How Big Do Labradoodles Get?
A popular hybrid breed, the Labradoodle has been making waves as one of the most adorable dogs across the US. Not only are they loving and friendly but Labradoodles are also very intelligent, making them excellent family pets.
One of the major factors that make Labradoodles so attractive is their charming looks. So, if you’re one of the lucky Labradoodle parents or are interested in getting a Labradoodle pup, you must be wondering how big they grow and whether you can handle them.
So before you fall in love with this breed, here’s everything you should know about how big Labradoodles can get and the factors that affect their size.
The Lovable Labradoodle
As the name suggests, a Labradoodle is a mix of purebred Poodle and purebred Labrador dog. Given that it is a hybrid, the size of the Labradoodle’s parents of course plays a significant role in the Labradoodle’s potential adult size.
Labradoodles have inherited the best traits and features from both parents, making them highly intuitive, friendly, and loyal. As a bonus, they also sport low to non-shedding coats that are ideal for individuals who have allergies.
How Big Can Labradoodles Grow?
The size of a Labradoodle’s parents, from both breeds, has a lot of impact on your dog’s size.
So, it is pretty evident that if you pair a big Labrador Retriever with an equally sizable poodle, you will get a pretty big Labradoodle. Smaller parents would mean a Labradoodle that is small or medium-sized.
Knowing about the size of its parents will give you a pretty good idea when it comes to what size you can expect of your Labradoodle.
A Labrador Retriever’s Size
The size of a full-grown male Lab is pretty impressive as it can weigh anywhere between 65 and 80 pounds. When standing up, Labrador Retrievers can be as tall as 22.5 to 24.5 inches.
Adult female Labradors are slightly smaller in height and weight at up to 23.5 inches standing and weighing approximately 55 to 80 pounds.
The overall weight of a Labrador can be pretty apparent thanks to its muscular and athletic body. They have been considered longer than their actual height thanks to their tapering tail, otherwise known as their otter tail, which serves as their natural, strong rudder when swimming.
Three things can predict the size of a Labrador:
#1. Genetics
When you get your Labrador Retriever from a breeder, you can get almost accurate data of its possible adult weight and height by looking at its parents. You can ask the breeder if you can see the parents when picking up your puppy or simply ask them to send you the parents’ weight and height information.
#2. Paw Size
Another physical attribute that you can look into is the paw size of the Labrador. If your Lab’s paw is a little oversized next to its body and legs, then it is safe to deduce that your pup is still growing and has not reached its maximum size.
#3. Age
Like all dogs, Labrador Retrievers also reach their maximum weight and height around their first birthday. Bigger Labs tend to need 18 months in total to fill their chests and build up their muscles.
A Poodle’s Size
Based on the American Kennel Club Official Poodle Standards, a full-grown male Poodle can reach a maximum weight of 60 to 70 pounds, while female Poodles weigh lighter at 40 to 50 pounds.
The height of adult Poodles is similar in both male and female Poodles. Most of the standard Poodles reach a maximum height of 18 to 24 inches when standing up.
Like the Labrador, you can also look into your Poodle’s genetics, paw size, and age to have a good idea of the possible full size of your dog.
A Labradoodle’s Size
The most common pairing to produce a Labradoodle is a female Labrador with a male Poodle. The female parent needs to be the bigger breed to make sure that the delivery of the puppies is safe for both the mom and puppies.
This combination typically results in the Labradoodle inheriting the size of its Labrador mother and is thus considered as a large breed, given that they can weigh up to and more than 50 pounds.
The standard Labradoodle can reach a minimum weight of 50 to 65 pounds.
A full-grown Labradoodle’s size is highly dependent on its gender. Male Labradoodles outweigh their female counterparts by up to 15 pounds. But, of course, there are a number of other factors that can tweak the standard size of the Labradoodle, such as its birth order, diet, activity levels, and even overall physical health.
Size of Labradoodle Puppies
Labradoodle pups weigh about 7 to 12 pounds once they reach two months of age.
When a Labrador female is paired with a miniature male Poodle, you can expect your Labradoodle to be smaller, weighing approximately 4 to 7 pounds. Don’t get fooled though, because this is just one-quarter of its adult weight.
Give these Labradoodle pups 12 to 18 months more, and you will no longer have that petite ball of fluff but a dog that is about to reach its full size.
Different Labradoodle Generation and Their Breeding
It is difficult to predict the exact size of a Labradoodle. But knowing which generations of Labradors, Poodles, or Labradoodles have been bred can help you better determine your puppy’s size.
- F1 Labradoodle: This labradoodle has one purebred Labrador Retriever parent and a Poodle parent.
- F1B Labradoodle: This Labradoodle will have one purebred Labrador Retriever parent or a Poodle parent bred with one F1 Labradoodle parent.
- F2 Labradoodle: Two F1 Labradoodle parents are needed to produce this kind of hybrid dog.
- F2B: A combination of one F1 Labradoodle parent and one F1B parent gives you this kind of Labradoodle.
- Multi-Generation Labradoodle: This is also referred to as the F3 or later Labradoodles, where the pup’s closest purebred Lab and Poodle kinfolk are their great grandparents.
