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.

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.

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.

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!

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.
 

It is essential to dog-proof your home before adopting a labradoodle or any other dog.  Whether puppy or adult, an energetic dog can have catastrophic effects on any home.  The first, most basic dog-proofing step is to completely remove anything you don’t want chewed or swallowed from the floor, including clothing and shoes, particularly ones that have been worn recently.  Move all trash cans out of reach or close them securely, as the contents of a garbage can are a smorgasbord from heaven for any dog.

Wrap exposed electrical cords and tie up any window treatment cords.  Put all toxic chemicals in an area your dog cannot reach.  The same safety latches and gates used to restrict access to children work well to keep pets out as well.  Remove all toxic plants from your home and yard, and isolate foods that are harmful to dogs, which include onions, raisins, and chocolate.   Gum and nicotine patches, while not food items, can also be extremely harmful to an overzealous dog or puppy. 

It’s important not to set your labradoodle puppy up for failure when it comes to chewing.  If you have items that you don’t want chewed, remove them from the area that the puppy will be in.   Watch the puppy closely, keeping him confined in a safe area like a crate or a room when you are not present.  An unsupervised puppy with the run of the house is an invitation to have one of every pair of shoes, among other things, destroyed by those determined little teeth!

When you find your labradoodle puppy chewing on something inappropriate, take it away and replace it with something appropriate such as a chew toy.  A loud noise can often be enough to distract the puppy for a minute.  Use chew deterrent solution on forbidden items to give them an unpleasant taste and deter the puppy.  Make sure the puppy has lots of toys that are appropriate to teething discomfort, ensuring that there are no squeakers or loose parts that can be swallowed.  Rotate the toys to discourage boredom.  Finally, be sure your puppy gets plenty of activity to encourage healthy rest.