Labradoodle Dog Breed Information

Labradoodle is the breed that has skyrocketed in popularity in a very short time. The dog was originally bred to be a hypoallergenic dog. It was developed by crossing the Labrador retriever with Standard, Miniature or Toy Poodle. Since this is a hybrid dog, characteristics of the dog can’t be predicted. Size of the Labradoodle can vary depending upon the poodle which participated in the breeding.

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Some interesting facts about Labradoodles:

• These dogs are a result of Poodle to Labrador Retriever breeding.
• They can have different sizes depending on the poodle which participated in the breeding.
• Labradoodle is not a recognized breed.
• A labradoodle also competed in the “First Dog” competition to be the White House dog but lost to a Portuguese water dog.
• These dogs are not good apartment dwellers as they have moderate to high energy levels.
• They can have coat of distinct colors.
• Wally Conron from Australia was the first person who deliberately bred Labradoodles.

Is Labradoodle breed right for you?

More information about Labradoodles:
History:

A great example of fine breeding between Standard Poodle and Labrador Retriever, Labradoodles were developed in Australia. Originally bred to be a hypoallergenic dog, the breed was a result of the efforts of Wally Conron of Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia.

The purpose behind breeding this dog was to create a dog with the best attributes from both the parents. A dog named Sultan was produced by the first cross attempted by Wally Conron on Standard Poodle and Labrador Retriever. That dog had various attributes from his parents such as intelligence and aptitude which could make him an effective guide dog. Various other breeders were inspired to see him working and they came to know about the benefits of breeding those two breeds. The phrase ‘Labradoodle’ was invented by British speed record breaker Sir Donald Campbell in his book “Into the Water Barrier” to depict his own dog which was developed by crossing Labrador retriever and Poodle.

The dog gained immense popularity very quickly in Australia for its personality and temperament and attempts to produce a more recognizable breed were started via multigenerational breeding. Such attempts are being taken by both the Australian Labradoodle Association and the International Australian Labradoodle Association. Breeders are hopeful that multigenerational breeding will prove successful in moving this designer breed into registered breed status in the next few years.

Description:

The appearance of the dog is unpredictable since it is a hybrid. Its appearance depends heavily on its parents. The coat of the dog can be curly, soft, straight, wavy or wiry, and has various colors commonly chocolate, black and cream and their shades. People could be allergic to its fur and the dog is not 100 % allergen free.

Depending on the size of the Poodle which participated in the first-generation breeding, a Labradoodle can be of three sizes. These three sizes are Standard, Medium, and Miniature:

• The height of a male Standard Labradoodle is 22 to 24 inches, and that of a female Standard Labradoodle is between 21 to 23 inches. Weight of both male and female standard Labradoodles lies in the range of 50 to 65 inches.
• The height of a male Medium Labradoodle is 18 to 20 inches and that of a female Medium Labradoodle is between 17 to 19 inches. Weight of both male and female Medium Labradoodles lies in the range of 30 to 45 inches.
• An average Miniature Labradoodle is 14 to 16 inches tall and weighs around 15 to 25 pounds.

Personality:

If properly trained, this dog can make a great family dog. This affectionate, energetic and social dog requires a lot of exercise because of its high energy levels. The dog has got intelligence from its parents because both of its parents are considered to be the most intelligent breeds in the world. To make sure that your Labradoodle is well behaved, you have to provide obedience training to him. Labradoodles love to play and are the happiest animals when they are with someone from the family who can play with them.

Temperament of a doodle may be affected by various factors such as training, heredity, socialization etc. Normally, a labradoodle is gentle, joyful, and expresses his happiness to the people with him.

If you want to make sure that your puppy has a good temperament or not, meeting one of the parents of Bichon Frise can help. You should also expose your puppy to different experiences and environments to ensure that your puppy has an all round growth.

Health Problems:

Health problems which are seen in its parent breeds are likely to affect Labradoodle too. Having knowledge of common diseases which can affect your doodle will help you in handling the disease well therefore ensuring a good health of the dog. It is advised not to buy a puppy from a breeder who can’t guarantee good health of both the parents. If anyone of the parent has a disease, chances are thick that the puppy may be affected from the disease. Following are the common diseases which can affect your doodle:

• Ear Infections: Floppy ears of the doodle are the reason for the ear infections in this breed. The shape of their ears is responsible for trapping moisture and cause the infection.

