A Labradoodle is a hybrid dog breed also known as “designer Dog”. A Labradoodle is a mix between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle.
The Labradoodle was originally bred and created in Australia to be a hypoallergenic guide dog; there were only a few people in charge of breeding these dogs.
So not only did people like that they were guide dogs, but they also liked that the dog could be a versatile family and therapy dog as well.
They have become popular quickly, and their popularity is still growing! The Labradoodle quickly gained more popularity and has become one of the most desired Doodle breeds out there.
They make excellent family dogs and provide gentle and intelligent companionship throughout their lifetime and yours.
Labrador Retriever Poodle Mix History
In the paragraph above I wrote briefly about the amazing Labradoodle history, but let’s go more into depth here.
The Labrador Retriever Poodle mix’s goal was to create a dog that would be a low shedding dog that could work in the therapy setting. It would be perfect for people with allergies or sensitivities to dog hair, and it would also work as a guide dog for the vision impaired.
This breed was created during the 1980s and became one of the first intentionally mixed breed dogs. Let’s dive into the deeper history of the parents of this breed.
You may already know this or not, but the Labrador Retriever was founded and developed in Newfoundland, Canada. This breed was used to help fishermen retrieve and catch fish.
Fun fact the Labrador almost became extinct when the country put high taxes for owning a dog. Many people couldn’t afford it, which almost died out the breed.
An Englishman is known for saving the breed when it brought the breed into England, where it was able to flourish. People used the breed to help in hunting and figure out how amazing the breed was to retrieve waterfowl.
The Labrador Retriever made its way to the United States in the 1800s, where it was accepted into the American Kennel Club and became one of the world’s most popular dog breeds.
Many people believe that the Poodle breed is from France but it actually originated from Germany where it was also used to aid hunters.
This loyal dog breed was an excellent hunting retrieving dog and eventually made its way from hunting dog to companion and noble dog.
Many women of the time loved the look of the Poodle, and it became a royal symbol.
The breed eventually made its way to France, where the nobility got to own and show off their dogs. Later the Poodle has made its way around the world, coming to the United States and being recognized by the AKC in the late 1880s.
Lab Poodle Mix Appearance
Depending on the size of the Poodle parent will ultimately affect the way your dog looks in appearance. You will see more on the sizes below in our size section.
The Lab Poodle mix will have a very fluffy appearance, almost looking like a big shaggy puffball.
The hair gets quite long that it will even cover your dog’s eyes, making it look like more of a big ball of wavy hair. Their ears will be floppy and lay down on the side of the head.
There are a variety of colors that your Labradoodle may possibly come in down below.
Dogs come in all different shapes and sizes from the small to the very big!
The Labradoodle comes in three size variations witch all depend on the size of the Poodle parent that was used for the first-generation breeding.
The three sizes that are possible are the Miniature, Standard, and Medium.
Miniature Labradoodle’s can span 14 to 16 inches and weigh 15 to 25 pounds. This is usually the result of a Toy Poodle mixed with a Labrador.
Standard Labradoodle’s will span 22 to 24 inches in height for male and 21 to 23 inches in height for a female. The Standard Labradoodle can weigh between 50 to 65 pounds.
Medium Labradoodle’s can span 18 to 20 inches in height for a male and 17 to 19 inches high for a female. Medium Labradoodle’s can weigh from 30 to 45 pounds.
Lab Poodle Mix Personality
The Labradoodle is a very intelligent dog breed that will make training and listening in general very easy. A Labradoodle is devoted to her family and enjoys life!
They are beyond friendly and treats everyone every person it meets like a friend. Not only will your Labradoodle be affectionate with your family and kids, but they will also get along with other dogs and animals such as cats, birds, and farm animals.
The good news is that this mixed dog breed was bred not to be aggressive. The only way to truly have a non-aggressive dog is to curb this through training. Thankfully this will be easy to curb because this breed doesn’t have aggressive tendencies.
A breeder who takes the time to breed a healthy Labrador and Poodle together will create a Labradoodle with an amazing personality.