The Different Labradoodle Heights
The sizes of Labradoodles can be classified into five types: Teacup, Toy, Mini, Medium, and Standard.
1. Teacup Labradoodle
This is also called the Petite Labradoodle because it is the smallest type of this hybrid. When you breed a Toy Poodle with a Mini Labradoodle, you get a Teacup Labradoodle. This kind usually reaches a height of 8 to 10 inches and weighs 10 to 13 pounds.
2. Toy Labradoodle
Standing at about 15-inches with a weight of up to 20-pounds, this is the puppy offspring of a Mini Labradoodle with a Toy Poodle.
3. Mini Labradoodle
Not reaching the size of the standard Labradoodle yet, this Labradoodle is the offspring of breeding a Labrador Retriever with a Miniature Poodle. With a height of 16 to 20 inches and a maximum weight of about 40-pounds, Mini Labradoodles are very popular.
4. Medium Labradoodle
An unofficial size, the Medium Labradoodle doesn’t have specific measurements because it is slightly larger than the Mini but not as big as the Standard ones. This Labradoodle variety can grow up to 22 inches tall and weigh 30 to 50 pounds.
5. Standard Labradoodle
This is the biggest among all Labradoodles, given that it has parents that are both standard in size. Expect a Standard Labradoodle to weigh around 70 pounds and be up to 24-inches in height.
Understanding the Labradoodle Growth
There are plenty of puppy growth calculators that you can use as a guide to having a better idea of how big your Labradoodle can grow.
The most important factor is knowing the size of both parents and the weight of your puppy Labradoodle.
One of the most accepted ways of getting a tentative size of your dog is to get your Labradoodle’s weight once it reaches four months, then double that weight and add ten more pounds. It is simple math but serves as an excellent guide to prepare ahead of time before your Labradoodle reaches its adult stage.
Aside from this method, there are two more formulas that you can use to guess your Labradoodle’s adult size.
- The 4-Fold Formula
Your puppy’s two-month-old weight is a ¼ of its estimated full-grown weight.
- The Double-Up Formula
Once your Labradoodle is 4-months old, its weight is half of its estimated adult size.
These are just handy and reliable points of reference so you can prepare accordingly.
Reason Why a Labradoodle’s Size is Difficult to Predict
The simple answer is that Labradoodles are hybrid dogs. The breeding result itself is almost unpredictable.
If two different dog genes are combined, you cannot be 100% certain of the results. The impact of the genes is unpredictable. In a litter, some may look more like their Labrador parent but can share more Poodle traits and vice versa.
The Australian Labradoodles
Another variation of this hybrid dog is the Australian Labradoodle. The main difference is this breed has DNAs from other dogs aside from the Labrador and the Poodle.
The English Cocker Spaniel, American Cocker Spaniel, and Irish Water Spaniel are also added to the mix.
With this, the challenge of identifying or even predicting the possible adult size of the Australian Labradoodle becomes more complicated.
But according to the Australian Labradoodle Association (ALA), a full-grown Australian Labradoodle can reach a height of 21 to 25 inches and weigh up to 66 pounds.
Female Australian Labradoodles are slightly smaller, too, with a maximum height of 19 inches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Labradoodle growth charts?
Labradoodle growth charts are used as a basis to provide new Labradoodle owners or existing pet parents a reasonable estimate of how big their Labradoodles can get.
The estimation is based on a litter of a Labrador Retriever bred with a Standard Poodle.
A Labradoodle growth chart will advise you that if your puppy’s Poodle parent is toy-sized, you should expect a slightly smaller Labradoodle.
For example, if your Labradoodle pup’s genetic makeup is 75% Poodle and 25% Labrador, expect your adult dog to weigh less than 50 pounds.
The Labradoodle growth chart is also just for estimates, and you don’t need to fret if your pup is less or more than the estimated weight. The weight and height of your Labradoodle are not set in stone, and as long as they are healthy, you have nothing to worry about.
When do Labradoodles reach their full-grown state?
You can expect your Labradoodle to reach its full size once between 12 and 18 months of age. You need the additional months after their first birthday, especially if your pup takes more after the heavier side of its Labrador parent.
Larger breeds, in general, grow slower, and they take more months to build their muscles and fill in their chests compared to medium-sized dogs, who only need 9 to 11 months to grow into their adult size.
Is there an ideal Labradoodle size?
There is no “standard” or “ideal” size for this hybrid dog, but more of a basic expectation of how much they can grow.
The possible sizes and weights are projected, but plenty of factors like genetic makeup can alter these estimates.
The Poodle side of the Labradoodle significantly impacts the overall adult size of your dog since Poodles come in a variety of sizes.
Conclusion
Getting a dog is a major commitment, so knowing as much as you can about the breed can play a crucial role in your decision-making.
A Labradoodle is one of the best hybrid dogs you can get, and although there are uncertainties on how big it can be, you can use the tips and tricks we’ve given here to guess your puppy’s future size. You will anyway have to make adjustments as needed as your Labradoodle grows, both in size and maturity.
Knowing and understanding as much as you can about your Labradoodle puppy can make all the difference in the world.
