Welcome to - My Cup of Tea Labradoodles

The grading process is complicated. The Labradoodle Breed Standard for the Hair Coated Labradoodle, Fleece Coated Labradoodle and Wool Coated Labradoodle are found below.
The specifics of each generation (grading scheme) are also below.
Labradoodle Breed Standard 1997 (under revision, to be voted by membership in 2006)

Although the Hair Coated Labradoodle, Fleece Coated Labradoodle or Wool Coated Labradoodle breed Standard is under revision at this time, the following attributes are consistent with the Australian Labradoodle Breed Standard

Temperament and Soundness are the two KEY elements in a good family companion; they must not be sacrificed for any reason.

Size:

• Standard: 21 to 24 (not over 25) inches (or about 53-63 cm) from the wither to ground measurement. The ideal size for the female is 21-23 inches and the male is 22-24 inches. Weight range tends toward 23-30 kg (about 50-65 lbs). Oversize is a major fault.
• Medium: 17 to 20 (not over 21) inches (or about 43-52 cm) from the wither to ground measurement. The ideal size for the female is 17-19 inches and the male is 18-20 inches. Weight range tends toward 13-20 kg or (about 30-45 lbs).
• Miniature: 14 to 16 (not over 17) inches (or about 35-42 cm) from the wither to ground measurement. There is no correlation between height and sex in the Miniature size. Weight range tends toward 7-12 kg or (about 15-25 lbs). Undersize is a Major fault.

Colours:
NOTE: It is normal that all colours may show bleaching and discolouration over the top coat, referred to as sunning, this is quite expected and acceptable. The Australian Labradoodle is an active dog and often a service dog that enjoys the outdoors. Sunning or weather bleaching MUST NOT be penalized. Any solid colour (including Silver, Café, Lavender, Parchment) is preferred and considered the ideal for the breed. In the solid colours it is preferred to have a solid colour coat with no white markings though a small white mark on the chest, and/or toes is permissible. Kemp [course hairs] sprinkled through a dark coat is permissible but very undesirable. Parti [Patched], Phantom, Brindle and Sable though not preferred are considered an acceptable colour.

The preferred colours are as follows:

• Chalk This colour should be a white colour but when compared to white is rather a chalky white in colour. Nose pigment to be Black or Rose.
• Cream This colour should be a creamy colouring sometimes with apricot/gold hinting, all shades of cream are acceptable . Nose pigment to be Black or Rose.
• Gold This colour has also been referred to as "apricot" should be the colour of the inside of a ripe apricot to varying shades of rich Gold in colour. A true Gold will not have a lighter root than the outer coat and preferable have an even colouration over the entire body. This colour may fade as the dog grows older, senior dogs should not be penalized for paling of coat colour. Nose pigment to be Black in colour.
• Caramel This colour ranges from a rich gold through to a deep red the preferred colour is very much the same colour as its namesake "caramel" with even colouration over the entire body. Nose pigment to be Rose in colour.
• Red This colour should be a solid even rich red in colour. A true red must not be lighter at the root than the outer coat. Reds can fade as the dog grows older, senior dogs should not be penalized for paling of coat colour. Nose pigment to be Black. [Rare colour group]
• Black This colour should be a solid black in colour with no sprinkling of any other colour through the coat. Nose pigment to be Black.
• Silver This colour can range in shades from very light pewter in colour to a dark charcoal in colour it is preferred to see an even colour through the coat but acceptable to see uneven layering of colour in the coat. Silvers are born Black with the coat colour developing over time (1-3 yrs) . Nose pigment to be Black.
• Blue This colour should be a dark to medium smoky blue in colour. Blues are born Black but will have a Blue/Grey skin pigment. The blue coat colour will develop over time (1-3yrs) but as a developed adult should have an even coat colour, any other colour throughout the Blue is undesirable. Nose pigment to be Blue/Grey [matching the skin pigmentation]. [Rare colour group]
• Chocolate This colour should be a dark rich chocolate in colour. True chocolates are born almost black in colour and maintain the rich dark colour throughout their lifetime. Colour should be even, any other colour in the coat is undesirable. Nose pigment to be Rose in colour [matching the coat colour]. [Rare colour group]
• Café This colour ranges from a milk chocolate to silver-beige in colour and will develop over time (1-3yrs). Nose pigment to be Rose in colour [matching the coat colour]. Lavender This colour has a definite smoky lavender chocolate colour giving an almost pink to lilac appearance. Lavender dogs are born chocolate and will develop over time (1-3yrs). Any other colour in the coat is undesirable. Nose pigment to be Rose in colour [matching the coat colour]. [Rare colour group]
• Parchment This colour is a creamy beige chocolate colour reminiscent of a cup of coffee with a generous addition of milk. Parchment dogs are born milk chocolate and will develop over time (1-3yrs). From a distance adult dogs can be mistaken for a dark or smoky cream. Nose pigment to be Rose in colour. [Rare colour group]

