Labradoodle
Labradoodle: does it suit you?
11 quick questions, the same ones this page answers. After each answer you see what the breed needs, and at the end whether it fits your life.
Labradoodle: a good fit for you
Labradoodle: could work, with compromises
Labradoodle: probably not the right dog for you
Your answers match what the breed needs.
Most of your answers fit. Check the points below before you decide.
Some of your answers don't fit what the breed needs. The points below show where.
What to think about
What fits
A better match for your answers:
None of the 42 breeds on this site fits your answers better.
The Labradoodle, a cross between the Labrador Retriever and the Poodle, was first bred in Australia as a guide dog rather than a designer pet.[1] Its originator, Wally Conron, says he bred it for a blind woman whose husband was allergic to dog hair, aiming for ‘a dog with the working ability of the Labrador and the coat of the poodle’.[1] His cross led to many successful Labradoodle guide dogs and set off the whole ‘oodle’ trend.[1]
- Size
- Medium–large
- Weight
- 14–30 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
Labradoodle: origin and history
In the 1980s Wally Conron was breeding manager at the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia, now known as Guide Dogs Victoria.[1] According to Conron’s account, it took three years of trying to find a solution for the blind woman before he came up with the idea of a brand new crossbreed.[1] The first Labradoodle, Sultan, was born in 1989 and served as a guide dog.[1]
The name ‘labradoodle’ itself was invented, the ABC reports, as a desperate attempt to win guide-dog clients over to the new crossbreed.[1]
Fact sheet
- Origin
- Australia
- Size
- Medium–large
- Height at withers
- 43–61 cm
- Weight
- 14–30 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Curly
- Colours
- Cream, apricot, gold, brown, black
- Low-shedding coat
- Yes
- Type
- Crossbreed
Character and needs
Rated on a scale from very low to very high.
- Exercise needshigh
- Trainabilityvery high
- Grooming needshigh
- Sheddinglow
- Barkinglow
- Good with kidsvery high
- Good with other dogsvery high
- Good with catshigh
- Apartment-friendlylow
- Copes with being alonelow
- Watchdog instinctvery low
- Good for first-time ownershigh
- Affectionvery high
Labradoodle: questions and answers
Is it a good dog for first-time owners?
Yes. It rates 4 out of 5 for first-time owners. These dogs learn quickly and like working with you (5 out of 5 for trainability).
How long can it be left alone?
2 to 3 hours, once the dog is an adult and has learned to be alone step by step. These dogs are very attached to their people and often struggle on their own (2 out of 5 for coping alone). More than 6 hours at a stretch isn't fair on any dog; plan for a dog sitter or daycare. Puppies need company: start with a few minutes and build up.
How much exercise does it need?
About 2 hours a day, spread over several walks. Plan for off-lead running or games, not just walks on the lead.
How long does it live?
12–15 years is the typical life expectancy. That is about the average of the 42 breeds on this site (12.6 years). Breed-typical health risks: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, eye disease, ear infections.
How big does it get?
43–61 cm at the withers and 14–30 kg. Size class: medium–large.
Is it a good family dog?
Yes. It rates 5 out of 5 with children. With other dogs it rates 5 out of 5, with cats 4 out of 5. Never leave young children alone with any dog.
Does it shed a lot?
Little: 2 out of 5 for shedding. The low-shedding coat is often better tolerated by people with allergies, but no dog is allergen-free. The coat keeps growing: brush it several times a week and have it trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks.
Male or female?
Males are usually larger: they sit at the top of the range (up to 61 cm and 30 kg), females at the bottom (from 43 cm and 14 kg). Character differences between the sexes are smaller than between individual dogs; upbringing matters more. Unspayed females come into heat about twice a year, and unneutered males can be restless around them.
Labradoodle or Golden Retriever?
Biggest difference: shedding (low vs. high).
| Labradoodle | Golden Retriever | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Medium–large | Large |
| Weight | 14–30 kg | 25–34 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15 years | 10–12 years |
| Coat | Curly | Long |
| Shedding | Low | High |
| Grooming needs | High | Moderate |
| Good for first-time owners | High | Very high |
Who it suits
A good fit if you…
- love being outdoors and have 2 hours or more a day for exercise
- are getting your first dog
- have children
- have a cat
- want a dog that sheds very little
- want a quiet dog
- want to do dog sports such as agility or obedience
- want a cuddly companion
Labradoodle: the downsides
Every breed has a flip side. Before you decide, check that you can live with these:
- Needs about 2 hours of exercise a day
- Every day, in any weather, for 12–15 years. Without enough exercise and things to do, the dog gets restless and may start chewing or barking.
