Has any one got a Labradoodle ?

bigbellylady · 2009-12-03T09:20:11+00:00

We are planning on getting a Labradoodle puppy as we feel it is the right breed for us... ...but as a relatively new breed my dh has some reservations. Does any one have any experience / advice ?? Thanks

ReneRusso · 03/12/2009 09:30

I don't have one, but I do know one. He's a very big, quite energetic, bouncy dog with lovely temperament. Many of them don't shed hair or so I understand. The ones bred from a standard poodle cross are quite large, you might consider a miniature.

paisleyleaf · 03/12/2009 09:36

Same here, I don't have one, but know one.
It's taken over their house. Its so big, lively and bouncy.
I guess a lot of that is in the training though.

Original poster

bigbellylady · 03/12/2009 09:36

thanks,

yes the non shedding is a major plus and we have found a fab breeder and are just awaiting the birth of the puppies. The mum we met was not huge and we want a bitch so she is unlikely to be too big too.

Any more advice welcome

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Stayingsunnygirl · 03/12/2009 09:42

No advice here - sorry, but just wanted to say that there is a beautiful brown labradoodle bitch in the puppy classes our brown lab puppy goes to. She has the most gorgeous curly brown coat, and I just want to cuddle her. She is utterly gorgeous, and I hope your puppy is as lovely - you will have a great time with her, I am sure.

shopalot · 03/12/2009 09:42

Most of them do shed hair. It is a very small percentage that actually don't. I will look for the link I was reading recently. Back soon...

shopalot · 03/12/2009 09:50

here We have a friend with a black labradoodle and he sheds much more than our labrador and is huge (even though the parents were both small)

jasmeeen · 03/12/2009 09:51

I have a labradoodle - he is nearly one, and we are thinking of getting another one in six months or so as he is such a pleasure.

He is quite big and bouncy but they do come in different sizes and I saw his parents so knew he would be on the large size. He has a fantastic temperament and is great with the kids.

He does shed hair tho, as do lots of the labradoodles I know, so please don't rely on this feature. Ours is a first generation labradoodle and I think the non shedding comes out more in the second or third generations.

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 03/12/2009 09:55

I sort of have one, she is an eighth bearded collie in with the mixture. She's 6 months old today and we've had her for 2 months.

There are a variety of different coats ( along the lines of fleece, wool and something) and it is fairly likely they will shed and will cause allergy - my friend reacted faster to our puppy than she does to the 3 cats. There's all the stuff about which generation they are as well eg. F1, F1A, F2 & F3. You can't really tell as puppies whether they will shed or not and a lot are ending up in rescue at the moment as people are turning out to be allergic (and you often can't tell with the puppy coat) and they end up bigger and bouncier than people realise and the Labradoodle Trust are urgently requiring foster homes as they've had so many in.

As Rene said, they can get quite bit but there are minatures, mediums and standards - however there are a fair few minatures who have ended up bigger than expected, so probably best avoided if size is an issue.

They are very bouncy and mine suffers from being over friendly, they definitely need a firm hand or can potentially be a bit of a nightmare if you have a highly enthusiastic & large bouncy dog. They are also pretty intelligent having poodle in them and need occupying. I've just gone downstairs to see what was going on as am working upstairs as is DH and there was a huge amount of barking. She'd finished her tug a jug and found a slightly open gap in the chest of drawers and has been pulling hats all over the place. She's now armed with stuffed kong, refilled tug a jug and stuffed bone in freezer for later. Unfortunately she has kennel cough so not getting walked enough which is a complete nightmare. Training and lots of it is an absolute must which is currently an issue as she's not been able to go due to her kennel cough. We're having a few problems with how she views DS (6) and he's now a bit wary of her. Inevitably it is his pants and socks she legs it with, I often hear him yelling " Mum, dog's run away with my pants again".

She is my first dog and everyone keeps saying what a fab dog she will be when she calms down and I can see this in her but the last 2 months have been harder work than having a child. Google for the Doodle Times forum and go and have a look there.

The plus side is that though she is a pickle, she is completely lovely, incredibly friendly and makes us laugh a lot. DD summed it up this morning when she said there was a DDog sized hole in the house which is now filled and the family feels right. When she's not ill she is reasonably calmish with her one walk a day (5 mins per month of age) and several short training sessions a day to mentally wear her out. I think mine is now currently eating the stair gate.