Labradoodle Origin Grading Scheme 2006 (approved by membership 2-2006)

Origin Labradoodles can be a Hair Coated Labradoodle, Fleece Coated Labradoodle or Wool Coated Labradoodle. For example to present a LO1, LO2pp, LO3 with a fleece coat you would refer to the dog as a Fleece Coated Labradoodle First Generation OR a Fleece Coated Labradoodle Second Generation OR a Fleece Coated Labradoodle Origin. A Sixth generation or higher Labradoodle Origin to Labradoodle origin mating would result in a Purebred Labradoodle Or in this case a Fleece Coated Labradoodle, Or Fleece Coated Purebred Labradoodle.

Definitions used herein:
L=Labradoodle (solely from Labrador x Poodle lines)
O = Origin (solely from Labrador x Poodle lines prior to 6 generations)
1-6= Generation
pp=Poodle Parent breed

• LO1 "First generation Labradoodle Origin" results from breeding a Labrador Retriever to a Poodle
• LO2 "Second generation Labradoodle Origin" results from breeding a LO1 x LO1 generation or higher**
• LO2pp "Second generation Labradoodle Origin, Poodle cross" results from a breeding of a LO1 x Poodle
• LO3 "Third generation Labradoodle Origin" results from a breeding of a LO2 x LO2pp or LO2pp x LO2pp or LO2 x LO2 generation or higher***
• LO3pp "Third generation Labradoodle Origin Poodle cross" results from breeding a LO2 x Poodle or LO2pp x Poodle
• LO4pp "Fourth generation Labradoodle Origin Poodle cross" results from breeding a LO3 x Poodle or LO3pp x Poodle
• LO4 "Fourth generation Labradoodle Origin" results from breeding a LO3 x LO3pp or LO3pp x LO3pp or LO3 x LO3 generation or higher.
• LO5 "Fifth generation Labradoodle Origin" results from breeding a LO4 x LO4pp or LO4pp x LO4pp or LO4 x ALO4 generation or higher.
• LO5pp "Fifth generation Labradoodle Origin Poodle cross" results from breeding a LO5 x PP
• LO6 or L1 "Sixth generation Labradoodle Origin or Purebred Labradoodle" results from breeding a LO5 x LO5pp or LO5pp x LO5pp or LO5 x LO5 generation or higher. An LO6 would be classified as a purebred Labradoodle, L1

* Breeding any generation dog, to a dog below its generation will result in the puppies carrying one above the lower generation registration.
** this crossing is not recommended due to the inconsistency in the results
***the main focus in breeding any cross is to reach the IALA Labradoodle Origin Breed Standard with Health and temperament as top criteria. Therefore breeding dogs of any generation should be selected to reach this result.

Poodle use restrictions: Poodle is only allowed 2 times consecutively in the first 3 generations, after that (LO4) you are not allowed to do consecutive poodle matings in the final generations. The scheme has 9 positions that a breeder can choose for the allotted 4 poodle uses but Breeders are not required to use all 4 this is only if the addition of Poodle is needed. NOTE: the 4 poodle uses include the initial LO1 cross. Poodle additions past LO4pp will not advance the generations.