About Labradoodles

Let’s face it, there’s no better time of the year to get a puppy than summer. There’s nothing better than being outdoors with a new puppy, playing in the sunshine, going for walks, and spending time with friends and family. While it’s often not all that hard to be convinced to get a puppy, it can be difficult to know what breed of puppy to purchase. Dogs are as diverse as people, but unlike people, different breeds of dog have different character traits. Some dogs don’t like other dogs, some dogs are better with children, and some dogs prefer a more relaxed household. It’s important to choose the right breed, not just the cutest puppy, because some dogs won’t thrive in certain atmospheres as much as others.

To provide a few examples, those desiring a family dog would be advised to speak with an Australian labradoodle breeder, as labradoodles are excellent with children. Those desiring an active dog that will want to be outdoors and require lots of exercise would be wise to check out Australian cattle dogs or border collies. For those people wanting a lovable dog content to just sleep and lie around the house, check out mastiffs.

While every breeder has a different notion on why their breed of dogs is the best for families, much of this boasting is to entice potential buyers. There are a lot of different dog breeds that are advertised as being family oriented, but in truth, aren’t as friendly as the breeders boast. For example, Shetland sheepdogs, which are often advertised as family oriented pets that are energetic and fun, are known for their crass behavior towards small children. Shetland sheepdogs are easily startled and can be quite timid; a Shetland sheepdog that isn’t raised around small children often won’t be a good match if put into an environment where small children are present. There are a lot of true family dogs that make great pets, but the labradoodle tends to stand out over the competition. The labradoodle combines the traits of the Labradore and that of the poodle; two dogs that are excellent family pets. The labradoodle tends to love people of all sizes, and is a very loyal pet. In addition, a breeder of labradoodle dogs is common and breeders can be found near most major cities.

When purchasing a family pet, it’s best to get a puppy if possible, but also to ensure that the breed is compatible with a family environment. Adult dogs that don’t grow up in a family environment might require some adjusting before they become friendly.

When purchasing a puppy from a breeder, it’s important to recognize a good breeder from a bad breeder.  Bad breeders are identified as individuals who breed puppies ceaselessly with little care as to the inherited traits of the puppies from the parents.  Bad breeders might breed dogs that have undesirable traits, not just cosmetic, but including serious medical conditions.  Good breeders take care in breeding their dogs and ensure that puppies receive the proper care. 

One clear indication of a bad breeder is an unwillingness to meet a potential client at their home.  Bad breeders often run operations where dogs and puppies are forced to live in unsanitary conditions.  If a breeder is unwilling to meet at their home, look elsewhere.  When you do arrive at a breeder’s home, make sure to inspect the premises.  Recognize odors, bad smells, or an excess of fragrance spray.  You should also examine the conditions under which the dogs live, and determine if it is at all unsanitary.  Be sure to ask to see where the dogs and the puppies reside when not out.  It’s also a good idea to ask the breeder for references.  Breeders of unique or less common dogs, like a breeder of Labradoodles, might be hard to find, but it’s still important to ensure they adhere to the same standards before purchasing a puppy. 

Last year I promised my daughter that we would get her a dog this year as long as she agreed to take care of it.  Well, she waited, even read a lot of books about dogs, and now she wants a puppy, so I agreed to let her have one.  I asked her what kind of dog she wanted, and she was adamant about wanting a labradoodle.  Apparently she had read that labradoodles make wonderful pets for families, and don’t require a lot of maintenance. 

I did some research of my own and found that she was right about labradoodles, they’re wonderful dogs.  In addition to being family oriented pets, they’re hypoallergenic, which is great for my wife who has asthma.  I searched for labradoodle breeders and was surprised at how many were in my area.  I had never even heard of a labradoodle before but they’re one of the most in demand breeds today.  We ended up purchasing a chocolate labradoodle, and she named him “Cocoa”.  He’s since become a prominent member of our family, I can’t even imagine a family event without him! 

