What size Labradoodle should I get

[John B]

Spouse and I keep going back and forth on what size labradoodle we should get.  We want something big enough that can keep up with the kids and do outdoor activities, but no so big where he/she would not fit nicely into car or on bed.  We have seen alot of the 20 lb doodles and we want something a little bigger but again not too big. We are currently looking at something around 40-45lb and 20-23 but worried about this being too large.  Can anyone that has something around this size give me pro's and cons?

[Ron Carnes]

It seems to be unpreditctable. Zacks mom was 40# and white,while his dad was 45# and apricot. Zack is 90# and black. His grandad was a large black poodle.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

This question is often asked and listen to what others are telling you, rarely in a mix dog will you ever know the size until two yeas of age.  My sister is 5'8 and I am 5'.  Same parents.  Go figure?  Genetics just doesn't work that way. My parents were both very small in stature.  Where did the 5'8 come from? A grandfather 3 generations back was tall. Just one guy.

If you want consistency, you may want a purebred dog from a breeder who has an established line and knows their line exceptionally well.

I wanted a huge dog (80-110) and I have a wonderful 62lb compact dog. He is not long, just all stuffed into a small body. Most guess he is 45-50lbs.  He looks like a medium when put up against a standard Goldendoodle.

Dont take this as an exact science but my thoughts are that smaller dogs are more hyper.  Again, all dogs, like people are individuals.

Size matters, of course, but temperament in a home full of children is the MOST important. Start there first.

[John B]

Joanne, how is tempermant predictable? We are first in line on a litter of red doodles. One male, 3 females. Breeder does not do temper many testing but will help pick. Thoughts how to increase chances of good dog?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Get a good and established breeder first and foremost.  I left you a message.

There is some literature around about Reds being the least predictable in the line of poodles. From what I've read this color has only been around this past century.  If the red comes from the retriever, I would think it might be better?   Just my very own thoughts with no scientific evidence.

But the thought is established about Red Poodles and it isnt from me. Red is rare and since it is popular now, breeders are doing everything they can do produce these pups.

Still, the question comes up about their temperament in reds and the subject is often brought up without much evidence that I can find.  

http://www.poodleforum.com/5-poodle-talk/113-red-color-temperament....

I'd like to mention that while I personally don't think that there is a correlation between temperament and color, based on my experience, it's not totally crazy to think that there might be. Unrelated genetic traits can often be linked together, e.g., because of how close together they are on the chromosome or because there one stretch of DNA that has more than one effect. So, it is possible that certain types of colors are linked to certain types of temperaments.

Meet and know the parents?  What are they like?

Are they shy? Hyper?  Easy going?

Temperament is passed on. You do not want a shy dog!  Hyper, you can exerise out.  Just my thoughts.

Unstable temperaments. Poodles are a dime a dozen, and most of them are bred and offered for sale by people who don't have the slightest idea of how to breed good-tempered dogs. Obedience instructors and behavioral consultants see lots of Poodles with neurotic behaviors, including snappiness and and hyperactivity. You want to avoid these lines, and instead get one of the many confident and happy  Poodles!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The gene pool for red poodles is extremely shallow; I have read that all red poodles can be traced back to just two bloodlines. And the reds do have a reputation for being the most, shall we say, "volatile"? 

There is a reason that you mostly only see black and white poodles in competition. :)

[Breanna]

All dogs are good dogs :) Pick the calm puppy and start training diligently from day 1. Even if you get a mild-tempered dog, it is still the responsibility of the owner to make sure the dog knows what is and is not acceptable behavior. Mine is naturally calm so training her was pretty easy. A lot of labradoodles are quite energetic and need a lot of exercise and obedience school. 

When it comes to dogs, bigger is better for me. However my boyfriend wanted a medium dog that doesn't take up half of the room. Crush is 50 pounds at 8 months. She could still gain some weight but her size is good for us. She fits in bed with us and I can still lift her if I need to. We like to go camping and I like to run. She is big enough to handle all of the action. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Breanna,

How do you pick a calm dog in 15 minute visit?

