Everything about the breed
Labradoodle
From its origin to character and care.
- Belgian breeder since 1990
- DNA-tested parents
Written and reviewed by Marleen Dyck, co-founder of Woefkesranch
Character
A very friendly dog with a coat that rarely sheds
Cheerful, very friendly and quick to learn, with a coat that usually does not shed. It was bred as an allergy-friendly guide dog, and that temperament is why it became a family dog.
What to expect
Friendly
Cheerful with everyone, and good with children.
Low-shedding
Usually low-shedding, though a cross varies.
Intelligent
Learns fast, and needs mental work every day.
Sociable
Gets on with cats and other pets as well as people.
Height
~49 cm
Weight
~21 kg
Life expectancy
~14 years
Origin
Australia, 1989
Breed info
You will discover that the Labradoodle exists because of one request: a guide dog for a woman whose husband was allergic. Wally Conron crossed a Labrador with a standard Poodle in Australia in 1989, four more breeds were worked in afterwards, and the result is cheerful, highly trainable and usually non-shedding. It is also still a cross rather than a recognised breed, which means a puppy varies more than a pedigree dog does and the parents matter more. You will need to brush that coat, book the groomer, and ask a breeder the right three questions. Read on to see what this cross asks of you.
About Woefkesranch
Labradoodle Puppies at Woefkesranch
We are a recognized breeder of Labradoodle puppies in Belgium. Our puppies are raised in a family environment and are optimally socialized. Woefkesranch has been a family business since 1990 and is now in its second generation. Every puppy is born in our own kennel under permanent supervision, with no imports and no middlemen. Families are guided before the purchase and are welcome back with their questions long afterwards.
We have been a recognized family breeder in Putte, Belgium since 1990, now in our second generation: every Labradoodle puppy is born and socialized here, with no imports and no middlemen, and families are guided before the purchase and long afterwards.
What you get with our puppies:
- Puppy raised in Belgium
- Good puppies
- Initial vaccinations and microchip
- Lifetime support by phone/WhatsApp
- Available 24/7 for emergencies
Available now
Available Labradoodle puppies for sale
There are currently no Labradoodle puppies available:
click ‘Puppy alert’ and be notified when a new litter is available.
Labradoodle
In five points
- The Labradoodle was created in Australia in 1989 to solve one problem: an allergy-friendly guide dog for a family where the husband reacted to dogs.
- Four more breeds were crossed in afterwards, which is why the sizes and colours vary so widely: mini, medium and large, in nine recognised coat colours.
- The coat is usually non-shedding, which is the point of the cross, though it is not guaranteed in every puppy.
- It is not recognised by the FCI, so there is no official standard, and the parent dogs decide far more about a puppy than they would in a pedigree breed.
- How much grooming it needs depends on which coat a puppy gets, from daily brushing to once a fortnight, plus the groomer every eight to twelve weeks.
History
History and Origin
The Labradoodle begins in 1989 in Australia, where Wally Conron crossed a Labrador with a standard Poodle. He was trying to solve one problem for one family: a woman in Hawaii needed a guide dog, and her husband was allergic to dogs.
Four other breeds were crossed in afterwards to strengthen the traits that worked: the English Cocker Spaniel, the Irish Water Spaniel, the American Cocker Spaniel and the Curly Coated Retriever. That mixed ancestry is why Labradoodles come in such a range of sizes and colours.
Despite the popularity, Australian Labradoodles are still not recognised by the FCI, so there is no official standard for what one should look like or how it should behave. In Australia, breeding centres were set up to keep bloodlines clean and to keep illegal breeders out, with strict rules attached.
Appearance
Physical characteristics and grooming
Because this is not a recognised breed with an agreed standard, Labradoodles vary more than a pedigree dog does. They are sold in three sizes: mini at ~39 cm, medium at ~48 cm, and large at ~58 cm.
The coat is the point of the breed. It is usually non-shedding, which is what makes the dog workable for many allergy sufferers, and it comes in white, red, brown, black, silver, caramel, chocolate, apricot and gold. The texture varies as much as the colour.
