Labradoodle: coat types, looks and how to recognise one
A Labradoodle combines a Labrador’s sturdy frame with a coat that ranges from smooth to tight Poodle curls. The coat type and colour are the quickest clues. A photo shows which breeds your dog looks closest to.
Also known as: Lab Poodle mix, Labrapoodle, Australian Labradoodle, DoodleCross of: Labrador Retriever × Poodle
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About the Labradoodle
The Labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle, usually the Standard size. It was first bred deliberately in Australia in the late 1980s as a guide dog for a person with an allergic partner, and became one of the best-known designer crosses worldwide. It is not recognised by the FCI, AKC or KC. The Australian Labradoodle is a separate line bred over many generations, with other breeds such as the Cocker Spaniel added. Most Labradoodles are friendly, clever and energetic, combining the retriever’s cheerfulness with the Poodle’s quick mind.
At a glance
- Type
- Mixed breed
- Size
- Large
- Adult weight
- 20–36 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- High
How to recognise a Labradoodle
- Three coat types: flat or hair coat close to a Labrador’s, wavy fleece, and tight wool curls close to a Poodle’s.
- Colours include cream, apricot, gold, red, chocolate, black, chalk and parti; Labrador yellow often comes through as cream or apricot.
- Drop ears of medium length, covered in wavy or curly hair that can hide where the ear begins.
- Head broader than a Poodle’s with a medium muzzle; furnished dogs have a beard and eyebrows that soften the face.
- Medium to large, athletic body that is sturdier than a Poodle’s and lighter than a Labrador’s.
- Tail of medium length, carried happily and covered in the same coat as the body, never docked.
Photo tip. Photograph the dog after a fresh trim if possible, side-on and with the face visible; a heavy coat hides the head shape and build the identifier relies on.
Labradoodle or look-alike?
Goldendoodle
Goldendoodles are often longer and shaggier, with a softer, more flowing coat and golden to red shades. A Labradoodle’s coat tends to be tighter and its head and chest a little broader.
Poodle
A Standard Poodle has a long, narrow head with a fine, straight muzzle, an elegant square body and a high-set tail. A Labradoodle is stockier, with a wider skull and less defined curls.
Portuguese Water Dog
The Portuguese Water Dog is a pure breed with a broader, domed head, a powerful build and black, brown or black-and-white coats, often lion-clipped. Cream or apricot coats point to a Labradoodle.
Cockapoo
A Cockapoo is clearly smaller, with longer, lower-set ears and a rounder head. A Labradoodle of similar colour stands taller and has a deeper chest and a longer muzzle.
What a Labradoodle inherits
Labradoodles vary more than most crosses. First-generation (F1) puppies can carry anything from a Labrador’s flat coat to a Poodle’s wool, and size depends on which Poodle was used. Later generations and multigenerational lines are more predictable in coat and size. Labradoodle is one of the labels the Petus photo check knows, so it often names the cross directly. Flat-coated dogs may come back as Labrador Retriever, curly ones as Poodle, with Goldendoodle as a frequent runner-up. Only a DNA test separates the two doodles reliably.
Health and care
- Hip dysplasia comes from both parents and PRA genes from both; ask for hip and elbow scores and prcd-PRA DNA results on both parents. EIC testing applies to the Labrador side.
- Fleece and wool coats do not shed much but mat quickly. Plan regular brushing to the skin and a professional trim every few months.
- Hairy, floppy ears hold moisture. Check and clean them regularly, especially after swimming, as ear infections are common.
- An energetic, clever dog that needs daily exercise and something to think about, such as retrieving games, scent work or training.
- The Labrador appetite, which some carry with the POMC gene variant, can appear. Measure every portion, keep treats small and check the waistline monthly.