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Original poster

Labradoodles

56 replies

jodesxx · 13/01/2023 22:55

What are labradoodles genuinely like? I can see lots online but just want a real life answer!

We have a 9 month old baby and two cats. Looking to get a dog now. We have large garden and can easily give 1hr exercise 4 days a week round work patterns and longer onn3 days a week.

Also considering labradors, golden retriever

OP posts:
Tygertiger · 13/01/2023 23:15

They are a cross. Very fashionable, like cockerpoos, but popular is never good with dogs as it mean’s unscrupulous breeders and puppy farmers go into overdrive to cash in.

For a first dog I would get a lab but I would 100% wait in your situation. All puppies are bitey horrible creatures for the first 6 months, sometimes longer, and they like to bite children the most as they find them very stimulating and exciting and want to play with them, and puppies play with their mouths - and puppy teeth are like needles. They draw blood. Toilet training involves garden trips every 15 mins for weeks plus time at night. Even then you will have piss and shit on the floor plenty of times for weeks. A puppy can’t be left alone at all until a few months old. Training is intensive if you want a well-mannered adult dog.

In summary - it’s not compatible with a young baby who also needs your full attention and as first-time dog owners you can multiply that. Wait until your child is at school and can be relied on not to eat poo/pull the dog’s tail etc and when you can focus more on the puppy.

tabulahrasa · 14/01/2023 04:53

A 9 month old and a puppy is about the worst time to get one tbh. A baby crawling around with a tiny basically incontinent bitey thing?...

Puppies mouthing isn’t as mild as it sounds, their baby teeth are like needles, much sharper than adult dogs and they bite a lot, for months. It’s how they play to start with and they usually fixate on children because they’re fun - a baby on the floor is going to be the most exciting thing to a puppy.

And housetraining is sometimes only a few weeks, but a few months isn’t that rare, adding a baby into that is going to be hard going, they need to go outside about every 20-30 minutes for an unknown amount of time and will still have accidents inside too.

But you won’t really get a good answer about labradoodles because they’re all a bit different, that’s kind of the nature of a crossbred dog, for every trait both physical and behavioural it could be like either parent or somewhere in between. Even puppies born in the same litter can be very different from each other.

Princesspollyyy · 14/01/2023 04:58

A friend of mine got a labradoodle and she said it was a mistake, that it was very very hard work, and she wishes she had never got the dog.

gingerhamster · 14/01/2023 05:02

Labradoodles are cross breeds, and there's no "one size fits all" description of them. This is especially true because of all the backyard breeders/puppy farmers not breeding responsibly. If you're interested in one because you think they don't shed, think again as many do.

Labs and goldies are both great family dogs, but as someone who's currently got an 8 week old crocapup in the house I beg you to reconsider until your child is much older! It's a stressful time consuming business raising a puppy.

Original poster
jodesxx · 14/01/2023 05:16

We've had a dog before (had to be put down due to illness) so fully aware of demands of a puppy. It's more just the breed but I think what I'm getting is if we do get one, it is to perhaps be cautious with a labradoodle. We will maybe sick to lab/Golden retriever.

We may wait until baby is walking so a few months and it will be summer then so more time spent outside to toilet train. We used puppy pads before and tbf we had him trained within a couple weeks

OP posts:
HandsOffMyCarrierBags · 14/01/2023 05:34

My friend has a beautiful black one who i regularly have when the owner works away. I think if you are a couch potato this is not the dog for you, although relaxed and quiet in the home, he thrives on long walks and looks a bit sad after a few days of short walks. He is coordinated and bouncy and can move at speed through fields. He is a very happy sweet dog, great with kids, seldom barks, wants to please, good with my kitten and my dogs, doesn’t chew furniture and good recall. I suspect Labs are calmer as puppies

HandsOffMyCarrierBags · 14/01/2023 05:39

labradoodles can live longer then labs due to the poodle element and from my experience seem to have less hip issues.

FarFlungFlamingo · 14/01/2023 06:59

One hour exercise wouldn't be enough for the labradoodles I know once they're past the puppy stage. Keeping them clean in the winter looks like a lot of work too, a lab's coat is much easier in that respect.

I've also met a few out and about that ended up much bigger than the owners were expecting. That's the risk with a cross, you are never quite sure what you'll end up with. Same with whether they shed or not.

Like others have said, baby/toddler + pup is going to be super hard work.

SilliusSoddus · 14/01/2023 07:02

Look at a Labrador.
Look at a poodle.
Be prepared for any aspects of either breed.