Hullygully · 03/12/2009 09:56

The tighter and curlier the coat (ie the more poodle in there) the less the shedding. They do require a lot of grooming and they do shed, but they are more like drifts of hair so easier to manage than those small hairs that get stuck in everything. I have a goldendoodle (retriever and poodle) and she is lovely, but terribly strong minded. And huge.

Original poster

bigbellylady · 03/12/2009 09:58

thanks

We had a bad experience with a Jack Russel and our daughter and had to rehome him (it broke ds' heart) so we just want a breed that is better with children

The pup we are hoping to get will be a F3 Labradoodle and the parenst are low shedding so there is a good chance pups will be low shedding too. The temperment is the most important thing and the low shedding would be a bonus.

I just cant wait till the pups are born so we know for sure if we can get a bitch (we are 3rd in line) or if we have to look elsewhere.

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amazonianwoman · 03/12/2009 10:01

Friend has a labradoodle. He is the size of a (very energetic) donkey and sheds for England. Friend has to vacuum every day without fail. Way too big to wash in their big family bath, has to be hosed down outside.

Lovely dog though

amazonianwoman · 03/12/2009 10:03

Friend's labradoodle's parents were low shedding too I'd expect to get a shedding dog TBH and count it as a bonus if it doesn't.

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 03/12/2009 10:03

Labradonkey is the word you are looking for Amazonianwoman !

amazonianwoman · 03/12/2009 10:06

Shall we start breeding them?

minimu · 03/12/2009 10:06

I have trained many for the dogs for disabled and they come in all shape and sizes. Many do shed so if this is a major reason for getting one don't!.

Generally they are bouncy intelligent dogs who need to be kept busy. They are friendly but will go self employed if you don't keep their brain working.

I do hate generalising over breeds but they can be very ott and do need to be taught calm, which they do learn quickly but it is not something you would have to teach to a greyhound for example.

The can be quite bouncy around kids so again will have to be shown the appropriate behaviour but they are very trainable dogs and respond extremely well to positive reinforcement.

I have also had a large number of them being referred to me for behavioural issues over the las 18 months but that is generally from inexperienced owners who have not been consistent in training.

Original poster

bigbellylady · 03/12/2009 10:11

thanks - just read the link shopalot and helpful.

Minimu - my dream job would be working for dogs for disabled. I am an OT and saw one ad years ago for an OT to work with people and their dogs when first paired but I guess the jobs hardly come up !

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bumpsoon · 03/12/2009 15:32

I know two ,one is a standard cross and looks like a cross between what a mess and a poodle ,and is very big ,bigger than the standard poodle i know .The other is a miniature cross and looks like a someone has boil washed a labrador !They do both shed hair ,although have totally different coats . If it is your first dog i would make sure you get lots of dog training lessons in and you should be fine , dont rely on the non shedding thing though, and thats only a tiny part of the mess a dog will make .

CountryGirl2007 · 03/12/2009 16:25

No different from your average Lab cross, large, very energetic and be prepared to do about two hours exersize a day plus mental games and training because they are a combination of two very energetic working breeds.

CountryGirl2007 · 03/12/2009 16:29

No different from your average Lab cross, large, very energetic and be prepared to do about two hours exersize a day plus mental games and training because they are a combination of two very energetic working breeds.

ScaredOfCows · 03/12/2009 16:56

bigbellylady just wondered what your reasons were for getting a labradoodle, rather than a standard poodle or a labrador?

OtterInaSkoda · 03/12/2009 17:04

If it's shedding that worries you, I imagine a poodle would be a safer bet. I'd love one (or two) but the cat and dp won't let me.

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/12/2009 22:50

2 friends have them

one dappy, bouncy, countless energy and a loving pita

other calm and likeable and sleeps lots

no 2 are the same - bit like children

Millarkie · 06/12/2009 19:32

We have a lab-cross (she's second hand so not totally sure of her breeding) which the vet thinks is a labradoodle. To be honest she's like a labrador with messy looking coat (not as curly as most photos of labradoodles I've seen) and a bit of a kooky run (her legs seem too long for her).
She's great with the kids, but not non-shedding.