How To Take Care Of A Labradoodle [Step-By-Step]

Maybe you’re a new Labradoodle fur parent, or you just want to learn more about how to take care of a Labradoodle. What are its traits and how can you keep it healthy and happy?

This article talks about the Labradoodle characteristics, health conditions, nutrition, grooming, vet care, and every step you need to take to ensure your Labradoodle’s wellbeing.

To truly take proper care of a Labradoodle, it is best to have their food and water available to them throughout the day while you are at home with them.

Also, before placing them into their crate for the night, make sure to put away their food and water a couple of hours ahead of time. You should then take them out one last time for the evening to do their business. This way they are empty.

Labradoodle Characteristics

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One thing that you need to remember is the fact that the Labradoodle breed has not been around for long, and the breed requires more time for the breed to become ideal among other breeds. To achieve this, parent breeds need to be cared for as best as possible so that they will have great characteristics such as those below.

Temperament

Even though the Labradoodle is a bit smaller than both parent breeds, the perfect offspring will be determined by having the ideal mix of both. They are known to be friendly and have a mature nature and behavior however, can also be full of energy.

With the poodle and Labradors known to be intelligent breeds, it is expected that their mixed breed would be considered the same. Because of this, it is hard to say what the Labradoodle’s true behavior will be.

Besides being affectionate and intelligent, Labradoodles are friendly towards other animals regardless of the location. Also, they are very confident and sociable and you will love that they are loyal, kind, and can easily please.

Although Labradoodles are known for their gentleness, you need to be aware of the amount of excitement they are capable of exhibiting while playing, that way they can be supervised around children. Besides this, you’ll love having this dog breed by your side.

Health

There are always going to be some type of health condition that is unforeseen that pops up when a new breed is created. However, these conditions may be seen with puppies of two Labradoodles. Plus, the Labradoodle is not even an official breed so treating any complications may become harder.

With the hips being the common problem between the two, they do also appear to show a good amount of strength too. When the genes are set perfectly, then they will be able to be resistant to a lot of future health problems.

Labradoodle Life Span

The life span of a labradoodle is between 12-14 years.

Exercise Regimen

You will get a lot of playtime with your Labradoodle. This means you will need to provide a lot of opportunities for exercise.

A big yard will be perfect for them. If you are active, then this will be the perfect breed to help keep you moving outdoors. This also goes for the water because they love that too.

Swimming is a great way to help them burn off the excess energy that they have built up. Keep in mind that the longer you leave your Labradoodle alone, the more that it could destroy things within your home because of lack of exercise.

So if you plan to bring one home, then you need to be able to provide the amount of exercise that they require as a breed.

Training A Labradoodle

How to take care of a Labradoodle through training? Having a good understanding of what the training involves will help a lot. When you begin to train a puppy it will do what it needs to receive its treat. You can find many sources of information online concerning training.

But if you need help, make sure to consult a professional dog trainer or attend some courses so you can be familiar with techniques. Besides the professional tips, here are a few that also work when you start the training.

Prepare Yourself

Make sure that your home and yard are prepared. Make sure nothing dangerous is within reach and ensure your yard is fenced to prevent running off.

Also, make sure that your schedule permits enough time that is required. When you can, provide consistent training, then they will be set for their entire life. By being there for the pup, you’ll get the most out of your dog’s training.

The worst thing that you can do is leave them alone. So what you need to do is provide plenty of time so that a base can be created and your dog remains happy, behaved, and calm.

Obtain Trust To Build A Bond

Before training, a strong bond must be developed that is created out of trust. Once trust has been established with your Labradoodle, they will be a lot calmer and will always listen. Be sure to maintain your own energy level too so they don’t mimic your actions.

How To Take Care Of A Labradoodle Through Obedience Training

Getting your Labradoodle obedience trained should be the first thing on your mind. When you start from the beginning then they will be less confused and more comfortable in the new home.

When expectations are controlled, the amount of trouble that they cause will be decreased. Although it may seem easier to not do anything yet, you are actually making them feel better by creating boundaries with simple instructions.

How To Take Care Of A Labradoodle Using Positive Reinforcement

It is never a good idea to use fear or make your Labradoodle feel intimidated to develop a bond. However, incorporating positive reinforcement will provide more rewards and results through patience. To get the best results and to bring out the best behavior, it is necessary to provide treats and praise every time they perform a great job.

Training For Potty Time

It may seem like a difficult task to complete, but it is possible to get your Labradoodle to accept and understand. It requires a routine that remains consistent until they can recognize it themselves. This means they need to be let outside every day at the same time and area.

Preferably, this should be accomplished upon waking in the morning, after eating and drinking, and every time you return home. At first, it could seem tough for your Labradoodle to hold it until morning, so you will need to adjust to these odd times of needing to go potty outside.

Training For A Crate

Training your Labradoodle for a crate is not a method that all dog owners incorporate, however it can be a great tool when first starting out. A crate provides safety and individual space. The time spent in the crate needs to be positive in nature and never for long periods of time.

Socializing With Their Human

It’s natural for dogs to be social, and with Labradoodles, they are always going to be happy seeing their human owner and playing with them. When it comes to confidence building, it will not be easy and it takes a lot of guidance from you.

