Dog Training Infographic

Who doesn’t love an infographic… especially when they are this cute! Thanks to the folks at Pet365 who created this infographic after polling 1000 respondents from all over the world. Where do you and your Labrador Retriever fall into the catagories?

Dog Training graphic created by Matt Beswick for Pet365 – a UK supplier of dog beds, collars and coats. Click here to view the full post.

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Labrador Retriever The Top Dog in America

Once again, the Labrador Retriever wins the top spot in America’s heart, as the breed secures the #1 spot on the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) Most Popular Breed List.

The Labrador Retriever has held this spot for 21 consecutive years, thanks to its reputation for playfulness and loyalty, and its use as a police and search-and-rescue dog. Other notables on the list include the Beagle, which made big news by knocking the Yorkshire Terrier out of the third spot, while the Golden Retriever advanced from the fifth to the fourth most popular dog breed. Not making the list this year was the Shih Tzu – the breed was overtaken in popularity by the Rottweiler.

Here’s the full 2011 list:

Most Popular Breeds Nationwide

1. Labrador Retriever

2. German Shepherd

3. Beagle

4. Golden Retriever

5. Yorkshire Terrier

6. Bulldog

7. Boxer

8. Poodle

9. Dachshund

10. Rottweiler

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Why Even Have a Dog?

What do dogs really do for us? I will agree I was a “NO DOG TILL HELL FREEZES OVER” person for the past 5 years.viagra Come on, dogs stink when wet. Dogs stink when muddy. Dogs stink when they roll in deer poop. Dogs stink after they eat their food. Dogs stink when they fart. Dogs stink if you don’t bathe them periodically. All in all, dogs just plain stink. HOWEVER, most Labradoodles and Goldendoodles do not have doggy odor, thus they really don’t stink except when they have a ear/yeast infection or have rolled in deer poop like Max does if I am not careful when walking him on our 6 acre yard.

Next, dogs jump up on you. They sniff you in areas I won’t mention but most have experienced to-date. They get your clothes wet and/or muddy. Dogs bark at nothing! Dogs want to play when you dead tired, or want to watch a movie. Dogs need walks or they will drive you right up a wall with their undying energy levels. Dogs chew things like eyeglasses, shoes, boots, chair legs, towels or anything you do not want them to chew. Dogs take over your life. They have to be fed certain times, let outside to relieve themselves, they need training, love, hugs, kisses, praise over and over again. Dogs just plain have as many needs as humans, maybe even more? Dogs do not let injuries, stitches, or wounds left alone to heal. Instead they lick, chew, bite them and can cause an infection or further medical attention. Dogs can bite sometimes by mistake while playing by your feet, other times when fearful. Dogs can talk back! Dogs can pee and poop on your rug numerous times no matter how much eliminator products you use. Dogs can cost more money than you can afford when bringing them to the vets. Or more than your kids did at the pediatrician. Good news, you can purchase dog insurance to help recover some medical costs.

Let’s see if I left anything out about how much trouble owning a dog can be for us humans. Dogs can develop weird habits, not come when called, roam neighborhoods, eat things like chicken wings from your kitchen garbage, open screen and storm doors to run free, round off corners on coffee tables, defuzz any stuffed toy in minutes, eat non-edible items at a moments notice, test your patience almost 24/7, make your kids look like saints at times, and in general give you tension headaches for years if you let them or don’t exercise a sense of humor.

So why have a dog at all? Good question! As this is what I used to think, feel and believe in until October 7, 2006. Now I would not go back to life BEFORE Max, Peanut, and Beau. Not for all the tea in china, not for a million dollars! I can honesty say all three of my dogs are work.

It’s plain and simple: everyone’s lives in my house have been upturned and changed indefinitely for sure. But what we have learned, witnessed, felt in our hearts at times, and experienced to date words alone do not describe the full benefits. There are days when a picture whether it is mental, digital and/or photographic in any way, is worth at least a 1000 words. Yet there are times neither a word nor a picture can really portray what one gets in life from a dog, it is something one has to just experience at one point or another in life.

