The Labradoodle and the Poodle are two popular dog breeds that many families welcome openly into their homes. The Labradoodle is a well-known and very popular hybrid that is a mix between the Labrador Retriever and Poodle – they are arguably the most popular crossbreed dog breed behind the Goldendoodle. First bred for their guide-dog capabilities in Australia, Labradoodles are a unique breed with many talents and unique characteristics.
On the other hand, the Poodle is a sophisticated and highly intelligent purebred breed that wins many awards and recognitions in dog shows across the world. Which is the right choice for you to rescue or adopt? This article will cover what you need to know about the Poodle vs Labradoodle breeds, their differences, and what they have in common.
Other articles you will like: Best Brush for a Labradoodle and Labradoodle Rescues for Adoption.
What is the Poodle?
Poodles are well-known for their regal appearance, intelligence, and distinct coat of fur. They originate as a sporting dog meant to weather the elements effectively and are considered one of the most intelligent breeds in the world. They can be trained for a range of tasks and must be exercised regularly and engaged with daily to be truly happy. According to the American Kennel Club, the Poodle is the #7 most popular dog breed.
The Poodle can be bred in three different sizes, ranging from around 20 inches at the shoulder to less than 10 inches at the shoulder. The sizes from largest to smallest are Standard, Moyan, and Miniature.
They’re lovable and affectionate, although their most prominent personality traits are their intelligence and energy levels. They need lots of outdoor time and training, meaning they’re ideal for the pet owners with enough time and energy to train them properly. Poodles also have some of the best genetic qualities in that they are nonshedding and hypoallergenic.
The Standard Poodle is 15 inches and above, the Moyan Poodle is 10-15 inches, and the Miniature Poodle is under 10 inches at the shoulder. An original low-shedding breed, they’re now mixed with other breeds, creating a range of varieties like Labradoodles and Goldendoodles. The recipient of Best in Show multiple times at Westminster, they’re trainable and incredibly smart when given the right direction.
What is the Labradoodle?
The Labradoodle is a mix between a Poodle and the more laidback Labrador Retriever. Their potential owners can expect a playful and energetic dog, although calmer than a purebred Poodle. The Labradoodle has been used by some organizations as a guide dog, however, most owners simply love their personalities and low-shedding qualities that they inherit from the Poodle.
Overall, they’re gentler than Poodles, and perfect companion pets for owners with plenty of time to spend with them. The Labradoodle is a hybrid dog breed, meaning their characteristics can differ more than traditional breeds, including the texture of their hair, color, and even their personality traits. They usually have wavy hair and are slightly shorter in stature as compared with Poodles.
The Labradoodle is a fun and playful breed, interested in pleasing their owners and having little patience for being left alone. The Labradoodle can be heavier than Poodles, even though they’re shorter, due to the Labrador’s stouter stature. They’re usually golden in color, although their coats’ coloration can differ significantly as they’re hybrid dogs.
Poodle vs Labradoodle Size: Which is Bigger?
The Labradoodle is typically a height of about 21 to 22 inches, male or female. The Poodles have a larger height range of between 18 and 24 inches. This means they’re potentially taller than the Labrador. Weight is another story as the Labradoodle is heavier and can weigh 55 to 80 pounds, while the Poodle only weighs 45 to 70 pounds on average. However, it’s worthwhile to note that the Labradoodle can come in a variety of sizes from mini, medium, and standard depending on the size of Poodle they are bred with.
Taller and skinnier, the Poodle looks bigger because of their long hair that keeps growing. Their hair was bred for protection from the elements for their vital organs, and the fancier cut tends to leave large circular poofs of hair, while the Sporting Cut is the same length throughout the dog’s physique. The Labradoodle has a coat that is sleeker and shorter, making them appear smaller in comparison.
Poodle vs Labradoodle Temperament: How do they behave?
The Poodle is slightly more reserved around other people and animals, as compared with the Labradoodle. Labradoodles, in general, are more easygoing than Poodles, so it’s no surprise that Poodles need more warming-up than do Labradoodles. Both can be goofy with their owners and enjoy playing around physically, with long naps in between.
These two breeds are energetic and super playful, meaning they would love to frolic in a large yard or park every day. The Poodle is more headstrong and definitely needs playtime each day. The Labradoodle could have less energy, depending on the genes they receive from both sides of the hybrid, but still have a lot of energy compared with other breeds.
Poodle vs Labradoodle Life Span: What’s Their Life Expectancy?
The average lifespan for a Labradoodle is 12 years. The average lifespan for a Poodle is 11 years and nine months which is slightly shorter. Even so, both the Poodle and Labradoodle breeds have many instances where puppies live for 15 years or longer. These lifespans are actually longer than many larger-sized breeds, some of which can average less than ten years of age.
