Why Hybridize? Rationale for Breeding the North American Retriever (Double Doodle)

North American Retrievers (Double Doodles) : the Next Logical Hybrid

People have been hybridizing dogs ever since specific breeds of dogs were created. Each breed of canine was created by crossing two, and usually three or more breeds in order to create a dog to fulfill a specific purpose. Some breeds were created for herding, others for hunting, yet others for protection. North American Retrievers (Double Doodles) are one of the few dogs created specifically to be used as service dogs for the disabled.

The North American Retriever, or Double Doodle, is a cross between a Labradoodle and a Goldendoodle. In order to understand the reasoning behind a Labradoodle X Goldendoodle cross, one must first know a bit about Labradoodles and Goldendoodles.

The history of the Labradoodle dates back to 1988, when the Australian Guide Dog Association intentionally crossed a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle at the request of a blind client needing an allergy-friendly guide dog. Some breeders are still producing this type of cross, known as an F1 Labradoodle. But the coat and allergy properties are erratic in this generation, so over the years some breeders have continued the hybridization process in order to more consistently produce a Labradoodle with a low-allergy, low-shed coat, and with a temperament suitable for service.

Goldendoodles are a more recently produced hybrid, with the first litters produced, by all accounts, in the mid-1990's. The intent was to produce a non-shed dog, smaller than a Golden Retriever, and similar to a Cockapoo. Breeders have continued the hybridization process of Goldendoodles as well, and some breeders are producing 3rd and 4th generation Goldendoodles.