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Labradoodle: here is the Labrador – Poodle crossbreed

Although crosses between the Labrador Retriever and the Poodle have existed for about 100 years, it was only in the 1980s that the term “labradoodle“was coined by Wally Conron.

Mr. Conran was looking to create a dog that would make an efficient pet for allergy sufferers. Since Poodles are the most hypoallergenic dogs there are, he decided to cross one with the smart and versatile Labrador and voila, that’s how the Labradoodle was born!

Today, Labradoodles are the most famous dogs in the world although they are not recognized since Kennel Club as an official dog breed. This is because the Labradoodle is a crossbreed and it is therefore difficult to ascertain what it will look like or how it will behave; there simply isn’t enough consistency across the board to create a breed standard.

But fortunately, the two parent breeds are very well known! So, let’s take a closer look at the parents of this cute half-breed.

Labrador Retriever

Un dolce Labrador color crema. ©Ivanova N / Shutterstock

Labradors were first bred in early 1800 to accompany the fishermen on their boats. They seem to have no hesitation in jumping into the icy Canadian waters to retrieve the nets or fish that have fallen into the sea.

Today, Labradors are best known as family pets, although they are also employed as guide dogs for the blind or disabled, search and rescue dogs, or therapy dogs.

This versatility is explained by their high intelligence and desire to please. Labradors are easy to train and are happy to do anything as long as it involves humans (and possibly food too!).

The Poodle

A “punk” Poodle! ©Family Photography / Shutterstock

Poodles were originally bred in Europe as hunting and retrieving dogs. Despite their whimsical appearance, they are actually very athletic dogs who love nothing more than to run outdoors and go for a swim in the lake!

Just like the Labrador, the Poodle is extremely intelligent and easy to train. Poodles come in three sizes: standard, miniature and toy.

Their coat, unlike that of the Labrador, grows continuously, which means they shed little hair and are therefore the best choice for allergy sufferers. However, they will require a trip to the groomer every 6 to 8 weeks to keep the coat trimmed, clean and tangle-free.

Physical characteristics of the Labradoodle

Due to the physical diversity of the parents, especially the Poodle, there are many varieties of Labradoodle or Labradoodle Cobberdog, all of which are unique and wonderful.

Dimensions of the Labradoodle

Depending on the type of Poodle involved in the cross, you can have a dog that weighs from only 7 kg up to a maximum of 30 kg!

This is why it is so important to find a good breeder who is willing to share all the information about the puppy’s parents before purchasing.

In general, the dimensions of the Labradoodle are as follows:

  • Standard: 53-60cm in height, 22-30kg in weight.
  • Thumbnail: Height 43-50cm, Weight 13-20kg.
  • Toy: 25-40cm in height, 6-11kg in weight.

Appearance and coat of a Labradoodle

There is no breed standard for this dog, as it is not a breed in its own right. In general though, Labradoodles have a broad head, more like that of the Labrador than that of the Poodle, and well-defined eyebrows.

These crosses can arise in an extreme variety of colors and coat types. Although Labradoodles are widely known as great pets for people with allergies, this won’t happen systematically and will entirely depend on the type of coat your pup inherits.

There are three main coat types that can emerge when crossing a Labrador with a Poodle:

  1. Straight coat (very similar to that of the Labrador: this type of coat sheds more hair).
  2. Wavy coat (a middle ground between the hair of the two parents).
  3. Curly coat (very similar to that of Poodles, is best suited for owners with allergies to dogs).

Labradoodle Australiano

The Labradoodle, in turn, exists in another variety: the Labradoodle australianowhich is a cross of Poodle, Labrador, English Cocker Spaniel and American Cocker Spaniel.

Labradoodle grooming and shedding

Labradoodles are high maintenance dogs when it comes to grooming no matter what type of coat they have.

  • If the coat resembles that of a Labrador, then it will lose a lot of hair. Although the coat is relatively short, it should be brushed at least weekly to keep it clean, shiny and free of knots. During the seasonal moult in spring and autumn, the coat should be brushed daily.
  • If, on the other hand, the coat resembles that of a Poodle, then there’s a good chance Fido won’t shed. Additionally, the coat will grow continuously which means that a trimming will be required every two to three weeks if you don’t want your pup to look like a sheep. This means regular trips to the groomer, which in turn means a significant financial investment!

Temperament of a Labrador / Poodle crossbreed

Labradoodles are great with children! © Dina Uretski / Shutterstock

While you can never predict with absolute certainty what the personality of a cross breed will look like, Labradoodles often turn out to be friendly, affectionate, intelligent and playful.

They are good around children which makes them excellent family dogs and are generally sociable with other pets.

Their independent personality will depend on who they get the most: the Poodle parent or the Labrador parent. They are typically active, highly intelligent, and eager to please, so it shouldn’t be difficult to train them.

I Labradoodle amano stare in giro! ©Jennifer McCallum / Shutterstock

Salute del Labradoodle Cobberdog

Like any artificial breed or cross, Labradoodles can suffer from a variety of genetically transmitted health problems.

If you have a full-sized Labradoodle, your dog is likely to face hip and elbow dysplasia later in age, as do many large dog breeds. The best way to avoid them is to make sure that the four-legged gets the right nutrition and exercise for life.

Of course, find a reputable breeder Being attentive to the health of their puppies goes a long way to making sure your dog is healthy too.

Progressive retinal atrophy is also a common ailment in these crossbreeds, so you should discuss this with the breeder before buying a Labradoodle puppy.

Depending on the size of the Labradoodle, its average life expectancy could range from 12 to 15 years.

Labradoodle farms in Italy

Certified Labradoodle farms do not appear to exist in the BelPaese, also because this cross has been harshly criticized by the ENPA, as well as by its creator, Wally Conron.

Price of a Labradoodle puppy

The prices for purchasing a Labradoodle range from 800 to 2000 euros in the case of valuable farms.

Owners are advised to purchase a Labradoodle from F1 generation, i.e. half Poodle and half Labrador and not a mix of two Labradoodles. This broadens the gene pool, reducing the likelihood of the animal inheriting genetic health problems, while also making its temperament more predictable.

So what do you think? Does the Labradoodle sound like the perfect dog for you?

Tell us in a comment!

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