Is a Labradoodle the Right Dog for You?

Bringing a dog into the home is a big responsibility. You need to make sure that your new pup is going to be right for you and fit in with your lifestyle, otherwise you risk the chance that he may later have to be rehomed, which would be extremely undesirable. As such, it’s vital that you ask yourself a series of questions before you choose to accept a labradoodle into your family. Be certain that you can commit to your new dog for life and that you’re going to be able to provide him with a suitable home. 

How Much Free Time Do You Have?

Known for being friendly, affectionate and intelligent, the labradoodle loves to be with his family. Therefore, he’s best suited to someone who spends the majority of the day in the house – such as a stay at home parent or a person who works from home – or can take him with them to work. If your dog is going to have to be alone for most of the day while you’re out at work, then a labradoodle probably isn’t the breed for you. Left alone for too long, your dog will be unhappy and may even become destructive as a form of separation anxiety. You’ll also need plenty of free time in which to train your pup. These bright dogs love to learn and will benefit from positive reinforcement training.

Where Do You Live?

Labradoodles come in three sizes: miniature, medium and standard. Miniatures usually weigh between 15 and 30 pounds, mediums between 30 and 45 pounds and standards between 45 and 100 pounds. Therefore, if you live in an apartment, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t own a labradoodle, it just means that you should go for a miniature or a smaller medium The problem is that, as a hybrid breed, labradoodles don’t have set traits. Therefore, if you buy a miniature puppy, he may end up growing larger than expected. If you definitely want a labradoodle of a certain size, you’d be better off rescuing an older dog.

Do You Have Other Pets?

Labradoodles are generally friendly and laid back, so you should be fine keeping one with other pets in the home. While they’re known to be good with cats, every dog is an individual, so you’ll still have to exercise some caution.

Are You Active?

Both Labradors and poodles are working breeds, which means labradoodles need a fair amount of exercise. They’re moderately active dogs, so they’ll require at least one walk every day, along with some time for free play. Smaller labradoodles will need less exercise than their larger counterparts, but they’re still not the ideal pet for someone looking for a dog who’s a couch potato. Members off this breed often excel at and enjoy participating in activities such as agility. 

Do You Want a High-Maintenance Dog?

The majority of labradoodles have long shaggy or curly coats, so they do require a fair amount of grooming. You’ll have to be prepared to brush your dog’s coat daily or every couple of days at the very least. He may also need to have regular trims from a professional groomer, once every two to three months. This can be both costly and time consuming.

Labradoodles make wonderful pets for the right person, but you shouldn’t commit to owning one if you’re not sure if you have the time and energy to look after one properly. If you do think that a labradoodle is the breed for you, you’re bound to have years of fun and love ahead of you.

Photo credit: Lexicog/Wikimedia

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