What is an Australian Labradoodle?

In the early days, the Australian Labradoodle was simply a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle. Dogs from this cross typically were bred to each other over future generations, whereby the Australian dogs are also know as "Multi-generational" Labradoodles.

Then, in the late 1980's, Tegan Park and Rutland Manor, the two founders of the Australian Labradoodle as we know it today, began infusing several other breeds into early generations of their Lab/Poodle crosses, to improve temperament, coat, confirmation, and size. The infused breeds include Irish Water Spaniel, American and English Cocker Spaniel and later the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten. The resulting labradoodles subsequently have been bred to each other, continuing the multi-generational tradition.

Today, many great breeders all over the world have continued to develop the Australian Labradoodle. These dogs are wonderful, intelligent and intuitive with lush coats that are more reliably low to non-shedding and allergy friendly than other types of Labradoodles such as first generation Lab/Poodle crosses, or first generation crosses bred back to Poodles.

Here at Southern Cross, we began with breeding stock from Tegan Park. Over the years we have improved those breeding lines through diligent health testing and carefully selecting of progeny that we hold back as future breeders.

Please take a look at our Scrapbook page to see some our Southern Cross families. We will happily provide some of their contact information for references upon request.