The Labradoodle is a cross between the Labrador retriever and the Poodle, said to be originally developed by Wally Cochran as a service dog for a blind woman who was severely allergic to dogs. The Labrador retriever was an established guide dog for the blind, while the Poodle had the quality of almost no shedding and low allergens. The successful cross led to the evolution of the breed, which has become very popular. Because of its temperament, low shedding qualities, lack of dog odor, high intelligence and trainability, Labradoodles are becoming popular pets the world over.

The breed is recognized by ACHC, LAA and CKC. Although it began as a Labrador retriever - Poodle mixed breed, now some variants such as Australian Labradoodles can have about six different breeds such as the Standard and Miniature Poodles, Toy Poodles, Curly Coat Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel and American Cocker Spaniel. The breed generally has the strong legs of a Labrador retriever and the non-allergen coat of a Poodle. Varying in colors such as chocolate, silver, cream, black and white, the males are 55-60 cms tall, while the females are shorter at 52-53.5 cms.

Males may weigh between 24-34 kgs and females weigh in the range of 20-27 kgs. Known to live up to 15 years, these dogs can be found in standard, medium and miniature sizes. The coats can be divided in to 3 types, wool type with tight curls similar to but softer than a Poodle’s; Fleece type free flowing soft coat with slight kinks; and the Hair type of the Labrador, having curly, wavy or straight appearance. They are excellent as guide dogs, therapy dogs and house pets, are good swimmers and possess the excellent intelligence common to both parent breeds.

As a dog breed, Labradoodles still do not ‘breed true’ always, which means that puppies may not have consistently predictable characteristics. According to experienced dog breeders, the Labradoodle breed is still developing and while many puppies display the desired characteristics, some puppies are still unpredictable in terms of appearance and behavioral traits.

Expert Tips On Handling Labradoodle Puppies

Labradoodle puppies should always be bought from a reputed dog breeder and never from pet shops. Puppies from ethical breeders are generally susceptible to less health problems.

Once the puppy is home, general care will be the same as other puppies. It must be taken to the vet regularly for checkups, vaccinated and if it is not meant for breeding, it should be spayed or neutered at the appropriate age.

The growing puppy, typical of its breed, is a highly energetic and an active creature. It must be given the appropriate dog food with the correct balance of protein, carbs, minerals and vitamins.

Experts recommend a crate for a Labradoodle puppy as it will fulfill its instinctive desire for a den. Initially, a puppy should not be crated for more than (age in months +1) a few hours at a time. The crate should never be used for punishments. Moreover, these puppies will need supervision as their naturally curious nature leads them to learn mischief which should be checked right at the beginning.

It is also necessary to teach him to socialize right from the start. Car rides, walks accompanied by a gentle leash, playing with other dogs and gentle children, and positive exposure to special situations such as being around people in wheelchairs or blind family members, or living with other pets are experiences the puppy may be exposed to right from three weeks to twenty weeks of age.

Like children, puppies need plenty of attention, affection and praise. They respond well to treats. Trainers often use different forms of treats to elicit certain behaviors.

Potty training: The best form of house training is prevention. In the initial days, the puppy should not be left unsupervised. The puppy should be taken outdoors when it is taken out of its crate, and rewarded when it eliminates outside. Likewise, after eating/drinking, it should be taken outdoors and praised when it potties outdoor. In case it is seen squatting indoors, it should be immediately interrupted with a noise or clap, firmly taken outside and after it finishes the job, rewarded. This type of positive reinforcement will quickly train the pup.

The ‘clicker’ therapy works well with this intelligent breed. For this, choose a word or any sound such as a click which will be like a signal to the puppy that a particular behavior is appreciated. To teach this positive association, make the sound, click or just say ‘good boy’ immediately before giving a treat. If you are training, the treat should be something small that the puppy can gulp down without chewing. Pea sized morsels of chopped liver, meat or doggy treats will work fine.

After the puppy has learnt to associate the treat with the sound, word or click, start training him. Reward good deeds with the click. The puppy soon learns to look for the click in what it does.

Labradoodle puppies get bored easily, particularly when they start getting into mischief. They should be given plenty of toys meant for dogs, and owners should spend time and play with them. Healthy games like fetch are entertaining and beneficial for these pups, while tug of war and rough housing can send wrong signals which cannot be controlled later.

It is really quite easy to have a well trained, obedient and lovable companion in a Labradoodle puppy. One only needs to keep abreast with the right techniques. Websites such as labradoodle-dogs.net provide a lot of useful tips on rising and taking care of this breed of dogs.

How To Take Care Of Labradoodles:

Experienced owners and veterinary practitioners recommend the following tips to take care of Labradoodles

* Regular vaccination to prevent a range of diseases.

* Regular medical checkups. At home, the dog should be examined thoroughly on a regular basis (at least once a month), especially the ears, skin, nose, teeth, gums and eyes. It is also important to take preventive measures against flea and heat worm attacks on a regular basis.

* In its food, maintain a proper balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, fats and vitamins and minerals. It is wise to choose dog food which has meat as the primary ingredient.

* Some owners claim brushing the dog’s teeth regularly is hugely beneficial. To maintain good oral hygiene, six monthly scaling and professional cleaning is recommended.

* Regular brushing of the coat and trimming around the eyes and chin are all the grooming required for Labradoodles. The nails must be cut to a length comfortable to the dog. Since these dogs have floppy ears, ear infections are common in the breed. The ears should be kept hair free, and cleaned regularly with cotton ball dipped in baby oil or ear cleaning solution. Q-tips can also be used, but they must not be inserted into the ear canal.

* Excessive bathing strips the coat of protective oils. Dogs were not meant by nature to take frequent baths. Usually, once in every few months is sufficient for this breed.

* This breed is a highly energetic one, and needs to be exercised regularly to maintain muscle tone and prevent diseases such as hip dysplasia. Experts recommend a minimum of two twenty minute walks a day, accompanied by swimming sessions which strengthen muscles without putting a strain on joints. Exercises, to develop and maintain the hip muscles, lowers the risk of developing hip dysplasia later in the dog’s life. However, if the dog is in pain, it should not be forced to exert its muscles. Instead, adequate steps recommended by a qualified vet should be strictly adhered to.

* Spaying or neutering is recommended for healthier and longer life. A female should be spayed before the first heat to prevent cancer and infection of the uterus. In case of males, neutering before it is 4 years old will reduce the risk of prostrate diseases and cancer of the testicles. It is also known to reduce aggression.

If the dog is not meant for breeding; spaying or neutering it will prevent unwanted puppies. In spaying, the reproductive organ of the female animal is removed surgically. For male dogs, the process of surgically removing the testicles is called neutering.

These procedures are conducted under anesthesia and the wound heals in about a week.

Most vets recommend the procedure at an appropriate age (before first heat cycle for females and by 4 years for males) as later, fat and possible heat/menstruation can affect the success of the procedure.

Neutered/spayed dogs show less behavioral and temperamental problems and the dogs are more affectionate and manageable.

Labradoodles are excellent house pets, guide dogs and lovable companions for different kinds of therapies. It is important to get puppies from a reliable dog breeder, which can be also found through online searches. There are many dedicated websites such as labradoodle-dogs.net which provide a variety of help, tips and information about Labradoodle breeders. The puppies require standard care and affection, and bringing up these dogs requires minimum hassle. With a little attention for a few months, these dogs can give a lifetime of love, care and companionship to their owners and their families.