Brushing runs from daily to once a fortnight depending on the individual coat. At around nine months a puppy changes coat and needs thorough brushing and trimming through it, and a fast-growing coat means the groomer every eight to twelve weeks.
| Characteristic | Mini | Medium | Large |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | ~39 cm | ~48 cm | ~58 cm |
| Weight | ~11 kg | ~19 kg | ~30 kg |
Hypoallergenic: all breeds at Woefkesranch
A purebred coat is known in advance, while a cross can take after either parent. The low shedding depends on the coat being kept up, so grooming is needed whichever you choose. Where an allergy is a real concern, spend time with the individual puppy before deciding.
| Characteristic | Labradoodle | Lagotto Romagnolo | Cockapoo | Maltipoo | Miniature Poodle | Maltese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height | ~49 cm | ~45 cm | ~36.5 cm | ~28 cm | ~32 cm | ~23 cm |
| Weight | ~21 kg | ~14 kg | ~10 kg | ~5 kg | ~7 kg | ~4 kg |
| Hypoallergenic | Not always, depends on the parents | Always | Not always, depends on the parents | Usually, both parent breeds are low-shedding | Always | Always |
| Coat care | Brush several times a week, groomer every 8 to 12 weeks | Brush twice a week, trim every 6 to 8 weeks | Brush daily, trim every 8 to 10 weeks and never shorter than 5 cm | Brush weekly, professional trim every 6 to 8 weeks | Comb regularly, professional trim every 6 weeks | Comb weekly, trim once or twice a year |
| Breed origin | Labrador Retriever and Poodle | Purebred, from Italy | Cocker Spaniel and Poodle | Maltese and Miniature Poodle | Purebred, from France | Purebred, from Malta and Italy |
Comparing the Labradoodle and the Lagotto Romagnolo
| What differs | Labradoodle |  Lagotto Romagnolo |
|---|---|---|
| Breed status | A cross, first bred in Australia in 1989. Not recognised by the FCI, so there is no official standard | An old Italian breed, recognised by the FCI, with an established breed standard |
| Shedding and allergies | Usually sheds little, but never guaranteed. A curly coat sheds least; a short or straight one sheds | Always a curly coat, and sheds little to none. The safer choice where someone in the house is allergic |
| How predictable a puppy is | A puppy can take after either parent or an earlier ancestor, so coat, size and temperament vary within a litter | Both parents are Lagottos, so a puppy turns out like a Lagotto |
| Size | Three sizes: mini ~39 cm, medium ~48 cm, large ~58 cm | One size: males ~46 cm and ~14.5 kg, females ~43 cm and ~12.5 kg |
Both are friendly, curly family dogs. The difference is predictability: a Lagotto has one coat type and one size, and a Labradoodle varies in both because it is a cross. For a household with an allergy, the Lagotto coat is the more predictable of the two.
Temperament
Personality and Temperament
Labradoodles are cheerful and exceptionally friendly, with everyone. They get on notably well with children, which is a large part of why the cross turns up so often as a service or therapy dog.
They want the company of people and give a lot back to a family. They are also intelligent, which cuts both ways: an intelligent dog learns quickly and also learns things you did not mean to teach it, so consistency matters.
If you already have other animals, this is a good choice. Labradoodles generally get on with cats and with other pets, and the friendliness is not reserved for people.
Health
Health and Nutrition
The health of Australian Labradoodles has not been studied as thoroughly as that of older breeds, because the cross is recent and unrecognised. What is reasonable to expect is the conditions of the two breeds it came from: the Labrador Retriever and the standard Poodle.
That means asking a breeder what the parent dogs were tested for, and asking to see the results. In a cross, the parents decide more than they would in a breed with a fixed standard, because there is no standard doing any of the work for you.
Good quality food matched to age supports both the energy level and the coat: puppy food for growth, adult food for a steady weight, and senior food with joint support later. Discuss the amounts with your vet.