How does one draw the laughter, head tilts, soulful loving eyes just looking deeply into yours? How does one say what the sound of a dog crying in pain looks or feels like? Or when you are sad maybe even crying only to have a dog come and truly comfort you, can anyone put in print the true emotion felt at that moment? Or what is felt when your favorite slippers are shredded with tons of fuzz all over the floor and your dog happily wags it tail, looking proudly at you and drops it at your feet on command. Can anyone describe the mixed emotion of wanting to kill that damn dog one second and then laughing while hugging the same dog the next? Or how about the funny stories down the road you can tell at family gatherings and parties making others have the best laugh they have had in months!

Now let’s turn this around. Having dogs is analogous in certain ways to having children. You learn to laugh, develop patience, better creativity, organizational and analytical skills along with sharpened common sense and problem solving abilities. I haven’t mentioned the word LOVE until now. Can anyone really describe love to its truest meaning, its deepest level, or if writing it for a dictionary exactly how it makes you feel? Can someone really just sum it up carefully and universally into one or two sentences, or is it something we really need to have in our lives daily to totally understand it and like an addict crave it?

Love is not just smiling, feeling happy, being dreamy eyed and idealistic, and the positive list continues onward. Love also consists of tears, fears, worries, frustration, anger, wanting to give up and/or walk away, feeling stressed out and that no one cares, or understands, or helps out or whatever. What really matters is putting the good with the bad, the pretty with the ugly…it is the combinations that are more complex than solving a Rubik’ Cube or channeling quantum physics.

Now what kind of love does a dog possess? A dog teaches something humans have yet to be able to genuinely 100 % do in their own life and that is to love UNCONDTIONALLY. Dogs rarely hold grudges; do not bring up the past in your face.Okay the boot your dog chews daily that is the exception to the rule. Dogs kiss you each and every time no matter how mad you were at them earlier in the day. Dogs greet you eagerly each and every time you enter your home whether you were gone 5 hours or 5 minutes. Dogs just want love and to give love period.

I love how when I have heard of other people’s dogs acting similar to Max when around small children, the elderly, or even someone in pain physically and/or mentally. They calm right down, sit patiently, quietly and almost with a silent inquisitiveness without questions. They act so much differently than usual. These dogs seem to sense the pain, innocence, mental anguish, or that these people are different from others in their home. Dogs are better at sensing differences as well as reading body language than us humans. If we were to watch dogs more often we could even possibly learn more than we try to teach them. Children when small are the same way: through their love and innocence at times they really teach us more than we teach them. “Children learn what they live” is a well known poem however could it possibly overflow into dogs? For me, my answer is yes.

To-date having dogs in my life again has enabled me to think more about my children and how much I should be showing them how deep my love runs for them too. Two of my teenagers still hug and kiss me telling me they love me. The other teenager will again when he is done conquering the world, thinking I am stupid, mean, strict, embarrassing, and out of touch with how things are today. Hopefully, when this one particular teenager becomes an adult he will have the best of what life has to offer: love shared with a companion, also children and pets. Both make you laugh later on and especially when it happens to someone else. For others being able to say “been there, done that” can enable one to reflect a memory, a laugh and move on in life perhaps in a more positive way when you realize this commonality.

Are dogs worth the love, money, time and work involved in the average 10 to 15 year commitment? Sure, but then again what in life isn’t work? If everything were to come easy without some hard work and frustrations at times, would you appreciate and love it as much?

Will you ever have to be up all night with a dog? — Probably. Will you freeze your buns off in winter or wear holes in the soles of your shoes walking them, some will, some won’t. Depends if you have fenced areas in your yard or not.

Will you melt when they kiss you for no reason other than to just want to? Most of us do. Will any of you have at least one stinky ride in a car competing with your dog for fresh air? Most of us have. Or how about talking mushy baby talk when you think no one is within listening distance? I have seen grown men perform this act many a time, as I have seen grown women and children to be included of cuteness acts around a dog.

Will you end up with poop stuck on your dog’s rear end needing assistance of removal? I hope far and few between for anyone’s sake. This is not a cute or joyous feat.

Will you end up having to replace something in your home due to destruction, accident and/or boredom? That is a given. Yet the same dog can also alert and/or save you in times of danger.

Have you ever buried your face in your dog and given the almighty bear hug while whispering the “I love you so much” in your dog’s ear? I know I have numerous times.

