In this post, we are going to learn everything about Labradoodle’s life stages. Read on to know the smallest detail about the life stages of a labradoodle, from puppyhood to adulthood. Also, we are going to give tips on how to take care of them at each stage!
What Is A Labradoodle’s Life Stages?
The life stages of a Labradoodle include four phases – puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood, and senior. Most small breeds obtain their maturity quickly and tend to live longer. Larger breeds mature slowly and generally have shorter adulthoods and senior years. Your Labradoodle is considered a medium or standard dog and should be about 50 to 65 pounds. They hopefully have an excellent range of living or from 12-14 years.
Labradoodle Growth Chart
How Long Does Puppyhood Last?
Like all dogs, a Labradoodle’s life begins with the puppy stage. This phase ends when your dog is about five months old. Of course, dogs do age at different speeds, and larger dogs mature slower than smaller dogs.
Puppies of any breed are really “babies.” They are adorable and do need appropriate socialization to grow into a well-adjusted adult Labradoodles. The stages of a puppy are:
From 0-7 weeks, puppies are learning submission and attention behaviors, attention, and how to get along with siblings and mom.
At 7-8 weeks, puppies are forming a strong bond with people and are mentally mature enough to adjust to changes. They eat dog food and no longer need the attention of mom.
From 8-10 weeks, your Labradoodle puppy is impressionable. They look for objects and people associations. Make sure your puppy has positive experiences with other animals, people, and new situations. Try and avoid scary experiences at this time. Unpleasant experiences should be turned into positive experiences. Praise, love, and laugh up your puppy. Do not give the human empathetic response of reassurance, even at vaccination time.
At 8-16 weeks, try enrolling your puppy in the training class. In class, you are taught how to train your puppy. Keep training sessions fun, and take advantage of your puppy’s dependence on you. Never punish your puppy for any reason. Expose your labradoodle puppy to new things and experiences as well as people. Keep the situation positive. Use a leash to keep your puppy under control and safe.
When your puppy is between 4-6 months, they are considered pre-adolescents. Labradoodle puppies gain confidence and more independence. Continue training, and do take your puppy with you everywhere. Keeping your puppy by you gives your puppy time to bond with you and understand what is expected of them.
When your puppy is 6-12 months, be aware that your puppy has needs for stimulation, companionship, and activity. They get bored quickly and never seem to be inactive. They will run away, chew, bark, and be generally obnoxious. Yet, at this time, Labradoodles are wonderful companions, teachable, and pleasurable. Just like a child, love your Labradoodle during this Labradoodle life stages. You will be well rewarded for your efforts.
What Can You Expect From Your Adolescent Labradoodle?
Adolescence is when your puppy starts to lose its awkward nature, and adolescent behavior driven by hormonal influences starts to emerge. Often vets will claim a dog is in the adolescent phase for 2-3 years, depending on the breed. Dogs are most challenging between the age of 8 months to about 18 months. At this point, you can call your dog a teenager, and they exhibit controlling habits like:
- Elimination; should be potty trained,
- No more indiscriminate biting,
- Focus improves,
- Labradoodles begin to sense their strength and agility,
- Labradoodles have their adult teeth, but still, need to chew. Keep your dog from being bored, curious, or anxious, and they will not chew on everything.
However, just like the teenage years in humans, your dog will be erratic and unpredictable. They will act goofy, playful one minute, and in the net instant, they will be obsessed with what is going on around them. An adolescent will be:
- Bolder in play,
- Jump on everyone and everything,
- Chew on random things,
- Tend to wander away.
Having a rebellious labradoodle can be an exciting time. Labradoodles show more confidence in what they can do, and they learn how to “mess with you.” Like stealing things to get your attention, trying to chase you, learning to fetch, and generally be energetic.
Labradoodle life stages of adolescence are the time these dogs show independence, territoriality, and protectiveness of possessions and food. They are interested in other dogs and strangers and may start barking. Now is the time to begin intensive training.
Be aware that adolescence is the time when dogs begin to find their sexuality. Sexual maturity can happen as early as six months, or in larger breeds, this type of maturity can take as long as two years to be sexually mature.
Way to survive your Labradoodle’s adolescence include:
- Bonding with your teenage dog. If you have had your dog since puppyhood, you are already off to a good start building bonds. Keep up the excellent work.
