About Labradoodles

Myth #1—A yard is an absolute requirement for every Labradoodle. Dogs are pack animals who want to be with you.  The majority of the time a dog spends in the yard is hanging around the door, waiting to come back where you are.  Even in a huge house, the dog tends to be right under your feet.  A yard is not going to make a dog get his cardio!  His people need to be walking him, running with him, taking him to the beach or the dog park.  Activities like this make you both healthier, encourage socialization, and improve your bond, whether or not you share a yard. 

Myth #2—Avoid playing tug-of-war or your Labradoodle becomes overly aggressive.  As long as you have rules and boundaries when you play this game, the wild side of your dog has a healthy outlet.  This game represents the final stage of the hunt, when the pack leader ends up with the food and cements his position as leader.  As long as you end up with the toy, rope, or sock, tug-of-war is a fun way to establish yourself as the pack leader.

Myth #3—Never disturb a Labradoodle who is eating.  One of the most common situations that results in dog bites are when her food is disturbed, but that is because the dog sees people, even her own, as a threat.  Dogs should look forward to being interrupted while eating in the expectation of a treat.  To accomplish this, shift his bowl or food in some way, starting from above and working down until sticking your hand in her bowl.  That way, the dog will learn when the bowl is inadvertently bumped or reached into, she won’t respond as if her meal is threatened.

Myth #4—A wagging tail always means a friendly Labradoodle.   Dog tail wagging is actually a complicated system of communication, with three levels of height.  90 degrees high with small wags means the dog should be avoided, as he is trying to establish dominance and appear threatening.  If the tail is very low between the dog’s legs, the dog is afraid and feels defensive and should be given a wide berth.  A friendly dog’s tail is somewhere in the middle wagging loosely with a “smiling” face.  There are other canine body language cues to watch when meeting a dog—position of ears and head, hackles, and expression to name a few.  The safest thing to do is ask the dog’s person if it is okay before getting any closer than you have to!

Many people are dead-set against ever giving their dogs people food.  At minimum, foods that are fatty or high in sugar or salt content should be avoided.  Grapes, raisins, chocolate, coffee and coffee grounds, tea and tea bags, macadamia nuts, walnuts, animal fat, fried foods, bones, tomatoes, avocadoes, nutmeg, raw eggs, mushrooms, sugar and corn syrups are all food dogs should never be given under any circumstances.

You should always consult a veterinarian before introducing your Labradoodle to any new food item.  There is also always a chance that any change in your dog’s diet can cause a negative reaction and upset her stomach.   Once you introduce a new food to your dog, he will probably always want some of yours whenever he smells it the next time.  Foods that I have known people to use to give a dog that needs to take pills or has a stomach ailment (such as diarrhea) are: rice, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, plain yogurt, and organic peanut butter.

The halcyon days of throwing table scraps to your labradoodle ended long ago.  Dogs, like people, are subject to nutrition requirements, which is paramount to a long, healthy life.  Treating your dog like a garbage disposal is contrary to the idea of raising a healthy dog.  Here are some tips to consider if you want to cut out the middleman and make your own dog food:

• There are plenty of recipes and meal plans available online, but beware. Really research what you’re doing. Consult with your veterinarian to make sure the diet is well-balanced.
• Books and other homemade foods are also available online.
• Every dog, like every human, has different nutritional requirements. It is very important you check with your veterinarian to determine what foods best meet your pet’s needs.

When getting a puppy, especially if you are a new owner yourself, you may not be aware of the eating habits of a puppy. We have been mixing dry kibble with 1 to 2 tablespoons of canned food per cup of dry food and then covering with warm water to soften it up. 

You can feed this 2 or 4 times daily. If the puppy leaves food after about 15 to 30 minutes, feed a little less next time. If the puppy eats it immediately, add just a little more at the next feeding. Your Australian Labradoodle puppy is used to the food slightly warmed up with hot water. Some other foods your Australian Labradoodle puppy has had mixed in with their daily foods are: organic whole milk goats’ milk and organic whole milk yogurt. We would also suggest adding the goats’ milk or yogurt at different feedings during the day, such as two tablespoons of yogurt at one feeding and two tablespoons goats’ milk at another.

If possible, always have dry kibble (in addition) as well as fresh water available for your Australian Labradoodle puppy at all times.