- Struggles when left alone
- 2 to 3 hours at most. If you work away from home, plan for a dog sitter or daycare from the start.
- High-maintenance coat
- 4 out of 5 for grooming. The coat keeps growing: brush it several times a week and have it trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks.
- Needs space
- 2 out of 5 for apartment living. The dog does best in a house with a garden or with fields on the doorstep.
- Breed-typical health risks
- Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, eye disease, ear infections. Choose a breeder who screens the parents, and consider health insurance.
- No breed standard
- As a cross, size, coat and character vary more than in a pedigree breed, and a low-shedding coat is not guaranteed. Ask whether the parents were health-screened.
Labradoodle: puppy price and monthly costs
£1,000 – £2,000 for a puppy from a breeder in the UK (Agria Pet Insurance, 2026). From £83 a month in running costs in the UK (PDSA, 2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, other costs.
| Country | Puppy from a breeder | Running costs per month |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £1,000 – £2,000 [2] | from £83 [3] |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 [4] | $116 [5] |
| Canada | no data | CA$367 [6] |
| Australia | A$3,000–4,500 [7] | A$210 [8] |
| New Zealand | NZ$2,500–3,500 [9] | NZ$100 [10] |
- Set-up costs at the start: £415 – £560 for basic equipment, first vaccinations, wormers and neutering (PDSA, 2024).
- Dog licence in Northern Ireland: £12.50 a year; England, Scotland and Wales have none (nidirect, 2026).
- Dog licence in the US: $5 – $20 a year, set by the city or county (American Kennel Club, 2021).
- Dog licence in Canada: CA$25–60 a year in Toronto, less for a neutered dog (City of Toronto, 2026).
- Dog registration with the council in Australia: A$20–200 a year, depending on the council and whether the dog is desexed (Mozo, 2026).
- Dog registration with the council in New Zealand: NZ$78–182 a year in Auckland, depending on the dog (PetMall NZ, citing Auckland Council, 2026).
- Groomer: £39 – £85 per visit, every 6 to 8 weeks (Asda Money).
- Puppies far below these prices often come without health checks or papers.
Health
Breed-typical health risks
- Hip dysplasia [17]
- A malformed hip joint. Both parents should be X-ray screened.
- Elbow dysplasia [17]
- A malformed elbow joint that can cause lameness.
- Eye disease [18]
- Inherited conditions such as PRA or cataracts. Good breeders have the eyes tested.
- Ear infections [17]
- Floppy ears trap moisture. Check them regularly.
Health tests for the parent dogs
7 health tests appear in the breeding rules for the breed.
- Needed for a CHIC number in the US (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals): hip X-ray (HD), elbow X-ray (ED), eye exam, and DNA tests (EIC, prcd-PRA).
- Required of club members who breed in Australia (Australian Labradoodle Association Inc.): hip X-ray (HD), elbow X-ray (ED), and DNA tests (DM, EIC, NEEN, prcd-PRA).
| Test | United States [19] | Australia [20] |
|---|---|---|
| Hip X-ray (HD)Hip dysplasia | Required | Required |
| Elbow X-ray (ED)Elbow dysplasia | Required | Required |
| Eye examInherited eye disease, by a certified vet ophthalmologist | Required | not in the rules |
| DNA test: DMDegenerative myelopathy | not in the rules | Required |
| DNA test: EICExercise-induced collapse | Required | Required |
| DNA test: NEENNeonatal encephalopathy with seizures | not in the rules | Required |
| DNA test: prcd-PRAProgressive retinal atrophy | Required | Required |
● Required. ○ Recommended: advised, not required. – Not in the rules. The clubs and their rules are in the source list.
United States: ● means the test is needed for a CHIC number from the OFA; taking part in CHIC is voluntary.
Australia: ● means the breed club’s code of ethics requires the test of member breeders; the kennel club registers litters without it.
No kennel club sets breeding rules for crossbreeds. Ask for the health tests that the breed clubs require of both parent breeds: Labrador Retriever, Poodle.
What to ask the breeder
- Certificates for both parents: hip X-ray (HD), elbow X-ray (ED), and eye exam. A claim that the parents are “health tested” is not enough.
