A cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle, Labradoodles were originally bred in Australia in the late 80s to be a smart, social guide dog with a low-shedding coat. Playful, energetic and intelligent Labradoodles have achieved this and more, quickly becoming a favourite family pet. Happiest when they’re with the people they love, Labradoodles shower their family with affection and loyalty. High energy, they need plenty of daily physical and mental stimulation combined with early socialisation and training to calm their boisterousness and fearless confidence.
Labradoodle Facts
Every Labradoodle differs in size and appearance. Generally they’re split into medium Labradoodles and standard. Medium Labradoodles stand up to 51cm tall and weigh up to 23kg. Standard ones stand up to 66cm tall and weigh up to 45kg. Because there still isn’t much consistency in breeding Labradoodles, it’s normal for them to be bigger or smaller than expected.
- Breed Group: Cross / ‘Oodle’
- Height: Medium: 40-51cm, Standard: 51-66cm
- Weight: Medium: 12-23kg, Standard: 23-45kg
- Life Span: 12-15 years
- Coat: Long
- Colour: Various including gold, black, cream and brown
What Does a Labradoodle Look Like?
As a cross-breed, there’s not an easy answer to that - every Labradoodle looks different! Even their size and coat colour can differ massively. But you can expect them all to have long legs, a lean body, a long snout and long droopy ears. Oh, and they all look like absolutely gorgeous teddy bears when they’re puppies.
Labradoodles have a long single coat that’s normally shaggy. Their fur can be anything from straight to loose curls, although the curls shouldn’t be tight like a Poodle. They might have a wool coat, that’s dense and feels a bit like lamb’s wool. Or they might have a fleece coat, which is long, silky and straight or wavy.
Their coats range in colour although you’ll most commonly see gold, black, cream and brown, either solid or with patches. Although Labradoodles are often called hypoallergenic dogs, they can still shed and cause problems for allergy sufferers.
Labradoodle
Labradoodle Temperament: Boisterous Social Butterfly
Labradoodles love people and, well, pretty much everything - they’re exuberant, happy, social, outgoing dogs that have confidence in spades. Although this friendliness makes them great family pets, they’re known to be boisterous when they get excited (which happens a lot) and can easily knock over small children.
Intelligent and eager to please, Labradoodles are keen to be doing whatever you’re doing (tramping, running, playing, swimming - they’re up for it all) and to spread joy wherever they go. If they see a potential new doggy playmate, Labradoodles are known for throwing themselves head-first into making new friends, without really thinking about the feelings of other dogs. This can lead to problems if their new playmate is aggressive or reactive to a dog throwing themselves at them. Early socialisation and training is really important for Labradoodles.
Because they’re so social, it’s best for Labradoodles to have company during the day - they become restless easily. A bored and lonely Labradoodle can be destructive, and will happily chew and dig through your home. A Labradoodle does well in an active environment, like a family home, that’s got lots going on to keep them mentally and physically entertained.
A Labradoodle can be calm and gentle (they’re famously non-aggressive), especially when they’re curled up near you. But expect them to always have one ear listening out for the next adventure. They can go from snoozing to play time really quickly!
Keeping Labradoodles Healthy: 4 Issues to Watch Out For
With their long life span (up to 15 years), Labradoodles are generally considered healthy dogs. Some conditions they’re at risk of are hereditary. By ensuring your Labradoodle’s parents have been screened for these issues, you can help avoid them.
Joint Issues
Hip dysplasia is one of the hereditary diseases Labradoodles are prone to. It’s when the ball and socket of the hip joint don't fit together properly, causing them to rub painfully against each other. Signs of hip dysplasia include limping and lameness. It can be treated with medication, exercise, hydrotherapy and surgery, depending on how severe it is.
Ear Infections
A Labradoodle’s long floppy ears can be a breeding ground for bacteria as moisture gets trapped in them. Look for them shaking their head or scratching their ears. Weekly checks and cleans of their ears, especially after swimming, can help prevent infection. Otherwise, a quick trip to the vet for medication will sort it out.
Sight Problems
Labradoodles can develop Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) which is the slow disintegration of the retina. It begins with nighttime blindness before progressing to daytime blindness too. Although there’s currently no cure or treatment for PRA, most dogs adapt well to blindness and live long happy lives.
Liver Disease
Skin allergies can develop in young Labradoodles under the age of 3. These can be triggered by things like dust mites, pollen and grass. Signs of a skin allergy include itching and chewing at their back towards the tail, chewing the tips of their tail or front feet, or rubbing their faces on the carpet because their ears or lips are itchy. Allergies are usually diagnosed by blood tests or removing certain things from their diet. Once diagnosed, allergies are normally managed for the rest of their lives, rather than cured.
Caring for Your Labradoodle Dog
Whatever coat length and colour a Labradoodle has, they all need regular trips to the groomer to keep their coat in top condition. Oh, and lots of daily exercise is also a must for this active dog.
Grooming:
A Labradoodle needs a good brush a few times a week to keep mats and tangles at bay. Around every 6 weeks, they’ll need a trip to the groomer to clip their coat. Doggy bath time is kept to a minimum though, as they don’t tend to have that doggy smell.
Every day, give their eyes a gentle wipe to prevent any tear stains. Their teeth also need a daily clean to prevent plaque building up, which can lead to gum disease.
Labradoodles are prone to ear infections. Check them weekly for dirt, redness or a bad smell, all of which are signs of infection. While you’re at it, give them a gentle clean to help prevent infection. If your Labradoodle loves a swim, make sure you properly dry and clean their ears afterwards.
Keep their nails in check with monthly trims - you can do this yourself or take them to a groomer.
Nutrition:
Like most Poodle crosses, Labradoodles are prone to tartar build up on their teeth. You can keep this at bay with daily toothbrushing and feeding them top quality dry food twice a day.
Labradoodles aren’t known for having weight issues - they’re so active and energetic that too much weight gain isn’t normally a problem! Help them stay at the ideal weight by measuring their food and feeding them twice a day, rather than leaving food out for them to graze on throughout the day.
Exercise:
A Labradoodle needs lots of opportunities to burn some energy every day. Think at least 1 hour a day. So grab a lead and take them or a long walk and a trip to the dog park. They’ll also enjoy playtime, outside or in, with games of fetch or puzzle toys to keep their brains engaged.
They make great jogging buddies but also need off-leash running time so a fenced garden or dog park is a must. Most Labradoodles enjoy swimming too so try weekly (or more often if you can) visits to the beach.
Training Your Labradoodle
Because they’re so intelligent and need to be mentally and physically stimulated, Labradoodles need to be well-trained and socialised from an early age. Without it, these boisterous and energetic dogs can develop bad manners, like yanking on their lead and jumping on people and other dogs.
Yet it’s thanks to their intelligence and eager-to-please nature that training them isn’t too difficult, especially if you’re consistent and use positive reinforcement. Labradoodles do best with 3 or 4 short (about 10 minutes) sessions every day - they have short attention spans and get bored easily, which can lead to frustration for you both. Quick to learn and easy to train, a Labradoodle will pick up the basics in no time.
To help them become a well-adjusted, well-mannered adult dog, early socialisation with other dogs and people is key. You can do this by inviting visitors over (both 2- and 4-legged ones), taking them to dog parks and enrolling them in puppy classes.