Labradoodles are not consistent breeds. And given that ten years was spent trying to get a Rottweiler Poodle cross, there is every indication to think that roodles are not a consistent breed either. That means that simply mating a Rottweiler with a Poodle is not going to automatically get you certain characteristics, especially in temperament.
Normally, contacting an association for a recommended breeder would solve this type of problem. But in this brave new world of designer dogs, this may not always be the case. Especially if the experience with the Labradoodles is anything to go by.
The breeders at Rutland Manor and Tegan Park in Australia started their stock from Labradors, Poodles and Labradoodles from Don Evans, another breeder who had discovered the breed independently of the Guide Dog Association. Those Labradoodles were legitimate Labradoodles, and they kept records of all subsequent breeding.
They also determined which coats were low allergenic. They conducted extensive research and breeding programs to arrive at the dog that has become characterized as a 'Labradoodle'. Contrary to popular knowledge, they are not the product of exclusively mixing in Labradors and Poodles. Other breeds were used occasionally, for certain characteristics.
The breeders at Rutland Manor and Tegan Park began calling their dogs, and those descended from that stock by reputable breeders, Australian Labradoodles, to distinguish them from the Labrador-Poodle mixes that were being indiscriminately produced. The mixes were not quality controlled, many were allergenic, yet people with allergies were misled into buying them, expecting not to get allergic reactions.
The International Labradoodle Association was set up originally to help maintain the quality and characteristics of this new designer dog. Yet they now are seeking to call all Labrador-Poodle crosses 'Australian Labradoodles'. If this is successful, consumers will have no way of knowing whether they are buying what they think they are, and what their health requirements determine they need.
The end result will be more abandoned dogs being euthanased because of a careless association and even more careless breeders. It does not bode well for the Roodle.
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