Archive for the 'Facts' Category
Some days it’s so cold I feel like my bones may shatter, and I’m glad I can curl up next to my labradoodle Lucky. I live near Edmonton in the Alberta province of Canada, and some winters temperatures reach thirty below. Since I bought him, Lucky has become just as much a part of my bedding as my quilt. I’ve never had a nicer dog, he refuses to leave my side, and sometimes it seems like he knows when I’m cold. Lucky is also notorious for trying to fall asleep on top of my head, which is not quite so pleasant.
Labradoodles are great for cold nights though, and the breed as a whole seems to fare well in cold weather.
Labradoodles come in a variety of colors, but their coats are generally divided into three distinct categories:
~Wool, this labradoodle has tight curls with a soft texture, like a poodle.
~Fleece, this labradoodle’s hair is soft and flowing, with kind of a wavy appearance.
~Hair, this labradoodle has hair that can be curly, straight, or wavy, but is most similar in texture to a labrador’s coat.
In terms of color, labradoodles can be most of the same colors as poodles. Common colors include apricot, gold, white, cream, black, and chocolate Labradoodles.
Freshwater ponds, creeks, lakes, rivers and streams can contain blue-green algae-borne toxins that are fatal to dogs. If the water where your mini Australian Labradoodle swims looks cloudy with a green or blue-green tint, you should suspect an overabundance of blue-green algae and keep your dog out. Blue-green algae have been documented as causing the deaths of several dogs as well as livestock and humans.
A very specific combination of environmental conditions that most commonly occurs in late summer or early fall can expediate rapid population growth of a blue-green algae family called cyanobacteria. This type of algae thrives in many aquatic environments year-round, but can reproduce out of control during sustained times of warm weather in shallow, nutrient-rich bodies of water. This variety of blue-green algae produces a toxin that is one of the most potent natural poisons known. The algae blooms may resemble foam, scum, or mats on the water’s surface, appearing to be blue, bright green, brown, or red. The water may or may not smell bad, since algae usually do not produce a negative odor until they are breaking down and beginning to die out. The only way to know for certain if water is contaminated by the bad algae is to have it tested by an expert, and to further muddy the issue, not all algae blooms are toxic. When an algae bloom IS toxic, it can kill or sicken an animal within 15 or 20 minutes of ingestion, targeting the liver and nervous system. Symptoms of toxic algae ingestion include skin irritation or lesions, vomiting, diarrhea, labored breathing, weakness, convulsions, and in severe cases, paralysis and respiratory failure. If you suspect your pet has come in contact with toxic algae, wash his coat immediately and call a veterinarian as quickly as possible.
Happy Labor Day weekend! Hopefully you have plans to have a great time and take your Labradoodle with you. Here are a few tips to keep that darling doodle happy and safe over the holiday. A common Labor Day outing is a picnic—who doesn’t love a picnic? Be careful that your dog doesn’t follow her nose too enthusiastically and ingest chicken bones or pieces of aluminum foil used to wrap picnic foods. Summer is the season for insects, so protect your dog against fleas, ticks and heartworm. The warm weather also promotes allergies to pollen and plants. If your dog is chewing on himself, seek veterinary attention.
The hot sun can dehydrate a dog or even result in heatstroke—be sure she has a source of fresh drinking water (consider a spill-proof water bowl), ventilated moving air, and shade. A dog with a fresh water source is less likely to drink sea water, contaminated or chemically lake or pool water, or automobile chemicals on the ground, which can make him ill. If your dog is in a pen, consider purchasing a fan or a dog cooling mat to keep her comfortable. Some dog grooming sprays include a sunscreen, and you can apply hypoallergenic sunscreen suitable for babies (30 SPF or higher) on exposed skin areas. Dog noses are especially prone to sunburn. If your dog is not a swimmer, supervise him closely—even strong swimmers drown when exhausted. Never leave your dog in a parked car, where temperatures can reach over 150 degrees Fahrenheit even with a window cracked. (It is a common misconception that this is sufficient prevention of heatstroke or even death in dogs.) Limit exercise periods to the coolest parts of the day, avoiding surfaces such as sidewalks, asphalt or sand, which may absorb the heat and burn your dog’s paws. The most common signs of heatstroke in a dog are rapid panting, twitching muscles, skin that feels hot to the touch, and a dazed look. If any of these symptoms occur, contact a vet immediately and attempt to cool the dog by using towels soaked in cool (not cold) water, hosing her down, or giving him a cool bath. Allow her to lick ice cubes or sip cool water. In the event of heatstroke, a trip to the vet may save your dog’s life.
Researchers have recently discovered a reason why dogs have the largest variation in size of any land animal species. As it turns out, more petite dogs, such as the miniature Labradoodle, have a strand of DNA that regulates their growth gene, blocking its effects altogether. This DNA was probably inherited from a miniature wolf about 15,000 years ago, although it is no longer present in the wolf population. Human intervention has aided the spread of this DNA throughout the domestic dog world.
