You hear the name more and more often: Labradoodle. Admittedly, if you see him for the first time, you will notice that he certainly shows an appealing, adorable appearance that you kind of have to like. No, he really did not even exist not so long ago. The dog breed is quite new. And yet, he now has a worldwide, large fan club. This one is sure to grow even bigger.
Character of the Labradoodle
Have you ever heard of designer dogs? These are dogs whose parents come from two different breeds, in order to give the puppies only the best characteristics from both sides. Since there is no standard from FCI or VDH to this day, it is unfortunately possible that these are somehow different in each litter. But in any case he gets the basic characteristics from his ancestors, the Labrador and the Poodle:
- Intelligent
- Willing to work
- Eager to learn
- Friendly to children
- Fond of all people
- Powerful
- Happy to move
You can see that he brings a fantastic potential with him. A potential, however, that is put together a little differently in each individual dog.
The historical background of the Labradoodle
The name is composed of the individual syllables of “Labrador” and “Poodle”. It was an Australian who noticed that the two dog breeds are quite similar in size, build and temperament. In addition, both love the water, retrieving and ultimately working with humans. The Australian, Wally Conrons, has been the breeding director of the Royal Guide Dog Association. He was looking for a guide dog for a couple in his care, but the dog was severely allergic to dog hair. While the Labrador is an excellent assistance dog, the Poodle has a coat that is relatively low in allergens.
The cross succeeded and we were looking at this designer dog. Interestingly, no one was interested in the dog, except for the blind couple. So Wally Conrons resorted to a little trick: he used the two names to give this new breed an almost magnetic name. Immediately, worldwide interest set in. An interest, which could be increased up to this day. No wonder, since more and more people have allergies. In addition, there is hardly any coat change between summer and winter coat. This makes cleaning the house a lot easier.
Unfortunately, the wave of enthusiasm has taken on a life of its own. Because this was the starting signal for the designer dogs. Dogs whose positive dispositions could be selected by mouse click, so to speak. This led unfortunately, as a study from the year 2020 points out, that in the meantime also often Spaniel and other dog breeds were crossed in.
Many different breed combinations have resulted. However, this is not what Wally intended with the first attempt at crossbreeding and the “creation” of the Labradoodle. All this does not make it easy to establish a standard for this dog breed. And exactly for this reason, the standard has not yet been created by the FCI and the VDH. The individual breeding lines differ very much in their abilities and potential.
The colors of the Labradoodle
The coat is usually one color, mostly black or light brown. It is of medium length and usually curly.
Regarding the coat, it is said that allergy sufferers have little or no reaction to the allergen of the dog’s hair. Certainly, this has been established many times, but everyone should put it to the test before buying the animal.
Basically, one should pay attention to a good coat care. Without regular brushing, the hair can become matted relatively quickly, which if left untreated would lead to shearing. A terrible thought.
What are the demands of the Labradoodle?
The greatest demand that the Labradoodle places on its owners is physical and also mental exercise. This dog is intelligent, agile, capable of learning and willing to learn. Most of them are also working animals, so you can imagine many afternoons outdoors with long walks on changing routes, but also on the dog sports field. Both in the water and in retrieving, he can always show off his excess energy and decimate it at the same time.
Both ancestors have been (and still are) a need to serve or cooperate with his human in particular and all humans in general. For this reason, the Labradoodles are particularly suitable as therapy, assistance and rescue dogs.
The Labradoodle and its health
The health of the Labradoodle is very well established. With ancestors, Labradors as well as Poodles, are usually healthy animals, which like to pass this on to their descendants. Thus, hereditary diseases are not to be expected in the first place.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Labradoodle
Allergy sufferers will be pleased with this dog, because only very few still react to the hair of this dog breed. This also makes it so easy for this dog to be used as an assistance dog or therapy dog. Even patients who are allergic to dog hair can enjoy the support / therapy accompaniment in this way.
BUT: Whether the patient is really allergy-free to the specific animal should always be tested beforehand. Unfortunately, there is no 100% guarantee.
A big disadvantage of the Labradoodle is the fact that the FCI has not yet produced a standard for this rather new dog breed. As a result, many different mixes are in circulation under this name. It must be said quite frankly that the dogs that belong to the designer dogs are difficult to classify. Thus, no concrete information can be collected about the animals and thus a correct standard can be created.
This dog, because it wants to please its human, is very easy to train. His desire to learn and his intelligence, together with his desire to work, make a perfect basis for training in all areas.
As a new member of the family, he quickly fits in with the group. Visitors are greeted in a friendly manner. And yet, in his friendly way, he watches out for the family.
The perfect human for a Labradoodle
In any case, the perfect human for the Labradoodle should be active, if not athletic. In addition, it is also important to him that neither the dog nor himself get bored. The more interesting the daily life of the animal can be arranged, the better it will be. In addition, the perfect person sees the dog as an additional member of the family.
The Labradoodle is happy about every new lesson he is allowed to learn. For this reason, the owner should think about using this dog “wisely”: Therapy, assistance, rescue or visiting dog (in nursing home or hospital).
There is one more thing that dog and master should share: The love of water. Because the Labradoodle loves water and everything you can do in it.
Buying Labradoodle puppies
When buying a puppy, care should always be taken. Because many dubious breeders are busy nowadays and offer their puppies. However, with them you can not be sure whether the animals are also treated correctly, breeding animals as well as the puppies.
