Prey Drive In Labradoodles
12 Mar 2024, 6:07 a.m. by Tracey McLennan
Breeding
Labradoodles started out as an attempt to create non-shedding guide dogs for the blind. A guide dog trainer named Wally Conron is said to have come up with the idea after attempts to train Standard Poodles for work as guide dogs failed. Cross breeding is not unusual in working dogs and in this case, the decision was made to cross a successful breed, the Labrador Retriever with a Standard Poodle. The experiment was successful in creating good working dogs who did not shed and could be placed with people who are allergic to dogs.
The mix proved extremely popular around the world and has suffered from indiscriminate breeding without regard to the health or temperament of the parent dogs. So much so that Wally Conron has said that creating the mix was one of the greatest regrets of his life.
Research
Predatory Motor Sequence statistics for Labradoodles. The graph shows the percentage of Labradoodles in my research study that had no interest at all in each behaviour.
Hunt: 0%
Orient: 0%
Eye: 14%
Stalk: 29%
Chase: 7%
Grab-bite: 7%
Possess: 0%
Kill-bite: 14%
Dissect: 36%
Consume: 50%
There were 14 dogs of this breed in my research. As you can see, although the numbers show that they were number six on the list of dogs with no interest in some parts of the predatory motor sequence , that does not mean that the breed has no interest in prey animals. All 14 of the dogs had some level of interest in hunt, orient and possess. When it came to hunt, 36% of the Labradoodles were described as living to do it while 36% and 14% were described as living to orient and possess.
If you have a Labradoodle and would describe them as having a high prey drive, you are not alone. The fact is that they are all individuals and many of them have a strong interest in prey. Find out more about your own dog’s preferences by filling in my quiz and letting me give you detailed information about what your dog loves the most when it comes to prey drive.
