The oodle that started it all
Every oodle you've ever patted owes something to the Labradoodle. Before the Cavoodles, the Groodles and every other Poodle cross you can think of, there was one shaggy, bouncy, ridiculously friendly dog bred in Victoria with a very specific job to do. These days it's one of the most recognisable dogs in the country, usually spotted mid-zoomie at the beach with a stick twice its length.
Labradoodle, Aussie Labradoodle, doodle, or "the one that looks like a muppet" to anyone who's seen one fresh out of a swim. Whatever you call them, they're a big, happy part of the Pupstyle family and the original member of the oodle crew (along with their cousins the Cavoodle and the Groodle). Here's our little guide to the dog that kicked off a worldwide trend.
Origin of the Labradoodle
The Labradoodle is a proper Aussie invention. In the 1980s, Wally Conron, the breeding manager at the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia in Victoria, got a request from a blind woman in Hawaii who needed a guide dog that wouldn't set off her husband's allergies. After years of searching without finding a suitable Standard Poodle, in 1989 he crossed a Labrador Retriever with a Standard Poodle. One puppy from that first litter, a dog named Sultan, had the low-shedding coat and the right temperament, and off he went to Hawaii to do the job.
To find homes for Sultan's littermates, the association called them "Labradoodles" and pitched them as a brand new kind of dog. It worked better than anyone expected. Breeders around the world started crossing Poodles with everything in sight, and the whole oodle boom took off from there. Conron himself has since said he has mixed feelings about the trend he started, mostly because of the unscrupulous breeders it attracted, which is a good reminder to choose your breeder carefully.
Through the 1990s, a couple of dedicated breeders in Victoria set about turning the Labradoodle into something more consistent. They carefully added a few other breeds, including the Cocker Spaniel, to soften the temperament, shrink the size range and make the coat more reliable. That multi-generational line is now known as the Australian Labradoodle, and it's quite a different dog to a straight first-cross Lab and Poodle. Both are very much loved, and both are still Labradoodles to most of us at the dog park.
Physical characteristics of the Labradoodle
Labradoodles come in three rough sizes depending on the Poodle in the family tree. Standards are the big ones, around 53 to 61 cm at the shoulder and usually 23 to 30 kg. Mediums sit around 43 to 51 cm and 13 to 20 kg, and Miniatures are roughly 35 to 43 cm and 7 to 12 kg. Because they're a cross, even littermates can land at very different sizes, and first-cross Labradoodles in particular can end up anywhere in that range.
Their coat comes in three main types. A hair coat is flatter and more like a Labrador's, and it does shed. A fleece coat is soft and wavy, and a wool coat is tighter and curlier like a Poodle's, and those two shed very little. It's worth knowing that no dog is truly hypoallergenic, and a first-cross puppy can end up with any of the three, so if allergies are the reason you want a Labradoodle, spend time with the parents first. Colours range from chalk and cream through apricot, caramel, red, chocolate and black, plus parti and the softer café and lavender shades. Fleece and wool coats keep growing, so plan on brushing a few times a week and a groomer every six to eight weeks.
They have a friendly, rounded head, long feathered ears, big expressive eyes often peeking out from under a fringe, and a tail that rarely stops wagging. On average a Labradoodle lives around 12 to 15 years, with the smaller ones often sitting at the longer end of that range.
The character of the Labradoodle
If we had to sum up a Labradoodle in one sentence, it'd be "a Labrador's enthusiasm with a Poodle's brain, and the volume set to eleven." They are joyful, social, clever dogs who think every person they meet is a new best friend and every puddle is an invitation. Kids, other dogs, the postie, the neighbour over the fence, all of them get the full welcome.
They're quick learners and eager to please, which is exactly why they were bred as guide dogs and why they still turn up as therapy and assistance dogs today. That brain needs something to do, though. A Labradoodle with nothing to think about will invent its own projects, and you probably won't like them. Training games, sniffy walks and puzzle feeders go a long way, and early socialisation and some work on calm greetings will save you from a lot of muddy pawprints on visitors.
Energy-wise, they're an active breed, especially when young. Most need a good hour a day between walks, play and a swim if you can find one, and the Labrador side means they'll happily retrieve until your arm falls off. Australian Labradoodles are often a little calmer than first crosses, but none of them are couch potatoes. They also love their people a lot, so they do best in homes where someone's around a fair bit and they're included in family life.
Feeding
The Labrador side of the family is famous for being food obsessed, and plenty of Labradoodles inherit the full set of skills: counter surfing, bin raiding and an uncanny ability to hear a cheese wrapper from three rooms away. Extra kilos put strain on their hips and elbows, which are already a weak spot for the breed, so keeping them lean really matters.
A good-quality, balanced diet suited to their size and life stage, fed as measured meals, is the goal. For Medium and Standard puppies, a large-breed puppy formula helps their joints grow at a steady pace. Bigger, deep-chested Labradoodles can be at risk of bloat, so splitting food into two smaller meals, using a slow feeder and skipping wild play straight after dinner are all sensible habits.
A quick rule of thumb is to run your hands gently over their sides. Under all that fluff you should be able to feel their ribs without pressing in hard, and they should have a visible waist when you look down at them from above. The coat hides a lot, so a fresh groom is the perfect time for an honest check.
Side note: if your Labradoodle has suddenly gone very quiet, they've found something. Go and check the pantry.
Health of the Labradoodle
Labradoodles are generally healthy, hardy dogs, but they can inherit conditions from both sides of the family. The main ones to know about are hip and elbow dysplasia, inherited eye conditions like progressive retinal atrophy (which both Labradors and Poodles can carry), and Addison's disease, a hormone condition that turns up on the Poodle side. Skin allergies are also fairly common, so itchy paws or ears are worth a chat with your vet rather than putting up with them.
The single best thing you can do is choose a breeder who hip and elbow scores their dogs, does eye checks and DNA testing, and is happy to show you the results. After that, it's the everyday habits. Those floppy, hairy ears plus a love of water make ear infections very common, so check them weekly and dry them out after every swim. Keep the coat brushed right down to the skin so mats don't form under the ears, in the armpits and wherever a harness or collar sits, and keep exercise sensible while they're growing, with plenty of running and sniffing but not too much repetitive jumping.
On walks, a big excited Labradoodle can hit the end of the lead with a lot of force, and on a collar all of that lands on their throat. A well-fitted step-in harness spreads the pressure across the chest and gives you far more control while they're still learning lead manners. Because ours doesn't go over the head, there's no wrestling a fluffy face and two big ears through a loop every morning. Regular vet check-ups, up-to-date vaccinations and a good daily run will cover the rest.
The original Aussie oodle
A Labradoodle is happiness with a fringe. Friendly, clever, bouncy, a bit goofy and completely devoted to their family. They suit active households who want a dog that's part of everything, don't mind a wet dog on the back seat, and are happy to keep up with the brushing, the exercise and the training that keep that big brain busy.
And for what it's worth, all that fluff looks especially good in a Labradoodle harness with a matching bandana or bow. Most fully grown Labradoodles and smaller girls fit our size M, the bigger boys sit in an L, and puppies usually start in an S until around 7 to 10 months. With a breed this varied, a tape measure is your best friend. Purely an unbiased observation, of course.