Was the puppy playing prior to the visit?  Is it not feeling well?  Or, just naturally calm?

A good breeder will do the testing at 6 weeks of age.  Volhard Temperament Testing

Here is the standard test that should be done.

http://www.volhard.com/pages/pat.php

[Breanna]

Just passing on the advice of Caesar Milan. He did an episode about getting a new puppy which I found pretty informative. He said that people often choose the puppy that is jumping all over them because they feel there is some kind of connection. I do see your point, though. There are other factors that could cause the puppy to be calm. 

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

We started out wanting a standard size doodle. But we plan on traveling a LOT, so got to thinking a smaller dog might fit our lifestyle better. Also after researching grooming I decided a smaller size would be less work, less area to brush and de-matt, haha.

My DH did not want a small dog. So we settled on a mini doodle, but chose the largest of the litter, they are expected to be 25-35#. So he will be closer to the 35#, perfect for us.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Behavioral Traits

The biggest mistake Standard Poodle owners is not exercising them enough. The breed's reputation for being dainty leads novice owners to believe these dogs don't require vigorous activity, but they need to run daily. Poodles who don't get enough exercise can be anxious or destructive.

Poodles are sensitive dogs who like to live in peaceful environments. If your house is full of chaos, it can cause your Poodle unnecessary stress. Though they are good with kids, they often don't do well in homes with lots of children where there may be a great deal of yelling and tension.

http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Breeds/Poodle/Personality.aspx

Here is an HONEST statement..finally.  This is so true. Unfortunately, breeders stress they are Family Dogs.

While many can be, you really need to look at temperament. 

Good Luck with your new pup

[Lynda Kamrath]

I have been there, and really still am.  I have two doodles right now, an 85-pound goldendoodle, and a 50-pound ALD.  I think the 50-pound doodle is the perfect size.  I also had a 105-pound labradoodle who was the best dog I have EVER had.  When he died, I got the ALD.  My goldendoodle has cancer and a short life expectancy, so I am already thinking about a replacement.  We prefer to have two dogs, but the ALD will be fine as an "only dog".  We are looking at some sheepadoodles at the end of the month, and I am thinking 50-60 pounds is about right for us.  I don't particularly like small dogs because they are "yappers" but they do fit better into homes.  We have a 1/4 acre fenced backyard, so room really isn't a problem for us.  Glad you are thinking about it at this stage of picking your puppy.

BTW, the back of our car is set up for our dogs and they fit fine and are also blocked off from the rest of the car so they cannot bother us in the front of the car and cannot become missles if the car happens to crash.  That also works fine for us.  You may also want to think about your car for transportation.

[Sally S Miles]

temperament is truly the most important thing to consider - but indeed larger does mean larger clean up, larger grooming bills, etc = longer legs need to stretch.  My Goldendoodle is the smallest of ten - 24" tall and 43lbs, but siblings range to 90lbs.  I have had as large as 112lb German Shepherd and as small as a 4lb Yorkie and it's not the size of the dog....  My last nine pounder could run circles around the GS - all day long.   We have just added a little guy who will only get to be maybe 30lbs. We have always had extreme differences in size for all the reasons one would consider size - but temperament is all it's about.  

Huge dogs are incredible. Big dogs are fabulous. Medium size dogs are wonderful. Little dogs are fantastic. Tiny dogs are great.  

Look for the one that takes it all in stride, does not need to be in the middle of chaos and will entertain himself.  Active means many things to many folks - but my Yorkies went everywhere that our German Shepherds went and the in between sizes fit right in the middle.    We decided to go mid size for the two now and it feels absolutely just right!  

 Look for the breeder that can help you choose - study those red flags listed - otherwise it's sad.

Color and temperament have been studied, only somewhat and I do agree some correlation - but all dogs vary within a pack and it's not a concrete designation.    Find a good breeder -  ignore color and aim for the best temperament and win some wonderful years for your family!