Online Guide to the Labradoodle Dog Breed

Common Misspellings:

The Labradoodle, a crossbreed from a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle, is a handsome, playful dog. For the most part, he has inherited the best qualities from his poodle parent -low shedding and low dander, and from his Labrador parent - gentle temperament and trainability.

Since 1989 when this breed was first introduced, the Labradoodle is somewhat varied in appearance. The spectrum of colours ranges from nearly white to black with many winsome mixes in between. The coat�s texture ranges from a subtle wave to a curly cotton ball quality.

Perhaps the best known feature of the Labradoodle is its extraordinarily cute appearance and mild disposition. Frankly, they�re just the nicest dog one can image.

Labradoodle Dog Breed

Labradoodle Size Variations: Miniature Labradoodle
Medium Labradoodle
Standard Labradoodle
Labradoodle Colors: colors
Labradoodle Exercise Needs: Moderate
Labradoodle Grooming Needs: Moderate
Labradoodle Life Expectancy (Lifespan) :10 - 15 years
Are Labradoodle Dogs Good With Children?: Yes, with supervision.
Labradoodle Training: Easy

Labradoodle History

The Labradoodle with its strikingly cute face was first bred in Australia in 1989. The goal of the breeder was to create a dog with a low-shedding coat along with a gentle nature and high trainability. The breeder, Wally Conron, was keen to breed a dog that would make a good guide dog for allergy sufferers. He selected, as you may have guessed, a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. The offspring, now a well loved and popular pet, was a smashing success and families the world over welcomed the Labradoodle into their homes.

Labradoodle Appearance

The Labradoodle is a relatively new breed and therefore its genetics are not yet fully stabilized. This means that puppies may not have consistently predictable characteristics, but they sure are cute! Typically, most Labradoodles inherit the wavy or curly coat of the poodle parent. The coat can range from very soft and fluffy to a more wiry, unruly texture. They do shed, as do all dogs to some degree, but the Labradoodle's shedding is minimal and they seem to have less doggie odour than their Labrador cousin. From the Labrador parent, Labradoodles usually inherit a gentle, patient nature.

Labradoodles have a keen, friendly and somewhat doe-eyed expression. They seldom appear threatening even in the larger variety. Labradoodles seem to always look like they are just waiting for the fun to start; ready to fetch, jump and play.

Labradoodle Temperament & Personality

Most Labradoodles are friendly and energetic. They love attention but will not aggressively seek it. Families with children can welcome a Labradoodle into their home as this breed tends to be gentle and agreeable with children; even when dressed as a princess! (Do be vigilant in teaching your children how to play safely with a Labradoodle. Any dog can bite or nip if he feels pain or is threatened) The precise temperament of your Labradoodle is mostly contingent on the temperaments of his parents. So, choose a breeder who screens for good temperament. This will help assure a happy, well bred dog.

Labradoodle Exercise Needs

Labradoodles need regular, moderate exercise. Puppies, especially between 14 and 26 weeks, need controlled exercise as this is the period of time when they have an accelerated growth spurt. For Labradoodle puppies, a 20 or 30 minute walk will suffice. Avoid jogging or cycling with your Labradoodle puppy because their puppy-legs and joints can easily become damaged. Be especially vigilant with allowing young puppies to run up long hills This joint damage can carry into adulthood.

Adult Labradoodles are athletic, energetic and agile. Labradoodles are excellent swimmers and will love to play 'fetch' when the stick is hurled into a pond. In adulthood, your Labradoodle will enjoy (even if you don�t) strenuous physical activity on land and in water. Be creative, your Labradoodle will chase any stick or ball you care to throw.

Labradoodle Grooming Requirements

The amount of grooming your Labradoodle requires depends on the nature of his coat. Some first generation Labradoodles have a wavy, slightly wiry coat that needs very little attention. Brushing a few times per week to prevent matting and a bath a few time per year should suffice.

Other Labradoodles, have a woolly, curly coat that does require more work. Daily brushing is essential to avoid or minimize matting. Some Labradoodle owners prefer to clip the coats rather than deal with the brushing and matting. This shorter coat when brushed looks embarrassingly frizzy. Try a simple water spritz and the curls will return (along with your Labradoodles self esteem).

Labradoodle Training

Labradoodles are highly trainable. In fact, many have been trained to obey sign language, traffic signals and pedestrian rules. This feature makes them an outstanding guide dog.

For domestic harmony, it is essential to train your Labradoodle puppy early. The goal is to establish the owner as the �leader of the pack�, with other family members also ranking above the dog. This is accomplished in an interesting way. Feed your Labradoodle puppy after all family members have eaten. It is instinctual for the leaders and higher members of a pack to eat first, and the lower ranking members will eat afterwards. This should prevent your Labradoodle from growling or nipping or other displays of aggression at meal times.

Also, the Labradoodle should not be permitted to not nip or bite even at the earliest puppy stage. Experts agree that this behaviour is not a function of teething, but rather an early attempt at dominance. This is also the case for biting hems and pulling socks. This may seem cute when your Labradoodle is a puppy, but once these behaviours are learned and accepted, the fully mature Labradoodle will resist retraining. If your Labradoodle nips or bites, simply close the upper and lower jaws with your fingers, making it uncomfortable for the puppy, but never painful.

Labradoodle Health Information

Common health concerns for your Labradoodle include; HD, PRA, VonWillebrand's, Elbow and patella disorders, hip dysphasia and Addison�s Disease.

Finding A Responsible Labradoodle Breeder

Now that you have decided that the Labradoodle is the right breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a responsible Labradoodle breeder from which to buy a healthy, well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first Labradoodle puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To buy a puppy from a responsible Labradoodle breeder, you may need to pay more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great deal of additional expense and heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral problems that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible, caring Labradoodle breeder who home-raises their puppies with love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a health guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the Labradoodle breed and is in it for the love of the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter and companionship.

Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...

Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Labradoodle puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the breeders whom they allow to advertise.

Additional Labradoodle Information Resources

There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn more about the Labradoodle dog breed. We've compiled a list of Labradoodle information sites to assist you in quickly locating quality information about the Labradoodle dog breed, while avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general. If you know of an Labradoodle information site that offers unique, quality information and photos of the Labradoodle breed, please contact us with the URL and a brief description so that our editors can consider it for inclusion in our list below.