To ensure that your Labradoodle grows with great character traits, they need to be among other animals and people. To achieve this, just take more time to go out so that they can socialize and get used to the various elements of their environment.

Developing Manners

It is easy for your Labradoodle to develop undesirable habits. However, these can be broken easily. It is best to start developing their manners as a puppy because when they are older it will not be so easy to break the habits.

Temperament

Developing a nice temperament is always needed when children are in the home too. There also needs to be a way to develop trust that is mutual so that the child and puppy will get along. To do this, start with a few of these examples:

• Have children talk quieter

• Have toys available for kids to practice with so they know how to hold the puppy

• Have a place set aside that your Labradoodle can escape to and children are not permitted

How To Take Care Of A Labradoodle By Developing A Routine

Creating a routine is very important. The younger they are, the better that it will be as they grow. They will feel reassured when they have expectations and will be able to follow their routine during the day. This can be done by having them awakened, fed, and walked around the same hour throughout the day.

Patience Goes A Long Way

As you train your Labradoodle puppy, the best way to be successful is by being patient throughout the process. Be prepared for the mistakes and remember that your puppy will need plenty of time to get it right.

Make a strong bond by interacting constantly through play and giving love so that training will be enjoyed.

Naturally Friendly

Another great characteristic of a Labradoodle is that they are naturally friendly and do very well around small children and families in general.

When your Labradoodle is socialized the right way they should be able to hold back any aggressiveness and fear that animals normally express.

You do need to be sure to monitor their excitement level when around small children as they can become too high-strung and cause children to be knocked over by accident. To avoid any type of accident, be certain that all children are familiar with treating a dog appropriately.

Easily Adaptable

Being easily adaptable makes the Labradoodle a great pet to have if you have the room. If your home does not have a yard or space, then you may have a problem. This is because the Labradoodle requires a sizeable amount of space to ensure they remain subtle.

Physical Characteristics/Vital Statistics

Labradoodles are beautiful dogs with a coat of curly fur and ears that flop, which are similarities of their parent breeds.

The Labradoodle appears like the lab with a shaggy look, or they may have curls from the Poodle. You may also find that they have both characteristics.

Their size also differs, which is determined by the parent Poodle’s size. Regardless, the average height will be around 20 inches.

The weight can also fluctuate in the following ways:

• With an average height of 20 inches in both male and female Labradoodles, their weight can fluctuate between 55 lbs and 70 lbs.

• Labradoodles of medium size that have an average height of 19 inches will normally have a fluctuating weight between 35 lbs and 50 lbs.

• Miniatures will have an average height of around 15 inches and a weight that fluctuates between 10 lbs and 20 lbs.

• The colors of a Labradoodle can also vary. These colors can be anywhere from blue, silver, chocolate, parchment, cream, red, black, caramel, apricot, chalk, and gold. Not only that, but they may have coats that consist of more than one color.

Health Conditions Mainly Seen In The Labradoodle Breed

A misconception that surrounds mixed breeds such as the Labradoodle is that they have no health problems. Unfortunately, this is not true, because it is possible to inherit the health conditions from both the Labrador and Poodle breeds.

The reasoning behind this thinking is due to “outbreeding”, which is thought to decrease the chance of obtaining any diseases or conditions that may be passed down genetically.

This so-called outbreeding is certainly untrue for Labradoodles because many are known to have shown signs of problems that both parents show, which can be traced from many occurrences of inbreeding.

It is believed that inbreeding causes the crazy behavior that poodles express.

It is important to know how to take care of a Labradoodle to avoid possible health problems.

Health problems Seen From The Labradoodle Mix

• Dysplasia in the joints occurs often because of the breeds normally being large breeds that are known to have this condition. It may be possible to avoid this problem if both parents are certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, which can certify that no joint problems will occur. Although there is no guarantee, it is a great way to search first.

• Conditions with the eyes also exist among the Labs and poodle breeds. These are also genetic and can be passed to the pups. To know for certain, the parents can be screened for any conditions that are inheritable like atrophy in the retina. As your Labradoodle gets older it may develop other types of eye conditions.

Health Problems Seen Within The Poodle Breed

• A disease known as Von Willebrand is a disorder that involves bleeding and is similar to the human condition of hemophilia. This is noticed in Poodle breeds and can be passed to the Labradoodle pup.

• Another disease that commonly occurs is known as sebaceous adenitis. This condition affects the Poodle’s skin. Although the problem is treatable, it will never truly go away on its own.

• The third major problem often seen in poodles is Addison’s disease, also known as hypoadrenocorticism. It affects the endocrine system and is easily passed to the Labradoodle. Because of its effect on the poodle’s pituitary gland, they may experience anything from sudden collapse, overly tired, and may have vomiting episodes. This condition requires medication but it will only control the condition and not eliminate it.

Health Problems Seen With The Lab Breed

• Lymphoma can show up in all dogs and the Lab is not exempt. Although it occurs as the dog gets older, they can still be affected by it harshly.