Will your yard or houseplants be dug up periodically? Mine have and will again if I turn my back too long. And will you realize like your children and yourself, no one and nothing is perfect in life? If life were to be easy and perfect there would be nothing to look forward to. So will you one day come to realize the same dog that needs care and love can also do the same for us? Or will you pass up the opportunity in life of learning what unconditional love really means?

My home I thought was filled with so much love with my kids and fiancé. My cup was half full and now with 3 doodle dogs my cup is overflowing with love. I have asked so many questions but not for answers, but more for reflection.

And I leave you all with this: Dogs: man’s best friend? Or are they really everyone’s best friend if you allow them to be ? You decide.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” quote by Anatole France

The contents of this blog site are copyright (c) 2008, Annmarie Sparks. All Rights Reserved

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Famous Labradoodle Owners

Even though Barack Obama didn’t end up getting a Labradoodle for his family, there are plenty of other famous Labradoodle owners out there, below you will find some of the celebrities that own Labradoodles. As we are made aware of more famous Labradoodle owners, we will update the list as necessary.

• Jennifer Aniston – owns a Labradoodle, bought for her by Brad Pitt, her former husband.
• David Baldacci – Famous legal thriller author owns a Labradoodle is named Finn.
• Lance Bass – Singer, (formerley of the boyband N’Sync) has a black Labradoodle.
• Joe Biden – Current US Vice President, owns a Labradoodle named Brother.
• Billy Bragg – Political folk/rocker owns a Labradoodle.
• Christie Brinkley – owns a Labradoodle named Maple Sugar.
• Dustin Brown – Professional basketball player owns Milo, a Chocolate Labradoodle.
• Sir Donald Campbell – Sir Campbell broke land speed records in the 1950s, was one of the first Labradoodle owners.
• Jeremy Clarkson – Top Gear presenter has a Labradoodle named Dodger.
• Barbara Eden – The former actress has a Labradoodle named Djinn Djinn (named after her invisible dog in the TV show I Dream of Jeannie).
• Carolyn B. Ellis – The writer and her three children own a Labradoodle.
• Mark Gearan – Hobart and William Smith Colleges President has a Labradoodle named Dublin.
• Tom Griswold – of The Bob and Tom Show in Indiana has a Labradoodle named Tazzie.
• Richard Hammond – Top Gear Presenter owns a Labradoodle called TG (often referred to as “Top Gear Dog”) which occasionally appears on the BBC show.
• Lynn Hoffman – Author and activist has a Labradoodle named Lola.
• Jeremy Irons – Actor, has two black Labradoodles.
• Pam Krueger – PBS Television investment program MoneyTrack producer has a Labradoodle named Chloe, who sometimes appears on the show as an “unofficial co-host”.
• Rory McIlroy – Irish Golfer, winner of the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic has a Labradoodle named Theo.
• Graham Norton – Actor and TV presenter has a Labradoodle named Bailey.
• Hugh Panaro – Actor/singer has a Labradoodle named Soot.
• Courtney Peldon and Ashley Peldon – Actresses and sisters have two Labradoodles named Odysseus and Calypso.
• Oliver Platt – Actor, owns a labradoodle named  Noodle.
• Rodman Primack – Chairman of the London auction house Phillips de Pury
  

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Doodles LIVE HOW LONG?

 
Technically, many written articles state that Labradoodles and Goldendoodles live on the average about 12-15 years.

I say Labradoodles and Goldendoodles, as I have both types of doodles sitting at my feet this very moment, will ONLY live 15 years with a human family that will exercise a sense of humor on a daily basis! So if you are not feeling very humorous in life, I highly suggest getting a doodle. Believe me; you will discover a possible hidden or lost sense of humor while growing OLD together. For now those of you who think they are or have been called “born comedians”, think again! Doodles are the best stand up comedy act in town, outperforming you many times over and over and over again. Though you may be able to be quite the comedian when at a social event alone, without a doodle that is, retelling what antic your doodle did in the past. Otherwise, doodles take first place and you come in as a close second. If you have multiple doodles, then put it this way: you are last but think of laughter as the best medicine around and your doodles are keeping you very healthy. As they say, “He, who laughs last, has the best laugh”.

