Would this be a suitable puppy breed?

[redsky75]

Hi, a friend has just posted that her dog is expecting a litter of puppies. We are looking but haven't settled on a breed. The mother dog is a miniature labradoodle and the dad is a miniature poodle...anyone know what size/temperament the offspring would likely be? We have two dcs (9 and 12) and two cats.
Thanks

[Carrotgirl87]

I might be being a bit thick here but... will that just be another labradoodle?

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

75% poodle and 25% labrador then?

Assume a mix of the two breeds characteristics with a bias towards poodle characteristics, and a size midway between the two parents.

I'd certainly want to see hip scores etc on the lab cross parent and whatever health tests are recommended for poodles too (note: health tests are not the same as a vet check)

Why not just go for a purebred poodle?

[redsky75]

I'd just be taking this to mean that the puppies will be a cross breed? I wouldn't expect to see hip scores etc for a cross would I? I'm not saying we wouldn't go for a pure poodle or a pure anything else, this is just an opportunity that has arisen locally. I am also under the impression that cross breeds can have longer life expectancies and potentially fewer health problems than pure breeds

[tabulahrasa]

“I wouldn't expect to see hip scores etc for a cross would I?”

Yes

Crossing breeds doesn’t magically make them healthier, especially when both breeds have some of the same health issues to test for like labs and poodles.

They need all the tests for both breeds.

[SimonJT]

The poodle would need poodle specific health tests.
The labradoodle would need poodle and labrador health tests.

Non-shedding poodle hair is also recessive, so some puppies may have a shedding double coat like a labrador depending on the genes that particular puppy inherits.

Yes cross breeds tend to be healthier, but that refers to heinz 57 dogs, not dogs with genes from two breeds. With only two breeds in the mix you could potentially end up with a dog with common poodle problems (eye issues etc) and common lab problems (hip issues etc).

[redsky75]

Thanks, that's really helpful. Will do some research and have a think. I know some people with labradoodles so will speak to them too

[Nookable]

Cross breeding can create worse problems if both breeds suffer from the same issues. Labradoodle breeders get hip/elbow scores done on the parents. There's also an eye test that's commonly done but can't remember the name of it.

The technical term for what these puppies are would be backcrossed labradoodles as they're 3/4 poodle. It's generally done to try and get a curlier coat (so 3/4 poodle are common but 3/4 Labrador aren't).

It's hard to predict how they will turn out as could end up with Labrador or Poodle traits but just to correct a common myth they aren't allergen proof. People say that a lot but there's no way to tell if they'll shed or not until they're adults and even if they don't shed the dander and saliva will still cause problems for people with allergies.

[bluesapphirestars]

On here, no, because MN hate backyard breeders and poodle crosses.

[SlothMama]

It's more important if anything to have doodle mixes to have health testing done. As so many "breeders" don't bother and are breeding in bad hips and elbows. There are other health tests to consider as well such as PRA.

My vet has seen an increase in the cases of genetic disorders affecting doodle mixes because of bad breeding. And often these mixes can bring the worse behavioural traits together. How will your friend raise and socialise the pups? They won't be a cute puppy forever and eventually you could end up with a nightmare dog.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

A puppy won't express a recessive genetic disease that is only present in one parent. Looking quickly at the KC website, labs and Min poodles carry the same form of PRA so puppies would be at risk.

The inheritance of HD is complex, but both labs and miniature poodles are prone to it. Low test scores in the parents are no guarantee but they up your odds of low test scores in the progeny.

[redsky75]

Okay, doesn't sound like a good idea then. Thanks for the info