Training
Training and Exercise
A Labradoodle is intelligent and eager, which makes it easy to train. It is also easy to be inconsistent with, so use the same words and the same rules, and have everyone in the house apply them the same way.
Start socialising early. Take a puppy to different people, places and other animals while it is still forming its opinions about them, and keep the experiences controlled and positive.
Positive reinforcement suits this cross. Reward what you want immediately, keep sessions short, and give an intelligent dog something to think about beyond obedience, because a bored Labradoodle will find its own occupation.
Choosing
Choosing and caring for your Labradoodle
Choosing the right breed, puppy and breeder
A Labradoodle gets on very well with children, and it is a good choice if you already have other pets, because it gets on well with cats and other animals too. It is a particularly intelligent dog, so consistent training is necessary.
Ask the breeder which generation the puppy is, what the parents were tested for, and what their coats are like, because the parents’ coats are the best available predictor of the puppy’s. A breeder who cannot answer those three questions is worth passing over.
Woefkesranch works with waiting lists. Depending on what you want in size, coat, colour and sex, the wait can run to six months, so it is worth asking early.
Essential daily care
Caring for a Labradoodle means committing to a daily routine that addresses their grooming, feeding, exercise and health needs.
For optimal daily care, focus on these key points:
Coat
Daily to fortnightly brushing, and the groomer every eight to twelve weeks if the coat grows fast.
Coat change
At around nine months the puppy coat goes. Brush and trim thoroughly through it or it mats.
Food
Good quality, matched to age. Puppy for growth, adult for a steady weight, senior with joint support.
Company
Bred as an assistance dog and happiest with people. Not a dog to leave alone all day.
Regular veterinary visits are essential to monitor health, contributing to a longer lifespan for your Labradoodle. If you are considering getting a puppy, it is important to recognize a good breeder.
How getting your puppy works
- Come and meet them. Make an appointment to see the puppies and their mother.
- Reserve your puppy. Choose your puppy and reserve it.
- Collect from 8 weeks. Your puppy leaves microchipped, vaccinated, dewormed and with its European passport, and we register it in your name in DogID together.
- We stay close. You take home care instructions and the guarantee certificate, with lifetime support by phone or WhatsApp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Labradoodles shed?
Usually very little, which is the point of the cross, but a cross can never guarantee it. A curly coat sheds least, a short or straight one sheds. If somebody in the house is allergic, that uncertainty is worth weighing against a purebred curly breed.
How big does a Labradoodle get?
It depends which size you choose: mini is ~39 cm, medium ~48 cm, and large ~58 cm. Because the cross is not a recognised breed there is no standard holding those figures, so treat them as ranges.
Is a Labradoodle a recognised breed?
No. The FCI does not recognise it, so there is no official standard for appearance or temperament. In Australia breeding centres were set up to keep bloodlines clean, but recognition has not followed.
How much grooming does a Labradoodle need?
Brushing from daily to once a fortnight, depending on the individual coat, plus the groomer every eight to twelve weeks if it grows fast. At around nine months the puppy coat changes and needs thorough brushing and trimming through that period.
Are Labradoodles good with children and other pets?
Yes to both. They are cheerful and exceptionally friendly, get on notably well with children, and generally live happily alongside cats and other animals. That temperament is why the cross is used so often as a service and therapy dog.
Which health problems should I ask the breeder about?
The conditions of the two breeds it came from, the Labrador Retriever and the standard Poodle. The cross is too recent and too unrecognised to have been studied properly, so what the parent dogs were tested for is the question that matters.
Come and see
Make an appointment
Do you want to visit our puppies? You can also make an appointment.
- 100% Belgian puppies
- Professional statutory warranty
- 24/7 service after sale
- Puppies have all necessary vaccines
- Puppies are dewormed multiple times
- Chipped and with Belgian/European passport
- DNA-tested parents
Keep reading
Where to go next
Another breed
Characteristics, temperament, grooming and health of another breed we raise.
