What do you call a laughing labradoodle? A snickerdoodle, of course. Now we've gotten off to an awful start, things can only get better, because we're delving into the wonderful world of Labradoodles! These delightful canine companions have stolen the hearts of many with their charming personalities and unique features. If you're considering adding a Labradoodle to your family or are simply curious about these furry friends, let's delve into the intriguing aspects of this fascinating breed.

Labradoodle Basics

Average Lifespan: 12-15 yrs 

Average Weight: 23-30 kgs

Average Height: 53 -63 cm 

Colouring: A wide range of variations from Black, Chocolate, Caramel and cream 

Trainability: Easy to Train 

Exercise Needs: 1-2 hrs daily

Shedding:  Minimal Shedding 

Labradoodles are a crossbreed between Labrador Retrievers and Poodles, known for their intelligence, friendliness, and hypoallergenic coats. These dogs come in various sizes due to the differing sizes of their parent breeds and are loved for their playful nature and loyalty.
 

History of Labradoodles

Labradoodles can give their thanks to an equally awesome named Australian bloke, Wally Conran. He created the crossbreed in the late 1980s, spurred on by the request of a lady with a long-haired dog allergy. Giving him the idea to combine a poodles hypoallergenic coat, and Labradors gentle temperament and working ability. They soon gained popularity worldwide as a loving family pet. 

Despite their huge fanbase, Wally Conran has since made statements expressing his regrets. Principally down to other breeders not following his aim of only breeding healthy pups. A phenomenon sadly affecting many other breeds and crossbreeds due to the surges in ownership.

What do Labradoodles Look Like?

Labradoodles exhibit a diverse range of appearances, owing to their mixed lineage. How they inherit traits from their parents will vary in every instance, meaning early generation labradoodles can show large variances in size, coat texture, and color. Their coats can range from wavy to curly, with colours such as black, chocolate, cream, and caramel being common. Things can get even more interesting as you move into the second or third generation, with pups looking more like a long-hared Lab, or larger poodle.

As Australian Labradoodles have been around for a little longer, and are therefor further down the generations, looks and attributes are becoming more consistent. 

Labradoodle Personality 

One of the most endearing qualities of Labradoodles is their friendly and sociable nature. They tend to be affectionate, intelligent, and adaptable, making them excellent companions for families, singles, and seniors alike. Due to their desire for attention, they're not the best at being left alone, and can suffer from separation anxiety if left for long period. Their eagerness to please and trainability often make them suitable for various roles, including therapy and assistance dogs. They're also pawfectly suited to living in both cities or the countryside, as long as they get their daily steps in.

Due to their gentle natures, they typically get on with other family pets, whether they be dogs or cats. However like with most dogs, it's best to get these relationships set up from an early age, with a carefully planned "introduction" process.

Is a Labradoodle a High Maintenance Dog?

How high maintenance Labradoodles are really depends on how poodley, or how labradorey they are. Principally because this will impact what type of coat they have, either hair coat, wool coat, or fleece coat. The first and latter of these shedding more than the wool coat. Their grooming requirements will therefore depend on which coat type, but typically you should aim to give them a brush twice a week. 

Don't forget those teethies either! Whilst only 7% of us brush our doggies teeth daily, this is the #1 way to prevent dental disease. Get them used to it young, and you'll prevent a whole heap of havoc later on. 

Labradoodles Feeding Requirements

Looking for a dining pawtner that loves their dinner as much as you? Well, Labradoodles are for you. They typically LOVE food, so much so you might find them chomping on non-food items, so keep your eyes peeled. Like all dogs, they require a balanced and nutritional diet. It's also just as important to feed them the right amount, especially as puppies, so they don't develop too quickly.

There are a huge array of dog food's out there, so choosing the best one for you both may seem daunting. Ultimately, the best thing to do is turn the bag around and check the ingredients list, as this can't lie. Here's what to look out for:

• Clearly named ingredients: Ideally you should recognise what they all are, and they shouldn't be grouped together under umbrella terms like "animal derivatives"
• Meat as the first ingredient: Ingredients are listed in order of their quantity in the recipe, so ideally you'd see fish or meat listed first, rather than grains or cereals. Some brands also split up ingredients to sneakily get around this, e.g breaking up Cereal into vegetable proteins, 
• Fresh vs Dry Meat: At surface level, fresh meat may sound best, however as fresh meant is made up of roughly 70% moisture, during the cooking process much of this is lost. Therefore whilst the ingredient list protein percentage might look great, what your dog is actually getting is far less. For dry food, it's therefore good to spot some dried meat on the list.

Scrumbles, the Pawfect Food for a Labradoodle 

We're here to make your life easier, and have the perfect food for Labradoodles - Scrumbles! We carefully design all our recipes for happy tums (and bums), using natural ingredients, easily digestible proteins, and extra gut-friendly pre or probiotics. 

Here's why we think your Labradoodle will love Scrumbles:

1. Up to 70% meat or fish for a protein level you can feel proud of
2. Added pre or probiotics for pretty poops and healthy digestion
3. Hypoallergenic, so free from gluten, soy, dairy, egg and red meat
4. Grain free and limited ingredient options for Labradoodle with extra sensitive tummies
5. Plenty of choice, with complete dry food, wet food and treats on offer, in lots of different flavours like duck, chicken, turkey and salmon
6. Added joint care options, like our Salmon Dry Dog Food, that also has a perfect bite for Labradoodles.

So, what are you waiting for? Give us a try today, we can't wait to see what you both think

In conclusion,

Labradoodles are a fantastic addition to any family, bringing joy, love, and companionship. Remember, adopting or owning a Labradoodle comes with responsibilities, including regular vet check-ups, proper training, and providing a nurturing environment. You should also put the time in finding a reputable breeder, or look to adopt to ensure a healthy and happy pup.

Whilst you are here why not read 

1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breed Guide 

2. Yorkshire Terrier Breed Guide 

3. Shih Tzu Breed Guide