What is a Labradoodle?
A Labradoodle is a cross between a Standard Poodle and a Labrador Retriever. The result of this cross is an intelligent, trainable puppy. Labradoodles being part Labrador ( they are playful and very loyal ) and part Standard Poodle ( they are brainy and low shedding ) have characteristics that make them a wonderful and special addition to your family.
Behavioral Characteristics:
The Labradoodle breed is a good all-around companion and great with children thus making it an excellent choice for young families. Labradoodles are people oriented, devoted and eager to please. They have friendly personalities and get along well with other dogs. Energetic and bubbly but gentle. They are playful and love to retrieve. This breed is non-aggressive and very trainable.
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Labradoodle Sizes:
The Labradoodle comes in 3 sizes.
A Mini sized labradoodle ranges from 14 - 16 inches tall and weigh between 15 - 25 lbs.
A Medium sized Labradoodle ranges from 17 - 20 inches tall and weighs between 30 - 45 lbs.
A Standard sized Labradoodle ranges from 21 - 26 inches tall and weighs between 50 - 65 lbs.
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Labradoodle Coats:
There are 3 different types of coats to the Labradoodle. Wool/Curly, Fleece and a Hair/ Straight or Wavy coat. The Labradoodle Wool/Curly and Fleece coat is easily maintained, nonshedding, allergy and asthma friendly.
Wool/Curly:
This coat type feels like the wool coat of a Poodle. Tight curls all over the body, on the head and leg similar to the Poodle.
Needs a trim or clip about twice a year. Note that when the coat is long it requires a lot of grooming. The wooly coat is nonshedding.
Fleece:
Loose loopy curls all over the entire body, head and legs. It has a fleecy very soft feel but not like the wool coat. The coat should not feel like hair on any part of the body.
Low maintenance until the adult coat comes through at around 8 - 12 months of age. The fleecy coat is nonshedding.
HairCoat/Straight or Wavy:
This type of coat varies in thickness and length from very short & straight to a combination of short body with short waves along the back & longer waves around the ears, eyes, legs and tail. Some have feathering on backs of legs and on the tail.
Very low maintenance. This type of coat will have light to moderate amount of shedding.
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Colors of the Labradoodle coat:
Black: Jet black all over. Some Blacks may develop silver/white hairs throughout their coats usually over the back. Some Blacks may develop a brownish hue around the face, inside of legs and tail if Brown is carried somewhere in the genes.
Silver: Born Black but some Silvers can be born with silver between their foot pads. Others may not develop any silver until around 8 or 9 weeks old in the form of rings around their eyes. The Silvers go through stages of brown, through to charcoal with silver coming up their legs and spreading to their hocks and tails and eventually their whole body. Good Silvers will go through a bluish stage and end up pure platinum.
Chocolate/Cafe: All browns are born Chocolate. Cafes develop a golden coat around their muzzles at 6 and 8 weeks of age. Most Chocolates end up Cafe. A Cafe coat will exhibit golden highlights throughout their coats. If the coat is parted, the true Chocolate color coat will be dark at the roots whereas the Cafe coat will be pale in color right through to the root.
Cream: Creams vary from pale cream to a rich Apricot colored cream ( these have a cream colored body but have dark apricot ears. Some will have reddish tinges throughtout the coat as well. Some will pale with age and other will deepen.
Gold/Golden Cream: This colored coat is a rich golden color. It may either pale or deepen over time. It is not possible to predict early on which way any particular puppy may develop in color.
Apricot: The true Apricot coat should be the color of the flesh of a ripe apricot. Golds and Apricots are often mistaken by breeders. But the color should not be pale although it can fade over time.
Red: Highly prized, reds are not easy to breed and are rather rare. Some breeders will mistake Apricots for Reds but the true Red is the color of an Irish Red Setter. They are very beautiful and highly sought after. Most Reds will fade to some extent over time so they should be a very rich color when young.
Caramel: Caramel is often mistaken for a true Apricot. It is also a rare color. It is like a true Apricot with a more caramel toning to it. The color should go right to the skin and not be shade amongst the other hairs of the coat.
Chalk: The Chalk colored coat is a milky white color. Not a true white.
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Health Issues:
Skin problems are the most common issue but overall the Labradoodle is a very healthy breed.
Life Span: 9 - 15 years
Activity: This is a very active breed and they need to live in a home with a family, or with people with an active lifestyle. Medium activity with average exercise needs such as daily walking is recommended.
History of the Labradoodle: Country of origin is Australia. The breed was intended for helping the impaired and was used primarily as Guide dogs. Wally Cochran of the Royal Guide Dogs in Victoria, Australia initiated this.
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| Dulce 20 months old |
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| Dulce 6 months old |
