Brenda,
Thought I would tell you that Lucky is the name of the most beautiful
labradoodle that there is!
He is great! Had a wonderful night! He is smart as a whip!!!! He
fetches / and brings it back / goes outside to the potty!

He is great!!
Just got back from the vet’s. He
pronounced him a healthy beautiful fantastic pup! Lucky weighed 10 lbs. 2
oz.
He delighted everyone at the office!

Kathy

Thanks

Labradoodles are a cross of 2 breeds; the Labrador Retriever and Poodle.

Both of these breeds are known for their loving, fun, people pleasing personalities.

There’s a reason they’re not guard dogs… neither breed has any aggression or “nasty” in them. They are convinced everyone loves them. They are more apt to greet you joyfully than try to keep you out. They crave and enjoy interaction with everyone, seeming never to get tired of human companionship. While most are too large to sit in your lap comfortably, that would be their favorite place should you let them.

Labradoodles are like a cheerful toddler that never outgrows that joy and willingness to be with you.

They celebrate and rejoice each time you walk into the room. They make wonderful companions for people of all ages. The poodle in them is gentle enough to lay with a baby. The lab in them is energetic enough to keep pace with an adolescent on a bicycle. The mix is funny to watch, wonderful to know, and brings smiles to the faces of the old and disabled in hospital or nursing homes. They are eager to please, and highly intelligent; so many become service dogs.

Anyone who places a high value on canine companionship will be thrilled by a Labradoodle. They are unique characters and loyal friends to all.

When people see a baby Labradoodle, they often think “That looks so much like a lab!” And yes, many do; and for good reason. LOL What they don’t get to see unless they’re familiar with Labradoodles is the progression from what they look like as a baby, to what they can look like as an adult dog.

Since a poodles coat, like human hair, just keeps on growing, what you see at a month or 2 months is often very different from what they will eventually look like. I will show you here what a huge change the growing coats make in these dogs. Most pups are about as cute as they’re going to get at 6- 8 weeks of age. Not so with Labradoodles! I think they just keep getting cuter as that coat grows and thickens.  Look below and I bet you’ll agree. The pups pictured are out of my own dogs… so you can get a true example of what it is I offer.

As of late I seem to be specializing in chocolate/cafe au lait litters. Leo is a good example of a pup that starts out chocolate and turns cafe au lait over time. I think it’s a very pretty color on a doodle!

At 4 weeks old with a dirty face from having just eaten his gruel.

At 4 months old playing in the snow Leo was still very dark chocolate.

At 6 months the lighter facial hair was starting to show

At 9 months Leo is showing what a gorgeous cafe au lait boy he is going to become.

Full body picture of Leo at 9 months. His coat had been clipped a bit but the color surely shows.

Sadie (cream or yellow) at 5 weeks

Sadie at 8 weeks old with her hair “fluffed”

Sadie at 4 months

Sadie at 6 months

Sadie at 12 months old!

Example of a black doodle…
Snuggles at 11 days of age

Snuggles at 3 weeks of age

Snuggles 3 months

Snuggles at 5 months of age

Snuggles at 7 months of age; she’s still working on that long Labradoodle coat; she is true black but the flash dilutes her color.

At 10 months her coat’s noticeably fuller and longer.

When trying to decide which gender of pup to buy, some really over think it.
Assuming this is going to be a pet only, and will be de-sexed (for it’s health and your sanity), there really is little difference in the actual owning of the 2. Some believe a female is best because of it’s potential “motherly nature” which unless you’re one of it’s own pups and are a newborn, simply isn’t the case. Once those pregnancy hormones are used up, a female dog is no more or less affectionate than a male.
Some think a male dog is more aggressive or territorial than a female… again, if they’re neutered at a young age, this is false. Given that neither poodles nor Labs are aggressive breeds, your pup just doesn’t have it in their genes to be that way. Raised lovingly, both sexes are equally loving and safe to have around.
Some expect a female to be more gentle… not true! Some expect a male to be stronger… Nope, sorry wrong again! Some want a female so their wheels don’t get marked… neuter a male by 6 months and that problem is averted.

In my opinion, the biggest difference is that it’s less expensive to neuter a male (since it’s not as big a surgery) than it is to spay a female. The end result is the same.

So find a pup that suits you and your family, get it de-sexed, and enjoy!

When I tell people I’m a labradoodle breeder I usually get one of 3 reactions.

1. They have no clue what a “Labradoode” is.
2. They know and have a friend, family member or acquaintance who has or wants one.
3. They tell me I’m corrupting purebreds by crossing 2 recognized breeds and have no business in the business.

The first group is fun, because it gives me the chance to share my excitement of these great dogs with people who have no preconcieved notion about them. Some are fascinated, some could care less, but all go away knowing more than they knew.

The second group is generally enthusiastic and tell me stories about how smart, funny, cute and well trained the dog is. I smile and nod my head, enjoying seeing others as enthusiastic about these little treasures as I am.

The third group isn’t a lot of fun, but they’re entitled to their opinion, so I let them state their position, then come home and play with my doodle dozen.

Sure I could have bred my adult dogs to purebreds, and been raising AKC pups for the same cost as I’m doing Labradoodles. But I’d also have concerns about the genetic weaknesses, inbreeding, and glut on the market that’s taken the thrill out of that possibility for me. My heart just sinks when I see how many Lab breeders are advertising in the local classifieds! I know they’re the number 1 dog in new pup registries with AKC each year, but how many get good loving life long homes? And as wonderful as standard poodles are, they have trouble finding acceptance among men because they’re concieved as “fru-fru dogs” which is not the case at all! They’ll keep up with a lab in retrieving ducks, don’t stink your truck up on the ride home and won’t shed laying in front of the fire to dry off!