- DNA results of both parents for DM, EIC, NEEN, and prcd-PRA, or proof that both are clear by descent.
- To see the puppies with their mother, at the breeder’s home.
- 8 weeks: the youngest age at which a puppy may leave its mother in the UK, in Canada (Quebec), and in Australia (New South Wales). [21] [22] [23]
- Advice on buying a puppy: The Royal Kennel Club, The Canadian Kennel Club, Dogs Australia, and Dogs New Zealand. [24] [25] [26] [27]
No dog is completely allergen-free. If someone in your home has an allergy, spend time with the breed before you decide.
Similar breeds
Sources
- ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): The first ever labradoodle wasn't a designer dog, he was a guide dog (2019)
- Agria Pet Insurance (UK): Labradoodle Pet Insurance - The UK's Most Trusted Pet Insurer (2026)
- PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, UK veterinary charity): The cost of owning a dog (2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, other costs.
- PetMD: Labradoodle Dog Breed Health and Care (2025)
- ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): Cutting Pet Care Costs (2021). Covers food, vet visits, preventive medicine, insurance, toys and treats, boarding, dog licence, grooming supplies.
- Pets Plus Us (Canadian pet insurer; figures from OVMA 2024 Cost of Care research): HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGY? (EN-DOG_PPU_Cost-of-Care_Aug2024_v3.pdf) (2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, dog tax, accessories.
- Knose (pet insurer): Get Flexible Pet Insurance for Labradoodles (2026)
- Animal Medicines Australia (survey by Sweeney Research/SNR): Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people (Pet Ownership Study 2025) (2025). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, parasite treatment, vet medicines, supplements, grooming, training, accessories, dog walking, boarding, transport, memberships, alternative healthcare.
- PD Insurance NZ: Labradoodle Breed Profile And Most Asked Questions (2023)
- Companion Animals New Zealand (NZ Companion Animal Council): Companion Animals in New Zealand 2016 (section 6.3 Dogs, Fig 50) (2016). Covers food, vet visits, dog tax, boarding, equipment, grooming, healthcare products, insurance, training, other costs.
- nidirect (official government website for Northern Ireland): Dog licensing and microchipping (2026)
- American Kennel Club: Are You Financially Prepared for a Puppy? Explore Costs of Owning a Dog (2021)
- City of Toronto: Pet Licensing Fees (2026)
- Mozo: How much does it cost to own a dog or cat in Australia? 2026 (2026)
- PetMall NZ, citing Auckland Council: Auckland Dog Registration 2026–27: Late Fees Now Apply — Full Fee Table (2026)
- Asda Money (Asda Pet Insurance, administered by Insurance Factory Ltd): Dog Grooming Costs - Average UK Costs
- PLOS ONE (Bryson G.T. et al.): The doodle dilemma: How the physical health of 'Designer-crossbreed' Cockapoo, Labradoodle and Cavapoo dogs' compares to their purebred progenitor breeds (2024)
- Frontiers in Veterinary Science (Goossens L.-T. et al.): Retrospective evaluation of the prevalence of known and presumed hereditary eye diseases in a population of Labradoodles referred for ophthalmic screening examinations in the Netherlands (2026)
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA): CHIC Program Requirements: Australian Labradoodle
- Australian Labradoodle Association Inc. (ALA): ALA Rules and Regulations (rule 3, health screening of breeding dogs) (2025)
- UK Government (legislation.gov.uk): The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/486), Schedule 6 (breeding dogs) and Schedule 3 (selling animals as pets) (2018)
- Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ): Guide d'application du Règlement sur le bien-être et la sécurité des animaux domestiques de compagnie et des équidés (reproduces CQLR c. B-3.1, r. 0.1, art. 36) (2023)
- NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), State of New South Wales (fact sheet hosted by Dogs NSW): New laws for dog breeders in NSW (fact sheet on the 2024-25 amendments to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 and Companion Animals Act 1998) (2025)
- The Royal Kennel Club: Questions for the breeder
- The Canadian Kennel Club: Finding an Accountable Breeder
- Dogs Australia: Getting a Dog: Choosing a Breeder
- Dogs New Zealand: How do you go about purchasing a pedigree pure bred dog?
Breeding rules, health sources and breed standards checked October 8, 2026.
Prices as published by the sources; collected October 8, 2026.
Breed traits describe typical tendencies. Every dog is an individual, shaped by genes, upbringing and training.