The Australian Labradoodle, like the ones we breed here in Florida, are essentially a pure breed in development that started in the 1980s. Idea for the Australian Labradoodle was to take the basic labradoodle (Labrador x Poodle) and create a pure breed dog that’s non-shedding and can be used as a service dog for those who have allergies.
To assist in these efforts many breeders in Australia began introducing other breeds into the labradoodles to help achieve their goals and keep the bloodlines healthy. Most often it was the English and American Cocker Spaniel, and some lines included wheaten terriers.
Today we have many different associations that help protect the strength of this breed, such as the ALAA (Australian Labradoodle Association of America). These associations provide registrations and mandate health testing for all breeding dogs, which is essential to keeping the breed healthy.