“All dogs under 20 pounds have this—all of them,” said one researcher, University of Utah biologist K. Gordon Lark. Learning how canine growth is controlled could potentially improve understanding of 200 to 300 diseases dogs have in common with humans, including high blood pressure, autoimmune disorders, and cancer. Since dogs and humans also share the same environment, influences of an environmental nature that trigger disease in either species can also be noted. This will add to data from past studies and possibly leading to cures and treatment of these diseases in both dogs and people.
Information compiled from Seattle Times, AP, LA Times and Baltimore Sun
Myth #1—A yard is an absolute requirement for every Labradoodle. Dogs are pack animals who want to be with you. The majority of the time a dog spends in the yard is hanging around the door, waiting to come back where you are. Even in a huge house, the dog tends to be right under your feet. A yard is not going to make a dog get his cardio! His people need to be walking him, running with him, taking him to the beach or the dog park. Activities like this make you both healthier, encourage socialization, and improve your bond, whether or not you share a yard.
Myth #2—Avoid playing tug-of-war or your Labradoodle becomes overly aggressive. As long as you have rules and boundaries when you play this game, the wild side of your dog has a healthy outlet. This game represents the final stage of the hunt, when the pack leader ends up with the food and cements his position as leader. As long as you end up with the toy, rope, or sock, tug-of-war is a fun way to establish yourself as the pack leader.
Myth #3—Never disturb a Labradoodle who is eating. One of the most common situations that results in dog bites are when her food is disturbed, but that is because the dog sees people, even her own, as a threat. Dogs should look forward to being interrupted while eating in the expectation of a treat. To accomplish this, shift his bowl or food in some way, starting from above and working down until sticking your hand in her bowl. That way, the dog will learn when the bowl is inadvertently bumped or reached into, she won’t respond as if her meal is threatened.
Myth #4—A wagging tail always means a friendly Labradoodle. Dog tail wagging is actually a complicated system of communication, with three levels of height. 90 degrees high with small wags means the dog should be avoided, as he is trying to establish dominance and appear threatening. If the tail is very low between the dog’s legs, the dog is afraid and feels defensive and should be given a wide berth. A friendly dog’s tail is somewhere in the middle wagging loosely with a “smiling” face. There are other canine body language cues to watch when meeting a dog—position of ears and head, hackles, and expression to name a few. The safest thing to do is ask the dog’s person if it is okay before getting any closer than you have to!
There are three varieties of Labradoodles being produced today. The first variety is the American Labradoodle. Considered a hybrid dog, the American is also called a first generation or standard Labradoodle and is the result of crossing a Labrador Retriever and a poodle. The Australian Labradoodle that is often bred in the United States is a second variety, using the Labrador, poodle, Labradoodle and sometimes cocker spaniel to create a multi-generational cross.
The third variety is the Australian Labradoodle, bred and recognized in Australia with the express goal of creating a quality purebred dog without undue health issues. Cascade Mountain Labradoodles has the third variety of the third Labradoodle variety, but in miniature. Breeding stock has been thoroughly tested (and loved, and nurtured). These are adorable, active, occasionally comical dogs, quick to learn special tricks and tasks.
Many Labradoodle enthusiasts feel that the biggest obstacle to working with this breed is prospective understanding of the difference between the generations of Labradoodles, the difference between an Australian Labradoodle and Labradoodle, and what makes for a healthy coat and desirable temperament and what does not.
Unique families will need to be matched with different generations or varieties within the Labradoodle breed due to differences in traits, temperament and appearance. However, inexperienced breeders do not always completely understand what they are producing in their litters, and puppies are sold and more are produced before essential knowledge is gained. When this occurs, the consumer loses and so does the breed. A worst-case scenario that happens all too frequently is that dogs end up in shelters because a family purchased a first-generation, high-energy, low-shedding Labradoodle, but had instead wanted a fleece-coated, non-shedding Australian Labradoodle. Please research the breed and the breeder before committing to that adorable little fluffball—not only for the dog’s sake, but for your own.
One of the first questions people ask who are learning about labradoodle dogs is what colors their coats can be, and there are quite a few possibilities. Black, chocolate, café, silver, cream, chalk, gold, apricot cream, apricot, and red are generally the solid colors seen in the labradoodle breed.
Red and apricot variations are the rarest shades at the present time, and the red will often become a more muted shade, but remain striking in appearance. There are also parti-color variations of the labradoodle coat. “Parti-color” (or “parti”) is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as showing different colors or tints, but more specifically, having a predominant color pattern broken by patches of one or more other colors.
Labradoodles seem to be absolutely everywhere right now. Celebrity owners such as Tiger Woods, Jennifer Aniston, and Barbara Eden have made the breed very visible. Other trends illustrating the popularity of the Labradoodle are the inclusion of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary, a Labradoodle game piece in the ‘Here and Now’ Monopoly game, and the award-winning ‘Lucky the Incredible Wonder Pup’ animated toy.
The labradoodle was originally created in
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