Australian Labradoodle Association of America

About this Episode

My chat with Mary Pat, a labradoodle breeder and board member of the Australian Labradoodle Association of America (ALAA).

In this episode we cover:

• Mary Pat's history with dogs and why she settled on the labradoodle.
• The difference between a labrador - poodle cross and an australian labradoodle.
• The concept of the "bettering of a breed."
• The role of the ALAA.
• Why health testing isn't always easy to get from labradoodle breeders.
• An OFA update that will hopefully provide labradoodle buyers with more information the health testing of breeder's dogs.
• And more!

Episode Links

• Australian Labradoodle Association of America
• Orthopedic Foundation for Animals — Founded in 1966, our mission is to promote the health and welfare of companion animals through a reduction in the incidence of genetic disease. The OFA website and databases provide the tools, whether you are a veterinarian, breeder, or prospective owner. This is a great place to look up testing results on the parent dogs of your future puppy--and any results of siblings and ancestors. However, only a few doodle breeders are uploading their information -- please encourage them to do so! You search for a breeding dog's testing either via their OFA # or by their official kennel name such as "Pie in the Sky Moxie" -- sometimes you can search for just the kennel name (Pie in the Sky) and see all the dogs they have that are tested and the testing that has been uploaded to the OFA site.
• OFA's CHIC program — "OFA created the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) by partnering with participating parent clubs to research and maintain information on the health issues prevalent in specific breeds. We’ve established a recommended protocol for breed-specific health screenings. Dogs tested in accordance with that protocol are recognized with a CHIC number and certification." "[OFA recognizes] that the more information stored and accessible in these databases, the better it will be for every breed. And so [the OFA encourages] all breeders to attain CHIC Certification if their breed participates in the CHIC program. "A dog achieves CHIC Certification if it has been screened for every disease recommended by the parent club for that breed and those results are publicly available in the database. See the recommended screenings by breed."
• Nestlewood Labradoodles — Mary Pat's breeding program.
• Doodle Kisses 2020 Wall Calendars
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