Mary Allen
“Labradoodle” sounds like an incredibly cuddly dog. And he is! Learn all about the dog and its history here.
Enter Labradoodle!
Are you looking for a playful, cuddly, lovable, and sweet new roommate? Enter Labradoodle! The dog from Australia is a cuddly toy in its purest form. The dogs not only look like they come from the plush department and sound like a brand of a teddy bear, but they are also extremely trusting and cuddly.
Bred as a hybrid of the Labrador and the King Poodle, the Labradoodle was originally intended as a service dog for allergy sufferers. In the meantime, he is considered a popular family dog because of his appearance and his character. Because let’s be honest: whose heart doesn’t melt with the fluffy dog?
Find out all the important information about the Labradoodle in our breed portrait: What the dogs look like, where they come from, what their character is like, and what tips there are for optimal care, nutrition, and training. But beware! Towards the end of the breed portrait there is a possibility that the kind-hearted curly hair has already conquered your heart.
How big is a Labradoodle?
Labradoodles now come in a variety of sizes. The “classic” Labradoodle, i.e. the direct cross between a purebred Labrador Retriever and a purebred King Poodle, usually reaches a shoulder height of between 53 cm and 65 cm. Females are slightly smaller than males.
The Labradoodles belong to the group of medium-sized to large dogs. Due to crossbreeding with miniature poodles and other small dog breeds as well as crossbreeding among themselves, the sizes now vary greatly. There are Labradoodles that are only 35 cm high at the withers.
How heavy is a Labradoodle?
On average, an adult dog weighs between 25 kg and 40 kg. Similar to size, weight here can also vary wildly depending on which crossing is showing through. Small dogs can also weigh as little as 7kg to 14kg.
What does a Labradoodle look like?
Now it’s getting difficult. If other dog breeds have precise breeding specifications as far as their appearance is concerned, these do not apply to curly hair. To this day, Labradoodles are not officially recognized as hybrid dogs by the FCI or the German VDH as a breed. There are also no uniform standards when it comes to appearance. (In this article, the dogs are still referred to as a breed for better understanding.)
In other words: the sweet curly hair is lucky bags on four paws because the puppies grow as they please. It is often impossible to predict what the dogs will look like as adults. Sometimes they resemble the Lagotto Romagnolo, sometimes they have a muzzle like a Schnauzer.
The “classic” look of a Labradoodle is created by crossing a Labrador with a Standard Poodle. The physique often corresponds more to that of the Labrador, but the Poodle can also show through more in the end. Face shape and ears vary widely, but should more closely resemble the Labrador for a classic look.
The unique feature of the Labradoodle is clearly its coat. The cost structure can be very different, but is mostly wavy to very curly, which can make grooming a bit difficult under certain circumstances. Dogs with smooth fur are also possible.
When it comes to coat color, the Labradoodle digs particularly deep into their bag of tricks. In addition to the typical colors of the Labrador – black, brown, and blond – the coat can have all shades in between like the Poodle. The fur is usually one color or with slight shading.
How old does a Labradoodle get?
Both the Labrador Retriever and the Standard Poodle are known for their exceptionally good and robust health. Therefore, Labradoodles are also among the very healthy dogs and, with good care, health and nutrition, reach the age of between 13 and 15 years, which is typical for large dog breeds.
What character or nature does the Labradoodle have?
Two is Better. Similar to appearance, it is difficult to ascribe general or uniform traits to the Labradoodle’s character. In a puppy, certain traits may shine through more than others, even in the same litter.
In general, however, it is assumed that the breed has inherited the characteristics of the parents. And since both the Labrador and Standard Poodle are known to be gentle and affectionate dogs, the Labradoodle is almost twice as sociable, affectionate, loyal, friendly, adaptable, and playful.
All dog parents are convinced that their clumsy family member is the smartest dog in the world. This could even be true for the Labradoodle because the standard poodle in particular is one of the most intelligent dogs of all. It is obvious that the Labradoodle must also be very intelligent as a result. The dogs are considered to be very enthusiastic about learning, active and sporty, which means that they also need a lot of physical and mental activity.
Where does the Labradoodle come from?
The Labradoodle is still a very young breed and was officially bred for the first time in 1989. At the time, Australian breeder Wally Conron was looking for a new guide dog that could also work with people with dog hair allergies. The choice fell almost inevitably on the Labrador Retriever and the Standard Poodle.
Even then, Labradors (and Golden Retrievers) were considered excellent assistance and service dogs because of their gentle and intelligent nature, while the standard poodle was particularly suitable for allergy sufferers due to its hardly changing coat – and soon the Labrador and Poodle became the Labradoodle.
This is probably the cutest and most striking dog name that ever made the dog instantly famous. Unfortunately, the cute appearance of the Labradoodle also resulted in a veritable crossbreeding boom. The poodle in particular, but also other breeds, were mixed all over the place without regard to health and established character traits. Today there are also new “breeds” such as the Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever and Poodle), Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel and Poodle), or Shih-Poo (Shih Tzu and Poodle).
Wally Conron, the “father” of the Labradoodle, says he regrets his crossing today, as it triggered uncontrolled and ruthless profiteering with hybrid dogs. As mentioned, the Labradoodle is not officially recognized as a breed by any breed association. Nevertheless, the Labradoodle is valued by many people as a popular service and assistance dog as well as a family dog.
Labradoodle: Proper Keeping and Training
The piñata Labradoodle poses a number of challenges for future dog parents because in the end it can never be said which character traits of the parents will shine through the puppies the most. Therefore, a consistent but loving upbringing makes the most sense for the breed right from the start.
Like the Labrador and Standard Poodle, the Labradoodle is very intelligent and willing to learn, which is why training the dog is usually not difficult. Dogs are very family-oriented and prefer to be near their humans at all times.
Since both parents are very active and sporty dogs, the curly mane also needs exercise and workload. This includes activities such as retrieving and agility, but also lots of games and fun. As with all original hunting dog breeds, only a well-balanced dog is an obedient dog.
What care and diet does the Labradoodle need?
The Labradoodle’s curly, fuzzy coat requires a fair amount of grooming. This includes regular brushing to keep the fur from matting. Depending on the coating structure and whether the coat is more like a Labrador or a Standard Poodle, the dog also has to go to the groomer regularly for proper grooming. But this is very dependent on the dog. It is best to find out directly from the breeder which care is most suitable for your future family member.
Proper nutrition is also part of balanced care. As a dog that is very active in sports, the Labradoodle needs a particularly meaty diet, because the dogs are not only curly-haired but also pure bundles of energy.
What are the typical diseases of the Labradoodle?
The Labradoodle is one of the very healthy and robust media for large dogs. Typical diseases that can occur in the breed are the same diseases that affect the Labrador and Standard Poodle. These include hip and elbow dysplasia and the eye disease progressive retinal atrophy.
How much does a Labradoodle cost?
As with all other dog breeds, the same applies here: Please do not buy puppies over the Internet or through dubious middlemen. Since the Labradoodle is not recognized as an official breed, there are no generally applicable controls and standards. It is all the more important to only buy a puppy from reputable breeders in Germany!
Find out about relevant breeders and visit them first before you decide to buy a Labradoodle. The prices for puppies usually start from 1,000 euros. Consult your breeder about the health, parent breeds, and proper pup care, nutrition, and training so you can provide the best home for your future panting teddy bear.