Labradoodles find their niche

Director of training Wendy Issac with Kiwi Pride Australian Labradoodles owner Jody Woodhouse. Photo/supplied

Jody Woodhouse from Kiwi Pride Australian Labradoodles says she believes there is a niche in the market for therapy dogs.

The business was established in Tauranga 15 years ago and over that time she has bred dogs that are highly trainable and intelligent.

The Australian Labradoodle were originally used for the Melbourne Guide Dog Association and now have the genes of five different breeds including the labrador, retriever and the poodle.

In New Zealand there was a waiting list of up to eight years for a service dog, she says.

"We have decided to fill the gap for those families that don't need a fully fledged service dog.

"Due to their genetics our dogs can go into a lot more situations than others and can do similar work."

Now it wanted to make therapy work a real focus, she said.

"The Australian labradoodle has taken the world by storm and has become very popular worldwide because of its non-shedding coat and allergy friendly attributes, along with its wonderful intelligent easily trained family friendly nature, varying coat colours and different sizes."

Guide dog trainer Wendy Issac said it was able to train dogs to support a range of disabilities and it doesn't have to be autism spectrum disorder.

"It could be a brain injury, a head injury, depression or down syndrome."

The first four therapy pups from Kiwi Pride Australian Labradoodles had recently been placed into homes around the country.

Two had gone to children who were quite high functioning and suffered from autism and down syndrome. Dogs could help to calm kids and sleep at night, she says.

"For a child like Lucas it's also being able to touch. "He can't sleep at night and is wired from school and up about six times a night," Wendy says.

"He wants comfort and often the deep pressure calming of the weight of a dog on his
legs will be enough to get him to sleep, it can be quite amazing.