So whatever your reaction, I’m proud to say “I’m a labradoodle breeder.”

The pups are 17 days old today. Their eyes are open, they’re hearing the world around them, and they’re eager to respond! The shelter of their home up till now has been dark and quiet. A great place to be safe in, but once they’ve become aware; once they’ve heard life moving by; their curiosity is peaked. They feel compelled to check it out!
Now that they see the sunlight shining, they want to go toward the light!

Yesterday and today I’ve heard the pups outside for the first time. They’ve discovered their voices, and must try them out. They crawl toward the light, out of the house, across the grass, and only when they get tired from dragging their fine round bellies through the soft green grass and need to nap do they realize they’re alone. They want to cuddle in the puppy pile, but it’s not out there! So they go in circles… rooting in the cool grass for another warm body to sprawl across.

When they can’t find it, they begin to sing. “Wooo Woooooo Woooooooo!” they cry. Noses to the light, mouths in perfect little circles the “Wooo Woooooo Woooooooo!” sounds so sad I can’t resist.

I put my shoes on, trudge outside, and lovingly carry them back to their nest. On the way they roughly nudge at my neck hoping for milk. I can’t begrudge them needing a little help. While out there, I see several others wearing themselves out in the grass and decide to put them back as well.

I go back to the house; take my shoes off again; still smiling at how cute they are. Just as I start to get deep in concentration on my current project, the serenade begins again.

“Wooo Woooooo Woooooooo!” is the mournful cry. I drop what I’m doing and grab my shoes. I might as well take a soda along and take a break with them. As long as the sun is shining some one of them is going to want to go toward the light.

Labradoodles are bred to meet a specific need. Our goal in breeding them is to blend the best qualities of the Poodle with those of the Labrador Retriever to develop a better all-around pet.

The ideal is to create non-shedding, non-aggressive, highly intelligent dogs with fewer genetic health issues and a longer life span than either of the breeds have individually.

These 2 breeds compliment each other very nicely. Of course no one can guarantee that every pup will have every quality you’re trying to get in them, but then neither do purebreds. Genetics simply don’t work that way. Yet with carefully choosing dams and studs that are strong in the areas you’re focussing on, the odds are improved greatly. The parents must be purebreds that meet their breed standards plus have the very best temperaments and strengths in specific areas that we’re looking to reproduce.

Labs are a very poplular pet breed because they’re loyal, affectionate, intelligent, easy going and friendly. Most are excellent with children, and love to play.

Poodles are non-shedding, even more intelligent, gentle, laid back, and form strong bonds with their entire family rather than singling out one person as many breeds tend to do.

On the downside, labs can be hyper, pushy, rough, roamers, and shed like there’s no end to it. Poodles can be aloof and have high maintenance coats that require a lot of grooming and since their hair grows like a persons does, it has to be cut or will become a matted mess.

By combining the 2 breeds, we aim for a low to non-shedding coat that’s much lower maintenance. We see a mellow, highly intelligent dog that devotes itself to the family and craves human interaction above all. They are easily trained and eager to please. We eliminate genetic diseases that take both parents to pass on disease. We see the friendly playfullness of the lab, and the mellow, gentle spirit of the poodle.

For many, this is the ideal pet.

Breeding dogs sounds simple.
You put a male with a female when the time is right, let them do their thing and then rake in the cash when the pups come. Simple, right?

WRONG
First of all, you don’t breed “just any” male or female. They have to be good quality dogs that fit the standards of their breed(s). They have to be healthy, fit, and able to reproduce.
They have to have the right kind of temperament and personality because in breeding them, you’re hopefully making more like them. If they’re shy, aggressive, fearful, or psycho, there’s a good chance at least some of their offspring will be too.
So you spend time learning what to look for.
Then you spend time (and money) looking, researching, and finally buying dogs that fit the criteria.
Naturally the best dogs don’t come cheap, but are the ones you need to do it right.$$
So you buy pups and you raise them for a year or 2 hoping you’ve got the ones you need and others will want.
In the meantime you have to feed them, groom them, give them shots, heartworm preventative, worming, and regular vet care.$$
If something goes wrong, you have to afford emergency vet care. $$
You have to train them to be obedient, gentle, loving and well mannered dogs.
They must not only become part of your family and accept all your friends and family, they must trust you to be with them when they whelp. They must allow you to hold their pups, and carry away any sick pup that needs special care without wanting to take your face off. In order to accomplish this, you must spend countless hours with them.

Once they are expecting, you must be even more vigilant of them.
Their food needs increase. $$
They need a safe, warm, dry place to give birth, so you must buy, build or have one built for you. Again with the $$
They need a pen to keep the pups in and other animals out. More $$

When the pups finally arrive, you have to take them to your vet for a checkup and to have their dew claws removed on the 3rd day. $$
Mom is likely eating twice her usual amount of food right now to keep up with nursing the litter and gets beef liver to keep her own strength up. $$
The pups need to be wormed every other week and to have their 1st round of shots before they ever sell. $$
The pups need to be handled, socialized, and fed well once they start to be weaned from their mom. You spend hours and many dollars just doing what needs to be done.

You’ve spent a couple of years preparing the parents.
By the time the first one is able to be sold, you’ve invested 4 months in just this one litter.
If you got even $1 an hr, no one would be able to afford your pups.
If you break even you feel it was a success!

What was the question again?