So how did someone determine the average age of Doodles? Did they refer to Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever and Standard Poodle history for their age along with temperament of comedy and love? For now, humor me as we go and look at what they say about the canine genetic mixes in a Doodle.

First a Goldendoodle , in general, is started by breeding a Golden Retriever with a Standard Poodle. The Labradoodle uses a Labrador Retriever bred with a Standard Poodle.

Golden Retrievers are known as a companion dog that is very friendly, eager to please, happy disposition, responds well to training, peaceful towards other animals, seems to be everyone’s friend in the family and while energetic as puppies, they do tend to calm down a bit in adulthood by 2 years of age. However, there is the exception to the rule and some golden retrievers can take up to 3 years to mature.

The LIFE EXPECTANCY OF GOLDEN RETRIEVERS :12 to 15 years.

The Labrador Retriever is known for its easy going, friendly and faithful nature as well as being excellent hunting dogs. This type of dog also responds well to various types of training (guide, service, therapy, rescue, etc), love attention as well as giving it to their family.  

THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE LABRADOR RETRIEVER: 12 to 15 years.

 Now let’s move on to the Standard Poodle. Originally created to be a water/hunting dog, with a no shedding coat, playful and comical personality, very high intelligence, quite agile, possible watch dog in maturity, and easily trains well.

 THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF STANDARD POODLES: 12 Years.

 According to the general public and articles on the internet and in books now, the average life expectancy of Doodles is anywhere from 12 to 15 years. For hearsay, I am going to state my doodles will live 15 years to make sure I fully develop and experience a healthy sense of humor laughing for years to come.

 Max now a 22 month old jet black scruffy but cute looking Labradoodle was almost the perfect puppy with only a few comical incidents, however around the age of 15 mos old he decided to release the Lab side of himself. Prior to 15 mos old my family and I had seen mostly the Std. Poodle side of him. Max can easily jump 6 ft in the air and do a butt wiggle and 360 softly landing on his feet. This has caused non-doodle dog owners to have their eyes pop out of their heads and stare in disbelief for a few seconds before they pick their chin off the ground as ask, “Does he always do that?” Or I love the sideways flying through the air at eye level of a person I am talking to that Max thinks is boring and he should be noticed immediately. Once again, I act nonchalant and confirm the black blur at approximately 5ft 3 ins high indeed is my agile, nimble, comical, and mischievous doodle Max. At that moment Max still has a lifespan of 15years since laughter erupted and no harm was done.

When Max shredded a 5ft by 7 ft tall Mexican plant down to 2.5ft by 4ft , I quickly hid the shredded evidence in the bottom of the pot and inspected Max’s mouth for further evidence. Next came pushing this canine pruned Mexican plant that blooms only one night every year into the corner. Under stress or was it the feeling of dread when Dave would discover his prized plant was downsized by several years growth, he might possibly freak out? Meaning Max’s life expectancy was no longer 15years, the way my heart was pounding, my mind racing on how to fix this problem in about 3 minutes, well I figured Max was down to 11.3years left to live or less. I’ve always prided myself at the workplace being able to perform well under pressure and greet challenges with enthusiasm. Here was my chance to prove myself as quick thinking Annmarie, savior of Max’s 15 year life span.

 Hmm… quickly analyzing after scooping up all the shredded succulent leaves that were in tiny pieces, I scan the area. “Where can I hide it for now and later dispose of it into the garbage container outside?” Remember, Dave is due to walk by any minute. A light bulb idea goes off and I feel I can save Max’s life. The plant is big and gangly leaning every which way, so why not rearrange the leaves and stems to appear bigger? Yes I have a plan of action. Moving faster than a speeding bullet I collect all the shredded  pieces trying to bury them in the soil of the large pot the plant sits in while pushing Max’s nose out of the way. Next I push the plant a little over to the left, extend the leaves and stems more to the right, and run downstairs with Max to sit at the dining room table behind my computer with Max lying by my feet. My heart is racing still, I am stifling a giggle or two when I realize how foolish I am to try to cover up Max’s curiosity. I should just tell Dave what happened and leave it at that. But this is real life and this is more fun seeing how long it will take Dave to notice and laugh after I tell him what I did to save Max’s life expectancy.