Temperament is one of those things affected by a number of factors like the dog’s linage, how much the dog has been socialized, and how well it will do in training.
Socialization helps ensure that your puppy grows up to be a well-rounded adult dog!
Every dog breed needs proper socialization. Proper socialization helps your dog learn that being around strangers, other animals, and even in new environments are okay.
A dog that is not properly socialized can become aggressive and not friendly.
Overall the Labradoodle is a very affectionate, loveable, and caring dog towards family members and other dogs.
Although a Labradoodle can have one of a range of coat types, the desired length is 4 to 6 inches in length.
The coat ranges from straight to lose curls; remember the coat shouldn’t be thick or fully, and the curls shouldn’t be tight.
Labradoodles are considered to be non- to low shedders, especially those with a Fleece or Wool coat. There are three types of texture:
The Hair coat, which is similar to fur, which is mostly in shedding breeds. Hair coats shed easily and usually have a normal doggy odor.
This coat is seen in first-generation Labradoodles, and breeders try to avoid it because it is very unpopular.
The wool coat is dense and similar in feel to a lamb’s wool, which is hence its descriptive name. This coat usually hangs in loose curls and isn’t dense.
The Wool coat doesn’t have an odor, and it usually doesn’t shed. The Fleece coat has a silky texture! This coat ranges from straight to wavy.
The Labradoodle comes in a wide variety of colors. These colors are:
- Red Hues
- Blue Hues
The nose can either be Black or Brown and the eyes can be traditional brown or sometimes hazel.
Lab Poodle Mix Grooming
Grooming requirements vary depending on the length and type of coat your Labradoodle has. Generally, you can expect to brush a Labradoodle about once or twice per week!
Some can be clipped or trimmed every six to eight weeks to keep the coat easy to maintain. A Labradoodle should only be bathed when necessary; many of the coats don’t have a noticeable doggy odor.
Like the Lab, the Labradoodles can be prone to ear infections, so you should try to clean their ears often!
Brush your Labradoodle’s teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar buildup and the bacteria that lurk inside it. Daily brushing is even better if you want to prevent gum disease and bad breath.
Trim nails once or twice a month; if you can hear them clicking on the floor, they’re too long, and it’s time to trim them.
Start grooming your dog as a puppy so they can get accustomed to it. Make sure you make the experience as positive as possible for them with lots of praise afterward. If your dog has a bad experience with grooming, that’s it from there on out they will hate it.
As you groom, check for sores, rashes, or signs of infection such as redness, tenderness, or inflammation on the skin, in the nose, mouth, and eyes, and on the feet. Eyes should be clear, with no redness or discharge.
Labradoodle’s Health Issues
Labradoodles are generally healthy, but they can be prone to certain health conditions that they could possibly inherit like all breeds. Not all Labradoodles will get any of these health problems but it’s good to be aware of them.
In no way are we saying your dog has this or will have these. If you’re buying a puppy, find a good breeder who will show you the health clearances for both your puppy’s parents. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for certain diseases.
Hip Dysplasia: this is an inherited condition where the thighbone and hip bone do not correctly fit into each other. A good breeder will actually disclose this to you on health papers if this is a possibility.
Allergies: Allergies are very common in a lot of different dog breeds. There are three major types of allergies your dog can acquire. They can come from your dog’s food, contact with something that’s making them react, or even an inhaled allergy. Your veterinarian will guide you in treatment options for your dog.
Ear Infections: this can be a problem for Labradoodle due to their floppy ears. Make sure you keep their ears clean and check them often.
Epilepsy: This is a neurological condition that can be passed down from the parents. This condition can give your dog seizures. Seizures are super scary to watch; the treatment for dogs with epilepsy is quite good, and your dog should live a long life. It’s important to take your dog to the vet for check-ups to keep your dog feeling good.
Diabetes: Diabetes can be a problem for animals and humans. This is where the body cannot control the amount of blood sugar or create the necessary glucose. Remember, this can also be treated by your veterinarian.
