Health issues of the Labradoodle & Australian Labradoodle
The ALAA works very hard to ensure that our member breeders are producing healthy dogs. The same health disorders that affect the purebred parent breeds can also affect the Labradoodle and Australian Labradoodle and be familial or genetic in nature. These include, but are not limited to: hip dysplasia, eye disease, autoimmune thyroiditis, cardiac issues, Addison’s, elbow dysplasia, luxating patellas, allergies and more rarely, epilepsy. Often, these health disorders are unapparent to the average person but could result in misery for both the dog and their guardians.
The ALAA supports the genetic testing of all breeding dogs in order to reduce the occurrence of these health disorders BEFORE they occur. To educate potential owners and breeders as to the possible congenital and heritable disorders that can be found in Australian Labradoodles and Labradoodles, we have consulted The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR) directory. This directory lists disorders of all dog breeds including the disorders found in Labrador Retrievers and Poodles, the main foundation breeds of Australian Labradoodles and Labradoodles. We have also consulted with Dr. Iyampillai Arun, DVM, PA.
What Testing does the ALAA require for breeder membership, and what testing methods are accepted?
- Hip Dysplasia - OFA Prelim, BVA, AVA, PennHIP, or reviews of x-rays by Dr. Wyburn, and Dr. Wallace.
- Elbow Dysplasia – OFA normal report, , BVA, AVA, or reviews of x-rays by Dr. Wyburn, and Dr. Wallace.
Breeder members are required to complete health testing before a dog may be bred. Please review our complete hip and elbow testing requirements.
What Testing does the ALAA require for Paw Rewards, and what testing methods are accepted?
Gold and Silver Paw Rewards are awarded ALAA member breeders for surpassing the basic recommendations for health testing. The paw awarded directly correlates to the level of testing performed on every dog in their program. Tests must be completed before a dog may be bred. In addition to the hip and elbow testing required for basic membership, the Silver Paw is awarded to member breeders who also obtain the following clearance:
The Gold Paw is awarded to member breeders who have hips, elbows, eyes and the following additional clearances:
- Thyroid panel including TgAA (re-test and submit report every 18 months) - OFA report, Dr. Dodd’s, or independent laboratory report. Thyroid testing run "in-house" at a vet's office will not satisfy the thyroid testing requirement.
- PRA clearance. If status is verifiable via parent dog health test reports, the test will be waived. Dogs with unknown PRA status must be tested.
What Testing does the ALAA recommend, but not require for basic breeder membership?
- Eye disease (annually) – eye exam by certified ophthalmologist, report on letterhead stating findings or CERF form (do not need an official certificate from CERF)
- Patella Luxation – veterinary exam, report on letterhead stating results
- Thyroid panel including TgAA (re-test every 18 months) - OFA report or Dr. Dodd’s
- vWd – Vetgen report, Pawsitive ID report
- Cardiac – veterinary exam, report on letterhead stating findings
- PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) – Optigen report
In addition, if a breeder has submitted DNA parentage identification profiles on all breeding dogs in their program, they may place the following
statement on their website.
- "Our breeding dogs are IALA/ALAA DNA profiled. All of our breeding dogs have been DNA'd and their DNA
profiles have been submitted to the IALA/ALAA. This has been done to protect the buyer and support parentage identification.
The IALA/ALAA strongly recommends this profiling of its' members and we are proud to be an IALA/ALAA/DNA breeder."
For more information about canine health issues, please read Canine Inherited Disorders
Links to other health testing information:
Commitment to Health Testing Brings Recognition to Labradoodle Breed!
The OFA Board of Directors has approved a separate breed code for Labradoodles (LD). If the dog is registered with the ALAA or IALA, OFA forms may be submitted with the ALAA or IALA registration # and the breed code of “LD”, to be registered in the OFA category of “Labradoodle” instead of in the “Hybrid” category. If an application is received without a registration #, it will be processed in the Hybrid category. According to Eddie Dziuk of the OFA:
“The club registration criteria for registering dogs as Labradoodles is a response to the commitment to health demonstrated by the club not only in its strong code of ethics requiring health screening, but also in response to the club members’ demonstrated use of OFA evaluations.”
Additionally, OptiGen has also agreed to give Labradoodle and Australian Labradoodle their own categories. ALAA Members may notify Optigen of dogs already tested, their test numbers, and which category they should be in and those dogs will be transferred into the new category.
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