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Labradoodle – Everything You Need to Know

Labradoodle is a cross of two purebreds, Labrador Retriever and Poodle, a friendly watchdog who inherited all traits from both their parents. Initially, they were designed to serve as hypoallergenic guide dogs. Labradoodles soon became famous for their joyfulness and gentleness. Usually, they are medium-sized hybrids, but their weight may differ depending on the parents’ size because the Poodle may be a toy, miniature, or standard-sized. So, naturally, this will affect their body weight.

Labradoodles are easier to train, making them suited for novice owners. However, they are stubborn, enthusiastic, and need mental and physical stimulation. They are adorable family puppies with bright eyes and abundant hairy coats. They are loyal and smart, making them an excellent partner for families of all sizes and shapes. They can quickly get along with children, dogs, and other pets.

The Australian Labradoodle Association of America (ALAA) defines them as medium-sized, compact dogs with high intelligence, an athletic build, a non-shedding coat, and a stable temperament. These hybrids also maintain a unique ability to gauge the necessities of people around them. In addition, the ALAA signifies exceptional guide dogs and excellent companions for humans with special needs. Labradoodles may exhibit signs of separation anxiety when they are left alone for long periods.

Labradoodle Pros and Cons

Pros  Cons  
Clever and playful  Uneven shedding 
Barks occasionally High energy levels
Great family dogs Have separation anxiety  

Labradoodle Breed Information 

  • Name: Labradoodle
  • Origin: Australia
  • Height: 20 – 25 inches   
  • Weight: 12 – 50 pounds  
  • Size: Medium   
  • Coat: Straight, Curly, Wavy
  • Color: Black, Brown, Gold, Cream, White, Red, Chocolate, Silver
  • Energy: High  
  • Activities: Watchdogs, Therapy dogs, Agility, Obedience, Rally  
  • Group: Mixed breed  
  • Barking Level: Medium  
  • Shedding Level: Low to Medium  
  • Hypoallergenic: Yes  
  • Litter Size: 2 – 8 puppies  
  • Life Span: 12 – 14 years
  • Other Names: American Labradoodle, Labradorpoo, Labradordoodle, Labrapoo, Labrapoodle, Standard Labradoodle
  • Breed Recognition: ACA = American Canine Association Inc., ACHC = American Canine Hybrid Club, DBR = Designer Breed Registry, DDKC = Designer Dogs Kennel Club, DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc., IDCR = International Designer Canine Registry

Labrador Retriever vs. Standard Poodle: A Comparison 

Features  Labrador Retriever   Standard Poodle 
Image      
   
Origin  United Kingdom    Germany, France   
Height  Over 20 inches    Over 15 inches   
Weight  40 to 70 Pounds    40 to 70 pounds   
Size  Medium    Medium   
Group  Sporting dogs    Non-Sporting   
Children-friendly  High    High   
Family-friendly  High    High   
Pet-friendly  Medium to High    Medium to High   
Barking Level  Low to Medium    Low to Medium   
Shedding Level  Low    Low   
Hypoallergenic  Yes    Yes   
Grooming Needs  Low    Low   
Overall Health  Low to Medium    Low to Medium   
Energy  Medium to High    Medium to High   
Exercise  Medium to High    Medium to High   
Trainability  Medium to High    Medium to High   
Activities  Agility, Conformation, Field Trials, Hunting Tests, Obedience, Rally    Agility, Conformation, Field Trials, Hunting Tests, Obedience, Rally   
Complication in Breeding  No    No   
Litter Size  6 puppies     6 puppies    
Life Span  10 to 15 years    10 to 15 years   
Other Names  Lab    Pudel, Caniche   

  

Labradoodle Personality

Labradoodles are known for the following personalities: 

  • Loyal and confident 
  • Affectionate and lively 
  • Friendly and outgoing 
  • Smartness and playful 
  • Intelligent and people-pleasing 
  • Independent and charming 

Labradoodles’ personality is a blend of Labrador and Poodle breeds. Lab and Poodles are opposite ends of the spectrum regarding size and appearance. The Labradoodle’s size will depend on whether the parent Poodle is a toy, miniature, or standard. 

