What to Consider Before Committing to Owning a Labradoodle

While a labradoodle can bring a great deal of joy to your life, you have to realize that they – and any other type of dog, for that matter – also require a lot of time, work and attention. A dog should be an extra member of your family, so it’s important that you think long and hard before you bring one into your home. Before you commit to this big decision, think about whether you’re ready and able to give a labradoodle everything that he needs.

Do You Have the Time?

It’s no secret that dogs take up a lot of your time. There’s the walking, feeding, training and playing, not to mention that labradoodles require a good deal of grooming, more than many other kinds of dog. What you might not realize is that it’s not really fair to leave your dog on his own for more than a few hours at a time. Therefore, if you work all day and no-one else is home, you may not be in the position to own a dog right now. If you do work all day, you have a couple of options. You could get more than one dog as they will be able to keep each other company. If you choose to do this, you’d be best off getting adult dogs, as a doodle pup will need to go outside to relieve himself every couple of hours at least. Alternatively, you could hire a dog walker to walk and play with your dog for a couple of hours each day, or you could enroll him in doggy daycare.

Exercise Requirements

Not only do you have to have the time to exercise your dog, you also need to be physically fit enough to give him all the exercise that he needs. Labradoodles are a hybrid of two working breeds, so they are fairly energetic. However, you should bear in mind that labradoodles come in three different sizes, so there may be one whose exercise requirements match up with yours. A medium or standard doodle will two walks each day of between 45 minutes and an hour. Toy varieties will only need a couple of 20 to 30 minute walks each day.

Unexpected Expenses

You might be ready to pay out the money to buy your dog or the money for a donation when you rescue one from a shelter, but you will need to consider the additional expenses that a dog brings. First of all he’ll need plenty of food, with larger labradoodles eating more than smaller ones. Then you’ll need to factor in the cost of vaccinations, spaying or neutering your dog if this hasn’t already been done, obedience classes, toys, bedding and other accessories. What’s more, you’ll then need to worry about potential veterinary bills. Pet insurance is a great option, but it will cost a monthly fee and there are still deductibles to pay if your pup has to see the vet.

A Labradoodle is for Life…

So you might be ready for early morning walks and growing food bills now, but can you say – beyond a reasonable doubt – that you’ll be okay with these things for the rest of your doodle’s life. The average labradoodle lives for between 10 and 15 years, so that is a big commitment. If you’re unsure what your future might have in store, for instance if you think you might want to emigrate or go traveling or start working long hours, then you might want to wait a while until you’re in a more stable position.

Photo credit: Roy Niswanger/Flickr

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