About Labradoodles

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

In a previous blog addressing the popularity of the Labradoodle, I mentioned a few celebrity owners of this wonderful breed.   In the past few days, I have learned of many more celebrity owners and some of their doodles’ names as well.  The dog’s names are in parentheses after the owner’s:  golfer Tiger Woods (Yogi and Riley), model Christie Brinkley (Maple Sugar), actor Barbara Eden (Djinn Djinn, named after the invisible dog from her TV show “I Dream of Jeannie”), actor and director Henry Winkler (Charlotte), celebrity blogger Perez Hilton (Teddy Hilton), actresses and sisters Courtney and Ashley Peldon (Odysseus, Calypso).  

Fans of the BBC America TV Channel will recognize comedian and talk show host Graham Norton’s name; he has a Labradoodle named Bailey.  “Top Gear” presenters Jeremy Clarkson (Dodger) and Richard Hammond (TG, for “Top Gear” dog) are proud Labradoodle owners, and TG has appeared on the show.
 

Source:  Marin Independent-Journal (CA)
August 8, 2008
Adapted from the original story by Jennifer Upshaw

10-year-old Isabella Scott sat on the floor in the children’s room at San Rafael, California, Public Library, reading aloud to a captive audience.  Snuggled between Isabella and reading specialist Leslie Park, Bumps takes in each word.  Bumps is a Labradoodle, a specially trained assistance dog who helps young readers feel at ease.

“Reading to a dog is a little goofy,” says Hollie Stanaland, the San Rafaelchildren’s librarian. “Because it’s goofy, because it’s silly, because it’s ridiculous, these kids are in a relaxed state.  

“The heart of children is the heart of a dog,” Stanaland continues. “They’re one and the same.”

The program that sponsors Bumps is part of Reading Education Assistance Dogs, a national organization based in Salt Lake City that improves literacy skills using therapy assistance animals.  “He is excited about every kid that comes in,” says Park.

Seated on a quilt surrounded by books starring dogs, with titles such as Dogzilla, Dog Breath: The Horrible Troubles with Hally Tosis, and One Nosy Pup, Isabella considers the difference between reading to people and reading to dogs.  “It’s strange, but it made you feel good,” she says. “He doesn’t say ‘you didn’t say this right, say this again’ - he just listens.”

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 Australia in the late 1980s to be a hypoallergenic service dog, and many labradoodles have indeed proven to be outstanding service dogs. However, due to the speedy propagation of the breed by people who wanted to cash in on this idea, labradoodles that are available today cannot reliably be expected to be hypoallergenic, and they do require some regular grooming.  Doodles, as they are fondly called by their fans, are available in a range of sizes.  There is little uniformity in their appearance–some favor the poodle portion of their ancestry, while others resemble a shaggier Labrador.  Doodles are clever, energetic, funny, and intelligent.  Eager to please, doodles are generally straightforward to train and are ultimately capable of learning many unusual tricks.  They are too friendly and nonaggressive to be reliable watchdogs, and can be mischievous if not kept in check by their people, who they love dearly but may occasionally try to outsmart.