The labradoodle is one of the most popular dogs around, but the man who first bred them said he created a "Frankenstein's monster" and deeply regrets doing it.
"I find that the biggest majority are either crazy or have a hereditary problem," said Wally Conron of Australia in an interview with Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
He bred the first labradoodle in 1989 in response to a blind woman's request for a guide dog that would not aggravate her husband's allergy to dogs. What she needed was a dog that had the working ability of a Labrador and the hypoallergenic coat of a poodle.
Conron, who was working as the breeding manager for the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia, decided the best thing would be to mix the two breeds. The result was the labradoodle.
A media frenzy ensued and public demand surged. It was not long before other breeders decided to cash in on the craze. But while Conron says he took the welfare of the animals to heart, others were overbreeding them.
"I realized what I had done within a matter of days," he said. "I realized the reason for these unethical, ruthless people [was] to breed these dogs and sell them for big bucks."
Conron said that irresponsible breeding has resulted in animals with health and temperament problems.
"I opened a Pandora's box and released a Frankenstein's monster," he said.
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