Your Labradoodle or Poodle would benefit from a high-quality diet of mostly soft dog food or extremely high-quality hard food. They also may need supplements or additional nutrients that can be found at the pet store to foster healthy hair, growth, and longevity.
Labradoodle vs Poodle Health: Are They Prone to Health Conditions?
Poodles are susceptible to some illnesses and ailments that don’t affect other breeds or hybrids. They’re known to develop Addison’s Disease, a hormone imbalance that impacts the adrenal glands of these dogs.
Cushing’s Disease, also known as Hyperadrenocorticism, impacts the dogs’ cortisol levels, which causes stress and ‘fight or flight’ reflexes to kick in, causing anxiety. Even if they don’t develop this disorder, you can expect any Poodle to be relatively anxious around new people and environments, although training and patience go a long way.
Poodles also develop joint problems at a higher incidence, including specific conditions related to the kneecap and hip, both of which can partially dislocate due to the sliding of the joint. Lastly, a surprising 50% of all Standard Poodles suffer from or are carriers for, a skin disorder causing dryness and patchy fur called Sebaceous Adenitis (SA).
Labradoodles also suffer from elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia, as well as having a high propensity for seizure disorders and adrenal issues. Even though they seem to have mirroring health profiles to Poodles, the Labradoodles may get lucky and inherit only healthy genes from either side. It’s more of a toss-up with Labradoodles, however, they tend to have the same types of health issues as Poodles.
Poodle vs Labradoodle: What Do They Look Like?
The Poodle is taller and leaner than the Labradoodle. They also come it more colors than the Labradoodle, which only tends to be golden in coloration. On the other hand, the Poodle can be chocolate brown, white, black, or even more unique colors.
The Poodle has a more refined and regal appearance, especially if groomed by a professional and clipped ornately. The Labradoodle looks like a puppy, even as an adult, and tends to have more wavy hair, rather than curly like a Poodle. They both beautiful aesthetically and are extremely eye-catching.
Labradoodle vs Poodle Grooming: How Much Do They Require?
Labradoodle Grooming: How Much Do They Require?”
Labradoodle Grooming: How Much Do They Require?”The Poodle and the Labradoodle require quite a bit of grooming. First, they need to be brushed with a specialized tool that allows for matted hair and dead follicles to be removed.
Also, they need to be trimmed all throughout their lives to avoid excessive hair growth that can lead to matting. The Poodle has even more grooming requirements, due to the texture of their hair that’s extremely thick and curly.
You might get a Labradoodle with less grooming requirements, however, as a hybrid, this is not a guarantee. Each of these two breeds is considered high-maintenance in terms of the amount of grooming they each require.
Poodle vs Labradoodle Training: Can They be Easily Trained?
Between the Poodle and the Labradoodle, choosing one as the most trainable is difficult. However, the Poodle is more intelligent and can learn a wider array of tasks and maneuvers, making them possibly more trainable overall. However, Landradoodles are easier to train if you’re a novice dog owner because they’re more relaxed and tend to need less engagement daily.
The Labradoodle is easier for a novice owner, while the Poodle can learn more tasks if trained properly. The Poodle is one of the absolute most intelligent breeds, and they need engagement on a daily basis that some families cannot provide. Also, the Labradoodle is a hybrid breed, meaning you don’t know the exact level of trainability until you get to know your puppy as an adult dog.
Poodle vs Labradoodle Costs: Are They Expensive to Look After?
With either Poodles or hybrids with this breed, their fur needs to be maintained and groomed, usually by a professional. Many owners keep their hair shorter in a sporting-style cut, which is easier to accomplish and looks ordinary. You can also cut their hair ornately, which is more expensive and done for shows usually. The Labradoodle is slightly less expensive to maintain but still needs occasional grooming.
They might develop issues within their joints that require intervention from a licensed veterinarian, however, this will depend on your specific puppy. The other ailments mentioned before in this article include adrenal issues and other skin disorders, however, each puppy will grow up to have different health profiles entirely.
Both the Labradoodle and Poodle breeds are relatively expensive to look after, as they need regular haircuts and have similar health risks. As bigger dogs, they also need a larger space to run around, which can add up financially. They’re prone to stubbornness if untrained, which can be costly for some owners who hire dog trainers.
Conclusion for Poodle vs Labradoodle
The Labradoodle or Poodle are both great dog breeds and can make exceptional pets. The main differences between the Poodle and Labradoodle are the follows:
- Poodles are generally taller than the Labradoodle, but the Labradoodle will weigh more due to their bigger statue.
- The Labradoodle is more friendly than the Poodle because it inherits genetic traits from the Labrador Retriever.
- The Poodle typically comes in more colors than the Labradoodle (there are 10 standardized colors of Poodles).
- The Labradoodle has a more wavy coat than the Poodle. However, the Poodles coat is more curly, hypoallergenic, and nonshedding than a Labradoodles.
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Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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