• Suffering from ear infections is another issue among Labradors. A lot of times they are related to allergies and can also be associated with ear problems that the poodle has, which can affect the ear canal.

• Allergic reactions also occur with the skin, and some may be seasonal so your Labradoodle may experience constant itchiness.

Other Possible Health Issues That Affect The Labradoodle

• Issues with behavior can occur if not trained at an early age. Unfortunately, some may never grow out of their issues.

• Bowel issues also affect the Labradoodle breed and affect them more than any other breed.

• The neurological disorder that can affect your Labradoodle is epilepsy and although it is controllable, it needs constant observation along with medicine.

Are Allergies An Issue With Labradoodles

Labradoodles are not known to be hypoallergenic dogs. Although they do not produce much dander than their parent breeds, there have been instances of allergies being sparked.

There are so many different coats and Labradoodles need a substantial amount of grooming if their coat is very shaggy or long as well as those with very curly coats.

How To Take Care Of A Labradoodle

If you have plans of owning a Labradoodle, then it is dire that you be serious about it and consider their health. With so much responsibility, a few things need to be understood and need to be conducted as often as possible. Here are some tips on how to take care of a Labradoodle.

How To Take Care Of A Labradoodle By Grooming

Your Labradoodle’s coat needs to be groomed regularly and hair must be trimmed yearly or every six months. The hair should be no longer than 5 inches.

With grooming, the hair plays a major role. A Labradoodle can have two types of coat:

• They have a fleece coat that is thick and curly. You can keep them long, but they need to be brushed as much as possible. Trimmings should be at least yearly, which is dependent on the hair of the dog and how straight the dog’s hair is.

• The second type of coat is wool type and the best way to maintain them is by trimming every five months. It should be maintained or it becomes more difficult when it gets longer. Knots in the hair occur regularly and it can feel matted.

A crucial point to remember here has to do with the hair’s color, texture, and density and the fact that it changes as the years go by.

Bathing your Labradoodle regularly is also important, but make sure not to bathe them too often or their natural oils will be depleted, leaving the hair thin and rough.

Grooming can be an extensive process and may need professional assistance if you are unsure of anything.

How To Take Care of A Labradoodle Through Good Nutrition

The diet of a Labradoodle consists of mostly protein sources as well as some plants and grain sources. Similar to other canines, many items are available that a Labradoodle can eat as well as steer clear from. These include chocolate, grapes, mushrooms, and cherries.

How To Take Care Of A Labradoodle With Veterinary Care

Regardless of where you got your Labradoodle from, it is always a good idea to have them checked out by your vet and then to have them spayed or neutered if you don’t want pups. When you have them fixed you are providing many benefits to their behavior and overall health.

Once that is done, begin the vaccination process. Then, make sure that you visit your vet twice a year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are other questions that people ask about how to take care of Labradoodles.

Are Labradoodles Easy To Care For?

Yes, they are very docile and make perfect pets for any family. They have a happy demeanor and are very trainable.

Although they have many unique characteristics in their coats, shedding is not usually an issue. Remember, you need to keep them groomed regularly.

How Often Should You Wash A Labradoodle?

When you bathe your Labradoodle, it helps you maintain their overall appearance and prevents any tangling while maintaining their cleanliness.

Typically, bathing should happen at most every 3 weeks; however, you can put it off for at least a month depending on what season it is and other habits that they may have for grooming.

What Is The Best Food For A Labradoodle?

Ollie Petfood is said to be the best among Labradoodle owners for the simple fact that they love it and can’t seem to get enough of it. Although it may cost a bit more, the quality will surely have you forgetting about the price once you see how much your dog loves it.

After eating it for a while, you’ll notice your Labradoodle begin to show an improvement in their health and decreases the amount of shedding.

The best advice that you can use is to have your Labradoodle try the food so you can witness the way your dog enjoys the food after it’s given to them.

Great qualities include:

• No additives
• Food is fresh
• Will satisfy the picky type
• Food is developed with your dog’s diet requirement in mind

Can A Labradoodle Be Left Alone?

Yes, you can leave your Labradoodle alone but make sure that it is not for an extended amount of time. This is because dogs are naturally sociable, so you need to remember that so you don’t come home to a disaster in your home.

When you decide to leave your Labradoodle home alone, make sure to have plenty of toys for them to enjoy.

Do Labradoodles Like To Cuddle?

Yes, Labradoodles are cuddle buddies and especially so when they are exhausted from so much play or exercise. They are also naturally affectionate, likable, and very loveable.

But like any other breed of dog, the frequency of cuddles may differ based on their type of nature, the weather, and whether they are young or old.

All in all, once you know how to take care of a labradoodle, you’ll see just how easy it is. However, you do need to be able to supply them with a lot of love, exercise, toys, a nutritious diet, and a big enough place to run that is safe.

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I hope you enjoyed this post about how to take care of a Labradoodle.

If you did, then you will also love these amazing Labradoodle posts:

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• How Much Does A Labradoodle Cost? [Full Breakdown]
• What Are The Best Treats For Labradoodle Puppies? [Top 10]

Thanks for reading! You can get more tips and tricks for your Labradoodle here.