About Labradoodles

If you’re thinking about getting a new puppy why not consider a labradoodle? This new breed hasn’t gotten as much publicity, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less charming than a beagle, or a golden retriever. The labradoodle is a mix between a Labrador retriever and a poodle. Those considering buying one for a family pet should beware that they have many options to choose from.

To start off, there are several color and coat types to consider. Tight, curly wool; tight, wavy wool; tight, combination wool; loose combination tool; very wavy fleece; medium-wavy fleece; and almost straight fleece are the different labradoodle fur types. These dogs come in a rainbow of colors; chalk, white, cream, gold, apricot, chocolate, black, sliver, and red are the colors a new labradoodle owner can expect to pick from. Make sure the labradoodle breeder you go through is trustworthy and has a good record; otherwise you may regret your purchase.

I have always loved dogs, and while I was growing up my family always had one. There are two that I remember best though; a poodle called “Dexter” and a Labrador retriever called “Roofus.” These dogs made my life fun as a child. I would take them on walks, play fetch with them, and let them sleep in my bed with me. I am a grown up now, and I recently had a child of my own.

I want my child to experience the same sort of happiness that I did his age, so I have decided to get a new puppy. This puppy will grow with our family and help us create fond memories. When I heard of the “labradoodle” breed, I thought ‘what a great combination.’ I knew that this breed would be the best for me and my family.

It’s important to start training any puppy early on in their life so the training sticks with them through adulthood.  For a labradoodle puppy, you will want to establish a few commands early in their life, mainly sit, stay, come, and down.  To start training, you will want to do brief sessions of about five minutes in length in which you say the desired command, then show your dog how to do it if necessary (ie. say “SIT” then push down on their bottom, then praise them).  You don’t want to train your labradoodle puppy after meals, or when they are obviously distracted by another dog or person. 

When training your puppy you will also want to reward them with a treat, but you should gradually cut back on treats over time, substituting praise.

Some days it’s so cold I feel like my bones may shatter, and I’m glad I can curl up next to my labradoodle Lucky.  I live near Edmonton in the Alberta province of Canada, and some winters temperatures reach thirty below.  Since I bought him, Lucky has become just as much a part of my bedding as my quilt.  I’ve never had a nicer dog, he refuses to leave my side, and sometimes it seems like he knows when I’m cold.  Lucky is also notorious for trying to fall asleep on top of my head, which is not quite so pleasant. 

Labradoodles are great for cold nights though, and the breed as a whole seems to fare well in cold weather.

As a cross between a labrador and a poodle, the labradoodle is a low maintenance dog in comparison to prized breeds like bulldogs, however it does require some care outside of food, shelter, and love.  Labradoodles need regular exercise, this could include an expansive yard or regular walks.  Like their labrador and poodle ancestors, labradoodles also love the water.  If you don’t mind wiping them off, the water is great fun and exercise for these dogs.  Labradoodle grooming involves regular brushing, and trimming 2-3 times a year to prevent their coats from matting, in addition, a bath now and then doesn’t hurt (keep in mind they love the water!). 

Labradoodles can have some serious health problems inherited from their ancestors, including the most common: hip dysplasia.  This results from an abnormal joint development, and is especially common in labradors.  This condition will make it difficult for dogs to put pressure on their back legs, and can cripple them if severe enough.  Make sure to have your dog checked by a veterinarian and check breeding records before purchasing.

Labradoodles come in a variety of colors, but their coats are generally divided into three distinct categories:

~Wool, this labradoodle has tight curls with a soft texture, like a poodle.
~Fleece, this labradoodle’s hair is soft and flowing, with kind of a wavy appearance.
~Hair, this labradoodle has hair that can be curly, straight, or wavy, but is most similar in texture to a labrador’s coat.

In terms of color, labradoodles can be most of the same colors as poodles.  Common colors include apricot, gold, white, cream, black, and chocolate Labradoodles.

Miniature dogs are special in many ways—they’re cute, portable, and they usually live longer than their larger counterparts.  Some experts have pointed out that small dogs seem to be especially hard to housetrain.  That difficulty can be compounded by their humans, who don’t seem to expect as much of them as they would a Rottweiler or Golden Retriever.   Some owners allow small dogs to remain perpetual “babies”.  Since mini Australian Labradoodles don’t leave as much waste behind as one of the bigger dogs, that may be a factor as well—until company is coming, the house stinks, and there are land mines everywhere.  Consistency is the most important part of training any dog, but lack of consistency is not the only problem facing small dog owners.  Breeders that are less than reputable don’t always take the time to build the foundations of early training, and the pups they sell sometimes learn to do everything on the paper—eat, sleep, and go to the bathroom—without understanding different locations are appropriate for different functions. 