Dave notices about a day later. Whew, am I ever glad men aren’t as observant as us women. End result? Dave laughs so hard when I relate all the details and agrees Max has immunity thus living out his full life with us. Great and I love Dave even more for being understanding and roll my eyes at Max who tries to feign sheer innocence.
Later we have a 2nd Doodle named Peanut who is a Houdini, a devil, a princess, so sweet, and if she could she’d bounce off the walks and walk on the ceiling along with traveling the world happily with anyone who she meets. Friendly and curious with a wee devil is Peanut’s personality.

When Peanut tasted Dave’s steak sub one night on the coffee table , well her life expectancy went down to almost 9.4years but when I pointed out to Dave why in his right mind he would leave the room to get salt while a puppy was sitting at mouth level to his plate, he agreed it was foolish on his part. Besides the look of happiness and a wagging tail with the cuteness of her smile, restored Peanut’s life expectancy back up to 15 years.

 Let’s add in a 3rd Doodle named Beau who is as calm, happy go lucky and as sweet as a puppy can possibly be. On his own accord, he has watched our other 2 doodle dogs lose some years off their life and how they obtain back a full 15 year life expectancy. Yes, Beau is smart and a good observer too. Beau has mastered the Hush Puppy sad eyed look down pat along with the bowing of his head, tuck the tail down and look like he is going to cry when he does something wrong. Beau’s life expectancy goes up and down like a yo-yo. He has stopped playing quality assurance tester of rugs, shoes, mail or whatever he can slink off with in the blink of an eye. Yet when caught chewing my gas bill he eagerly drops it and waits for me to pick it up. Bingo…full life expectancy is restored at that very moment. And so is when he barks to alert us to Peanut NOT sharing a magazine she claims Max gave to her to read.

 So when I hear the words, very rarely I might add, ” I am going to kill that dog!” I then figure out a way to present a good sense of humor into action. When Max breaks free once a week tricking Dave or my son he will be good on a potty walk off leash and then runs 200 mph around the yard and house becoming a black blur having the time of his life, I then go to the back door and yell, ” BYE MAX!”. Whenever I say these words Max runs back to the front door where I wait and open it. Max then proceeds to go into his crate and punishes himself. I then announce to my household how GOOD Max is as he knows when he does wrong and gives himself a timeout whereby my household ends up laughing and letting Max out of his crate 5 minutes later. Little does Max know he keeps a full 15 year life expectancy each and every time he crates himself when he does something not good in the human view of right and wrong. 

 OH, and if you find yourself wanting to kill that dog when your best pair of shoes are eaten, remember it is up to you to teach them right from wrong while allowing them to fully live their life expectancy as a dog. As a child does not raise themselves nor does a dog. Whether a child or a puppy, both will have their quirks, good points, get into mischief due to natural curiosity that has its moments of correction along with a sense of humor applied at all times or should I say whenever possible?

If my mother and father killed me every time they said that when I managed to error in some way without allowing redemption via love, laughter, patience and further guidance, I guess I wouldn’t be writing this article today.

 So, while you ponder how long will my doodle live, ” 10, 12, or 15 years?” I no longer ponder this question anymore. By letting Doodles enter our home, hearts and life, I now plan on our doodles living as long as possible growing older with us daily. Add to that the great stories that can be told at future gatherings, laughter that has been had and yet to come, along with knowing that no one or nothing is infallible except God.

My doodles are going to live forever. As my doodles will always have a place in my heart, memories and pictures to revisit in my mind at any given moment, and love to feel any time I think of them or just have them lying at my feet waiting for me to finish typing this article and play some fetch with them.

P.S. I am glad to say all 3 doodles in my house have been granted lifetime immunity since writing this article and will live a full life expectancy.

The contents of this blog site are copyright (c) 2008, Annmarie Sparks. All Rights Reserved

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Retriever Adoption

After volunteering this weekend at a local Canadian shelter, I wish more dog owners were responsible and spayed and neutered their pets. So many beautiful retrievers are in shelters across the US through no fault of their own. Please adopt if you are looking to help a retriever start a new life.

