Man who created labradoodle describes it as his 'life’s regret'
The dog's creator described them as 'crazy Frankenstein’s monsters'
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Your support makes all the difference.The man who created the world’s first labradoodle has spoken of his regret in creating the popular mixed-breed dog, describing them as “crazy Frankenstein’s monsters” prone to hereditary problems.
Australian, Wally Conron, bred the first labradoodle, Sultan, in 1989 as a guide dog for a blind woman whose husband was allergic to dog hair.
“I find that the biggest majority are either crazy or have a hereditary problem,” told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“I do see some damn nice labradoodles but they’re few and far between.”
Despite the creature’s popularity, Conron expressed concern that people are overbreeding the dog and creating new sub-breeds, such as the spoodle (a cross between a spaniel and a poodle) and the groodle (a mixture of golden retrievers and poodles).
The former breeding manager with the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia spent three years trialling poodles as potential guide dogs, but found that they didn’t have the same temperament as Labradors.
To try and resolve the issue, he ended up breeding the two dogs to create the popular pet.
In 2014, the mixed-breed pups were allowed to enter the prestigious US Westminster Kennel Club dog show for the first time in its 138 year history.
Following this decision, Conron admitted that his creation had “done a lot of damage” and described the dogs as his “life’s regret”.
“I realised what I had done in a matter of days,” he said this week.
“People are just breeding for the money ... unscrupulous breeders are crossing poodles with inappropriate dogs simply so they can say they were the first to do it.”
Enthusiasm for the mixed-breed pups extended to the A-list, with Jennifer Aniston, Graham Norton and Jeremy Clarkson proud owners of the fluffy pooches.
An oft-cited reason for the dog's popularity is their "hypoallergenic" fur, which reduces allergic reactions in humans.
However, experts at the Henry Ford Hospital department of public health sciences concluded that this was a myth.
“We found no scientific basis to the claim hypoallergenic dogs have less allergen,” said Christine Cole Johnson, senior author of the study.
The Obama’s considered the breed before selecting a pair of Portuguese water dogs as the First Pets.
The Independent has approached the UK Kennel Club for comment.
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