  • Weight: 15-65 pounds
  • Height: 14-16 inches (Toy), 17-20 inches (miniature), 21-24 inches (standard)

They will have an athletic gait, shaggy, hypoallergenic coat (wool or fleece), triangular-shaped floppy ears, long muzzle, small eyes, fluffy tails, and they come in various colors, including

  • Chocolate
  • Cream
  • Apricot
  • Red
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Black
  • Brown
  • Sable

Labradoodles are well-known for their unique companionship and charming personalities. They make exceptional family pets and are patient with kids. Unfortunately, their prey drive can cause undesirable demeanors such as chasing and digging. However, proper training and early socialization at a young age can help curb all their detrimental traits.

Friendliness Overview

Affection level  High  
Family-friendly  High
Kid-friendly  Medium to high
Stranger-friendly  High 
Pet-friendly  High 

Adaptability Overview

Good for new pet owners  Medium to high  
Good for apartment living  Medium  
Sensitivity level  Medium
Tolerates being alone  Medium to high 
Tolerates cold weather  High 
Tolerates hot weather  Medium to high

Labradoodle Temperament

Labradoodles are known for the following temperaments: 

  • Smart and loyal 
  • Therapy dogs
  • Energetic and loving 
  • Affectionate and intelligent 
  • Calm and eager to please 
  • Excitable and quick learner 
  • Caring and playful 
  • Confident and adaptable 

Perfectly groomed, elegant, and athletic Labrador Poodle mixes are winning hearts. Thanks to their Labrador parent, Labradoodles tend to be quite curious. They can be sociable and caring like Labs or aloof and suspicious like Poodles. They may bark at strangers, but their Labrador instincts will allow them to become companions once they feel secure. Unsurprisingly, considering their mix, Labradoodles love the water and can be excellent swimmers. 

If you are getting a Labradoodle, ensure you have enough time and energy to keep them engaged. These designer hybrids are people-pleasing and human-oriented at all times. However, they might have stubborn dispositions that can change with proper and continuous training.  

Labradoodle’s temperament depends on their experiences in their earlier life; well-socialized pups grow into clever, quick, and playful grown-ups inheriting the Poodle’s brains and Lab’s self-determination. They are vocal and alert, making them ideal watchdogs, and you can efficiently train them as they constantly crave to learn something new. Brain stimulation is as essential as body training, so they should not be left alone for extended periods. They might get nervous and restless, resulting in excessive chewing or barking. 

Labradoodles can easily get along with other canines, especially those living in the same family. If you socialize them with other pets from an initial age, they will be heartily welcome outside or at the park throughout their lives. But, ensure not to be trained to chase them as these hybrids have a prey drive and will not easily get along with smaller pets like gerbils and ferrets.

Labradoodle Training

The Labradoodle’s energetic disposition and inquisitive nature make these hybrids fun and easy to train. Training should be easy as long as positive reinforcement and consistency are the techniques. They make an excellent companion for first-time owners since they don’t need a substantial hand. Also, they don’t respond well to mistreatments and violence.

Here are some of the training activities that you need to do with your Labradoodle: 

Trainability Overview

Easy to train  Medium to high
Intelligence  Medium to high  
Prey drive  Low 
Tendency for mouthiness  Low 
Tendency to bark and howl  Low 
Wanderlust ability  Medium 

Labradoodle Exercise Needs

Labradoodles are high-energetic puppies who need mental and physical stimulation for optimum health. Thus, they need at least 30 to 60 minutes of daily exercise, which is also an excellent way to combat their inclination toward obesity. However, they make an ideal jogging companion and require some off-leash time to burn off steam. They have to be stimulated intellectually, they are active and intelligent, so Labradoodles can be a destruction machine once they are bored.

