The creator of the Labradoodle says he regrets ‘Frankenstein’s monster. Says the breed is his life’s regret’
By Emily S. Rueb and Niraj Chokshi
Sept. 25, 2019
The inventor of the labradoodle, the ubiquitous, mopheaded designer dog, said that creating the mixed breed was one of his life’s regrets.
“I opened a Pandora box and released a Frankenstein monster,” the creator, Wally Conron, said on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s podcast “Sum of All Parts” last week.
Mr. Conron, who has been credited with sparking a crossbreeding frenzy resulting in shih poos, puggles and more, said the labradoodle was originally intended as a guide dog, not a fashion accessory.
“I bred the labradoodle for a blind lady whose husband was allergic to dog hair,” Mr. Conron said, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“I’ve done a lot of damage,” Mr. Conron told The Associated Press in 2014. “I’ve created a lot of problems.”
He said that unscrupulous people setting up “horrific” puppy mills, and backyard breeders who were breeding for bucks, were to blame for producing a glut of unstable dogs that would eventually be euthanized.
In an interview with Psychology Today that same year, Mr. Conron acknowledged that the “doodle” name was “a gimmick” that went global.
“People ask me, ‘Aren’t you proud of yourself?’ I tell them: ‘No! Not in the slightest.’ I’ve done so much harm to pure breeding and made many charlatans quite rich,” he said. “I wonder, in my retirement, whether we bred a designer dog — or a disaster!”
“I find that the biggest majority are either crazy or have a hereditary problem,” he said.
Comment by Linda DeBlauw, breeder, Scarlet’s Fancy Poodles –
I am in agreement with Mr. Wally Conron. If you are in question of the article above, Google Wally Conron Labradoodle.
There is a myth that mixed breed dogs are healthier than purebreds? NO it is not at all true. All dogs will only be as good as their parents. Unless both parent’s have been completely tested for all genetic faults present in that breed and they have tested clear of genetic disorders, and have excellent temperaments can you hope to get a puppy that will be without disorders, and have a good temperament.
Linda DeBlauw
According to the American Kennel Club Poodles are the most highly trainable of all canines. That is why they were used in many dog acts and circuses. Well bred Poodles are highly intelligent, energetic, athletic, natural comedians, very loyal, as hypoallergenic as any dog can be, they do not shed, and they have the lovely curly coat that is so sought after by doodle breeders.
One thing all poos and doodles, have in common is that they are part Poodle.
Here are some of the crosses that Wally Conron refers to –
- Affenpoo – (Affenpinscher / Poodle mix)
- Airedoodle – (Airedale Terrier / Poodle mix)
- Aki-Poo – (Akita / Poodle mix)
- Aussiedoodle – (Australian Shepherd / Poodle mix)
- Bassetoodle – (Basset Hound / Poodle mix)
- Bernedoodle – (Bernese Mountain Dog / Poodle mix)
- Bich-poo – (Bichon Frise / Poodle mix)
- Bolonoodle – (Bolognese / Poodle mix)
- Bordoodle – (Border Collie / Poodle mix)
- Bossi-Poo – (Boston Terrier / Poodle mix)
- Boxerdoodle – (Boxer / Poodle mix)
- Broodle Griffon – (Brussels Griffon / Poodle)
- Cadoodle – (Collie x Poodle mix)
