The Labradoodle is the Perfect Dog for non Dog People

golden labradoodle

Not too long after I married my husband, a bonafide dog lover, his dog, whom he often referred to as his ‘other woman’ passed away. He was simply heartbroken. I, however, didn’t really consider myself a dog person. They seemed to shed all the time, barked, yapped and generally made more work for me than I was really prepared for. Still, he seemed so sad so I relented.

I started looking around for a breed of dog that would meet our needs. I wanted a friendly, larger dog that was known as a ‘low-shedder’ and I found the perfect solution in the Labradoodle.

My hubby was, at first, skeptical. He couldn’t imagine that a dog with a name like Labradoodle was anything other than a ‘girly’ dog. I convinced him to visit a local breeder and he changed his mind. We settle on a ‘standard’ male labradoodle whom we named Caliber. He fit the bill perfectly. Because my husband insisted on a larger dog, the male labradoodle was perfect. As full-grown adults, standard labradoodles average between 55 and 75 pounds and can reach heights of 26 inches. Caliber’s size was just right.

labradoodle

Labradoodle Temperament

We soon learned his temperament was perfect as well. Labradoodles are known for their innate intelligence and my husband found that Caliber was easily trained. In no time at all they had a large repertoire of ‘tricks’ – Caliber even ‘dances’ with him. Our Labradoodle is by far the most even-tempered dog I have ever come across.

Labradoodle Grooming

Even better, Labradoodles are known to have little to no shedding throughout the course of the year. No ‘dog bunnies’ for me to clean up! Caliber’s coat has been easy to groom. The somewhat curly nature of his fur is attractive and we have managed to get by with only two trips to the groomers each year. Our breeder also explained that the Labradoodle is one of the best breeds for anyone concerned about mild allergies. This may be due to their lack of shedding. My mother-in-law is mildly allergic to pet dander and hasn’t had any trouble with Caliber.

Dark Labradoodle

My husband and I have both been ‘sold’ on the Labradoodle. Our local breeder has told us that many dogs of this breed are used as guide or therapy dogs because of their even temperament. We specifically asked about Labradoodles and children, as we are hoping to start a family soon. Our breeder explained that while each dog is different, the Labradoodle breed is one of the best breeds for families with children because of their temperament.

While no dog could ever replace the one my husband lost, our Labradoodle Caliber has come close. He and my husband are now good companions. Instead of having ‘another woman’ to hang out with, my husband now jokes that he and Caliber need ‘guy time.’ I would suggest this breed to anyone looking for a larger dog with an even temperament or to someone suffering from mild dog allergies that still wants to enjoy a dog. As for me, I think I have finally become a dog lover and am considering getting a miniature labradoodle for my own.