Labradoodle?

[siobhan8686]

Does anyone have a labradoodle? Do they shed much hair? Are they hyper? Chilled? Good with children? Ok been left alone? They are so lovely looking and look like a perfect little family dog.

They're a mixed breed so you'll honestly never know what you're going to get. A colleague has one and he sheds like crazy (the dog, not the colleague!) but I've met others that just don't shed at all.

Some are relatively calm, some are insanely hyper, some Labrador sized, some poodle sized, some are somewhere in between.

Personally I wouldn't go for a designer mix like that as you'll be charged over the top prices for a dog that's probably from a not so great background, and you don't know if you'll get the traits you want. If you want low-shedding, why not just get a poodle, for example?

And if you want calm, I wouldn't get a dog that's a mixture of those two breeds. Poodles are incredibly intelligent and need lots of exercise and stimulation and Labradors are bit working dogs who are prone to destruction and chewing in their early years!

Just get a poodle if you want the intelligent, non shedding type of dog.

Ask yourself why a doodle? What does the cross bring that either a lab or poodle won’t? Bearing in mind for most characteristics there’s only a 1:4 chance your doodle will inherit it...

If it’s purely a looks or a “poodle snob” thing; See below pictures; massive differnce between a poodle and labradoodle

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They are a cross of two high energy dogs so not chilled.
They are a puppy farmer’s dream. Breed as many as you like. No need to register them and the people buying them generally don’t know about health issues.
They can have widely variable coats. Want a guarantee you’re not funding puppy farming? Rescue. Want to guarantee a certain coat? Go for an actual breed.

And also please be aware that doodle coats need much, much more maintenance than either breed alone. Friend is a groomer and says the curly x straight hair can mean it felts, so you need to properly comb every day, and grooming every 6 weeks, or you end up having to shear the dog like a sheep.

little family dog

little!

All the labradoodles I know are big dog's. Tall and chunky, Labrador size. As with all these non true breeds though, you never can know what characterises you'll get in your dog.

Get a cocker spaniel.

A friend of mine does dog daycare, I popped round the other day and was trying to work out what breed one of her charges was. It looked like a giant wire haired terrier, square muzzle, white wiry hair and long spindly legs, when I asked friend said it was a labradoodle. The point I’m making is they aren’t a breed and both in temperament and appearance they can really vary.

Labradoodles are big dogs.

We have a cockapoo (from a rescue) and I honestly wouldn’t go looking for one unless you’re an experienced owner. She’s neurotic and hyper and clingy and as nutty as a box of frogs. And I assume a labradoodle will be similar, given the temperaments of the parent dogs.

Mix breeds like that are a bad idea. They vary wildly. Why not get a rescue or a pedigree lab or poodle?

Op you can't ask about cross breeds on mn. You won't get anything but negative responses.

I have a miniature poodle x lab. He is a puppy but my mum had a standard poodle x lab who was already much bigger by this age and my boy isn't going to be small.
They are usually high energy, hyper, and sometimes wiry dogs. But fantastic when they grow older (often still excitable) and are very intelligent and easily trained.
I have never known this cross to not take after their lab counterparts appetite habits, they eat a lot, need a lot of walking, running and mental stimulation.
Mine does not shed (but is a little smelly) and needs brushed daily. They can be wavy or curly coated and this will effect how much they need a trim.
Reared, socialised and trained properly they can be fantastic with kids who are playful and energetic, but some poodles can be sensitive to noisy, busy households so this should be taken into consideration, but are generally very loyal and friendly dogs.
They can be left alone for short times but depends on the dog, mine still doesn't cope so we just don't do it.

Oh good point. The cockapoo is ok when left with anither dog for company, but if left on her own has terrible separation anxiety. It’s why she was surrendered to the rescue. I have another dog and I work from home so she’s never really left on her own now, so she’s ok. But she destroyed a kitchen before we got her.

