Best Labradoodle Dog Breed Guide! (2021)

When a Labrador Retriever breeds with the Standard Poodle, the journey of a Labradoodle begins. Back then, the term “Labradoodle” wasn’t used until 1955. Similar to Bernedoodles and Goldendoodles, Labradoodles are great with children, people with allergies, families, and even guide dogs. This is one of the most popular crossbreed dogs in the entire world.

Whether you’re in search of a loyal companion or bringing home joy and happiness, a Labradoodle will help fill in those gaps for you. These dogs are loyal, intelligent, and affectionate when it comes to their owners. With the strength of a Labrador Retriever and the intelligence of a Standard Poodle, the Labradoodle makes the perfect family dog.

Characteristics of a Labradoodle

Parent Breeds: Labrador Retriever + Standard Poodle
Temperament: Smart, social, energetic, friendly, affectionate, etc.
Typical Standard Height (Approx.): 24 to 26 inches tall
Typical Standard Weight (Approx.): 55 to 90 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

A Labrador Retriever mixed with a Standard Poodle (or any size Poodle) will result in a Labradoodle. The uptrend in interests for the Labradoodle is mainly due to its temperament. When it comes to a Labradoodle’s temperament, they are intelligent, socializing, affectionate, easy-to-train, friendly, and many other things.

Origins

To fully understand the origin of the Labradoodle, we’ll have to go back and learn about its parents (Labrador Retriever mixed with the Standard Poodle).

The Labrador Retriever came from Newfoundland, which was eventually introduced to England by fishermen in the 1800s. Back then, the Labrador Retriever was mainly used to assist hunters and farmers. With agility and strength, the Labrador Retriever can be useful for workers in the 1800s. These dogs can grow as high as 24.5 inches weighing between 55 to 80 pounds.
As for the Standard Poodle, their origins are still up for debate until this day. With the information available, historians believe that the Standard Poodle originally came from Germany. There are theories that the Standard Poodle could be a cross between water dogs. As a house dog, Poodles are known to be intelligent and many owners raise them due to their curly hair. Because of the Standard Poodle’s curly hair, these dogs are described as non-shedding and allergy-friendly.

With the Standard Poodle and Labrador Retriever, the mix makes the perfect combination for a strong dog with the ability to be a quick learner. Along with that, they’re great for people with allergies due to the Labradoodle’s curly hair.

Generation Information

When it comes to a Labradoodle’s generation, there are 7 worth keeping in mind. These Labradoodle generations are F1, F1b, F2, F2b, F3b, Multigenerational Labradoodles, and Australian Labradoodles.

F1 Labradoodle is a 50/50 cross between a Labrador Retriever and the Standard Poodle.
F1b Labradoodle is a cross between an F1 Labradoodle and the Standard Poodle.
F2 Labradoodle is an F1/F1b Labroodle mixed with another F1/F1b Labradoodle.
F2b Labradoodle is an F2 Labradoodle crossed with the Standard Poodle.
F3b Labradoodle is an F3 Labradoodle crossed with the Standard Poodle.
Multigenerational Labradoodle is multigenerational, which means they are F1, F1b, F2, F2b + other generations mixed with F1, F1b, F2, F2b + etc.
Australian Labradoodle generally gets mixed with the Aussiedoodle. Note that they’re not the same. This Labradoodle is mixed between the Labrador Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel, and the American Cocker Spaniel.

Related: Read our full article on all the Labradoodle Generations.

Size Information

There are five different sizes when it comes to the Labradoodle. There are micro, mini, small, medium, and standard sizes. The best way to distinguish the Labradoodle is by its size is by its weight and shoulder length.

