October 2025 Newsletter and ALD Colors!

Hello!

    It’s been a while since my last newsletter (Again) but as the year comes to a close and we make our plans for next year, I will be setting continuous reminders to write you an email at least once a month about our wonderful breed. What upcoming subjects would you like to hear about? Nutrition, grooming, training? Let me know!

   Above is a picture of one of our new ADORABLE puppies. She is the daughter of our Salsa and of Bainbridge Meet Me In The "Paddock," owned by Avery Lane Labradoodles. I think this puppy, Porcelain, is the cutest thing! You'll notice she has brown patterns on her face and legs. This is called phantom, and it's one of my favorite pattens. You know that trademark look from dobermans and Rottweilers, the brown on black pattern? It's that same phantom coloring you see on Porcelain.

So how did a dog who is 50/50 black and white and another dog who is so light caramel he is nearly white produce this color? Well simply put: it's just genetics, and genetics are awesome. I could get into the nitty gritty of everyone's color markers but I'll avoid making your eyes get glossy. Basically, Salsa carries this phantom trait but she doesn't show it because she has a black gene to prevent it. Paddock genetically IS phantom, but those visual phantom markings are covered by caramel or apricot. Phantom is only seen on black or chocolate dogs.

Above is one of Porcelain's sisters, "Fairytale." She is also phantom marked, but she is chocolate. 

Wait, how did a black and white dog and a caramel dog produce a chocolate dog? Again: genetics are cool. Both Salsa and Paddock "carry" for chocolate/brown. Even though neither of them show it, they both carry the genes necessary to produce it. Since both parents carried the right markers, they had a chance of having chocolate babies! As chance would have it, not only is she chocolate but she is also chocolate phantom, which is just fun.

So what other fun colors and patterns can Australian Labradoodles come in? 

Recognized colors within the breed include apricot, black, and silver as "black based" colors, meaning they have a black nose and paw pads. "brown based" colors can be caramel, chocolate, or lavender/cafe. ALDs can also come in white and red which can be either black or brown based. There are lots of shades between these colors and some colors are genetically the same as others, even though they look different. So, it's not always as simple as "that one is red and the other one over there is apricot," since it can just be a darker shade of the same color at times but again, we won't go into the nitty gritty.

On top of colors, they can have multiple patterns! Patterns include white mismarks or tuxedo, Parti (the dog is about 50% or more white marked), roan, phantom, and sable.

So, lots of colors out there!

Above: Salsa, who is Parti.

Below: Sunday, who is considered extreme Parti.

What colors are NOT acceptable? 

Merle.

From the ALAA website: "Merle is not acceptable in the breed standard and is considered a fault. Merle is listed for registration purpose only and all Merle pattern dogs must be registered as limited registration and not be bred."

You may see merle-patterned Labradoodles online and while those mottled, patchy coats are striking, it’s important to know that merle is not a naturally occurring color in the Australian Labradoodle’s foundation breeds. Merle is introduced by crossing in breeds that carry the merle gene, which moves the dog away from authentic, multigenerational Australian Labradoodle lineage.

Breeding merle dogs can also carry serious genetic risks, including vision and hearing impairments when two merle genes combine. For this reason, ethical Australian Labradoodle breeders (like those registered with the ALAA) do not breed or sell merle-colored dogs.

When I breed, color is always secondary to health, temperament, and structure but it’s still something I love to study and understand. Each coat tells a story about genetics, heritage, and careful selection that helps preserve the integrity of the breed we all love. For me, coat color is always just the finishing touch.

Let me know what things you'd like to learn about ALDs, or anything dog in general. We have some very exciting news coming for next month, so stay tuned!

Blessings from Endeavor!