Mini Labradoodles!

[Beans1]

I am on the search for a mini labradoodle but can only find standard ones. Does anybody have any ideas, they need to be from a labrador, mated with a mini poodle to get the smaller size labradoodle. Looking for one for my parents who have recently lost their terrier. Any advise and contacts would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Vizslak]

seriously?!

 

[Toffee44]

Didnt even know there was such a thing, sorry I dont get the whole poodle X breed thing.


PS if your being serious posting that on here you might need to borrow some armour

 

[Foxyfilly]

Woooops!

 

[Beans1]

Yes I am being serious! I have seen one walking close to me and he was lovely, but haven't seen him since to ask! From what I have heard they are great fun and usually have the lovely labrador temperament but are a smaller size which would in this case be more suitable.

 

[Foxyfilly]

Get yourself to a rescue centre and find a small fun dog there, there
are thousands!

 

[AmyMay]

Get yourself to a rescue centre and find a small fun dog there, there
are thousands!

Completely agree.

Or go out and buy a poodle.

 

[Beans1]

Guessing asking you happy bunch was not the one! Lol

 

[Vizslak]

Only because its geniunely irresponsible to and try to purchase such a dog. It is a mongrel and nothing more. To suggest that they are like small labradors is misguided. Such crosses can come out to be absolutely anything in appearance, health and temprement...I'm sure in one litter several come out as large as labs, they will all turn out pretty irregular and of course until they grow you wont know what you have. I'm sure any relevant health testing is out the window too if you find a litter so you could end up with a cripple as well. Not a good idea!

 

[Vizslak]

What happens if you end up with one the size of a lab but with a poodle temprement? Buying a cross like this is a bit of a gamble!

 

[Beans1]

So you assume that I wouldn't check that both parents are hip and eye scored? Who cares if it is basically a mongrel if it fit the home and lifestyle required. I think you are being a little unfair to someone who asked a genuine question.

 

[Vizslak]

Only offering guidance and my opinion, not trying to be unfair. I just think there are far more suitable lines to go down. I think you would be very very fortunate to find health tested parents but even if you do there is still no guarantee of what the dog will be when it grows up. It may not fit your criteria at all.

 

[Spudlet]

Can't you just get a small lab? Maybe from somewhere like Labrador Rescue?

I hope to god anyone breeding these uses a lab bitch and a mini dog, otherwise there could be serious health implications for the bitch, too

 

[Beans1]

What breed would you suggest then.

Also just a small point - has anybody bought, for arguments sake an Irish Draught x TB foal knowing exactly what it is going to grow into?

 

[Spudlet]

Depends how much exercise your parents can give, what size they are looking for etc. If you want a lab temperament, get a lab, best way! But they need lots of exercise, and can be bouncy in their youth, so it depends how elderly your parents are.

Seriously, let's not get started on horse breeding, frankly there are far too many bred and then cast aside all too easily.

 

[CAYLA]

Re the horse, not me
Re the dog, I would highly recommend a mini poodle, they are fab little dogs without anything crossed into them, highly intelligent, huge characters and very active little dogs.
I would go for one rather than a mini poddle x labrador (the lab part tends to spoil it IMO), and you get a bit of a boisterous nut case

 

[roxy007]

Beans - don't yah know you're not to disagree with anything that well named 'old nag' amymay says......up and down the forums she only spreads doom and gloom and that aside no one is right except her. She'll tie herself in knots trying to get the last word and I see others on this thread that do similar.

What's wrong with you lot - a question was being asked - it wasn't up for your opinion or a debate...you just can't help yourselves can you.

Beans - our vet loves the little labradoodles and has quite a few on his client base as well as one of his own...lovely little chocolate girly. I will ask him if he knows who the breeder is/was and PM you to avoid stirring up the wicked witches again.......lol Whatever you get for your parents just enjoy

 

[Beans1]

I have a lab, very well bred, I had to do with picking sire etc, chose the smallest puppy but have ended up with a very big dog (very fit - not big as in fat!). They wouldn't want something his size and obviously you can't tell what they are going to turn into. That said he has the most amazing temperament, hence my looking in the direction I am.

 

[Beans1]

Thank you Roxy - that would be lovely

 

[AmyMay]

Beans - don't yah know you're not to disagree with anything that well named 'old nag' amymay says......up and down the forums she only spreads doom and gloom and that aside no one is right except her. She'll tie herself in knots trying to get the last word and I see others on this thread that do similar.

Roxy - not sure what your problem is.

And equally I'm not sure how recommending a rescue or a miniture poodle is spreading doom and gloom........

 

[s4sugar]

I have just groomed a dog that was purchased as a "mini labradoodle" - not by the current owners who bought him at 8 months old for £50.

