Breeds / Large
Labradoodle puppies
Friendly, loyal and quick to learn, the Labradoodle is an active family companion that was first bred as an assistance dog. It is sociable to the point of disliking long spells alone, and needs about an hour of exercise a day.
The facts
- Size class Large
- A cross of Labrador Retriever and Poodle
- Adult weight 22.7 to 34 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 50 to 75 lb
- Adult height 53 to 64 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming High
- Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
A cross, not a breed. The Labradoodle is a cross rather than a standardised breed, so size, coat and temperament vary between litters and individual puppies and can favour either parent, and it matters whether a puppy is a first cross of two purebred parents or a later generation such as a backcross to a Poodle, which is more likely to inherit the low shedding coat. A miniature Labradoodle bred from a Miniature Poodle usually finishes near 14 kg and 41 to 51 cm rather than the standard figures given here.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Labradoodle puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and it will need a job to do long before it needs long walks. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened in breeding stock by OFA or PennHIP radiographs
- Progressive retinal atrophy, detectable by DNA test on both parents and by veterinary eye examination
- Hereditary cataracts and glaucoma, found on an eye examination including intraocular pressure testing
- Exercise induced collapse from the Labrador side, detectable by DNA test
- Heart disease, investigated by auscultation for a murmur, then echocardiography and chest radiographs
- Ear infections in the drop, hairy ear canal, found on otoscopic examination
From Labradoodle breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/labradoodle. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Labradoodle puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Labradoodle.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 22.7 to 34 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other large breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.