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Sad Retriever Euthanization Story

For those of us who train our dogs well and care about their wellbeing, this story really hits home.

http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x549738270/Selectwoman-seeks-alternative-to-euthanizing-golden-retriever

She is given a choice on how to put her Golden Retriever down, after it attacked two children.

A reminder to:
- Always train your pet
- Keep them on a short leash
- Never leave them off-leash
- If your retriever’s temperament is not good, or is questionable, always err on the side of caution

If you are looking for a new puppy:
- Find out what the parents (father, mother) were like
- Visit them repeatedly
- If you have children, expose them at a distance to the parents and see how they react

Remember, a retriever is a life partner for you and your family. A retriever can bring years of joy! Choose wisely.

Read more: Sad Retriever Euthanization Story

Best Dog Breeds For People With Allergies

Low Allergen Dogs

Dog lovers come in almost as many shapes and sizes as there are dogs. Even people who are allergic to dogs may love them. Those who suffer from mild pet allergies, but still love owning dogs, used to be somewhat limited in the breeds they could choose from. Recent developments of several cross breeds have meant that people who suffer from pet allergies can now choose from several different breeds that are designed to minimize the impact on the allergy sufferer. One of the best dogs for people with allergies is the Labradoodle. Understanding what causes pet allergies and why the Labradoodle is different will tell you why.

Anyone who is allergic to dogs can tell you that not only are allergic reactions not fun, they can be dangerous as well. Pet allergies, and dog allergies in particular, are caused by allergens located in the saliva or dried skin of the dog. When people susceptible to these allergens come into contact with pet dander or saliva, an allergic reaction is likely. It just makes sense that breeds with less allergens or with less pet dander are less likely to cause allergic reactions in the people they come into contact with. This is exactly why the Labradoodle was created.

It has long been known that poodles are less likely to cause allergy problems than many other dog breeds. Poodles tend to have shorter hair that does not shed as readily as other breeds. also, they are less likely to shed pet dander. The only problem was, some people didn’t like poodles. The solution? A cross between one of America’s favorite breeds, the Labrador and the nearly allergen free Poodle. The resulting Labradoodle seemed to have the best traits from both breeds. Known for their intelligence and ability to learn, Labradoodles have an even temperament that makes them ideal as guide dogs or for owners with small children. Labradoodles don’t shed nearly as much as other dog breeds, meaning their is less of the allergen laden pet dander to deal with.

Allergy Free dogs

For many dog lovers, what it really comes down to when selecting a breed is size and temperament. The Labradoodle has quickly become a favorite allergen free breed for several reasons. First. Labradoodles come in three different sizes, miniature, medium and standard, meaning that no matter what size dog you are looking for, it is possible to find a low-allergen Labradoodle! Like poodles, Labradoodles come in a variety of colors as well. Their short and somewhat curly coats make grooming easy, and are an additional reason they are great for dog lovers who suffer from allergies. Their even temperament and kind nature make them a favorite as well.

Just because you suffer from dog allergies doesn’t mean you cannot have a dog to call you own. contact a local Labradoodle breeder today to discuss the perfect allergen free Labradoodle for your home. Labradoodles are fun, beautiful, smart and won’t irritate your allergies – what more could you ask for!

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Giving A Labradoodle As A Gift

Many varieties of Labradoodle

Have you ever thought about giving someone a dog as a gift? It can be a risky proposition. Deciding what size dog, what breed and even what sex can be difficult when you are trying to choose a pet for a loved one. When you are trying to select a dog, it is often difficult to know just what breed is right. Finding the perfect breed depends on many factors, but the most important maybe temperament. Speaking with breeders may very well lead you to a relatively new breed – the Labradoodle.

Breeders will tell you that Labradoodles have been bred specifically for several impressive traits The dogs are known as ‘smart’ dogs and have quickly become a favorite breed for guide or ‘help’ dogs. A breeder will further explain that Labradoodle dogs are exceptionally easy to train. Not only are they smart, they are intuitive, making them ideal for families with small children. Because they come in three different sizes, it is possible to find a Labradoodle for any size home. The miniature works well for apartment dwellers while the standard is perfect for people with yards.

