Abstract
Simple SummaryCrossbred dogs are gaining in popularity with the general public, but we do not fully understand how these crossbreds behave compared to their parent breeds in regard to inherited behaviour traits. Because of this, we investigated behaviours exhibited by crossbred dogs by focusing on the popular Goldendoodle and Labradoodle crossbreds by comparing them to their corresponding parent or constituent breeds: Standard or Miniature Poodle, and Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever. The data for this study was provided by 5141 volunteer dog owners from across the world who filled out the Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) online survey. The survey results were used to analyse fourteen different representative behavioural trait scores. As expected from a first-generation crossbred (F1), the crossbreds in our study tend to fall between the two parent breeds with some exceptions. The Goldendoodle displayed more problematic behaviour when compared to its constituent breeds, whereas the Labradoodle only differs significantly from the Miniature Poodle in dog rivalry. These results can help advise future dog owners on behavioural trends for particular crossbreds.As crossbred dogs gain in popularity, how they express inherited behaviour traits in comparison to their purebred constituent breeds is of interest. We investigated behaviours exhibited by crossbred dogs by focusing on the popular Goldendoodle and Labradoodle crossbreds and comparing them to their corresponding constituent breeds: Standard and Miniature Poodle, Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever. The data for this study was provided by 5141 volunteer dog owners who filled out the Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) online survey. The survey results were used to analyse breed differences in fourteen representative behavioural trait scores: trainability, stranger-directed aggression, owner-directed aggression, dog-directed aggression, dog rivalry, dog-directed fear, stranger-directed fear, non-social fear, touch sensitivity, separation-related problems, excitability, attachment/attention-seeking behaviours, energy and chasing. As expected from a first-generation crossbred (F1), the crossbreds in our study tend to fall between the two constituent parent breeds with some exceptions. Our results suggest that the F1 Labradoodle differed significantly from one of the pure constituent breeds only in dog rivalry, whereas the F1 Goldendoodle behaviour varied from one or more pure constituent breeds in dog rivalry, dog-directed aggression, dog-directed fear, and stranger-directed fear. These results can help advise future dog owners on behavioural trends for particular crossbreds.
Highlights
It is estimated that there are currently over 400 different breeds of dogs around the world [1].A breed is a closed population of closely related animals which generally results in individuals with very similar physical attributes, relatively predictable behaviour, and in some cases the selected ability to perform predetermined jobs [1,2,3,4]
We focused on Labradoodle and Goldendoodle, which result from crossing a Standard Poodle or a Miniature Poodle with either a Labrador Retriever or a Golden Retriever
We found that the Labradoodle differed from the Miniature Poodle for average score in only one trait, dog rivalry, and the Goldendoodle differed from various different parent breeds for average score in four traits—dog-directed aggression, dog-directed fear, stranger-directed fear, and dog rivalry
Summary
It is estimated that there are currently over 400 different breeds of dogs around the world [1].A breed is a closed population of closely related animals which generally results in individuals with very similar physical attributes, relatively predictable behaviour, and in some cases the selected ability to perform predetermined jobs [1,2,3,4]. Doodles are a cross between a popular breed such as a Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever and a Poodle [8]. This is done with the intent of producing a non-shedding hypoallergenic dog that is similar to the non-Poodle parent [8]. Worked for the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia in the 1980s and was trying to create a guide dog that was hypoallergenic [8]. To do this, he crossed his best breeding Labrador with a Poodle; much to
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