Micro Labradoodle – This Labradoodle weigh between 12 to 20 pounds and 12 to 14 inches at the shoulder.
Mini Labradoodle – This Labradoodle weighs between 20 to 26 pounds and 14 to 16 inches at the shoulder.
Small Labradoodle – This Labradoodle weighs between 26 to 35 pounds and 15 to 17 inches at the shoulder
Medium Labradoodle – This Labradoodle weighs 35 to 50 pounds and 17 to 21 inches at the shoulder
Standard Labradoodle – This Labradoodle weighs over 50 pounds and over 21 inches at the shoulder

Temperament & Personality

Labradoodles are intelligent and affectionate dogs. Within the last decade, one of the reasons why the Labradoodle grew in popularity is because they’re traits and temperament. These dogs have a lot of energy and love to be playful around people and their surroundings. Other characteristics of the Labradoodle includes:

Adaptability: Because of their adaptability, they’re able to adapt well to different environments. As for owners, they’re very affectionate which makes them perfect for beginner dog owners.
Friendliness: Don’t mistake the Labradoodle for an aggressive dog because of its parent breeds’ hunting trait. The Labradoodle is known to be a friendly dog. Not only that they’re friendly to people they know but they’re friendly to strangers as well.

Nutrition

When it comes to feeding a Labradoodle, there are different ways for an owner to feed them. You can feed them kibble, moist food, cooked food, or raw food. Each method has its benefit but also overfeeding with the same method can be bad. For a Labradoodle owner, it’s better to diversify when it comes to feeding.

Kibble: One of the most common feeding methods for any dog, in general, is kibble due to it being cheap and affordable for pet owners. While kibble is great, one of the cons of feeding your Labradoodle kibble is that it could lead to dental issues.
Moist Food: Moist food can be canned chicken or vegetables. You can feed your Labradoodle moist food but make sure that you’re feeding it the proper nutrition. One of the cons of getting canned/moist food for your Labradoodle is that it can be costly.
Cooked Food: This feeding method is starting to become more popular. Note that you should always be cautious when feeding your Labradoodle cooked food. There are certain things you can’t feed your Labradoodle because it can cause digestive problems. These food include onion, garlic, chives, etc.

Grooming

At first, it may sound complex but grooming your Labradoodle isn’t as difficult as you think. Although the work can be tedious, grooming your Labradoodle should be simple even for beginners. If you’re new to owning a Labradoodle, it’s best to understand that they require grooming more often than most dogs because of their curly non-shedding coats. There are owners out there that’ll cut their Labradoodle’s coat on their own to keep them mat-free.

If you’re inexperienced, don’t try this because it can cause your Labradoodle to feel uncomfortable and to potentially develop skin issues. Without experience, it’s recommended to take your Labradoodle to a professional groomer at least three times a year or once every 3 to 4 months. Grooming costs can range between $45 to $75 so be prepared to spend when the time comes.

Related: Labradoodle Grooming Guide

Exercise

Taking out your Labradoodle to exercise is as important as feeding it. The amount of exercise your Labradoodle needs depends on its age and size. When your Labradoodle is a full-grown adult, then you can take it out to exercise for an hour per day. Exercising your Labradoodle means:

Taking it out for a walk
Going for a jog with your Labradoodle
Letting your Labradoodle play in the backyard

There are many ways you can let your Labradoodle exercise. If your Labradoodle is still young, then you can let it exercise for 5-10 minutes per day and gradually increase it as they become older. You can challenge your Labradoodle physically by training it because letting it run an hour a day isn’t the best way. It’s better to diversify your Labradoodle’s exercises.

Training

Due to the Labradoodle’s intelligence, they’re known to be easy-to-train. Unlike most dogs, the Labradoodle doesn’t tend to bark or howl as much. When you’re going to train a Labradoodle, there are several things to follow before you start your training. Whether they’re Labradoodle puppies or adults, these training tips will help you.

