Breed profile: Labradoodle

Note: This is a guest post by Omar Reyes of Dog Care Journey.

Designer dogs, hybrid dogs, puggles, goldendoodles, schnoodles, and yes, Labradoodles have become more popular recently.

But aren’t they all just mixed breed dogs? Well, in a way, they are.

So what makes them so special?

Let’s take a step back and present a more “formal” definition of a hybrid or designer dog.

A designer dog or “hybrid” is a dog that is a deliberate cross between two purebred dogs of different dog breeds.

In a way, they are also different than your typical idea of a mutt – a mix or cross of different, and usually unknown dog breeds.

The designer dog is deliberately bred and usually has parents that are carefully selected. In the case of the Labradoodle, the breed is created by crossing a Labrador retriever and a poodle. Some breeders choose to breed Labradoodles with other Labradoodles.

You may say that a Labradoodle is still a mutt, and you may be right. But there are many people who would disagree. In fact, they would be willing to spend up to $2,000 (in some cases) for a quality Labradoodle.

Labradoodles are actually one of the most popular designer dogs. Both Labrador retrievers and poodles are very popular dog breeds. They are both intelligent and love to please their families. In many cases, Labradoodles will share similar traits to their parents.

Because poodles shed less than other dog breeds, they are often used in these hybrid crosses in an attempt to create a more hypoallergenic dog breed. In the case of the Labrador retriever, a notorious shedder, breeders are attempting to create a loving, friendly, intelligent and active dog that will have a more curly coat that will shed less.

Although Labradoodles are claimed to be hypoallergenic, this really depends on the individual dog.

Labradoodles were first bred around 1989. Since then, they have been used as guide dogs and assistance dogs because they are very gentle and easily trained.

Labradoodle appearance

Labrador retrievers are crossed with either the standard poodle or the miniature poodle to create first generation Labradoodles. Some of the puppies from these crosses will have curly coats like the poodle, while others will more closely resemble the Labrador parent. Some puppies will end up with a wiry coat.

Some of the offspring will have a personality that is more like the poodle, while others will have the temperament of a Lab. The truth is, they are crosses and can have the look and personality of either parent or a combination of both.

As far as their coat colors, they can have coats of white, cream, gold, apricot, red, brown, black and other colors that can be seen in poodles. The colors of the pups depend on genetics. Not all the puppies will be the same color just because they are from the same litter or just because their parents are a certain color.

Health of Labradoodles

When breeding Labradoodles and other designer dogs, breeders claim to be trying to produce “hybrid vigor.” Whether or not hybrid vigor actually exists is debatable.

Some people claim that mixed breed dogs are healthier. In reality, a Labradoodle could be free of the genetic conditions that may plague their purebred parents, or not. If both parents suffer from the same genetic condition, chances are that their offspring will suffer from that condition as well.

If you are considering a Labradoodle, or any puppy for that matter, your best bet is to find a responsible breeder who has had the parents tested for genetic conditions before breeding them.

Labradoodles and other designer dogs are very popular right now and they can make wonderful pets. But no matter what type of dog you are considering, the advice remains the same – do your research. If you are considering a designer dog, then be sure that both parent dog breeds are compatible with your lifestyle because your puppy may have traits from both parents.

And as always, remember, there are many wonderful dogs, mixed breeds and purebred dogs, who need a loving home.

Now it’s your turn. What do you think about the current trend in designer dogs?

Some examples of designer dogs:

That Mutt has featured many breed profiles.