Labradoodle History
Did you know that the original Labradoodle litter was bred to be service dogs? The story goes that a woman in Hawaii made a request from a trainer in Australia for a guide dog that was hypoallergenic due to allergies within her household. The trainer tried to train a standard poodle but it didn’t have the aptitude required of a guide dog, and so he decided to cross the non-shedding poodle with a Labrador. Since then, Labradoodles have been used as both therapy and service dogs all over the world.
CPLTDs
Here at Cream Puff we are so proud of the puppies we've had the privilege of bringing into this world and the incredible work they have gone on to do. When we reached out to our community to learn more about the Cream Puffs who have become therapy dogs, we underestimated the emotional reaction our entire team would have upon reading the responses we got. Some of their stories are below.
Ollie's Story
How old is your Cream Puff?
Ollie will be six in April. He is large, 65 pounds, with very tight curly golden hair.
At what age did they become a therapy/service dog?
1 yr. Ollie passed his Therapy Dog and Canine Good Citizen Training close to his first birthday.
What services does your Cream Puff provide?
Ollie is a Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dog. He and his mother (Martha) go twice a month to New Hope Foundation, a residential substance abuse rehabilitation facility in Marlboro, NJ. He does a few tricks and lets the residents pet and interact with him in a group setting. His favorite trick is “group hug,” where Martha identifies a resident who is very comfortable with big dogs and has them hug her. Ollie then joins in the “group hug.” Once a month he works with adults and once a month he works with juveniles.
What made you decide to get your Cream Puff certified as a therapy/service dog?
Both of Martha’s parents had different degrees of dementia and we saw how they lit up when Ollie was around. They loved dogs and were very excited whenever Ollie would visit. Martha investigated therapy work as a way to give joy to others, like her parents, who love dogs but can’t have them.
How has having a therapy/service dog impacted your life/the lives of those they work with?
Having a therapy dog is a big commitment. It is important to be reliable and take the job seriously. Ollie brings joy to the residents with whom he interacts. They open up about their struggles, without asking. They talk about their own dogs while admiring Ollie. Doing therapy work is very rewarding for everyone concerned.
What else would you like us to know about your Cream Puff and their work?
The important thing about therapy work is to choose a role that suits your dog’s personality. Ollie is like a teenager with lots of energy and he’s kind of a goofball. We tried Assisted Living work but were afraid he might hurt someone with his goofy exuberance. He did some work at AT&T where they brought therapy dogs to the office for the staff, but that was sporadic. His work at the New Hope Foundation is perfect. The residents, many of whom have dogs at home, miss their own dogs. They love how big and goofy he is and love his hair. Many of them also appreciate the fact that he doesn’t shed.
Why did you choose Cream Puff Labradoodles?
We had had many dogs in our past since the late 1980’s, all golden retrievers and we always had two dogs. Because of our son’s allergies we took a break from dogs after our last golden passed away in 2014. We missed dogs so much we decided to get one in 2016, but this time a dog with hair. My wife researched all of the different breeds and we decided Labradoodles was the way to go. And with Cream Puff located only 25 minutes away from us in Howell at that time it was the perfect match. And we did get a second dog from Cream Puff a year later, Darcy.
Rusty's Story
How old is your Cream Puff?
Rusty will be 4 on April 18th
At what age did they become a therapy/service dog?
2 years old
What services does your Cream Puff provide?
Before COVID, Rusty was part of an Adolescent Therapy group. Most recently she has been visiting two nursing homes, and a memory care unit.
What made you decide to get your Cream Puff certified as a therapy/service dog?
I saw therapy dogs when I did my internship at a hospital. It was amazing to see people light up when they saw the dogs.
How has having a therapy/service dog impacted your life/the lives of those they work with?
It has been amazing. Rusty has a gift of sensing when people need her. She perks up when I pull out her vest and tell her we’re going to go visit people.
What else would you like us to know about your Cream Puff and their work?
Rusty is also the head usher at our church. She greets people as they arrive and mingles amongst the congregation during fellowship time.
Why did you choose Cream Puff Labradoodles?
Because this is what they were born to do! And… they’re so darn cute.
Do you have a CPLTD?
If you also have a Cream Puff Labradoodles Therapy Dog and would be happy to be featured on our site please reach out to us via our Contact page.