Exercising your Labradoodle should not be a burden for you or your puppy. You can meet their daily exercise needs by: 

  • Teaching new tricks 
  • Walking 
  • Fetching 
  • Chasing 
  • Playing with puzzle toys 
  • Playing tug of war 
  • Schutzhund 
  • Frisbee 
  • Flyball 
  • Agility training 
  • Hiking 
  • Dog park 

  

Exercise Needs Overview  

Energy Level  High 
Exercise Needs  High 
Playfulness  High  
Intensity  Medium to high

Labradoodle Grooming

Both the pure breeds, Labradors and Poodles, are low shedders. Labradoodles are hypoallergenic, low-maintenance designer breeds that are generally healthy. 

Labradoodle’s grooming requirements are as follows: 

  • They need to brush once or twice per week.  
  • Bathe whenever it is required. 
  • Brush their teeth twice or thrice a week.  
  • Trim nails every six to eight weeks.  
  • Regularly check their ear for infections such as discharge, spots, redness, or foul odor.

Grooming Overview  

Shedding Level  Medium  
Tendency to Drool  Low  
Easy to Groom  Medium to high  

Labradoodle Health

Commonly, designer breeds like Labradoodles are healthier than their purebred heritage because of crossed vigor. But there are possibilities of inheriting health diseases from their parent breeds.

Health Overview  

General Health  Medium to high 
Weight Gain Possibilities  Medium  
Size  Medium to large  

Cataracts: A disorder caused due to the eye lens thickening, resulting in foggy vision. You can cure this disease either with surgery or proper medication.  

Hereditary Nephritis: This disorder mainly appears at a young age due to undeveloped kidneys or kidney malfunction resulting in a high UP: UC (Urine protein: Urine creatinine) ratio and kidney failure.  

Sebaceous Adenitis: An inherited condition most common among standard Poodles characterized by inflammation and the gradual collapse of the skin’s sebaceous glands. The lack of this gland exhibits symptoms in dogs aged 1 to 5 years, such as:

  • Dry and scaly skin
  • Hair loss on top of the neck, head, and back.
  • Thickened skin
  • An unpleasant odor
  • Secondary skin infections

Von Willebrand’s Disease: This disorder is a genetically transmitted blood disease indicated by an inability to clot. 

Symptoms:

  • Excessive bleeding post-surgery or injury  
  • Nosebleeds 
  • Bleeding gums
  • Bleeding in the stomach or intestines. 
  • Addison’s Disease
  • Canine Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Epilepsy: The expected cause of epilepsy is inheritance, and it shows itself in mild or severe form. 

Other Causes:

  • Metabolic disorders
  • Infectious diseases of the brain
  • Tumors
  • Exposure to poisons
  • Severe head injuries

Symptoms:

  • Frantically running as if being chased
  • Staggering
  • Hiding

Hip Dysplasia: A genetic disorder that occurs when the thigh bones fail to fit correctly into the pelvic socket of the hip joint.

Other Causes: 

  • Injuries 
  • Excessive weight gain 
  • Wrong exercises 

Symptoms:

  • Reduced activity and movements
  • Reluctance to rise, jump, run or climb
  • Lameness in the hind limbs
  • Reducing thigh muscle mass
  • Swaying, “bunny hopping” gait
  • Grating in the joint during movement
  • Enlarging shoulders
  • Pain
  • Stiffness

Hypothyroidism: A condition where an underactive thyroid gland results in hypothyroidism.

Causes:

  • Epilepsy
  • Hair loss
  • Obesity
  • Lethargy
  • Hyperpigmentation
  • Pyoderma and other skin conditions

Ear Infections: Poodle’s floppy ears are the main reason for the ear infections in this breed. The shape of their ears is liable for trapping moisture and causing the infection.

Elbow Dysplasia: A degenerative disorder caused by abnormal growth and development of the elbow joint. Weight control, anti-inflammatory medicines, and surgery are the potential treatments.

Allergies: Inhalant allergies, food allergies, and contact allergies are the most familiar allergies in Labradoodle. Allergies can be cured by environmental changes, dietary restrictions, and medication.

Diabetes Mellitus: A disorder in which beta cells of the endocrine pancreas limit or stop insulin production. Insulin treatment can aid in treating the condition.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): A condition similar to retinitis pigmentosa in humans. The state is concerned with the slow deterioration of the retina. A canine is a night blinded in the early stage of the condition, followed by complete blindness.

