“I opened a Pandora’s box and released a Frankenstein’s monster”

Fast-forward three decades and the labradoodle has become one of the most popular mixed-breed dogs in the world — a fact that doesn’t sit so well with the man who made them.

“I opened a Pandora’s box and released a Frankenstein’s monster,” said Conron, a former breeding manager with the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia.

Conron said he fears people are over-breeding the dog, creating versions of their own including groodles (a mixture of golden retrievers and poodles) and spoodles (a cross between a spaniel and a poodle).

“I find that the biggest majority are either crazy or have a hereditary problem,” he said. “I do see some damn nice labradoodles but they’re few and far between.”