- Teething is just about done. No more teething is an awesome phase when your dog no longer chews on everything. Make sure you give your teenage dog appropriate toys to chew on – they have powerful jaws.
- Different sleeping schedules seem to appear. When your puppy spent more time asleep than awake, it was lovely. However, your teenage labradoodle will have an endless supply of energy. Keep up the fun training sessions and brain games and give you labradoodle plenty of exercises. Your labradoodle will likely wake up at nighttime to roam around and play. Have patience and put up with this phase!
- Socialize your teenage dog. You have socialized your puppy during their young age, but do not stop now. Expose your dog to different places, people, dogs, and situations. Keep different experiences positive. Do not worry if your dog appears to be fearful of things or situations he previously loved. These moments will come and go, and fears and likes will change.
- Your teenage Labradoodle will love going for walks. Keep them on a leash and train them well. If your labradoodle suddenly stops walking and stands very still, do not worry. Just keep walking, resist the urge to punish your labradoodle, and do not let him off-leash.
- Training will come and go, but although he learned to sit, lie down, and to come, and he ignores your commands, he will still remember. Right now, your teenager is having trouble accessing all the knowledge he learned. Training will return to normal if you are patient and keep up the rewarding, training, and your breathing.
- Males begin marking their territory and lifting their leg for the first time. Females also start marking their territory at this time. Aggression to other dogs can increase during this time of adolescence, and your labradoodle is learning to establish their territory, social status, and bonding with their family.
What Happens To Your Labradoodle In Adulthood?
Depending on the size, breed, and individuality of your labradoodle, adulthood starts at about three. Now your labradoodle is not growing so fast, and instead of getting longer and taller, your dog begins to fill out. Their chest and shoulders may broaden a bit.
Troublesome behaviors calm down, and your labradoodle is not as excitable as when they were adolescents. Your labradoodle is maturing and gaining confidence. Labradoodles reach their physical prime in adulthood.
If you have trained and socialized your labradoodle in puppyhood and adolescence, you will have a well-trained adult dog. You can take them out in public, walk them on a leash, and your dog exhibits confidence.
An adult labradoodle is still capable of social development, training, and learning. They are influenced by their environment, social interactions, and by you. Keep up established routines, socialization, training, and leadership. Find new opportunities to keep your labradoodle exercised in both mind and body.
What Happens When Your Labradoodle Become Middle Aged?
Usually, a labradoodle older than seven years is considered mature. If your labradoodle is smaller, they will tend to live several more years.
Mature dogs are easier to care for than puppies or adolescents, but they still need your companionship and socialization.
- Make sure your Labradoodle gets plenty of exercise to keep him active and at a healthy weight.
- Do not neglect vet visits. Mature dogs need gentle care and their vaccinations just as much as puppies and adolescent dogs
- Brush your labradoodle’s teeth. Good dental hygiene is essential as your labradoodle ages. Professional cleaning and regular brushing will prevent dental disease and decay. Use dental treats and toys if your dog will not let you brush their teeth.
- Watch your labradoodle’s diet. Mature dogs may have food issues, lack of appetite, obesity, or digestive difficulties. You may need to add fiber to their food to aid with digestion.
- Ask your vet about supplements to alleviate joint pain.
- Exercise is essential for mature dogs. Take your dog on short and easy walks and monitor breathing and gait to ensure that nothing is wrong. Your dog’s brain also needs exercise. Play with your mature labradoodle and use age-appropriate toys to keep your dog aware.
Senior Dogs
Older Labradoodles need special accommodations, food, and care. If your dog has sore joints or hip dysplasia, you may need to build a walking ramp so your Labradoodle can join you on your bed or jump in the car.
Keep food and water in areas where your Labradoodle can easily reach. It is a good idea to watch for vision impairment. Heated beds soothe achy joints and keep your senior dogs on a non-slip surface.
Look for changes in behavior, appetite, weight loss, or gain. Watch your senior’s dogs’ dental issues and check out lumps, lesions, or bumps.
Taking care of a senior dog can involve more work than you gave to your Labradoodle in their younger years, but caring for your senior dog gives back the years of unconditional love they gave to you.
We hope you learned a lot from this enlightening post about Labradoodle life stages.
If you enjoyed reading this, then you might also enjoy these other awesome posts about Labradoodles:
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