When Do Labradoodles Stop Growing? [What Age]
Labradoodles are delightful crossbreed dogs characterized by their fluffy coats and smiling faces. While not an AKC-recognized breed, Labradoodles are incredibly popular.
Generally, Labradoodles reach 97% of their adult weight by 12 months old. Regardless of which size Labradoodle you own, they will be done growing by two years old.
Several factors affect the adult weight of your dog. Some factors are which size of Labradoodle you have, which characteristics are dominant, and diet and exercise level.
Keep reading to answer your question when do Labradoodles stop growing.
What Is a Labradoodle?
Originating in Australia, Labradoodles are a crossbreed between a Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle. They are a friendly and outgoing breed that makes wonderful pets for individuals and families. The original goal behind breeding Labradoodles was to produce an even-tempered and hypoallergenic dog.
While Labradoodles are increasing in popularity, they are still not recognized by the American Kennel Club or other major kennel clubs.
The American Kennel Club only registers purebred dogs. Registration requires that both parents of a puppy must be registered as the same breed. Labradoodles may have two purebred parents, but they are different breeds.
Since the first crossbreeding, there are now three sizes of Labradoodles.
Sizes of Labradoodles
Many dog breeds have size variations available. Labradoodles can be Miniature, Medium, or Standard.
Miniature Labradoodles
Mini doodles are a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Moyen or Miniature Poodle. A Moyen is a medium-size Poodle that does not qualify for purebred competitions because of its mid-range size. Smaller Moyen will produce a Miniature Labradoodle.
Miniature Poodles are not much smaller than Moyen, topping out at 25 lbs.
Miniature Labradoodles grow to be about 14-17” tall and weigh 17-30 lbs. The Mini doodle is comparable to the Moyen Poodle in size and weight.
Medium Labradoodles
A breeder produces Medium Labradoodles by cross-breeding a Moyen Poodle and a Labrador Retriever. Moyen is another word for Medium. Medium Labradoodles are born when the Moyen is at the high end of the size spectrum, or the puppies’ genes reflect the Lab’s body size.
A Medium Labradoodle grows to about 17-22” tall and weighs up to 45 lbs.
Standard Labradoodles
The original Labradoodle was a cross between a Standard Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle. Both large dogs produce large offspring.
A Standard Labradoodle will grow to 25-28” tall and weigh 50-90 lbs. Within the standard category, you will see some variation between males and females. Males will generally grow taller and weigh more than females.
Labradoodle Growth Recap
Miniature: 14-17” tall, 17-30 lbs
Medium: 17-22” tall, up to 45 lbs
Standard: 25-28” tall, 50-90 lbs
Estimate Your Labradoodle’s Adult Weight
It is a solid guideline to assume that your Labradoodle has reached 97% of its adult weight by its first birthday. But, you can estimate when your Labradoodle will stop growing. Their rapid growth as puppies makes it possible to follow a simple formula to estimate your Labradoodle’s adult weight.
You can estimate your Miniature or Medium Labradoodle’s adult weight by doubling its weight at 18-20 weeks of age.
Puppy Weight at 18-20 weeks X 2 = Adult Weight
You can estimate your Standard Labradoodle’s adult weight by doubling its weight at 23-25 weeks of age.
Puppy Weight at 23-25 weeks X 2 = Adult Weight
These are rough projections, but this method has proven reliable enough to estimate when your Labradoodle has reached its adult weight.
Calculation Example
Your 19-week-old Miniature Labradoodle weighs 14 lbs. You can tell that your dog is almost done growing because he is near the top of the weight spectrum for Miniature Labradoodles.
14 lbs X 2 = 28 lbs.
Genetics is not the only factor to consider when it comes to your dog’s weight. Knowing an estimate for your dog’s adult weight helps you maintain your dog’s health.
Factors Influencing Your Labradoodle’s Weight
The size of your fully-grown Labradoodle mainly depends on genetics. If you bring a Medium Labradoodle into your family, you should not expect to have a 70 lb guard dog. There is some variation within each size category that is influenced by which parent’s genes are dominant in the puppies.
Miniature and Medium LDs with Lab dominant genetics will tend to be larger.
Another decisive factor in your dog’s weight is diet and exercise. Labradoodles are highly-active dogs that need lots of exercise. Regular playing, running, and walking are necessary for a healthy Labradoodle.
Feed your Labradoodle high-quality dog food to help maintain a healthy weight. If you know your Standard Labradoodle should be about 90 lbs maximum, a Medium should not be more than 45 lbs, and a Miniature tops out at 30 lbs, you can tell if you are overfeeding your dog.
Overfeeding and a sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity and related health problems.
Breed Facts
The size and weight of your adult dog are important information to have before choosing a breed. There are a few other facts about Labradoodles that you should know whether you bring home a Standard, Medium, or Miniature.
Activity Level
Labradoodles are a highly active breed. They won’t thrive lounging around your apartment day after day. A bored Labradoodle will seek stimulation by being destructive or hyperactive.
Ideally, you will provide at least 60 minutes of exercise for your Labradoodle every day. Walk, run, fetch, or go to a dog park.
Lifespan
The average lifespan for Labradoodles is 12 years. They can live up to 16 years. Proper diet and exercise contribute to a long, healthy lifespan for your dog.
Allergy Affects
Most Labradoodles are hypoallergenic, but not all. The original Labradoodle crossbreeders wanted to create a hypoallergenic dog that is also outgoing and friendly. The hypoallergenic Poodle combined with the happy-go-lucky Labrador Retriever achieves that goal.
As breeders have produced more variations within the Labradoodle category, some traits have shifted. Not all Labradoodles are hypoallergenic. If this feature is a top priority for you, look for an LD with wavy or curly hair.
Doodles with straight hair are not hypoallergenic.
Considerations When Choosing a Labradoodle
Adding a canine to your family is one of the most enriching experiences we can have as humans. They add joy and love to our lives as few other pets can. Labradoodles are especially friendly and affectionate.
Bringing an LD home means that you have time and energy to make sure it gets enough exercise to be healthy and happy. Ask yourself if you can commit about an hour each day to exercise and play with your dog.
Think about the size of your home. A large, active dog in a small space is not fun for anyone. Consider whether your space is fitting for a Miniature Labradoodle that will weigh 17-30 lbs, a Medium Doodle that will weigh up to 45 lbs, or a Standard Labradoodle that could tip the scale up to 90 lbs.
Final Thoughts
Labradoodles make excellent pets for individuals and families. They are congenial and active dogs who love to run, play, and make new friends. They get their sweet personalities from their Labrador Retriever parent.
The dominant genes at breeding determine the adult weight of your Labradoodle. Miniature and Medium Labradoodles who get their size from their Labrador parent will be on the larger end of the weight estimates.
Labradoodles reach 97% of their total growth by one year old. You can estimate when your Labradoodle will stop growing by doubling its puppy weight at about six months old.
- Double your Miniature or Medium Doodle’s weight when it is 18-20 weeks old.
- Double your Standard Doodle’s weight at 23-25.
Regardless of which size Labradoodle you bring into your family, it will be done growing by its second birthday. At that point, you want to feed and exercise your dog to maintain a healthy weight.