Since the breed has not yet been accepted by the FCI and VDH as an independent breed, there are no contact details to be found. So there is nothing left but to choose the right breeder by word-of-mouth, testimonials of other Labradoodle owners.
Make sure that the breeder can prove the history of his breeding animals with photos. Likewise, he knows the strengths and weaknesses of his animals and all previous litters, so he will be able to find the perfect person for his puppies. A true breeder, who is passionate about what he does, will scrutinize every prospective buyer. He will leave nothing to chance when looking for a new owner for the dog.
First equipment for the Labradoodle
- Dog collar
- Dog harness
- Dog leash, additionally possibly a drag line
- Water and food bowl, if possible easy to clean
- Dog bed / blanket for the resting place
- Long hair brush
- Undercoat brush
- dog comb / lice comb
- possibly clippers (but these should only be used if you really know how to use them).
- dog food
- possibly toys
- possibly treats
Dog food for the Labradoodle
In this point the Labradoodle is absolutely uncomplicated. That is why it is the owner’s task to provide high quality food. If you want to do something good for him, BARF. And don’t forget to give him a meaty beef bone every now and then. This will not only give him a treat, but will also keep him busy for a long time.
FAQ
How much does a Labradoodle cost?
In this point must be differentiated. If you buy a puppy of an original Australian Labradoodle, you have to expect a purchase price of $2,700. In addition, there are the so-called hybrids, which are a mix of Labrador and Poodle. These puppies can change hands for as little as $1,200.
Where does the Labradoodle come from?
The Labradoodle is a new breed and is often counted among the so-called designer dogs. This means dogs that are born with certain abilities due to the breeding dogs used. In this case it is an attempt to breed an assistance dog to which allergy sufferers hardly react at all. In Australia, these breeding experiments were carried out and successfully completed. Thus, it is an Australian dog that quickly conquered the world after being named “Labradoodle”.
How old does the Labradoodle become?
The Labradoodle is usually a fundamentally healthy dog, provided you have caught a solid breeding line. If this is the case, there is no problem at all that this dog can reach the old age of 15 – 16 years. The better the keeping conditions of the animal have been, the better the owners have been able to adapt to its needs in old age, the longer they will be able to enjoy it.
How big and heavy will the Labradoodle be?
It should be noted again that there is still no standard for the Labradoodle. Since it still happens that other dog breeds are crossed in, the data on these two questions are very vague.
It is assumed an average weight of 20 to 40 kilograms with a height of 35 to 63 centimeters.
How many puppies does the Labradoodle have?
Due to the ambiguous standard and the associated differences in size of the various breeding lines, only an imprecise answer is possible. Basically, smaller dogs tend to have smaller litters than larger ones. Accordingly, the size of the litter cannot be determined in general. As an average value, one can assume 5 puppies (plus / minus).
Is the Labradoodle a hunting dog?
The Labradoodle as we know it today is not a hunting dog. However, it should never be disregarded that his ancestors were hunting dogs. So it is quite possible that there is a special preference for water, but also a certain hunting instinct. Due to the different proportions of the ancestors, one can only determine in the course of the dog’s development which proportions are predominant or perhaps not present at all. For the owner this means that one should put more attention into the anti-hunting training than one would do with other dogs. The basic training of the dog is crucial.
Is the Labradoodle a family dog?
You will already guess it: Which pack the corresponding dog got from his family? Since the standard is missing and also other dog breeds have crept into the breeding lines of the Labradoodle, the answer turns out to be somewhat reserved. Basically, the Labradoodle brings all the skills to be a great family dog: balanced, child-friendly, agile, eager to move, docile and intelligent.
In addition, he is ultimately willing to work. So he brings all the skills to learn how to have a very good life in his new family. However, he should not be filed under the heading of “pure family dog”. He is also an excellent companion dog for singles, with whom you can have a lot of fun, as long as he is sufficiently addressed physically and mentally.
Can the Labradoodle be kept in a (city) apartment?
In principle, the Labradoodle also arranges itself in an apartment. However, in this case it must be ensured that he can take a long walk several times a day. Also the work on the dog sports field or however the meeting on the dog run with other dogs provide for the necessary movement balance. It goes without saying that a garden would be something nice for him to take care of protecting his territory.
Life in the city is something else again and should not necessarily be offered to the Labradoodle. If we consider that his ancestors were herding dogs, guard dogs and hunting dogs, the city offers too many distractions and incentives to indulge in the old urges. His size also argues against keeping him in the city.
Is the Labradoodle a good family dog?
Basically, this dog is very people-friendly, fond of children, willing to learn and cooperate with his human. Therefore, it can be assumed that he makes a very good, allergy-friendly family dog.
Does the Labradoodle tolerate any food or does he need a special diet?
This dog is absolutely undemanding in terms of food, as long as it is high quality. Dry food, wet food, home-cooked or BARF – pay attention to the quality and quantity. Then everything is fine.
How much exercise does the Labradoodle need daily?
The Labradoodle has quite a strong urge to move, so in addition to the normal walks, further physical and mental demands are necessary to keep him busy. If this can be met, he is a calm and balanced contemporary.
Does the Labradoodle get along with other dogs?
It depends on the socialization and education. Towards other animals, if he learns from the beginning, he is just as positive towards them as he is towards humans.
Is the Labradoodle a dog that can live in an apartment?
In principle, the Labradoodle can cope in a spacious apartment. However, this requires optimal physical and mental exercise. Otherwise, he may become cranky or do a lot of stupid things to give in to the urge himself.
