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Labradoodle

Labradoodle

The Labradoodle is one of the more established crossbreeds, so if you want to add one to the family, you’ll be happy to know it’s fairly easy to find reputable breeders. The breeds that make up the Labradoodle are the Labrador Retriever (show type or working) and the Standard Poodle (or sometimes the Miniature Poodle).

The representatives of this crossbreed can vary in size, shape, coat types and temperaments, depending on how they have been bred. The Labradoodle can be a first cross (with one Labrador and one Poodle parent, they can be bred back to one of the original breeds or be two Labradoodles bred together.

There are breed clubs set up and run by dedicated people who would like to see the Labradoodle become a recognised breed. So make sure you look out for those breeders that breed them responsibly and ensure all parents are health tested.

The need-to-know
  • Dog suitable for non-experienced owners
  • Basic training required
  • Enjoys active walks
  • Enjoys walking one to two hours a day
  • Large dog
  • Some drool
  • Requires grooming daily
  • Non hypoallergenic breed
  • Chatty and vocal dog
  • Not a guard dog
  • May require training to live with other pets
  • May require training to live with kids

Key Facts

Height:

The usual height of a Labradoodle depends on the size of the parents used so can vary widely, going from 30cm to 70cm
Labrador Retriever: 55-57cm
Poodle – Standard: over 38cm
Miniature: 28-38cm

Colours: The usual colours of a Labradoodle can vary as well, depending on the parents’ coat colours
Labrador: Black, yellow or liver/chocolate. Yellows range from light cream to red fox
Poodle: All solid colours
UK Kennel Club Groups: Gundog (Labrador Retriever) and Utility (Poodle)

Ratings

Family-friendly: 5/5
Exercise needs: 5/5
Easy to train: 4/5
Tolerates being alone: 4/5
Likes other pets: 4/5
Energy level: 5/5
Grooming needs: 4/5
Shedding: 3/5

Personality

Like most crossbreeds, the personality of a Labradoodle depends on the parents and how they have been bred and reared.

The Labrador Retriever is an active, friendly, loving dog who thrives on human companionship, wanting nothing more than to please their owners (except perhaps eat and jump in any water they can find!). They are ideal pets where there are children about and they get on well with other household animals. Labradors are a very happy breed, extremely affectionate, constantly wagging their tails and always on the go. They are easily trained, being eager to learn and to please and can turn their paw to just about anything. They are total foodies however - which helps with their training but not their waistlines!

The Poodle is a lively, sociable and affectionate dog who is both intelligent and amusing, and makes a wonderful and fun companion. They love to be included in all family pursuits and can be good watch dogs, announcing visitors but never being aggressive. The Standard Poodle is still at heart a working dog and can easily be the start of your training class, your agility group or in the obedience ring - and thrive with a job to do where they can work with their owner. 

It is clear however from looking at the two breeds that make up the Labradoodle that this is an extremely active dog who needs a lot of exercise and input (often more than many new owners expect) - and being highly social, needs to be a part of the family.  

The personality of a Labradoodle seems to be more consistent when they are first crosses (F1). As a line is successively bred, they can be either bred back to one of the original breeds (and so strengthen either the Labrador or the Poodle personalities) or else be bred to another Labradoodle - in which case there is less predictability in temperament (and in-breeding becomes more of a potential issue).  

Responsible breeders should be prioritising behaviour as highly as health and so it is important to find a good breeder.

History and Origins

The Labradoodle is one of the best-known and established of the ‘designer crossbreeds’. It originated in Australia in the 1970s when the Australian Guide Dog Association received an enquiry from a lady in Hawaii requesting a Guide Dog that wouldn’t cause her allergies to flare up. She chose Australia because the animal health arrangements meant that a dog bred there could come straight into her home in Hawaii without having to spend time in quarantine.

The Association were already using Labradors as guide dogs, and so they needed to cross one with a non-shedding breed. They imported a white Standard Poodle from Sweden that had excellent working bloodlines - and the first (intentional) Labradoodle litter was born.

Since then they have been bred - both responsibly and irresponsibly - in the quest to find a friendly, non-shedding family dog. This has been done with varying degrees of success - and indeed some Labradooodles have excelled as assistance dogs around the world, and those who are enamoured of them hail them as the perfect large companion dog (as long as they get enough exercise!).

While there are breed clubs in the UK and all over the world, the Labradoodle currently isn’t recognised by any international kennel clubs.

The two breeds that go into the formation of the Labradoodle are the Labrador Retriever and the Standard Poodle.

Labrador Retriever

Country of Origin: Canada

The Labrador Retriever breed originated not in Labrador, but on the coast of Newfoundland in the 17th century. They were trained to bring in the fishing nets through the icy waters for the fishermen and, in the early 19th century, were brought to Poole Harbour in Great Britain. Due to their lovely personality the fishermen started getting offers from Englishmen to buy them. The breed also had working abilities which made them instantly successful as a gundog. The Earl of Malmesbury became fascinated by these dogs, known at that time as Saint John's Dogs, and he started breeding them, calling them Labrador Dogs. Today Labradors are still used as working gundogs as well as being beloved family pets.

Standard Poodle

Country of Origin: Germany

The original Poodle is the Standard Poodle, a water retrieving dog. Their unusual haircuts were not about fashion, but rather a way for owners to make sure their dogs didn’t get waterlogged and become too heavy to swim easily in lakes. While keeping the vital organs and joints protected, much of the rest of their hair was shaved off. The Miniature and Toy Poodles were created purely as smaller versions of the original Poodle for owners who didn’t want such a large dog but were enchanted by their personalities and enthusiasm for all kinds of work.

The Labradoodle can have any combination of the two breeds in their appearance, behaviour and temperament.

Did You Know?

Labradoodles make great therapy dogs. Their warm personality is often a match for people with autism or physical disabilities.

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