What Does the Labradoodle Puppy Look Like? Care Guide Included

What Does the Labradoodle Puppy Look Like? Care Guide Included

The labradoodle is one of the most popular dog breeds around, and for good reason. These amazing mixed breeds have incredible coats, amazing looks, great personalities, and they can even be hypoallergenic! 
But as is always the case when you’re adopting a new dog, there’s plenty to know about the labradoodle breed, so you should really do your research before deciding to make a doodle puppy your newest family member. 
labradoodle puppy
You may not know this, but labradoodles — which were supposedly named by Australian breeder Wally Conron — are often bred in puppy mills. This means that they can sometimes wind up with a fair number of health issues that you should know about before adopting a new puppy.
They’re also designer dogs, which means they’re not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), so learning about the breed standard may be a bit more confusing than it would be with a pure breed. 
If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of this information, don’t worry. We’ve collected everything you need to know about labradoodle puppies, from their typical size and weight to their behavior and personality traits and how to provide them with the high quality care that they deserve!

Physical Traits

The labradoodle is a medium-large size mixed breed dog that was created by crossing two purebreds, the Labrador retriever and the miniature or standard poodle. Their appearance, of course, is a blend of their two parent breeds. 
Labradoodles have beautiful coats that are even more incredible looking if you take them to the groomer regularly. Their coat type can vary between wavy, curly, wooly, and wiry. They come in a variety of different colors, ranging from red to black to chocolate to gold to cream to apricot to brindle and more. 
A labradoodle puppy is incredibly cute. It often has the appearance of a stuffed animal, with big eyes, oversized paws, and floppy ears. 
You may have heard of an Australian labradoodle before, and while they are similar, they are not the same exact thing as a standard labradoodle. They look quite alike, but the Australian is actually mixed with a cocker spaniel, so they have a better chance at being hypoallergenic than standard labradoodles.
If you’re in need of a hypoallergenic dog, you may want to get in contact with a labradoodle breeder in order to seek out the right pup for you.
Labradoodle puppy

Size

A standard male labradoodle will typically grow to between 22 and 24 inches in height and weigh between 50 and 65 pounds. A female standard labradoodle will generally grow to between 21 and 23 inches in height and weigh between 30 and 45 pounds. This makes them hover between a medium and a large breed dog. 
Your labradoodle puppy will be about 8 to 12 pounds once they’ve reached about two months old. They will be fully grown within a year. The size and weight that they eventually reach will be dependent on the size and weight of their parents.

Energy Levels

Labradoodles are pretty high energy dogs, which means that they require a good amount of exercise every day in order to keep them from being disobedient and destructive. 
About half an hour to an hour of good exercise each day will ensure that your labradoodle’s energy levels are kept in check. This exercise can consist of walks through the dog park (which is great for socialization, too), running, playtime, or a combination of the three.

Behavior and Personality

Due to the incredible popularity of the labradoodle breed, there are some instances of poor breeding practices with them, which can result in a wide variance in their personalities. However, there are certain characteristics that new dog owners can expect from a doodle that has been carefully and ethically bred. 
A well-bred labradoodle will be outgoing, affectionate, intelligent, playful, and energetic. They’re friendly to children, dogs, and strangers, which makes them quite effective as both therapy dogs and guide dogs. After all, labradoodles are a crossbreed of two of the most popular service dog breeds around! 
This breed is a good choice for first-time dog owners, as they are quite intelligent, which makes obedience and house training a lot easier. They may be pretty high-energy, but if you are able to give them attention and put in the work, labradoodles can be incredible companions by the time they are adult dogs. You’re likely to feel as though they are another family member!
beige Labradoodle puppy

Care Guide

There’s a ton of information that all new dog owners should take in before they bring home a puppy. From getting your house prepared for a new dog to leash training, grooming tips, health concerns, proper feeding, and all of the training they’re going to need, it can be a bit overwhelming, but learning it all is well worth it! 
Below are all of the tips and tricks you’re going to need to ensure that your labradoodle puppy becomes one of the best adult dogs you’ve ever known.

How to Prepare Your Home for a Labradoodle Puppy

Before you bring your labradoodle puppy into your family, you’re going to need to make sure your house is fully prepared for its newest resident. 
This includes things like: 

  • A crate or bed for them to sleep in
  • Bedding for their crate (if you are crate training)
  • Bowls for food and water
  • Puppy food that they’re used to
  • Toys for them to play with
  • A collar and a leash
  • Dog shampoos and towels
  • Grooming tools
  • Gates to block off a certain area just for them

Make sure to do the following, as well:

  • Remove or secure objects they can chew or pull
  • Keep electrical wires out of the puppy’s area

You should also get your family members on the same page about how the puppy is going to be trained and handled once it enters its new home. Miscommunication can lead to all sorts of problems in training!

Leash Training

To get your labradoodle puppy started with leash training, let them wear their collar around the house for an hour at a time to get acclimated to it. Once you’ve done that, you can begin teaching them how to go for walks around your house. 
It’s always best to keep some training treats on hand in order to encourage them to walk forward, stay by your side, and avoid dragging you. Once you’ve both got the hang of things, you can take the next step: going out in the street.
chocolate Labradoodle puppy

Grooming and Health Needs

Labradoodles have some of the most beautiful coats in the whole canine world, but that coat will require some attention and care if it’s going to stay looking great. 
An adventurous outdoor labradoodle needs to be brushed about once or twice a week and bathed about once a month or so. 
Frequently check their eyes and ears to ensure they’re nice and clean and try to clip their nails once every six weeks or so. If this sounds like too much, you can always take them to the groomer, too! 
Health issues to be aware of include elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, von Willebrand’s disease, and progressive retinal atrophy.

Food and Nutritional Needs

Get your beautiful designer dog some healthy all-natural puppy food and make sure to feed them regularly (but avoid overfeeding them). Puppies should eat about three times a day, but the amount you feed them will be dependent on their age, weight, and activity level. 
For example, a labradoodle pup that is about six weeks old and weighs around five pounds should usually eat one cup of food per day. Check with the label of your food and with your vet for the exact amounts you should provide.
cute labradoodle puppies

Training and Socialization

Labradoodles are quite intelligent. They take well to training, but that doesn’t mean it won’t require work to get them using the potty properly and behaving well around other dogs.
Obedience training can begin at 8 weeks and house training can begin at around 12 weeks. Socialization should begin when your puppy is around 7 to 8 weeks old. 
Make sure to give them plenty of playtime with other dogs and lots of interaction with people outside of their family so that they are well adjusted when it comes time to meet strangers.

Summary

That sums up all you need to know before bringing a labradoodle puppy into your family. We hope you found this guide useful, and we encourage you to continue learning as much as you can about how to raise a beautiful well-behaved labradoodle. Good luck!
 

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