Australian Labradoodle?
Multi-Generation?
Early Generation?
AL vs ALF vs LO Australian Labradoodle Breed Associations.
What is the Difference?

First generation labradoodles are the offspring of a Poodle crossed with a Labrador.  We use the ALA grading system, where this offspring is represented as an LO1, which stands for Labradooodle Origin 1st generation.

Around 90% of these LO1 first generation labradoodles shed. The LO1 is usually crossed back to a poodle (sometimes referred to as backcrosses) and these resulting labradoodles are represented as LO2p (still only lab x poodle). The genetic match between the parents of this labradoodle determines whether the puppies will be shedding.  There are usually one or two  throwbacks in LO2p litters that shed to some degree.   Multi-Generation means the dog is more than a first generation labradoodle,  but does not mean that the dog is an Australian Labradoodle Foundation (ALF) or Australian Labradoodle (AL).

The LO2p is usually bred to an ALF dog of a the same or higher generation  or an approved parent breed infusion, in order to advance from LO (Labradoodle Foundation Lab x Poodle) to ALF (Australian Labradoodle Foundation which has more than just the origin Poodle and Labardor Parent Breeds).  For a new breed of dog such as the Australian Labradoodle to become recognized by the International Breed Clubs, it must be a cross of more than just 2 breeds of dogs, thus the reason for the 3rd required approved parent breed infusion or crossing with an ALF dog (which already has the 3rd required approved parent breed infusion).

Parent Breed Infusions in the past are known to have been American/English Cocker Spaniel,  Golden Retriever, Curly Coated Retriever and Irish Water Spaniel.    An LO2 crossed with an approved parent breed infusion or ALF2 or higher dog, then advances to ALF with the generation number increasing one number/generation above their parent with the lowest generation number. For example an LO2 mated with an ALF3 produces a ALF3 or an ALF3 mated with an ALF6 produces a ALF4.

When an ALF Labradoodle has 4 successive generations of Labradoodle X Labradoodle, it  becomes an (AL) Australian Labradoodle  (Foundation and  all numbers are dropped as the dog has advanced to a  pure bred Australian Labradoodle which would be register-able as a pure bred dog with the International Breed Associations, once the breed is recognized).

Only (AL pure 4 generations of labradoodle to labradoodle) Australian Labradoodles will be recognized by the ANKC in Australia and  other requirements are that there must be 500 entire dogs registered by an association which has been incorporated for 15 years.  The Australian Labradoodle Assoc has now been acting as an incorporated registering body of Laradoodles for almost 10 years.  There are several other Labradoodle Breeders Clubs that have recently sprung up in what I see as effort to provide these breeders  prospective puppy purchasers, with a level of legitimacy.

Only one Association, the ALA will have the required credentials to submit the Australian Labradoodle for Breed Recognitons with the ANKC.  By supporting the ALA and purchasing your Labradoodle from an ALA Breeder; you are supporting the protection and  future recognition of the Australian Labradoodle.  Purchasing your dog from a non-ALA breeder will only serve to further delay the acceptance, recognition and registration of the Australian Labradoodle with the ANKC.

Do not get hung up on the idea that the higher the number of generations of your Labradoodle, that this somehow makes it a better dog.  There are very few dogs in the world that yet qualify as (AL) Pure Australian Labradoodles.  Lots of dogs may be registered as ALF6p, (p means a poodle was used in the last generation) but are 4 generations from being a AL pure Australian Labradoodle, compared with a ALF3 labradoodle  that may only be 2 generations away from AL, if mated successively with labradoodle to labradoodle.    Crossing a Poodle or approved parent breed infusion with a labradoodle means the resulting offspring will  require 4 more generations of labradoodle X labradoodle,  before they reach AL pure Australain Labradoodle.

There is nothing wrong with mating to a poodle to correct coat or to achieve rare colors, but it means the resulting offsping are required to have another 4 generations of labardoodle to labradoodle to become an (AL pure) Australian Labradoodle.

The health of your labraoodle, improved via genetic diversity, is much more important than its generation number.  A Non-Shedding healthy new line ALF3 Labradoodle is just as good as an ALF6p Labradoodle.  Be more concerned that the breeder you choose is breeding for the health and genetic diversity of labradoodles, not jut to produce as many puppies as possible from the same old lines.

If they are not making new lines, they are just making puppies.  We need new breeders but new breeders who are willing to take risks, by producing new lines.  It takes 14 dogs just to make one new ALF3 line.

Breeding new bloodlines is very rewarding when all goes according to plan, but things do not always go according to plan and not every dog is cut out to be a suitable mother or stud, some don’t pass their health tests and others just don’t have appropriate temperaments, so in reality it probably takes at least 18 dogs to produce that one new bloodline.

Please be aware and appreciate; all the work that goes into producing new lines of Australian Labradoodles.