Labradoodle Diet and Nutrition

Labradoodles need high-quality dry dog food, preferably natural vegetables, fruits, meat, and grains or additives, considering their age, weight, health, and metabolism. They will consume between 1 to 2.5 cups of dry food daily to stay healthy and fit; you can split it into two or more small meals. This can also lower their possibilities of gastric torsion or bloat. Labradoodles are exposed to hip and elbow dysplasia, so enhance their meals with glucosamine, chondroitin, and fish oil, including a constant fresh water supply.

Labradoodle Living Condition

Labradoodles are active, high-spirited hybrids that can quickly adapt to living in city or suburban environments and do well in rural settings despite their activity levels. However, they need lots of exercises to maintain them physically and mentally stimulated. In addition, they desire human companionship who can value and satisfy the needs of these loyal, devoted breeds. Labradoodles may discover an unwanted outlet to keep themselves occupied when bored or lonely, such as chewing or barking. These breeds should not be left alone for long periods, mostly without toys to keep them engaged. 

Adding Labradoodle to Your Family   

Things to Remember before Buying a Labradoodle

Always make sure to get a Labradoodle puppy only from a reliable breeder. They ensure the health and happiness of both the puppies and their parents. In addition, they should provide health clearance certifications and gene tests for a vaccinated pup.   

Cost of a Labradoodle 

Labradoodles can range from $1200 to $3000, not including miscellaneous costs.  

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Other Labrador Mixes     

  • Afador (Lab x Afghan Hound)   
  • Bassador (Lab x Basset Hound)   
  • Borador (Border Collie Lab Mix)   
  • Boxador (Boxer Lab Mix)   
  • Cavador (Lab x Cavalier)   
  • Chabrador (Lab x Chow Chow)   
  • Corgi Lab Mix   
  • Doberman Lab Mix   
  • German Shepherd Lab Mix   
  • Goldador (Golden Retriever Lab Mix)   
  • Huskador (Husky Lab Mix)   
  • Labernese   
  • Labmaraner   
  • Labradoodle   
  • Lab Pointer Mix   
  • Rottador (Rottweiler Lab Mix)
  • Springador   

