What is the Personality of a Labradoodle? [Best Advice]

Are you looking to add a new member to your family? A Labradoodle might be just what you are seeking!

But why are Labradoodless so popular? What is the personality of a Labradoodle?

This friendly crossbreed has grown in popularity over the past few years and is definitely worth considering if you are after a furry friend that is both loyal and sociable.

About Labradoodles

The Labradoodle is a delightful mix between a Poodle and a Labrador Retriever. The breed varies depending on whether the Labrador Retriever has been crossed with a Standard, Miniature, or Toy Poodle. The Labradoodle crossbreed was designed to meet the demand for hypoallergenic guide dogs, with the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia being the first to officially experiment with this particular breed. 

While the Labradoodle provides a great combination of both the Poodle and the Labrador Retriever, breeding results are still varied. There is currently a lack of consistency when it comes to coat and temperament, which makes it all the more exciting if you are getting your own Labradoodle pup!

What is the personality of a Labradoodle?

In general, a Labradoodle is a friendly, intelligent dog. They typically love people, are extremely loyal, and have no problem showing affection. They also love to play and tend to exude a real zest for life (although perhaps slightly less so than the exuberant Goldendoodle!). 

As mentioned above, there is some variation in the temperament of a Labradoodle given that the crossbreed is still relatively new. Some believe will stabilise throughout the future generations if reputable breeders continue to nurture high-quality bloodlines.

What are the good things about a Labradoodle’s personality?

There is so much to love about a Labradoodle! They’re the type of dog that makes friends instantly, so chances are you’ll have an immediate connection when you meet your new furry pal for the first time.

Here are just a few of the good things about a Labradoodle’s personality:

They’re happy and friendly

Labradoodles exude a happy energy that brings joy to everyone they come in contact with. They’re extremely sociable and love making new friends, which is great if you enjoy regular visits to the park or like to take your four-legged friends with you on outings.

They’re loyal

Labradoodles are loyal dogs that will quickly become a beloved member of your family. Their loving nature means they are likely to form close bonds with everyone in your household. That being said, do not expect your Labradoodle to be a guard dog. While they will absolutely be devoted to their owner, their friendly and fun-loving personality doesn’t usually translate to protectiveness. 

They’re trainable

Labradoodles tend to be intelligent and very trainable. They are generally known for having the ability to process information quickly, which is great news for Labradoodle owners. With consistency, you should have no issue establishing basic obedience commands and boundaries with your Labradoodle.

What are the challenges that an owner might face with a Labradoodle?

Labradoodles have a lot of positive qualities, however, there are few things you will want to be aware of so you don’t encourage poor behaviour and face a much greater problem later on!

They can be prone to separation anxiety

Labradoodles are sociable dogs that quickly form attachments with their families. While this is a great thing as they will become a beloved family member almost instantly, it can also leave them prone to separation anxiety. Make sure you monitor their behaviour to make sure this doesn’t become an issue. Don’t make a fuss when you are leaving the house and put boundaries in place early on.

They can be overly excitable

Labradoodles are one of those dog breeds that simply love life. While their happiness is infectious, it can also become problematic if not kept in check. Train your dog to listen to basic obedience commands so that they don’t get out of control when in a new area or around new people or new dogs.

This will ensure that they don’t develop bad manners like jumping on people or launching themselves at strange dogs (usually in a happy way, but it is still likely to be offputting for other canines!). 

They can have high energy levels 

Labradoodles typically have high energy levels and benefit from regular exercise. If they are not mentally and physically stimulated, they may develop bad habits out of boredom.

Ensure that your Labradoodle is getting enough exercise and mental stimulation to avoid destructive behaviours, like barking or chewing, from occurring.

What are Labradoodles suited to given their personality?

Labradoodles are friendly, sociable, intelligent dogs that form strong attachments with their owner. For this reason, they make great service dogs (which makes sense given that this is what they were initially bred for).

Their personality also makes them great family dogs as they get along with people of all ages and other animals. Labradoodles are also commonly used as therapy dogs as they are great with people and easy to train.

What should I know about training my Labradoodle?

Labradoodles are generally easy-going dogs, which sometimes fools people into thinking that they don’t really need training. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Like any dog breed, Labradoodles benefit from basic training which will ensure a happy, healthy existence with their owner. 

The good news is that a Labradoodle’s personality typically makes them an easy dog to train. Tgus us why they are used often as a guide dog or therapy dog.

