About Labradoodles

Since Labradoodles began as a hybrid of a miniature or standard poodle and a Labrador Retriever, there has been no universal push to have Labradoodles recognized as a breed.  Some breeders prefer to mate a poodle and a Labrador rather than two established Labradoodles. This method is thought to maximize the genetic diversity in the resulting offspring and avoid some of the inherited health problems that have been exacerbated by inbreeding in other dog breeds.

Other breeders combine Labradoodle with Labradoodle over successive generations in an attempt to establish a breed.  These dogs are usually referred to as Australian Labradoodles.  Australian Labradoodles differ from some other Labradoodle varieties because they may have other breeds in their ancestry such as cockapoos, two Irish Water Spaniels, soft-coated Wheaten Terriers, and a Curly-Coated Retriever.

There are some consistent traits when it comes to the labradoodle personality, despite the breed being a fairly recent invention with many discoveries still to be made regarding its parameters.   Labradoodles of any size make good watchdogs, but are not aggressive.  Like any other dog, they interact well with other animals if they are socialized as puppies.  Labradoodles are also beginning to prove successful as service animals.

There can be a marked difference in temperature between standard and miniature labradoodles.  Some show breeders have selected their breeding stock based on physical size and form rather than according to temperament and health.  Inbreeding techniques are also commonly employed by toy and miniature poodle breeders.   The choices of these breeders are the root cause of temperament differences between the standard and miniature labradoodles.    If bred for temperament and health rather than chiefly size and physical form, Australian miniature labradoodles are easygoing, fun-loving, and family-oriented dogs.

Unlike cats (well, some cats), children aren’t endangered by a labradoodle puppy. Are they good pets for kids? Yes, they make fabulous children’s dogs. But all puppies will mouth and bite when young, and as with all dogs, this should be corrected early on.

Children should never be given the responsibility of training a puppy, and should be supervised when playing, for the puppy’s sake as well as for the children’s.

Puppies need lots of time away from young kids, to chill out, and have their own space for sleeping where they will not be continually dragged around by the children when they need their ‘time out’ to rest their little minds and growing bodies.

The mature Labradoodle tends to gravitate towards the young members of the family and will usually be found wherever the children are. They are non aggressive, but seem to take on baby sitting roles by choice when allowed to grow and develop properly when young puppies.

Some daily activity and exercise is essential, allowing freedom to move about in a natural manner. Lack of exercise leads to poor muscle tone, obesity, heart ailments, bone disorders and often results in emotional problems and dog behavior quirks. Labradoodles with no exercise subjected to overcrowding and confinement in cages for prolonged periods, often their entire lives, develop a great variety of physical and emotional disorders.

An exercised dog may rest more calmly at home and be less nervous when left alone. Exercise can improve dogs bone and joint health, heart, and lung function. Exercise makes show dogs look better and feel better to a judge’s exploring hands. (Because a happy dog looks more gorgeous).

You do not need to take up marathon running in order to adequately exercise your dog. Make your walks interesting. Let your dog carry a box, a basket, or a toy while walking. Let your dog jump or balance over a tree, hide their toys, hide yourself, and most important – let them play with other dogs!

When you get a labradoodle puppy, there are many aspects of care that need to be considered, such as brushing his/her teeth, and how often. It is best to do it at least three times a week. You can do it daily if you like. Use a pediatric toothbrush and veterinary toothpaste (no fluoride). Lift the puppy’s lip and brush just the outside surfaces of the teeth starting at the gum line and sweeping away toward the tip of the tooth.

Your puppy will learn that this is part of his grooming routine just like nail trims and will make it a lot more manageable when he grows up. Brushing the teeth help keep the teeth in good shape, decreasing periodontal disease, and increasing the time between dental cleanings.

The Labradoodle as a dog breed is still developing, and does not yet breed true, i.e. the puppies do not have consistently predictable characteristics. While many Labradoodles display desired traits, their appearance and behavioral characteristics remain, from a breeding standpoint, unpredictable.

As such, Labradoodles’ hair can be anywhere from wiry to soft, and may be straight, wavy, or curly. Some Labradoodles do shed, although the coat usually sheds less and has less dog odor than that of a Labrador Retriever. The color range includes white, cream, gold, apricot, red, brown and black, and most of the other colors seen in Poodles.

Like most Labrador Retrievers and Poodles, Labradoodles are generally friendly, energetic and good with families and children (although as with any dog the temperament may vary between individuals). Labradoodles also often display an affinity for water and the strong swimming ability present in both their parent breeds.

 Labradoodles make wonderful family pets.  Labradoodles love to be a part of the family.  They are always willing to be on the go.  It doesn’t matter if the family is going to the market or to the park for a day of fun, they are ready.  A Labradoodle puppy is also happy just hanging out at your feet at the end of the day. 

But like all dog breeds, you will have a better Labradoodle if you train them and teach them what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior in the home and outside.

The Pure Fleece Coat
The ultimate coat is easily maintained. It is soft luscious with a big to small wavy curl to crimpy curl that is easily brushed thro and light weight, not wooly or thick like a poodle and definitely non-shedding.

The Fleece Wool Blend
This type is definitely non-shedding. This coat is preferred by many. This texture should be quite similar “to a Angora goat, appearing to contain a silky lanolin.” It should be wavy and forming light loose spirals. The coat is usually 3 to 5 inches long and doesn’t tend to mat. The Fleece coat has distinctly soft, loopy spirals it feels like no other dog coat.

The Wool Coat
This is somewhat poodle-like which requires regular grooming is non-shedding and allergy, asthma friendly. This is a thicker tight curl coat. A wool/fleece blend is a distinctly nice unusual coat as well.

The Hair Coat
This coat is soft, silky and flat-to-straight with medium waviness. Has a cute fluffy longer coat look. Regular brushing is recommended and is minimal to non- shedding.

The Multi-gene Australian Labradoodle always has the ultimate coat. Due to many years of breeding and the uniqueness of the Australian doodle produces a usually textured coat. It should be silky-soft waves and or light loopy spirals. The fleece coat or fleece/wool mix is usually 3 to 4 inches long and is easy to maintain.

A friend of mine inquired the other day whether my labradoodle was a barker.  I realize that most people have this misconception that smaller dogs are firecrackers when it comes to noise.  These people tend to be misinformed, as it’s the not breed of the dog, but rather how they were trained.

Because I live in an apartment in the city, I trained my dog well enough to only bark when she needs to, suffice to say, she doesn’t bark very often – only when the pizza delivery boy is knocking on the door.  Then again, she does love the garlic breadsticks.

Labradoodles are a very unique breed of dog; not only in their look, but also in their intelligence and social skills.  Dogs, in general, are not like cats, that can be left alone after leaving a shelter or adoption agency.  Dogs require far more care and attention than fish, turtles or the aforementioned cats.  Labradoodles are no exception to this notion.

Labradoodles require a proper amount of attention when they are being trained since they need to be stimulated intellectually.  If they are left uncared for, then they will act, not unlike a child.  The point is that as intellectually superior canines, labradoodles will benefit from being challenged by their owner; it’s up to you decide how much time you want to devote to your dog.