Labradoodles are considered to be a less common breed of dog, though amongst hypoallergenic dogs which have seen a spike in demand, they are amongst the most common.  It can be difficult to locate a Labradoodle breeder, but in general, you shouldn’t be shy about purchasing a puppy from across state lines.  When it comes to common breeds like Poodles, Bulldogs, and German Shepherds, you can often find a breeder located within your state.  But for Labradoodles, it’s often necessary to look out of state, and sometimes there can even be a waiting line because the dogs are so high in demand. 

Despite the rarity of Labradoodles for sale, the dogs are well worth the effort to acquire them.  Labradoodles are loving, great with kids, and also have the unique hypoallergenic fur; they truly combine the best traits of both breeds. 

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.

There are three varieties of Labradoodles being produced today.  The first variety is the American Labradoodle. Considered a hybrid dog, the American is also called a first generation or standard Labradoodle and is the result of crossing a Labrador Retriever and a poodle.   The Australian Labradoodle that is often bred in the United States is a second variety, using the Labrador, poodle, Labradoodle and sometimes cocker spaniel to create a multi-generational cross.

The third variety is the Australian Labradoodle, bred and recognized in Australia with the express goal of creating a quality purebred dog without undue health issues.  Cascade Mountain Labradoodles has the third variety of the third Labradoodle variety, but in miniature.  Breeding stock has been thoroughly tested (and loved, and nurtured).  These are adorable, active, occasionally comical dogs, quick to learn special tricks and tasks.

Many Labradoodle enthusiasts feel that the biggest obstacle to working with this breed is prospective understanding of the difference between the generations of Labradoodles, the difference between an Australian Labradoodle and Labradoodle, and what makes for a healthy coat and desirable temperament and what does not. 

Unique families will need to be matched with different generations or varieties within the Labradoodle breed due to differences in traits, temperament and appearance.   However, inexperienced breeders do not always completely understand what they are producing in their litters, and puppies are sold and more are produced before essential knowledge is gained.  When this occurs, the consumer loses and so does the breed.  A worst-case scenario that happens all too frequently is that dogs end up in shelters because a family purchased a first-generation, high-energy, low-shedding Labradoodle, but had instead wanted a fleece-coated, non-shedding Australian Labradoodle.  Please research the breed and the breeder before committing to that adorable little fluffball—not only for the dog’s sake, but for your own.
 

One of the first questions people ask who are learning about labradoodle dogs is what colors their coats can be, and there are quite a few possibilities.  Black, chocolate, café, silver, cream, chalk, gold, apricot cream, apricot, and red are generally the solid colors seen in the labradoodle breed.

Red and apricot variations are the rarest shades at the present time, and the red will often become a more muted shade, but remain striking in appearance.  There are also parti-color variations of the labradoodle coat.  “Parti-color” (or “parti”) is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as showing different colors or tints, but more specifically, having a predominant color pattern broken by patches of one or more other colors.
 

Labradoodles seem to be absolutely everywhere right now.  Celebrity owners such as Tiger Woods, Jennifer Aniston, and Barbara Eden have made the breed very visible.    Other trends illustrating the popularity of the Labradoodle are the inclusion of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary, a Labradoodle game piece in the ‘Here and Now’ Monopoly game, and the award-winning ‘Lucky the Incredible Wonder Pup’ animated toy.

The labradoodle was originally created in Australia in the late 1980s to be a hypoallergenic service dog, and many labradoodles have indeed proven to be outstanding service dogs. However, due to the speedy propagation of the breed by people who wanted to cash in on this idea, labradoodles that are available today cannot reliably be expected to be hypoallergenic, and they do require some regular grooming.  Doodles, as they are fondly called by their fans, are available in a range of sizes.  There is little uniformity in their appearance–some favor the poodle portion of their ancestry, while others resemble a shaggier Labrador.  Doodles are clever, energetic, funny, and intelligent.  Eager to please, doodles are generally straightforward to train and are ultimately capable of learning many unusual tricks.  They are too friendly and nonaggressive to be reliable watchdogs, and can be mischievous if not kept in check by their people, who they love dearly but may occasionally try to outsmart.