When people hear the name Australian Labradoodle, many naturally focus on the Poodle. After all, the Poodle contributes the low-shedding coat that attracts families looking to reduce allergens and, let’s be honest, anyone who appreciates finding a little less dog hair around the house.

But if there is one breed that truly defines the Australian Labradoodle’s personality, it is the Labrador Retriever. While the Poodle gave the Australian Labradoodle its coat, the Labrador Retriever gave it its heart.

The Labrador was never chosen simply because it was popular. It was chosen because breeders were trying to solve a very specific problem: how to create a dog that could serve people while fitting naturally into family life.

That purpose continues to influence responsible Australian Labradoodle breeding today.

A Breed Built Around People

The Labrador Retriever’s story began centuries ago on the island of Newfoundland, where fishermen relied on sturdy water dogs to retrieve nets, ropes, and fish from icy waters. These early dogs, often called St. John’s Water Dogs, worked side by side with people every day.

Unlike livestock guardians or independent hunting breeds, these dogs succeeded because they wanted to work closely with humans. Cooperation wasn’t optional because it was their job.

When British sportsmen imported these remarkable dogs to England during the 1800s, they refined them into the Labrador Retriever we know today. While they became exceptional hunting companions, they also earned another reputation: calm, trainable dogs that loved being with people.

That people-first temperament eventually became one of the breed’s greatest strengths. If you ask most Australian Labradoodle owners what they love most about the breed, they rarely mention the coat first. They talk about the way these dogs seem to understand people. That gift traces back to the Labrador Retriever.

More Than a Retriever

Ask someone why Labradors are popular and you’ll often hear words like friendly, loyal, or easygoing.

After living with and breeding Australian Labradoodles for many years, we’ve come to appreciate just how much of the Labrador Retriever remains at the heart of the breed. While the Poodle contributes intelligence and the low-shedding coat so many families seek, it is often the Labrador’s eagerness to connect with people that defines everyday life with an Australian Labradoodle.

Well-bred Labradors genuinely enjoy working with people. They seek eye contact, respond willingly to guidance, recover well from new experiences, and often seem happiest when they have a job to do—even if that job is simply carrying a toy around the house, or being your best buddy beside you on the couch.

These qualities made the Labrador an ideal foundation for what would eventually become the Australian Labradoodle.

Why Not Another Breed?

Many breeds have excellent qualities.

Border Collies are brilliant problem solvers.

German Shepherds are highly trainable.

Golden Retrievers are affectionate family dogs.

But the original vision for the Labradoodle wasn’t to create the smartest dog, the fastest dog, or the most protective dog.

It was to create a dog that would naturally enjoy living and working closely with people while providing a low-shedding coat for individuals with allergies.

The Labrador Retriever already possessed nearly every behavioral quality breeders wanted. The Labrador wasn’t selected because it was fashionable. It was selected because its temperament matched the job breeders envisioned: a dog that genuinely enjoyed helping people and living as part of a family.

The challenge wasn’t temperament.

The challenge was combining that temperament with coat characteristics that made the dog accessible to more families.

That’s where the Poodle entered the picture.

The Role of the Poodle

The Poodle contributed far more than a low-shedding coat.

Its intelligence, athleticism, and trainability complemented the Labrador beautifully.

Later, carefully selected English and American Cocker Spaniels contributed additional coat consistency, emotional sensitivity, and companion qualities that helped shape the Australian Labradoodle into the breed we know today.

Yet throughout its development, responsible breeders continued selecting for the Labrador’s hallmark characteristic:

A deep desire to connect with people.

The Companion Dog

In our experience, one of the defining characteristics of a well-bred Australian Labradoodle is not just intelligence. There’s no question they are often among the quickest learners in a training class, but intelligence isn’t the breed’s most sought-after quality.

It’s connection.

These dogs often seem happiest when they are involved in everyday life—joining a walk, riding in the car, greeting visitors, or quietly lying beside their family while everyone relaxes.

Many owners jokingly describe them as “Velcro dogs.” They happily follow their people from room to room, supervise gardening, accompany late-night trips to the refrigerator, and occasionally even poke a curious nose through the shower curtain just to make sure you’re still there.

Rather than being a flaw, this desire to stay close reflects generations of intentional breeding for companionship.

It is one reason Australian Labradoodles have become so successful as therapy dogs, service dogs, and emotional support animals.

Preserving the Labrador Retriever’s Legacy

Today’s Australian Labradoodle is far more than a Labrador-Poodle cross.

It is a carefully developed multigenerational breed built through thoughtful selection over decades.

Yet if you look beyond coat colors and furnishings, you can still see the Labrador Retriever at its heart.

The Labrador gave the Australian Labradoodle its willingness to work with people, its emotional steadiness, and its natural ability to become part of a family.

Those qualities are every bit as important as health testing, structure, and coat genetics.

Because in the end, the Australian Labradoodle was never created for its good looks, though they do tend to turn heads.

It was created to enrich people’s lives. You gain a movie buddy, a hiking partner, a confidant, and yes—a dog who will probably convince you to share a little popcorn.

Understanding the Labrador Retriever’s role in the Australian Labradoodle reminds us that preserving this breed isn’t just about maintaining a particular look or coat type. It’s about protecting the qualities that have made these dogs exceptional companions to people for generations: sound health, emotional stability, intelligence, and a genuine desire to be part of our lives.

What Did Each Breed Contribute?

Breed	Major Contribution
Labrador Retriever	Human-focused temperament, trainability, emotional stability, retrieving instinct
Poodle	Low-shedding coat, intelligence, athleticism
English & American Cocker Spaniels	Softer fleece coats, companion temperament, social sensitivity

 

What the Labrador Retriever Contributed

Characteristic	Why It Matters
Strong desire to work with people	Makes training enjoyable rather than forced.
Emotional stability	Important for therapy and service work.
Gentle retrieving instinct	Encourages carrying rather than guarding objects.
Adaptability	Fits active families, retirees, and working homes alike.
Forgiving nature	Helps many Labradors recover quickly from mistakes during training.

At GALA, our mission is to preserve and improve the Australian Labradoodle through responsible breeding, education, collaboration, and transparency. We believe informed families make the best lifelong homes, and we hope our educational library helps you make confident decisions for both you and your canine companions.

Written by Anita Main for GALA Education

Anita Main is a co-founder of the Global Australian Labradoodle Association (GALA) and has bred Australian Labradoodles for more than 18 years. She is passionate about preserving the breed through responsible breeding, education, and genetic diversity.

Reviewed by the GALA Education Committee

References

For further reading on this topic:

• American Kennel Club. Labrador Retriever Breed Information.
• The Kennel Club UK. History of the Labrador Retriever.
• The Labrador Retriever Club. Breed History and Characteristics.
• Assistance Dogs International. Standards and Information for Assistance Dogs.
• American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Resources on canine behavior and temperament.
• American Veterinary Medical Association. Information on the human-animal bond and companion animals.