Other Poodle Mixes 

  • Poodle Affenpinscher mix 
  • Poodle Afghan Hound mix  
  • Poodle Airedale Terrier mix  
  • Poodle Akita mix  
  • Poodle Alaskan Malamute mix  
  • Poodle American Eskimo Dog mix  
  • Poodle American Rat Terrier mix  
  • Poodle Australian Cattle Dog mix 
  • Poodle Australian Shepherd mix  
  • Poodle Australian Terrier mix  
  • Poodle Basset Hound mix  
  • Poodle Beagle mix  
  • Poodle Bearded Collie mix  
  • Poodle Beauceron mix  
  • Poodle Belgian Shepherd mix  
  • Poodle Belgian Malinois mix  
  • Poodle Belgian Tervuren mix  
  • Poodle Bernese Mountain Dog mix  
  • Poodle Bichon Frise mix  
  •  Poodle Shih Tzu mix  
  • Poodle Black and Tan Coonhound mix  
  • Poodle Affenpinscher mix  
  • Poodle Afghan Hound mix  
  • Poodle Airedale Terrier mix  
  • Poodle Akita mix  
  • Poodle Alaskan Malamute mix  
  • Poodle American Eskimo Dog mix  
  • Poodle American Rat Terrier mix  
  • Poodle Australian Cattle Dog mix  
  • Poodle Australian Shepherd mix  
  • Poodle Australian Terrier mix  
  • Poodle Basset Hound mix  
  • Poodle Beagle mix  
  • Poodle Bearded Collie mix 
  • Poodle Beauceron mix  
  • Poodle Belgian Shepherd mix  
  • Poodle Belgian Malinois mix  
  • Poodle Belgian Tervuren mix   
  • Poodle Bernese Mountain Dog mix  
  • Poodle Bichon Frise mix   
  • Poodle Bichon Frise x Poodle Shih Tzu mix  
  • Poodle Black and Tan Coonhound mix   
  • Poodle Black Russian Terrier mix   
  • Poodle Bluetick Coonhound mix  
  • Poodle Bolognese mix  
  • Poodle Border Collie mix   
  • Poodle Boston Terrier mix   
  • Poodle Bouvier des Flandres mix   
  • Poodle Boxer mix  
  • Poodle Briard mix   
  • Poodle Brittany Spaniel mix   
  • Poodle Brussels Griffon mix  
  • Poodle Cairn Terrier mix   
  • Poodle Canaan Dog mix   
  • Poodle Catahoula Leopard Dog mix  
  • Poodle Cavalier King Charles Spaniel mix  
  • Poodle Chesapeake Bay Retriever mix  
  • Poodle Chihuahua mix   
  • Poodle Chinese Crested mix   
  • Poodle Cock-A-Poo mix  
  • Poodle Cocker Spaniel mix  
  • Poodle Cocker Spaniel Golden Retriever mix   
  • Poodle Collie mix   
  • Poodle Corgi mix  
  • Poodle Coton de Tulear mix   
  • Poodle Dachshund mix  
  • Poodle Dalmatian mix  
  • Standard Poodle Doberman Pinscher mix   
  • Poodle English Bulldog mix   
  • Poodle English Coonhound  
  • Poodle English Springer Spaniel mix   
  • Poodle Fox Hound mix   
  • Poodle French Bulldog  
  • Standard Poodle German Shepherd mix   
  • Standard Poodle Giant Schnauzer mix  
  • Poodle Golden Retriever mix  
  • Poodle Golden Retriever / Cocker Spaniel / Poodle mix   
  • Poodle Golden Retriever / Toy or Miniature Poodle mix  
  • Poodle Goldendoodle / Labradoodle mix   
  • Poodle Gordon Setter mix   
  • Poodle Great Dane mix   
  • Poodle Great Pyrenees mix  
  • Poodle Havanese mix  
  • Poodle Heeler  
  • Poodle Irish Setter mix  
  • Poodle Irish Terrier mix   
  • Poodle Irish Wolfhound mix   
  • Poodle Italian Greyhound mix   
  • Poodle Jack Russell Terrier mix   
  • Poodle Japanese Chin mix   
  • Poodle Keeshond   
  • Poodle Labrador Retriever mix  
  • Poodle Labrador Retriever / Cocker Spaniel / Poodle mix   
  • Poodle Labrador Retriever / Toy or Miniature Poodle mix   
  • Poodle Lhasa Apso mix   
  • Poodle Malamute mix 
  • Poodle Maltese mix   
  • Poodle Mastiff mix   
  • Poodle Miniature x Miniature Australian Shepherd mix   
  • Poodle Miniature Pinscher mix   
  • Poodle Newfoundland mix   
  • Poodle Standard x Old English Sheepdog mix  
  • Poodle Papillon mix  
  • Poodle Patterdale Terrier   
  • Poodle Pekingese mix   
  • Poodle Pit Bull mix   
  • Poodle Pomeranian mix  
  • Poodle Pug mix   
  • Poodle Rat Terrier mix   
  • Poodle Redbone Coonhound   
  • Poodle Standard Rottweiler mix  
  • Poodle Saint Bernard mix   
  • Poodle Samoyed mix   
  • Poodle Schnauzer mix   
  • Poodle Schipperke mix   
  • Poodle Scottish Terrier mix   
  • Poodle Shar-Pei mix  
  • Poodle Sheltie mix  
  • Poodle Shih Tzu mix  
  • Poodle Shiba Inu mix 
  • Poodle Siberian Husky mix   
  • Poodle Silky Terrier mix   
  • Poodle Skye Terrier mix   
  • Poodle Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier mix  
  • Poodle Standard Schnauzer mix   
  • Poodle Tibetan Terrier mix   
  • Poodle Toy Fox Terrier mix   
  • Poodle Treeing Walker Coonhound  
  • Poodle Weimaraner mix   
  • Poodle Welsh Terrier mix   
  • Poodle Westie mix   
  • Poodle Wirehaired Fox Terrier mix   
  • Poodle Yorkie mix   

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