Labradoodles were first described in 1955 by Donald Campbell in his book "Into the Water Barrier".The breed became more well known when an Australian man needed a hypo-allergenic working dog for a blind individual with severe dog allergies. He cross bred a Poodle for the hypo allergenic properties with a Labrador Retriever, known for it's intelligence and trainability. They have become a popular and reliable guide and therapy dog for people with allergies that require assistance from a working dog. Because of the breeds combined intelligence and gentleness they are an excellent choice for a pet for families with young children.
Good question! The end result can vary so much that there is no "Standard" and Labradoodles will never be recognized by any kennel club for that reason. If you look at pictures you will see variations in colour, coat and size. A Labradoodle that has been crossed back to another Poodle will have even less chance of dander that causes allergies, but could end up looking exactly like a Poodle! The coat colour can be white, black, brown or mottled. The coat texture can be smooth like a Labrador Retriever or curly but usually more coarse, like a Poodle. With the coat texture, there is always a shed factor that needs to be evaluated at the time a puppy is being selected for a family.
The uniqueness of each dog is what makes the breed so interesting, and a single litter of puppies can span the entire variation of the breed - no two looking alike!