooses with minimal or no documentation; some even allow the breeder or owner to make up a designer "breed name" for their pet. Irish water spaniel The Irish Water Spaniel ( Irish : An Spáinnéar Uisce ) is a breed of dog that is the tallest of the spaniels . The Irish Water Spaniel is a sturdy, cobby dog native to Ireland. The coat, consisting of dense curls, sheds very little (see Moult ). A topknot of long, loose curls grows downward from

2107-514: The popularity of crosses after his introduction of the Labradoodle: "Were breeders bothering to check their sires and bitches for heredity faults, or were they simply caught up in delivering to hungry customers the next status symbol?" 'Designer dog' puppies sometimes bring higher prices than the purebreds from which they are bred. Fanciers of designer dogs say that all modern dog breeds were created from earlier breeds and types of dogs through

2156-533: The program have led to some groups continuing with different lines as in the case of the Australian Cobberdog . Labradoodle coats are divided into three categories: wool, fleece, or hair. Labradoodles' coat colors include chocolate, cafe, parchment, cream, gold, apricot, red, black, silver, chalk, lavender, and blue-ish gray. Coat patterns can be solid, white abstract markings, parti, phantom, or tri-coloured. Labradoodles can be different sizes, depending on

2205-513: The purebred dogs, while retaining their more appealing traits. Jon Mooallem, writing in The New York Times , commented, "Given the roughly 350 inherited disorders littering the dog genome, crossing two purebreds and expanding their gene pools can be 'a phenomenally good idea,' according to one canine geneticist—if it is done conscientiously." Crossbreeding has not been well studied in dogs, although it has been for livestock. The heritability of

2254-402: The same kind of selective breeding that is used to create designer dogs. Most of the modern breeds have ancestries that include various older dog types and breeds; see individual breed articles for details of the origin of each breed. Crossbreeding that takes advantage of the increased chance that a recessive detrimental allele will only be inherited from one parent and therefore not expressed in

2303-559: The same reason will not produce puppies that are as reliably healthy as those bred by more conscientious breeders. However, studies of longevity in dogs have found some advantage for crossbreeds compared to purebred dogs. In general it is believed that crossbred dogs "have a far lower chance of exhibiting the disorders that are common with the parental breeds. Their genetic health will be substantially higher." Despite commonly believed to be substantially healthier than pedigree dogs data from clinical records of over 1,000 veterinary hospitals in

2352-403: The size of sire and dam used, and their size-names generally follow the names used for poodles: miniature, medium, and standard. Miniature labradoodles typically weigh around 18-28 lbs, medium around 26-45 pounds and standard can be from 45-75 lbs. Labradoodles can have problems common to their parent breeds. Poodles and Labrador retrievers can have hip dysplasia . The parent breeds can also have

2401-722: The specific needs of the era and geographical region, including the Mackenzie River husky , in which European breeds were crossed with Native American dogs to produce a powerful and hardy freighting dog in the 19th century, and the Alaskan husky , bred specifically for sled dog racing . In the 1980s, a rise in Nordic-style sled racing in Scandinavia, characterized by shorter distances than typically seen in North American sled racing, led to

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