Life Expectancy of a Labrador Retriever Poodle Mix
Usually, the life expectancy of a Labrador Retriever Poodle mix will be greater than the parents of the mix.
The Labrador can live around an average of 12 years. The Poodle depending on the health, can live between 10 to 18 years.
So Your Labradoodle will likely live between 12-18 years. Just make sure to keep your dog as healthy as possible, and your dog will likely be with you a long time.
If you want to discuss your dog’s health consult a veterinarian.
This mixed dog breed is meant for companion use, not for working jobs. It is important that you keep this dog living in a home and not outside.
Your dog will do well in either a country or city environment. This mix does prefer to have a rather large fenced in yard to run around it. I would highly suggest not getting this dog if you live in an apartment or condo as it does get quite big.
Make sure you give the dog plenty of exercise and attention, or it may start to develop destructive behavior.
Overall this dog will adapt well anywhere. Just give your dog plenty of love and attention, and it will do fine.
The Labradoodle needs right around 6o minutes of exercise each day. The exercise should be broken up into two sessions thirty minutes each.
Your dog will still want to have time outside in a fenced-in yard to play around. This will be additional to the sixty minutes of exercise each day.
This is a highly active mixed dog breed that will want to play with toys and even run around with the kids in the yard.
Remember if your dog does not get its required amount of exercise, it can show some destructive tendencies such as chewing or even excessive barking.
It is very important that you take your dog outside to get out that pent up energy.
Training should be quite easy as the Labrador Retriever, and the Poodle are very intelligent dog breeds. The Lab Poodle Mix needs an alpha to direct your dog during the training.
You won’t need to use such a firm hand, but make sure you are constant with your training, and your Labradoodle should pick up on it quite easily.
The Labradoodle is a very highly intelligent breed, and when training him they will pick up cues and moves easily. Obedience training and interactive dog toys are good ways to give a dog a brain workout.
Crate training may be beneficial to your dog, especially if you have to work long days a crate will be your dog’s safe place.
Crate training at a young age will help your Labradoodle in training, and they will learn how to handle being boarded. Don’t keep your Labradoodle in a crate all day long.
How much your Labradoodle needs to each will definitely depend on the size of Labradoodle you own.
The quality of your dog food also plays a huge role because your dog needs a high-quality source of protein, carbs, and fats.
Your Labrador Retriever Poodle mix needs between 1 and 1/2 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day. The food should be spread out between two to three meals each day.
Dividing your Labradoodle’s food into two or more meals is essential to keeping your dog safe from bloat.
Bloat is a serious condition that can happen in almost all large dog breeds. This can happen if you feed your dog all its recommended daily food at one time, and it basically flips the stomach and causes bloat.
To ensure your dog doesn’t get this, all you have to do is spread the meals out into smaller ones.
Labrador Retriever Poodle Mix Puppies
This is a very popular dog breed so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a reputable breeder to get a Labradoodle puppy.
Make sure you do your research on the breeder and find one that had F1 generation breeding as well as healthy dogs.
Avoid puppy mills and random breeders that did not take the time to check on the health of the dogs.
A Labradoodle would likely cost you between $1,000 to $3,000. Of course, price is determined by the breeder, and each breeder charges different amounts.
This mixed breed is extremely popular, so you will likely have a few breeders as options to choose from, and maybe you can negotiate a deal.
If this price range is still too expensive for you, you can try looking at rescues to see if they have any Labradoodle puppies or even an older one.
Labrador Retriever Poodle Mix Litter Size
Many seek first-generation breeding, which is when you take a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle and breed them together. There are breeders out there that breed Labradoodles together.
While you are still getting a Labradoodle either way, many people prefer first-generation breeding.
A Litter size for these types of puppies will be between 6-8 in a litter. Every litter size will be different based upon how big the Poodle you have is.
Close Relatives of the Labradoodle
Here are some dog breeds that are similar to the fun-loving Labradoodle: