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ALAA Labradoodle and Australian Labradoodle: Slight Underbites
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The Australian Labradoodle has one known genetic issue cropping up commonly around the globe. Many breeders have yet to be able to stop it because it involves eight genes. Any two of the eight genes randomly matching can cause it. Approximate 75% of Australian Labradoodles, and on occasion Labradoodles and Poodles, seem to be carriers of one of the eight, so which random breeding partners express it in a few of their offspring is always a surprise.
What is this issue, the slight typically juvenile underbite? The underbite is far from a serious concern compared to Hip Dysplasia, Addisons, eye issues such as PRA, cardiac issues, and all those at a life-altering level. However, it does happen, and although commonly outgrown by adulthood, it is visible.
It is homozygous recessive, therefore both the dam and the sire are just as "guilty" of passing on the defect in the offspring. What is the chance of it showing up in future breedings, if both dogs are carriers? Well it is more complicated than that because it represents eight genes and the dam and sire would have to have the random match of some of these eight but if we assume neither express the gene but are carriers of one of the eight or a perfect match, then, if you breed the two, your mathematical probabilities would be 25% of the pups would have underbites, 25% would be normal/non-carriers and the other 50% would be carriers but without underbites. If you bred a carrier to a to a sire or dam with an underbite the math works out to be 50% with underbites and 50% as normal but carriers. Now, again this is assuming the trait is homozygous recessive as science indicates and the above percentages are just the probabilities.
ALAA member breeders are aware of this issue and pedigrees commonly expressing the trait. We are trying to breed away from it. This may be a long road since the underbite is as stated a genetic issue of eight genes requiring just one to be passed by both the mother and the father and because it is nested in so many pedigrees.
A slight underbite in a puppy is one of the traits making an Australian Labradoodle a pet quality puppy. The ALAA recommends families be informed if this is expressed in a puppy. It is commonly not possible to actually see the underbite until teeth come in around 6 to 7 weeks of age.
These are slight underbites, and are typically gone by the time the adult teeth arrive, especially if the breeder takes extra measures. If you are concerned about underbites or your puppy is arriving with a slight underbite, and you are concerned, please have your vet discuss the issue with the breeder’s vet before your puppy arrives to ease your mind.
There are a few purebreds in which the underbite is the breed standard and these breeds have no known issues throughout life due to this bite, these include boxers, bulldogs and Shih-Tzus, and Lhasa Apsos.
What is being done?
Typically breeders have their vets look at the jaw and teeth. At this point they are looking at the puppy teeth that have grown in from age six weeks to four months. At approximately four months the puppy teeth fall out and the adult teeth arrive. If the vet determines a positive approach is to remove some of the puppy teeth between the canines, most commonly while under anesthesia for spay/neuter to allow the jaw to grow correctly on its own, typically a vet will do so.
Underbite and level bite defined
An underbite (under shot, reverse scissors bite, prognathism, class 3) occurs when the lower teeth protrude in front of the upper jaw teeth. Some short-muzzled breeds (Boxers, English Bull Dogs, Shih-Tzus, and Lhasa Apsos) normally have an underbite, many times more than a slight underbite. When it occurs in medium-muzzled breeds, a slight underbite or level bite is abnormal.
When the upper and lower incisor teeth meet each other edge to edge, the occlusion is considered an even or level bite. Constant contact between upper and lower incisors can cause uneven wear, periodontal disease, and early tooth loss. Level bite is also considered normal in some breeds, although it is actually an expression of underbite.
The correct Australian Labradoodle or Labradoodle bite is the scissor bite.
The IALA/ALAA is a not for profit association dedicated to the Australian Labradoodle and Labradoodle breeds. Our health information is written in
association and/or in conjunction with the following resource(s), veterinarian(s) and association(s). As the ALAA is dedicated to informing our member
breeders as to the latest advances in health care, health testing and diagnostic medicines and not marketing an individual breeders program we are able
to aid our breeders in understanding these methods and to develop breeding strategies which in turn produce the highest quality puppies. To gain more
information on the programs, health testing and breeding strategies the ALAA has written, please ask our consults and current recourses:
Dr. Arun, Veterinarian Breeding Specialist, Summit Blvd Animal Hospital (ALAA consultant),
Dr. Dodds and
Hemopet (ALAA assisting in Dr. Dodds Addisons Research and using Hemopet/Dr. Dodds Thyroid Testing with personal assistance of Dr. Dodds),
OFA (Hip, Elbow, Patella and using recommended Thyroid and PRA prcd testing methods),
Dr. Kent Wallace, DVM, MSc, DACVR (OFA Certified Radiologist with the highly regarded Veterinary Multi-Imaging Group),
PennHIP, (hip testing)
BVA (Hip testing),
UCDavis (Addisons Research Initiative, ALAA is participating, genetic kit can be ordered via ALAA Heath Committee /UCDavis),
Dental Vet (Underbite and Orthodontics), and
Vet Dentistry ,
Optigen (PRA prcd) and
Articles,
CERF Canine Eye Registry Foundation
Antech Thyroid Testing and Addisons Research and
Update on Antech Thyroid Testing
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Australian Labradoodle Association of America, Inc.