- Cairnoodle – (Cairn Terrier / Poodle mix)
- Cavapoo – (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel / Poodle mix)
- Chi-Poo – (Chihuahua / Poodle mix)
- Chinese Crestepoo – (Chinese Crested / Poodle mix)
- Cockapoo – (Cocker Spaniel / Poodle mix)
- Corgipoo – (Corgi / Poodle mix)
- Daisy Dog – (Bichon / Poodle / Shih Tzu mix)
- Dalmadoodle – (Dalmatian / Poodle mix)
- Doodleman Pinscher – (Doberman / Standard Poodle mix)
- Double Doodle – (Goldendoodle / Labradoodle mix)
- Doxiepoo – (Dachshund / Poodle mix)
- Eskapoo – (American Eskimo Dog / Poodle mix)
- English Boodle – (English Bulldog / Poodle mix)
- Flandoodle – (Bouvier des Flandres / Poodle mix)
- Foodle – (Poodle / Toy Fox Terrier mix)
- Foxhoodle – (Fox Hound / Poodle mix)
- Giant Schnoodle – (Giant Schnauzer / Standard Poodle mix)
- Goldendoodle – (Golden Retriever / Poodle mix)
- Great Danoodle – (Great Dane / Poodle mix)
- Irish Doodle – (Irish Setter / Poodle mix)
- Irish Troodle – (Irish Terrier / Poodle mix)
- Jack-A-Poo – (Jack Russell Terrier / Poodle mix)
- Labradoodle – (Labrador Retriever / Poodle mix)
- Lacasapoo – (Cock-A-Poo x Lhasa Apso mix)
- Lhasapoo – (Lhasa Apso / Poodle mix)
- Malti-Poo – (Maltese / Poodle mix)
- Mastidoodle = (Mastiff / Poodle mix)
- Miniature Aussiedoodle – (Miniature Australian Shepherd / Miniature Poodle mix)
- Miniature Goldendoodle – (Golden Retriever / Toy or Miniature Poodle mix)
- Miniature Labradoodle – (Labrador Retriever / Toy or Miniature Poodle mix)
- Newfypoo (Newfoundland / Poodle mix)
- Papi-poo – (Papillon / Poodle mix)
- Pekepoo – (Pekingese / Poodle mix)
- Petite Goldendoodle – (Golden Retriever / Cocker Spaniel / Poodle mix)
- Petite Labradoodle – (Labrador Retriever / Cocker Spaniel / Poodle mix)
- Pinny-Poo – (Miniature Pinscher / Poodle mix)
- Pomapoo – (Pomeranian / Poodle mix)
- Poo-Shi – (Poodle / Shiba Inu mix)
- Poo-Ton – (Coton de Tulear / Poodle mix)
- Poochin – (Japanese Chin / Poodle mix)
- Poogle – (Beagle / Poodle mix)
- Poolky – (Poodle / Silky Terrier mix)
- Pootalian – (Italian Greyhound / Poodle mix)
- Poovanese – (Havanese / Poodle mix)
- Pugapoo – (Pug / Poodle mix)
- Pyredoodle – (Great Pyrenees / Poodle mix)
- Rattle – (American Rat Terrier / Poodle mix)
- Rottle – (Rottweiler / Standard Poodle mix)
- Saint Berdoodle – (Saint Bernard / Poodle mix)
- Schipper-Poo – (Poodle / Schipperke mix)
- Schnoodle – (Schnauzer / Poodle mix)
- Scoodle – (Scottish Terrier / Poodle mix)
- Shar-Poo – (Shar-Pei / Poodle mix)
- Sheltidoodle – (Sheltie / Poodle mix)
- Sheepadoodle – (Old English Sheepdog / Standard Poodle mix)
- Shepadoodle – (German Shepherd / Standard Poodle mix)
- Shih-Poo – (Shih Tzu / Poodle mix)
- Siberpoo – (Siberian Husky / Poodle mix)
- Skypoo – (Poodle / Skye Terrier mix)
- Springerdoodle – (English Springer Spaniel / Poodle mix)
- Standard Schnoodle – (Poodle / Standard Schnauzer mix)
- Terri-Poo – (Australian Terrier / Poodle mix)
- Ttoodle – (Poodle / Tibetan Terrier mix)
- Weimardoodle – (Weimaraner / Poodle mix)
- Westiepoo – (Westie / Poodle mix)
- Whoodle – (Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier / Poodle mix)
- Wire-Poo – (Wirehaired Fox Terrier x Poodle mix)
- Woodle – (Welsh Terrier / Poodle mix)
- Yorkipoo – (Yorkie / Poodle mix)