As others have posted the type, temperament and coat of any cross breed will be widely varied.
This is not having a pop at cross breed dogs, I am a fan of anything canine and certainly hold no prejudice against specific or mixed breeding.
It cannot be denied however that a lot of care and attention goes into the creation of a new breed and it is not an exact science with regards to how the inbetween offsprings will turn out.
It takes many generations of careful, selective, breeding to achieve a reliable breed standard and although some reputable breeders are attempting to do so with the Labradoodle, there are sadly many more who are not, hence the wild discrepancies in type.

I know a number of poodle crosses, many 'cavapoos', 'cockapoos' and a fair few 'labradoodles', all gorgeous, lovely dogs in their own right, but not even remotely similar to each other hence the issue with labelling them like a breed.

In my honest opinion, paying 000's or 0000's on a crossbreed is madness and is sadly the reason for so many unscrupulous people capitalising on the trend with little to no thought for what they are creating.

If you are certain that you would like one of these dogs then a rescue would be your safest bet, you will then at least know exactly what coat and temperament the dog has before taking them on.

As others have posted both Labradors and Poodles are dogs that require plenty of exercise and mental stimulatuon in order to be relaxed, happy pets. A combination of both breeds will likely have a mixture of traits so you need to research the good and bad points of both and be prepared for any or all to be present.
When researching specific breeds it is always a good idea to contact the relevant breed specific association as they will usually have plenty of information and advice to offer, they also will have contacts for both rehoming rescues and reputable breeders.

Op you can't ask about cross breeds on mn. You won't get anything but negative responses

In theory, i don't have anything against crossbreeds. My last 3 cats have been x siamese rescues as much as i love siamese, they are very full on and a x seems to water that down a bit.

I just don’t see the point of taking a dog with a desirable coat like a poodle- no shedding, less allergenic, and crossing out, which will only decrease the desirable coat qualities.

Also the “doodle” thing, now it’s reached some sort of ridiculous designer status where x’a are selling for more than pure breeds, is only encouraging puppy farms and byb, as pp pointed out. They’re increasingly ending up in rescue when owners find out they are allergic, or it’s not some biddable lap dog or family pet.

Generally, if you have a designer x, it is never from a reputable breeder. So someone new to dogs, with no knowledge of what to look for, i’d never recommend a x.

Op you can't ask about cross breeds on mn. You won't get anything but negative responses.

And generally for good reason! Doodle/poo crosses are generally puppy farmed or from BYB's and are not well-bred. Anyone can cross their Labrador with their neighbours' poodle, breed a litter of "labradoodles" and sell them for thousands. There's no breed standard (because it's not a breed), they don't need to be KC registered (because it's not a breed) and for some reason adding a poodle to any other decent breed of dog suddenly makes them worth a fortune.

Poodles are high energy working dogs, that trait doesn't disappear just because they're crossed with other breeds. They're fairly neurotic and need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to be happy dogs. Labradors are also high-energy dogs and as puppies they're very mouthy, chewy and can be prone to destruction if they're bored. Mix those two breeds together and you could end up with a destructive dog with separation anxiety, that sheds and needs a LOT of stimulation and exercise. Not easy to cope with in the best of circumstances, let alone when you have small children and both go to work.

When you take on a dog you have to be prepared to take on both the good and bad traits of the breed - with mixes/crosses you could end up with all the bad traits of both. That's why crosses (especially poodle crosses) are berated on here. Because people see "poodle" and think low-shedding, easy-care dogs. Poodles are not easy care - they might not shed but they're high maintenance and need lots of work. If you want a calm little family dog, a poodle cross is probably not for you!

What about a smaller breed? A Maltese, a Bichon, a shih-tzu - they're all smaller breeds who don't need tons of exercise and won't as needy or demanding as doodle.

