Welcome to Seattle Labradoodles, breeders of outstanding family companions. Our family team trusts that you are enjoying your research on perhaps the most ingenious combination of traits ever bred in the canine world.

Our family lives in the lush Northwest, very near Seattle. We are nestled between Mt. Rainier and the majestic Olympic Mountains, near the waters of the Puget Sound. This is a spectacular place to call home or to visit.

We are a small and personal family breeder. Our dogs live in our home and scamper around our wooded property. Our doodles are constant companions and entertainment for our family. We have four children at home, as well as their entourage of buddies. Our dogs receive abundant attention from people of all ages. Our dogs each sleep with a child at night. They are happily crate-trained, but spend minimal time there, as we are at home most days. Our family schools at home, which allows breeding to dovetail into our lifestyle. Our dogs spend their days on trampolines, on jogs, on couches - but never in a kennel. We are not a kennel breeding operative and have no plans to become one.

Rainy's Puppies

Breeding is a family endeavor in which we each play specific roles. Our roles span from web developer to pooper-scooper to financier. You may speculate who gets each role!

As we add breeding females to Seattle Labradoodles, they will live in the homes of carefully chosen guardian families, as their forever pets.

Our interest in Labradoodles began with our beloved Lab, Duke. He is 108 lbs. of love and a few more of shedding hair. Several of our family members have allergies; two have asthma. When we wanted to add an additional dog to our family, it made sense to look toward an allergy-friendly addition.

A second reason we became interested in breeding has to do with that "nurturing desire" which doesn't seem to diminish for some of us old mothers. Breeding allows me to still hear the pitter-patter of little feet, without paying for their college tuition!

Finally, the care, responsibility, and decision-making for breeding with excellence is an invaluable life lesson for our children. Hence, what began as a family quest for the perfect dog, led to a family endeavor which in my husband's words "may or may not break even, but sure provides plenty of memories and laughs." It certainly has.

Breed History

Creation of the Doodle

Sometimes called a "designer dog," the Labradoodle was intentionally first bred in Australia in 1988. Breeder Wally Cochran had a request for a guide dog to live with a family in Hawaii who suffered from allergies. This was a challenge, since most guide dogs such as the Labrador retriever are known to shed and be a problem to allergy sufferers. The resourcefulness of breeder Wally Cochran led to the combination of Lab and poodle. The Labrador retriever, being adored for its loyalty, warmth and gentleness made the perfect compliment to the poodle, which is hailed for its trainability, lack of shedding, and allergy-friendly coat.

The eventual result of this marriage of traits was a dog which was a sought-after companion and family member. Additionally there is a definite genetic advantage when crossbreeding healthy breeds. Combining breeds with unrelated gene pools creates what is known to geneticists as heterosis, or more commonly, "hybrid-vigor." Hybrid-vigor lowers the likelihood of genetic defects such as hip dysplasia or eye problems. For reader-friendly information on hybrid-vigor, check out Kate's Family Pets.

Other problems found in purebreds are perpetuated with line breeding and inbreeding (the breeding of a dog to related dogs). Line breeding and inbreeding can produce certain traits that are useful in the show ring. However, they can also "set" negative traits that are not beneficial to a family pet. My experience with most of the Labradoodle breeders I have worked with has left me impressed with their integrity. They have a true desire to continually improve the health and wellbeing of the breed. They have been welcoming, patient and informative. They have researched health issues and tested their dogs with vigilance. Please see Recommended Breeders.

Why choose this "designer dog"? The Labradoodle is a bright, warm, affectionate companion. The Labradoodle is a vacation to a dog owner who is accustomed to vacuuming hair-bunnies and rolling the hair off their clothes throughout the day. It is a pleasure for us at Seattle Labradoodles to present to you the possibility of owning one of our precious pups.

Varieties of Labradoodles

In researching the developing breed, you will find the terms F1, F1B, and Multi-Gen.

An F1 puppy is the result of the breeding of a Labrador retriever to a poodle. The F1 puppy may be shedding or non-shedding, and its coat may be wavy or wispy. The pups may vary greatly in appearance within the same litter. This puppy is a 50/50 mix of a lab and a poodle. The pup will have a wonderful temperament and make a trainable companion. An F1 cannot, however, be counted on to be suitable for those who suffer from allergies or asthma. Seattle Labradoodles does not sell F1 puppies.

The F1B is the result of the purposeful crossing back of the F1 dog to a poodle. This is done to produce the fleece coat with a lightly springy silk feel. It is more likely suited for allergy sufferers and will be low- to non-shedding.

The Multi-Generational Labradoodle is typically non-shedding or very low shedding. It is the crossing of F1B to F1B or Multi-Gen to F1B, or Multi-Gen to Multi-Gen. It is the result of careful planning for temperament and conformance to the breed for several generations. Both F1B and Multi-Gen Labradoodles provide the coat and low- to non-shedding quality that Labradoodles are known for.

Breed Standard

Fore more detailed information on the Labradoodle breed standard, visit the Labradoodle Association of Australia or the International Labradoodle Association.