It is important to choose an outdoor spot for your mini’s elimination where she will not feel vulnerable to attack.  It is preferable if the lawn is short in the chosen spot so the dog can navigate easily through it.  No one likes to go out in the cold and cop a squat, so consider investing in a sweater for the little guy—it can actually help with housebreaking.  Feeding on a schedule helps, as does taking the puppy to the chosen potty spot after she plays or has any kind of excitement.  Crate training is also thought to aid in successful housetraining of a small dog. Every dog makes mistakes, so don’t punish her if she has an accident—run her to her spot and show her where she is supposed to go.  When your mini is successful, following consistently with praise and a treat should do the trick in the long run.

Since our mini Australian labradoodles are all microchipped, prospective owners never have to debate whether or not to microchip—but there are many good reasons to microchip a pet.  One of the first would be the ability some pets have to wiggle out of their collars.  Some pets just don’t like to wear collars all the time, despite the best efforts of their people.  If a pet becomes lost without her collar, the microchip that has been implanted increases exponentially the likelihood she will be returned to her rightful owner.  Be sure and keep the microchip company updated with your current address and phone numbers, as well as current contact information for a backup contact should your doodle become lost.

A microchip is only about the size of a grain of rice, and they do not need to be replaced once they have been implanted in your dog.  Until 2003, there were universal scanners for pet microchips, but as technology has developed, types of pet microchips were created that are incompatible with some scanners and vice versa.   As of this writing, development of a universal pet microchip scanner is pending, but even taking this into consideration, having your pet microchipped is an important safety measure.

Naming a puppy is one of the most fun things about getting one!  You can use a name book, surf the Web for pet name websites, name the dog after your favorite actor or musician, or just get to know the puppy and see what name comes to mind.  Of course, there is no rule how many middle names a dog can have (after all, he never has to get a passport!) and when it comes to nicknames, there are no rules, either.

If you want to nod to the Australian aspect of your mini Labradoodle’s heritage, here are some Australian words for your consideration:  Ace, Banger, Barbie, Barney, Battler, Billabong, Brekkie, Bizzo, Blotto, Boozer, Bushie, Buster, Cheerio, Chrissie, Clackers, Corker, Dag, Dero, Dingo, Fair Dinkum, Howzat, Humdinger, Jackaroo, Jillaroo, Joe Bloggs, Kaput, Kero, Kiwi, Matilda, Nipper, Outback, Ozzie, Pash, Plonk, Polly, Ridgy-Didge, Ripper, Rollie, Roo, Sanger, Sheila, Shonky, Smoko, Sooky, Squizz, Stickybeak, Tas, Troppo, Tucker, Wally, Woop Woop, Wowser, Yobbo or Zack?  You’ll have to look up the meanings, but they are all everyday words related to Australia or slang used there.  The possibilities are endless!

Freshwater ponds, creeks, lakes, rivers and streams can contain blue-green algae-borne toxins that are fatal to dogs.  If the water where your mini Australian Labradoodle swims looks cloudy with a green or blue-green tint, you should suspect an overabundance of blue-green algae and keep your dog out.  Blue-green algae have been documented as causing the deaths of several dogs as well as livestock and humans.

A very specific combination of environmental conditions that most commonly occurs in late summer or early fall can expediate rapid population growth of a blue-green algae family called cyanobacteria. This type of algae thrives in many aquatic environments year-round, but can reproduce out of control during sustained times of warm weather in shallow, nutrient-rich bodies of water.  This variety of blue-green algae produces a toxin that is one of the most potent natural poisons known.  The algae blooms may resemble foam, scum, or mats on the water’s surface, appearing to be blue, bright green, brown, or red.  The water may or may not smell bad, since algae usually do not produce a negative odor until they are breaking down and beginning to die out.   The only way to know for certain if water is contaminated by the bad algae is to have it tested by an expert, and to further muddy the issue, not all algae blooms are toxic.  When an algae bloom IS toxic, it can kill or sicken an animal within 15 or 20 minutes of ingestion, targeting the liver and nervous system.  Symptoms of toxic algae ingestion include skin irritation or lesions, vomiting, diarrhea, labored breathing, weakness, convulsions, and in severe cases, paralysis and respiratory failure.  If you suspect your pet has come in contact with toxic algae, wash his coat immediately and call a veterinarian as quickly as possible.