Think of an otter hound standing 22" and you have the look & coat type (mid-long coat with lots of grease & thick undercoat) and totally hyper, non stop activity. I charge twice what I charge for a mini poodle to groom him & he casts like a lab inbetween.

There are lots of breeds that are smaller than labs and trainable and, more to the point, not bred by greeders playing to fashion victims.

I have to say that poodles are great dogs but If you want a mutt find one in a rescue.

 

[stargirl88]

Agree on looking at miniature poodles, I chat to a woman who has 2 on our walks sometimes and they're great little dogs.

 

[Twiglet]

If it's little, is it not more likely to be a cockerpoo or something?

I'm not going to jump down your throat for wanting a crossbreed, all I will say is that we have one (a rescue, before people accuse me of supporting designer crossbreeds!) and he is one of the most awkward dogs we've ever known. He is constantly at the vets - ear problems, stomach problems, skin problems - is behaviourally hard work (think constant hyper activity, despite two long walks a day, and company most of the day, and another dog), and despite being very intelligent, has very little interest in being trained - our trainer said he was beyond frustrating. Aside from all that, he is utterly loveable, brilliant with people, kids and most other dogs (not with horse ) and hugely comical - he has a home for life with my parents. I just wouldn't recommend the crossbreed based on personal experience!

 

[KarynK]

What's wrong with you lot - a question was being asked - it wasn't up for your opinion or a debate...you just can't help yourselves can you.

What's wrong is that we are thinking firstly of welfare and suffering, a whole industry of largely unscrupulous breeders have sprung up to supply designer mongrels for more than the price of a purebred. It is a money making way round KC welfare rules and regs and has breathed new life and huge profits into Commercial Puppy Farming and the new Home Puppy Farming for profit craze!

These dogs are often sold as from pedigree parents and some of the public are duped into thinking they are buying a breed of dog, since they know no better and are supplied with a "pedigree" which of course is worthless since the parents are not of the same breed.

It is also an excellent way for a breeder to get away without having to health test for diseases in either breed, leaving the buyer with a potential time bomb that could have them either paying for medical treatment for a chronic condition, with a dying dog or giving up and tying said dog to the gate of the Blue Cross or similar!

This is the worst thing to happen to dog welfare in the country in a long time and by searching out these dogs it is fuelling it more. As is said above these crosses can turn out to be anything and factor in hybrid vigour and they can be a real hand full and out of character and shape with BOTH parents. When the buyer is no longer happy with the designer dog, as it does not look or behave like the one they saw to inspire the purchase the poor thing ends up in rescue centres along with all the staffies and staffie crosses currently resident!!

I am sorry But I have always had to deal with other peoples f ups in my rescue dogs, a lot of which has been I like the look of that rather than what dog suits my lifestyle and my poor dogs have all been chucked in rescue as a result of not living up to the dream!!!!

I personally would never part with money for anything but a pure bred puppy properly health checked and from a reputable breeder, if someone does have an accidental mating fair enough BUT give them away to good homes!! But that is highly unlikely as I prefer to offer an abandoned dog another chance, and god knows with one of mine it was his very last!!

So it's not about being nasty there is a whole lot more to this than ego's its about people facing up to the truth behind designer dogs and NOT adding to the misery.

The first place to start when choosing a dog is to list what you require from that dog then choose a breed or a rescue dog that best meets your needs and you will have the right dog for you. See the other thread on what breed for me, that is the way to get the right dog.

 

[Vizslak]

^^^^^ what she said

 

[CorvusCorax]

Well, when even the guy who 'invented' labradoodles is decrying what has happened to them, you can see why people get concerned.

Good luck on your search OP, even purebred dogs (including my own two ) don't turn out the way they are supposed to look on the tin, so that is probably why most people are urging caution.

Poodles are fab dogs too

And, KK, totally agree.

 

[KarynK]

Thank you CC.

I wouldn't have minded the Labradoodle thing quite so much if he had gone on towards a breed, if he had started to select and reject in the proper way then the best of the cross would have been developed and you would get the consistent type and temperament. But in doing that you have to breed a lot of unwanted dogs to get to the best ones!

Instead he rode the wave of the Labradoodle then got off and moaned!! Perhaps I should get some sleep? Have had a hard week of 12 hr + days so my mild side is, well missing!!!

 

[Beans1]

Well thanks for your opinion everybody, they have been very useful. I am still looking for a mini labradoodle, if anybody has any useful contacts pls PM me. The decision on breed and type has been very well thought out, the dog will not be a fashion statement, but a well loved, well exercised companion. I will ensure I buy from a reputable breeder and will ensure the health documentation is correct, as I was going to anyway. Many thanks

 

[AmyMay]

Labradoodle Trust - have a rescue page

http://www.labradoodletrust.com/

As do the Labradoodle Club

http://www.labradoodleclub.co.uk/rescue.php

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Wish we could give rep like on the pets forum I use-Karynk, superb!