The pairing of intelligence with the desire to please is a winning combination when it comes to establishing acceptable behaviours and basic commands!

Both the Poodle and the Golden Retriever combine to give this mixed breed trainability.

What is the best way to motivate a Labradoodle?

Given the common personality traits of a Labradoodle, this type of dog is best trained using positive reinforcement. They are much more likely to respond to this than negativity. 

If you’re wondering how you can motivate your Labradoodle during training sessions, here are some ideas:

Praise

Labradoodles aim to please. While they might not initially understand what you want them to do, you can bet that they will be trying their absolute hardest.

Use this personality trait to your advantage by rewarding good behaviour with lots of praise. If they do the right thing, or even look like they are close to doing the right thing, encourage them with some praise.

Use a happy voice so your furry friend knows that they are on the right track. It won’t be long before your Labradoodle has the command learnt.

All Labradoodle dogs love praise, from a F1 labradoodle to an Australian Labradoodle – get used to giving out treats and verbal rewards!

Play

Given their sociable and playful natures, Labradoodle’s love playtime. Even a Mini Labradoodle is packed with energy. If your dog has behaved well in an intensive training session, reward them by playing with them.

They will love the interaction and it will give you both a chance to have some fun after what can be a frustrating activity. Just remember not to slip into play mode until the training session has finished.

There needs to be a clear boundary, otherwise you will be encouraging the playful behaviour when really you want them to be listening to your commands.

Treats

If you are struggling to get the attention of your designer dog Labradoodle, try using treats! It’s a tried and true method when it comes to dog training, helping you to demonstrate when they have done something right.

Find something that they love and use it to obtain their focus and reward them for learning something new.

Tips for Training my Labradoodle Temperament

A Labradoodle puppy’s willingness to learn makes them great students. If you are looking to truly optimise your training sessions, consider these tips.

Socialise them early on

Labradoodles are highly sociable and enjoy being around other dogs and people, but over-excitement can lead to them exhibiting bad manners. Start socialising a Labradoodle breed puppy with new people and dogs at an early age so they learn how to behave appropriately around strangers.

You don’t want them knocking somebody over or scaring other dogs simply because they are overly-friendly. Getting them accustomed to different people and dogs at a young age will help them to remain calmer in the presence of new friends.

Expose them to different situations

The Labradoodle personality and eager nature can also lead them to become excited when taken to a new environment. Again, the best way to deal with this is through exposure.

Take your Labradoodle out with you to different places from a young age so that they get accustomed to being in new spaces. By the time they’ve matured, it will just be a part of normal life!

Exercise them regularly

Labradoodles have a lot of energy and this can distract them during training sessions. If you want your canine friend to pay attention to your instructions, it is worth exercising them beforehand. That way, they will be calmer and more likely to pay attention to you.

Keep them stimulated

The same goes for mental exercise. A bored Labradoodle is likely to be so excited to interact with you that they probably won’t listen or engage properly. Make sure that they have had their regular playtime and some interaction, then begin training to help things go smoothly.

Do Labradoodles require a lot of exercise?

Labradoodles do tend to be an energetic companion dog and therefore they will need regular exercise. Interestingly, first-generation Labradoodles have been found to have higher energy levels than later generations, who adapt better to different lifestyles.

In general, you should be exercising your Labradoodle for 30 minutes to an hour each day. They will need to have space to physically exert themselves, but you should also make sure that they are getting enough mental stimulation.

While Labradoodles will enjoy keeping you company on a run (so do othe rlarge Poodle mix brees like the Bernedoodle and Goldendoodle), they should also have some time to play off-lead. This will help them to burn off any pent up energy, while also offering mental stimulation through the space to explore.

Is a Labradoodle suited to apartment-living?

Labradoodles are pretty adaptable, especially if they are a later generation Labradoodle. However, they are not a breed recommended for apartment-living. This type of hybrid breed doodle dog is much better suited to a place with a backyard where they have the space to play and exert energy when they feel the need. This will prevent them from developing destructive behaviours, like chewing and barking, out of boredom or due to having excess energy. 

A Labradoodle dog makes a great pet due to its affectionate, happy nature. While there is still some variance in the breed due to certain breeder practices, the endeavour to create a hypoallergenic service dog has been mostly successful. Their personality results in them being easy to train, making them suitable for families and beginner dog owners. With a friendly, playful nature and high levels of intelligence, its difficult not to love the Poodle cross Labradoodle!