What about a smaller breed? A Maltese, a Bichon, a shih-tzu - they're all smaller breeds who don't need tons of exercise and won't as needy or demanding as doodle

Yorkshire terrier. Fun, feisty, will walk for hours or be content with a spin round the garden. Easily trained, non shedding, hypoallergenic. Bloody good mousers too :)

Ha, yes, most smaller terrier-type dogs would fit the criteria too. Border terriers are generally very good all-round dogs. Small, friendly, not too neurotic, don't need hours of exercise but equally will go for hours if you want them to. I've never met one I didn't like.

I had Labradors growing up. They both had hip problems. They shed a fuck load.

I have a poodle x spaniel now, and a Maltese x. Neither shed. The Maltese is more chilled out but can't go for long walks, more of a walk around the block and then a nap kind of dog. Doesn't have as much patience with children. The poodle x is docile, dopey, loving, energetic and patient. He wouldn't hurt a fly. I love both dogs but I can't believe the beautiful temperament he has.

I have the most wonderful labradoodle, she is 9 years old, non shedding and still mad as a box of frogs, she is about the size of a lab. I love her so much, she is my third baby.

However I wish I had been on mumsnet when we were deciding what kind of dog to go for. I thought we had done so much research on where to get her (obviously wanted to avoid puppy farms) spoke to my vet about health issues and what we should look for, all the normal stuff you do when researching your longed for pet.

She has had health issues from about nine months old, non of the issues are life threatening (although she nearly died before her Addisons was diagnosed) our current insurance premium is just over £200/month.

As I said I love her so very much but I try and dissuade anyone buying a doodle type dog.

She has had health issues from about nine months old, non of the issues are life threatening (although she nearly died before her Addisons was diagnosed)

This is the thing, breeders will tell you everything you want to hear. That you get the best bits of both breeds with none of the health issues. And this is completely incorrect. I know personally 4 people with oodles. 3 of them have health issues that one breed is known for, one even died at 4 from heart conditions linked to the cavalier they were crossed with.

They are cross breeds that can take on any trait that the two it's bred from have and no breeder can guarantee what you will get.

I got a cockapoo after wanting a labradoodle for so long and I'm so glad I got a cockapoo instead, calm friendly quick learning dogs who don't shed much but still have a lovely coat, my friend got a labradoodle it is a lot bigger and it sheds hair more than my dog, still a lovely dog but I can't stand dog hair at all it makes me sneeze and I found out that Cockapoo's are good for anyone with allergies which is good for any visitors coming to the house :)

calm friendly quick learning dogs who don't shed much but still have a lovely coat, my friend got a labradoodle it is a lot bigger and it sheds hair more than my dog

This is your dog though, not a breed standard since it isn't a breed. Others may get more of the cocker spaniel side of it. I do wonder though, when it's the poodle side people desire in all these mixed breeds with the shedding and intelligence, why not just get a poodle instead of supporting the backyard breeders and puppy farms?
Doesn't make much sense. I can't understand why people want to support that industry and lay thousands to get a mutt when the traits desired can be obtained from a reputable breeder (I acknowledge not all breeders of pure bred dogs are ethical, but that's why research is important. It is possible to find an ethical legitimate registered breeder of a pure bred but not at all possible with a mixed breed that has no breed standards or guidelines they are bound by.)

I don’t have an issue with all these doodle crosses ( apart from the over commercialism of it and the nativity of some buyers) BUT I know several labradoodles and a couple of cockapoos and they are all completely nuts

I’ve got a labradoodle. I bought her because she came from a local breeder with fully health tested parents, and she can go back when we were away plus lifetime support from the breeder.

Local: meant I could take ds2 several times to check he wasn’t allergic and Ds1 several times to check he wasn’t terrified. Also I could check up on not a puppy farm.

Fully health tested : obvs.

Back for the holidays: I think it’s nicer for the dog than kennels.

Lifetime support: shows commitment and knowledge and has been really really handy.

I didn’t get the dog because she was a labradoodle.

She’s happens to be low molting (though the breeder made the point that this wasn’t guarenteed), very friendly and gentle loves other dogs and children. Not the prettiest dog in the world, But a solid family pet. Love her.