May be laid back and intelligent.
May be greedy and needy.

HandsOffMyCarrierBags · 14/01/2023 07:04

labradoodles don’t have that awful Labrador coat smell.

NotABeliever · 14/01/2023 07:12

My fitness instructor has one, now 3 years old. He's VERY lively. Lovely but a force of nature. They're childless and have put a lot of effort into training him and he's a well behaved dog but at three yer old, still chews a lot and is constantly active. I don't know if this is typical of all labradoodles.

NotABeliever · 14/01/2023 07:13

Also, he's (the labradoodles) is massive, definitely not smaller than my DB's labrador.

Orangesare · 14/01/2023 07:16

I would get a lab but wait until your child is older. I’ve an old lab and a 2 and 5 year old. And it’s hard enough some days and the dog is very placid and very well trained. You will have the dog for about 14 years so it’s important to get it right.

Reluctantadult · 14/01/2023 07:22

My mum has her second labradoodle now. Based on hers they seem to need quite a lot of exercise and be bouncy and lively rather than quiet. The one she's got now will not stop jumping up and mouthing, but I think she's worse with me than anyone else. She's a bit bloody big for it. My mum does lots of training, agility/hoopers, long walks twice a day.

Mydogatemypurse · 14/01/2023 07:27

My neighbour has one, hes very naughty and needs walking a lot, but i won't lie im head over heels with him. Cute, funny, very loving. But i couldn't have one. He's definitely a bit crazy ha.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 14/01/2023 07:37

I’d get a show line Labrador but wait until your child is older. The bity puppy stage in a retrieving breed is quite something they are bred to want to have something in their mouth

BarrelOfOtters · 14/01/2023 07:42

Friends have one and he’s very calm, easily trained, lovely dog. He gets a good run at the weekend but mostly on lead walks in the week. Much much bigger than they were expecting, he’s a lion. So, you can’t really tell what you’ll get.

Starlitestarbright · 14/01/2023 07:48

We have a Labrador cocker spaniel so a cockerador. She's almost 1 and amazing and starting to settle down we have done lots of training with her. Are you experienced with dogs. I grew up with labs as my dad used to puppy walk them for the guide dogs. If you haven't please find as much information as you can its a huge commitment. Personally. I think getting a puppy and having a baby is too much. We waited until our youngest was 6 years old.

romdowa · 14/01/2023 07:59

Having had a labrador and now having a cockerpoo, I'd say just get a labrador. My next door neighbour has a goldenpoo and he's just as crazy as my cockerpoo. Poodle crosses just seem to be hyper dogs.

Stygimoloch · 14/01/2023 08:31

We have a 9 month labradoodle. She’s amazing. Best thing we ever did. She’s funny and cute and great with the kids. She doesn’t shed but her coat needs a lot of work to stop it matting. She’s also a mud sponge and spends a lot of time in the shower. She’s excitable and greedy. We love her so much.

MayThe4th · 14/01/2023 08:38

The best way to figure out how big a dog is going to be is to look at its paws. Even on a cute little puppy, if it’s going to be a big dog, it will have big paws.

I remember seeing a labradoodle at the vet once, cute puppy and I said to the owner “That’s going to be a big dog.” She laughed and said she was sure it wouldn’t. I saw it six months later and it was enormous.

Treecreature · 14/01/2023 08:42

The original breeder of the labradoodle said it was his life's biggest regret due to the waves of irresponsible breeding he inspired. Have a Google, interesting reading. It's hard to predict a mongrels personality, could be a bit of one or a bit of the other. Who knows.

CornishCathy · 14/01/2023 08:43

I'd say an hour is way too low in terms of exercise. I have a 2 year old Labrador and she really needs at least 2 hours minimum. Actually she'd be out all day if she could. Maybe a smaller dog?

Timeforachangeisitnot · 14/01/2023 08:49

I have labs, working types , but if I was starting again I would search for a nicely bred lab/ golden cross .
I have met a lot of this cross, training as guide dogs. Apparently they have the drive and work ethic of a lab, with the softer nature of a golden.
I agree with others though , that a soon to be crawling baby, and a puppy are not a great mix.

Goawayangryman · 14/01/2023 10:34

Agree that Retrievers can be another level of bitey as puppies. We were covered in cuts, bruises and scratches. Even friends who are doggy people and have their own dogs were shocked. But, they are generally lovely family dogs when mature.