Where do labradoodles come from? The breed's real origin story
Settle in with your dog while you learn where labradoodles actually come from. See the real story – guest starring your dog.
A man named Wally Conron created the first labradoodle in 1989 while working for the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia, crossing a Labrador with a standard poodle to try to make a hypoallergenic guide dog. The story involves one working dog, a lot of unwanted regret, and a lesson worth knowing if you are considering one for your own home.
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The story in 6 parts
A short version first. The full story, with every detail, is further down.
Part 1
The man who created the labradoodle
In the 1980s, Wally Conron worked as the breeding manager for the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia, an organization now known as Guide Dogs Victoria.
Part 2
Why a Labrador and a poodle
You can see the logic once you look at each parent breed.
Part 3
Conron's later regret
With Sultan placed, Conron still had two labradoodle puppies left, and no one wanted a crossbreed.
Part 4
From one dog to a global trend
The labradoodle caught on partly because people had a clear, appealing story to tell about how it came to be.
Part 5
Is the labradoodle a recognized breed
The American Kennel Club does not recognize the labradoodle as a standardized purebred, treating it as a hybrid crossbreed rather than a breed in its own right.
Part 6
What this history means if you're choosing a labradoodle
If you are thinking about bringing a labradoodle home, this origin story has some practical lessons for you.
Read the full story
Part 1
The man who created the labradoodle
In the 1980s, Wally Conron worked as the breeding manager for the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia, an organization now known as Guide Dogs Victoria. A blind woman in Hawaii wrote to the organization asking for a guide dog, but her husband was allergic to long-haired dogs. Conron spent three years trying standard poodles alone, testing thirty-three of them, before concluding that poodles did not have the right temperament to work as guide dogs on their own. So in 1989 he crossed a Labrador named Brandy with his boss's standard poodle, Harley, hoping for a dog with a Labrador's working ability and a poodle's coat.
Part 2
Why a Labrador and a poodle
You can see the logic once you look at each parent breed. Labrador Retrievers are known for being friendly, gentle, trainable, and even-tempered. Poodles are highly intelligent, highly trainable, and people-oriented. Brandy's litter produced three puppies, named Sheik, Simon, and Sultan, and only Sultan's fur and saliva tested as compatible with the allergic husband in Hawaii. Sultan trained up and travelled to Hawaii, where he worked as the world's first labradoodle guide dog.
Part 3
Conron's later regret
With Sultan placed, Conron still had two labradoodle puppies left, and no one wanted a crossbreed. So he asked the organization's public relations team to tell the media a special new hypoallergenic breed had been created, and the name labradoodle spread from there. Demand quickly went far beyond guide dog users, and Conron later said he was concerned that unethical breeders chasing profit took over, without the same care about health. He described the outcome as a Frankenstein's monster and said he had done a lot of damage to pure breeding. If you are choosing a labradoodle today, that history is a reminder to look closely at who bred your dog and how.
Part 4
From one dog to a global trend
The labradoodle caught on partly because people had a clear, appealing story to tell about how it came to be. Conron has been credited with sparking a wider crossbreeding trend that led to dogs such as cockapoos, shih poos, and puggles. Labradoodles have since been owned by well-known public figures, and a labradoodle was even considered by the Obama family before they chose a different breed. Some breeders have gone further with multi-generational breeding programs, and organizations such as the International Australian Labradoodle Association and the Australian Labradoodle Association are working toward a standardized, registered breed.
Part 5
Is the labradoodle a recognized breed
The American Kennel Club does not recognize the labradoodle as a standardized purebred, treating it as a hybrid crossbreed rather than a breed in its own right. Some alternative organizations may register labradoodles, and the AKC also has a Canine Partners program that lets mixed-breed dogs, including labradoodles, take part in some club activities.
Part 6
What this history means if you're choosing a labradoodle
If you are thinking about bringing a labradoodle home, this origin story has some practical lessons for you. Coat type is not guaranteed: labradoodle coats can be wavy, wiry, curly, or fleecy, and even puppies from the same litter can look more like a Labrador or more like a poodle. Many labradoodles do inherit lower dander and odor from their poodle side, which can make them easier for some allergy sufferers. Because labradoodles can inherit health issues from either parent breed, a good breeder should give you health screening information on the puppy's parents.
Questions people ask
Who created the labradoodle and why?
Wally Conron created the labradoodle in 1989 while working for the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia. He was trying to breed a guide dog that would not trigger allergies in a blind woman's husband in Hawaii.
Is the labradoodle a purebred dog?
No, the labradoodle is a crossbreed of a Labrador Retriever and a poodle, not a purebred dog. Because of this, its size, coat, and color can vary even within one litter.
Why did Wally Conron regret creating the labradoodle?
Conron said demand for labradoodles grew far beyond what he expected, and he worried that unethical, ruthless breeders were chasing profit. He called the result a Frankenstein's monster and said he had done so much harm to pure breeding.
What two breeds make a labradoodle?
A labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a standard poodle.
Are labradoodles recognized by kennel clubs?
The American Kennel Club does not recognize the labradoodle as a standardized purebred. Some alternative organizations do register labradoodles, and groups are working toward an official standard.
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Sources
- The Aussie who bred the labradoodle says he created a 'Frankenstein's monster'. www.abc.net.au, Sep 23, 2019.
- Are Labradoodles AKC registered? - Adopt a Pet. www.adoptapet.com.
- The History of the Labradoodle - Barksdale Labradoodles. Barksdale Labradoodles.
- Labradoodle creator says the breed is his life's regret. Poodle Forum.
- Breeds & Puppies - Off Leash. Off Leash Blog.
- AKC Description of the Labradoodle - Agape Labradoodles. Agape Labradoodles - Unconditional Love With Kisses, Jul 25, 2016.
- Can A Labradoodle Be AKC Registered - UPDATED 2026. Labradoodle Home, Oct 17, 2022.
Written by TimeWalkies EditorialLast updated How we research