Labradoodle Puppies

Labradoodle Assistance Dogs

Anybody who is need of a guide or assistance dog would certainly appreciate the Labradoodle. Because of their intelligence and intuition, they are often the perfect breed to be trained as either a guide or an assistance dog. A Labradoodle can easily be trained as a ‘hearing’ dog to assist the deaf with hearing sounds such as doorbells or tea-kettles. They also work well as service dogs where they become the arms and legs of the disabled person. Many people find the Labradoodle a great gift for the elderly who can be trained according to the particular needs of each owner by working with a trainer.

Finally, Labradoodles, originally bred as a low-allergen guide dog, are perfect for anyone who suffers from mild allergies. Pet allergies can be downright dangerous if they are severe enough. If you are considering gifting a dog, this is something you must take into consideration. By selecting a Labradoodle, a breed which does not shed a lot of animal dander, the likelihood of an allergic reaction is much less.

Labradoodle Breeders

If you are considering gifting a dog, it is an excellent idea to speak with a local Labradoodle breeder about Labradoodles. They will be able to assist you with this difficult decision and help you to understand the benefits of the Labradoodle breed. Gifting a dog is about much more than a cute puppy with a bright red bow, it is about finding the ideal breed and the one best suited for its new owners needs. You must carefully consider all aspect, from color to size and from temperament and intelligence. While all dogs are different, as a breed, Labradoodles are known for their even temperament and the various sizes and colors available makes picking one easy. Labradoodles may simply be the best breed to gift.

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The Labradoodle Is The Perfect Dog For Non-Dog People

golden labradoodle

Not too long after I married my husband, a bonafide dog lover, his dog, whom he often referred to as his ‘other woman’ passed away. He was simply heartbroken. I, however, didn’t really consider myself a dog person. They seemed to shed all the time, barked, yapped and generally made more work for me than I was really prepared for. Still, he seemed so sad so I relented.

I started looking around for a breed of dog that would meet our needs. I wanted a friendly, larger dog that was known as a ‘low-shedder’ and I found the perfect solution in the Labradoodle.

My hubby was, at first, skeptical. He couldn’t imagine that a dog with a name like Labradoodle was anything other than a ‘girly’ dog. I convinced him to visit a local breeder and he changed his mind. We settle on a ‘standard’ male labradoodle whom we named Caliber. He fit the bill perfectly. Because my husband insisted on a larger dog, the male labradoodle was perfect. As full-grown adults, standard labradoodles average between 55 and 75 pounds and can reach heights of 26 inches. Caliber’s size was just right.

labradoodle

Labradoodle Temperament

We soon learned his temperament was perfect as well. Labradoodles are known for their innate intelligence and my husband found that Caliber was easily trained. In no time at all they had a large repertoire of ‘tricks’ – Caliber even ‘dances’ with him. Our Labradoodle is by far the most even-tempered dog I have ever come across.

Labradoodle Grooming

Even better, Labradoodles are known to have little to no shedding throughout the course of the year. No ‘dog bunnies’ for me to clean up! Caliber’s coat has been easy to groom. The somewhat curly nature of his fur is attractive and we have managed to get by with only two trips to the groomers each year. Our breeder also explained that the Labradoodle is one of the best breeds for anyone concerned about mild allergies. This may be due to their lack of shedding. My mother-in-law is mildly allergic to pet dander and hasn’t had any trouble with Caliber.

Dark Labradoodle

My husband and I have both been ‘sold’ on the Labradoodle. Our local breeder has told us that many dogs of this breed are used as guide or therapy dogs because of their even temperament. We specifically asked about Labradoodles and children, as we are hoping to start a family soon. Our breeder explained that while each dog is different, the Labradoodle breed is one of the best breeds for families with children because of their temperament.

While no dog could ever replace the one my husband lost, our Labradoodle Caliber has come close. He and my husband are now good companions. Instead of having ‘another woman’ to hang out with, my husband now jokes that he and Caliber need ‘guy time.’ I would suggest this breed to anyone looking for a larger dog with an even temperament or to someone suffering from mild dog allergies that still wants to enjoy a dog. As for me, I think I have finally become a dog lover and am considering getting a miniature labradoodle for my own.

Read more: The Labradoodle Is The Perfect Dog For Non-Dog People