ALL THINGS STARRY AND BRIGHT
THE RUFUS GENE: A few years ago, we had a litter of two brothers from our Burrinjuck Aurora and SunValley Thor. Of course we were delighted 🤩. We had attempted multiple times to get success using frozen semen from SynValley Thor. We had a local family who raised their hands to purchase both brothers so it seemed the stars were aligned.
One was to be a future guardian and the other was to be sold outright. Individually they would become the companions for a son and daughter in the same family.
It was an easy decision. I am a sucker for the brilliant, deep red colour so I wanted to keep the darkest boy for our program. I named him Solar. The lighter coloured, cream boy was named Teddy by the family who would adopt them.
The confusion began with the sneaky Rufus gene. As each week passed, Teddy developed more richness in his coat and Solar began to lighten. I ended up swapping puppies for our breeding program. Solar became Solar-Teddy and Teddy became Teddy-Solar. I know! it is a lot to get your head around. For me too!
You may hear breeders refer to “Rufus”. This is in reference to a dog whose colour gets darker (appearing to reverse fade) when discussing coat colour, particularly in reds.
Rufus is not a single testable gene, but is understood as a modifier effect that can influence how a dog’s coat develops in depth and richness over time.
How it shows.
Some puppies are born lighter or “frosted. As they mature, their coat may deepen or darken. This varies between individuals. Frosting (lighter hairs or tips in puppies) can sometimes be an early indicator, however It does not guarantee Rufus.
You may have noticed Burrinjuck Capella from Celeste and Stitch have developed more depth of colour over the last few weeks. That sneaky and exquisitely beautiful, Rufus Gene is the culprit.
Burrinjuck Capella is a small-medium sized sweetheart who is showing signs of the Rufus Gene. She has a curly, fleece coat and is absolutely adorable.
If you are keen for a girl and love those rich honey tones with frosting, she is your pick.
Burrinjuck Capella is a multigenerational Australian Labradoodle. If you have been waiting for a smaller sized puppy [but not too small] to become your cherished family member, you may wish to consider Burrinjuck Capella.
What size is the small-medium size
Approximately Cocker Spaniel size.
What health checks are given to the puppy?
Our dogs are fully health tested. At 6 weeks, our vet will provide a thorough veterinary examination and provide a health report for new owners. Puppies come with a comprehensive health guarantee and free 30 days insurance through Trupanion.
What kind of personality can I expect?
I predict this gorgeous girl will have the same sweet, affectionate and intuitive nature as her parents.
Please send us an email to
The total cost of Burrinjuck Capella is $3850. We are offering a $300 discount for full payment at the time of reservation.
Puppies are adopted out from 8 weeks of age. Burrinjuck Capella is available for pick-up on the 8th June 2026.
Puppies are microchipped, vaccinated and undergo a thorough veterinary health check-up at 6 weeks of age. Our puppies come with a comprehensive health guarantee contract and free 30 days of pet insurance. To learn more about our Breeding Program and our adoption process. Please press on the link below.
Burrinjuck Celeste
Burrinjuck Stitch