• Hip Dysplasia: It is an abnormality of the hip socket that causes lameness and arthritis in the dogs.

• Elbow Dysplasia: It is a degenerative disease caused by abnormal growth and development of elbow joint. Controlling weight, anti inflammatory medicines and surgery are the possible treatments.

• Epilepsy: Canine epilepsy is inherited in most of the cases. This is a neurological condition. Falling down, unconsciousness and rigid limbs are often signs of epilepsy in dogs.

• Allergies: Food allergies, contact allergies, and inhalant allergies are most common allergies in Labradoodle. Allergies can be treated by dietary restrictions, environmental changes, and sometimes by medication.

• Diabetes Mellitus: It is a condition in which beta cells of the endocrine pancreas limit or stop the production of insulin. Insulin therapy can help in treating the disease.

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): This disease is similar to retinitis pigmentosa in humans. The disease involves slow deterioration of the retina. A dog is night blinded in the early stage of the disease which is followed by complete blindness.

• Hypothyroidism: It is a condition in which thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones. Lethargy, low tolerance to cold, and gain in weight are common symptoms. The disease can be treated with medication and diet.

• Feeding:

It should be noted that there is nothing like best food for a particular breed of dogs. A food which suits one dog may not work well for other dog within the breed. How much your dog eats generally depends on his age, metabolism, activity level and build. General diet for an adult doodle includes 1 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day which can be fed as two meals.

Quality meat is a must for your doodle irrespective of whatever food you are choosing. Kibble, eggs, meat, healthy leftovers, and tinned fish can serve the purpose to fulfill the nutritional requirements.

One thing should be noted here that you should not offer your doodle access to food for all the day because this may make him obese. Offer him measured food as suggested by vet or based on his activity level and size.

Grooming:

Since Labradoodles can vary in their coat type, their grooming requirements will also vary from dog to dog.

Brushing: A general rule of thumb says that scruffy doodles don’t need extensive grooming and brushing & combing once a week will work for them; while doodles with wool and fleece coat need your dedication and time when it comes to grooming. It will be better if you dedicate some time daily for the grooming of your doodle. A good brushing keeps the coat clean and removes dandruff too. You will need different brushes depending on the coat of your doodle.

• Double sided grooming brush
• Petcare notix propoxur shampoo for dogs
• Forbis short coat aloe dog shampoo
• Wahl color code metal guide combs for super groom dog clippers

Bathing: It is not advised to bath your doodle too frequently as it may make the coat dry and hard. You can use a mild shampoo which is specially formulated for dogs for bathing your doodle.

Nail Trimming: Nails should be kept short otherwise they can harm the feet of the dog. Long nails make the walking difficult. When you listen to the sound of nails when your dog walks on a hard floor, it is indication that nails are too long and should be trimmed.

Specially designed clippers should be used for clipping the nails to make the trimming process convenient.

Ear cleaning: Regular ear cleaning of your dog is very important. You can yourself clean only the outer part of the ear using a cotton swab soaked in ear cleaner, or a damp cloth. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can take help from the professional groomer.

Eyes cleaning: It is important to clean any discharge from your dog’s eye using soft cotton ball.  

Teeth: There are special toothbrushes and toothpastes available which are formulated for dogs only. You can also use your finger to clean his teeth if your dog feels uncomfortable with brush.

Anal Glands: Cleaning anal glands is also an important part of dog’s grooming. These dogs are located on either side of the anus and can produce foul smell if not emptied time to time.

Care and living:

Since Labradors are high energy dogs, they are not suitable for apartments. Labradoodles are happy with 45-60 minutes of exercise every day.

Labradoodle loves to go on a daily walk with you. You should make sure that your doodle is not getting bored. Early socialization is necessary to ensure the all round growth of your dog. You should train him using positive reinforcements. Create training will also help to prevent accidents as it helps him in accepting confinement.