Training requires control. You’ll have to control your Labradoodle: Whether you adopted an adult Labradoodle or brought one home as a puppy from a breeder, it won’t completely understand you. To help your Labradoodle transition in, you’re going to have to lead the way and controlling them properly whether it’s rewarding them for good behavior, etc.
Repeat whatever’s working: Just like humans learning, you’re going to have to train your Labradoodle and repeat what’s working. They’ll make mistakes but the more you train them, the less likely they’ll repeat the same mistake. It’ll be difficult at first but it gets easier as your Labradoodle will adjust to good behaviors.
Teach your Labradoodle one thing at a time: Your Labradoodle will get exhausted and training them multiple things at once will tire them out. It’s better to teach them one thing at a time. If your Labradoodle can sit on command, then it’ll be ready to learn to walk by your side.
What to do if your Labradoodle lost interest: Labradoodles can sometimes lose interest in what you’re teaching them and that’s fine. When your Labradoodle loses interest, try teaching them different things. Move to a different area and train your Labradoodle at something they’re good at.
Getting your Labradoodle to return to you: When you’re first living with your Labradoodle, sometimes they won’t return to you on command. After all, it’s their natural habitat. What you can do in this situation is to put a leash on your Labradoodle. By doing this, you can reward them with treats every time they return to you after calling them. Generally, it could take up to a month to get your Labradoodle to be fully-trained when calling them back on command.
Know when to stop: Labradoodles aren’t robots and they’ll get exhausted. As a Labradoodle owner, you should know when they’re tired and when to stop training. Sometimes, owners will mistake the exhaustion of a Labradoodle for boredom. There’s a chance that it’ll be annoyed by their owners commanding them constantly. It’s okay to give your Labradoodle a break. Training takes time.

Health

Since the Labradoodle is a hybrid dog, it has the potential to develop health issues. This applies to all hybrid dogs. If you’re planning on bringing your companion home from a Labradoodle breeder, try to bring one home from a breeder that offers a health guarantee. One red flag to watch out for is when a breeder promises that they have 100% healthy dogs. It’s better to bring home a companion from an honest breeder than a breeder giving you false confidence. Instead of purchasing your Labradoodle from potential puppy mills, it’s better to spend a little time doing your own due diligence to find a reputable trusted breeder.

The fact that the Labradoodle is mixed between a Labrador Retriever and the Standard Poodle, they can struggle with health problems from their parents’ breeds. These conditions include:

Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia
Progressive retinal atrophy (eye disease)
Von Willebrand’s disease
Bleeding disorder

If you ask, most Labradoodle breeders will provide you with information from their parents. Try to avoid bringing home a Labradoodle if a breeder doesn’t provide you with any health information. You can avoid expensive bills from the veterinarian by purchasing pet insurance for your Labradoodle.

Appearance

The appearance of a Labradoodle depends on its generation. Whether they’re F1s or F1bs, it all comes down to generation type. For example, F1 Labradoodles will have less curly hair and it’ll appear wavier. If it’s an F1b Labradoodle mixed with F2 Labradoodle, then the hair should appear more curly. In the Labradoodle community, people often describe them as teddy bear-like in appearance. Labradoodles come in a variety of colors and coat types such as chocolate, red, white, black, etc.

Related: Labradoodle Colors

Price

Within the last decade, there’s been an uptrend in interests for Labradoodles. With more demand, the cost to bring home a Labradoodle can be quite costly. The average cost of a Labradoodle can range between $500 to $3,000 depending on its appearance, generation type, and many other factors. If you’re planning on bringing home a Labradoodle from a rescue, then it can range anywhere between $50 to $300. This guide might help you if you’re in search of the best Labradoodle breeders in the United States.

Conclusion for Labradoodle Dog Breed Guide

Today, Labradoodles are amongst one of the popular Poodle mixes out there with Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles. With a variety of sizes and colors to choose from, Labradoodles are great for families and people with allergies. Not only do they flood their owners with affection, but Labradoodles also work as guide dogs and therapy dogs.

If you need an easily trainable companion, then it’s definitely one of the Poodle mixes out there to keep an eye on. Raising a Labradoodle can be exhausting at times but the reward is priceless. The journey of raising a Labradoodle will create lifetime memories that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life.

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