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Crossbreed · Australia

Labradoodle

Also called Doodle

A cross first bred for an Australian guide-dog program, now among the world's most popular family dogs.

The Labradoodle is a Labrador Retriever and Poodle cross, first bred on purpose in 1989 to produce a guide dog for a woman whose husband was allergic to dogs. It is usually friendly, social and eager to learn, but size, coat and shedding vary widely from dog to dog, and health depends heavily on the parents chosen.

Original AI-generated breed illustration

Weight

17 to 32 kg

37 to 70 lb

Height

50 to 62 cm

at the shoulder

Life expectancy

12 to 15 yrs

Activity estimate

90 to 120 min

editorial daily planning range

Adult-size estimate

16 months

approximate model input

Life with a Labradoodle

In 1989, Wally Conron, a breeding manager at a guide dog association in Victoria, Australia, received a request from a blind woman in Hawaii whose husband was allergic to dogs. After the Standard Poodles he tried proved unsuitable for guide work, he bred a Labrador Retriever to a Standard Poodle. One puppy from that litter, Sultan, suited the husband's allergies and went on to work as a guide dog. The catchy name was part of the publicity used to find homes for his littermates.

Demand exploded, and Conron has said in interviews that he regrets starting a trend that encouraged careless breeding. That is the honest background to the Labradoodle today: a genuinely lovely type of dog, produced by everyone from careful, health-testing breeders to large commercial operations that pay little attention to either parent. In Australia, a group of breeders also developed a multigenerational line with some Cocker Spaniel ancestry, known as the Australian Labradoodle, with its own breed associations.

Because it is a cross, the Labradoodle has no single standard size. Dogs bred from a Standard Poodle are usually 53 to 62 cm (21 to 24 in) and 20 to 32 kg (44 to 70 lb), which is the range shown on this page. Mediums are commonly 14 to 20 kg (31 to 44 lb), and miniatures from a Miniature Poodle parent can be 7 to 12 kg (15 to 26 lb). Ask to meet both parents, since their size is the best guide to your puppy's.

Temperament is more predictable than coat. Most Labradoodles are sociable, cheerful and people-oriented, with a Labrador's love of food and fun and a Poodle's quick mind. They usually greet strangers as friends, get on well with other dogs and adore children. The flip side is a dog that hates being left out, needs real exercise and can stay bouncy and mouthy well into its second year.

A great match for

active families with children
people wanting a sociable, trainable companion
owners prepared for regular professional grooming
therapy work, when bred from health-tested, calm parents

Think twice if

coat type and shedding hard to predict in puppies
matting without brushing several times a week
very high energy in young dogs
huge variation in quality between breeders
distress if left alone for long hours

Personality and needs at a glance

Living together

Good with children

Good with other dogs

Open with strangers

Apartment friendly

Copes with alone time

Energy and character

Energy level

Playfulness

Easy to train

Barking

5 means very vocal

Care and climate

Grooming needs

Shedding

Drooling

Handles cold

Handles heat

How much a Labradoodle eats

Illustrative calculations for neutered adults at midpoint breed weights, with food at 370 kcal per 100 g and 100 g per cup. These are not measured breed requirements. Use actual weight, the food label and veterinary body-condition advice.

Dog	Weight	Calories	Dry food
Female, relaxed lifestyle	23 kg	1010 kcal	275 g (2.8 cups)
Female, typical pet	23 kg	1160 kcal	315 g (3.3 cups)
Male, typical pet	26 kg	1290 kcal	350 g (3.5 cups)
Male, very active	26 kg	1610 kcal	435 g (4.3 cups)

Full Labradoodle feeding guide Calculate for my dog

Care guides for the Labradoodle

Feeding8 cups, depending on activity and metabolism. Mediums may need 180 to 260 g and miniatures closer to 100 to 150 g.Read more Puppy growthGrowth depends on size. Standard Labradoodles reach most of their height by 10 to 12 months and fill out until 16 to 18 months, while miniatures are close to adult size by 9 or 10 months.Read more ExerciseStandard Labradoodles generally need 60 to 90 minutes of activity a day as adults, and miniatures slightly less. Mix walks with off-lead play, fetch and swimming, which many love thanks to water-dog ancestry on both sides.Read more GroomingGrooming is the most underestimated part of owning a Labradoodle. Fleece and wool coats don't shed much, but that means loose hair stays in the coat and forms mats, especially behind the ears, under the collar, in the armpits and around the legs.Read more TrainingMost Labradoodles are quick, willing learners that respond enthusiastically to food, praise and play. They shine in obedience and trick training and often do well as therapy dogs.Read more HealthA Labradoodle can inherit conditions from either parent breed. Hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and other inherited eye problems, and ear infections linked to hairy, floppy ears are among the most common concerns.Read more

Things owners are often surprised by

1The first deliberate litter was bred in 1989 at a guide dog association in Victoria, Australia
2Comes in three rough sizes depending on the Poodle parent: miniature, medium and standard
3Labels such as F1 and F1B describe the generation and how much Poodle is in the mix
4The Australian Labradoodle is a separate multigenerational line that also includes Cocker Spaniel ancestry
5Puppies in a single litter can grow flat, wavy or curly coats
6No coat type is guaranteed to be allergy-friendly

Labradoodle questions

Are Labradoodles hypoallergenic?

No dog is truly hypoallergenic. Allergens come from saliva and skin as well as hair, and Labradoodle coats range from shedding flat coats to low-shedding wool. Some people with allergies do react less to low-shedding dogs, but it is not guaranteed. If you have allergies, spend time with the puppy's parents and ideally with adult dogs of a similar coat before deciding.

What do F1, F1B and multigen mean for Labradoodles?

They describe generation. An F1 is a first cross between a Labrador and a Poodle, which often produces varied coats. An F1B is an F1 crossed back to a Poodle, usually giving a curlier, lower-shedding coat. Multigenerational means both parents are Labradoodles, which can make coat and size more predictable when the breeder has selected carefully.

How can I tell what coat my Labradoodle puppy will have?

Early clues include facial furnishings: puppies with a beard and eyebrows at 6 to 8 weeks are more likely to grow a low-shedding coat. A DNA test for furnishings and curl can also help. Still, the adult coat usually doesn't fully show until 6 to 12 months, so ask the breeder what coats earlier litters from the same parents developed.

What is the difference between a Labradoodle and an Australian Labradoodle?

A Labradoodle is a cross of Labrador Retriever and Poodle in any generation. The Australian Labradoodle is a separate, multigenerational line developed in Australia that also includes Cocker Spaniel ancestry. Its breeders typically aim for more consistent size, coat and temperament and often keep their own registries and breeding standards.

Did the creator of the Labradoodle regret it?

Wally Conron, who bred the first guide-dog Labradoodles in 1989, has said in interviews that he regrets the trend it started. His concern was not the dogs themselves but the rush of careless breeding that followed, producing puppies with health and temperament problems. His comments are a good reminder to choose a breeder who health-tests both parents.

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