Petite Labradoodle

The Petite Labradoodle is a mixed or cross breed dog. She is the result of mixing the Labrador Retriever, Toy or Miniature Poodle and the Cocker Spaniel. She has talents in agility, obedience, tricks, watchdog, tracking, hunting, competitive obedience and retrieving. She is a medium sized dog with a life span of 10 to 15 years. She is an affectionate a fun dog, always happy and a great addition to any family. Other names she is known as are Petite Labrapoo, Petite Labradorpoo and Petite Labradordoodle.

Here is the Petite Labradoodle at a Glance
Average height	12 to 15 inches
Average weight	15 to 30 pounds
Coat type	Medium, silky, wavy to curly
Hypoallergenic?	Can be
Grooming Needs	Moderate
Shedding	Low
Brushing	Daily
Touchiness	Somewhat sensitive
Tolerant to Solitude?	Low to moderate
Barking	Rare to Occasional
Tolerance to Heat	Very good
Tolerance to Cold	Very good to excellent
Good Family Pet?	Very good
Good with Children?	Very good with socialization
Good with other Dogs?	Very good with socialization
Good with other Pets?	Very good with socialization
A roamer or Wanderer?	Moderate
A Good Apartment Dweller?	Very good
Good Pet for new Owner?	Very good to excellent
Trainability	Easy to train
Exercise Needs	Fairly active
Tendency to get Fat	Moderate
Major Health Concerns	Epilepsy, diabetes, eye problems, hypothyroidism
Other Health Concerns	Joint dysplasia, ear infections, allergies,
Life Span	10 to 15 years
Average new Puppy Price	$2000 to $3000
Average Annual Medical Expense	$460 to $550
Average Annual Non-Medical Expense	$455 to $550

Where does the Petite Labradoodle come from?

The Petite Labradoodle is a designer dog which are a popular and trending group of dogs at the moment. They encompass the many different mixed breeds being deliberate created mostly in the last 3 decades. The Petite Labradoodle is a little different to the norm though. The Labradoodle is already a recognized and popular designer dog. In order to get a small version of it breeders will cross a Lab with a Cocker Spaniel (called a Spanador) and then breed those to a toy or miniature Poodle. Most Petite Labradoodles are or should be half Poodle, ¼ Lab and ¼ Cocker. Some breeders may opt for other methods but this is the more accepted method and is called the Australian Blend. Here is a look at what a Labradoodle comes from and the Cocker Spaniel to get a feel for what goes into this dog.

The Labradoodle

The Labradoodle is not quite like other mixed breeds or designer dogs. The term crops up in 1955 but it was not until 1988 that it became commonly used. Unlike other designer dogs the Labradoodle has an origin story and we know its purpose, when it was bred and who did it. In Australia a breeder called Wally Conron crossed the Standard Poodle with the Labrador Retriever and started the cross breed in the 1970s. He did so to create a guide dog who would be intelligent, gentle, trainable, low shedding and friendly. Conron was at Guide Dogs Victoria at the time and while they now no longer breed Labradoodles other assistance and guide dog associations breed them.

The Labradoodle is a gentle, intelligent, energetic and outgoing dog. He is very friendly, he can be goofy and he is very easy going. He has a sweet disposition and the energy from the Lab with the goofy smarts of the Poodle. He is eager to please and easy to train and gets on with everyone. He is a great working dog, assistance dog or family dog.

The Cocker Spaniel

The Cocker Spaniel come from a Spanish line of dogs, and was named for his favored ability in woodcock hunting. It was not untie 1892 that he was recognized as a breed in England as for a few hundred years before that to the English spaniel was a working category rather than an indication of breed. In the 1870s he came to America where he grew in popularity and where there became a division in English Cocker Spaniels and American Cocker Spaniels.

A Cocker Spaniel today when well bred is affectionate and sweet and loves to cuddle. He also likes to be in the center of any family activity and loves to play. He enjoys being active and is alert but he also quite sensitive and does not do well when treated harshly. He can also snap if he is pain or scared. Early socialization will bring out he best side of him.

Temperament

The Petite Labradoodle is a very affectionate, sweet and loving family dog. She loves to play, be active and have fun and is also quite entertaining herself with lots of energy and a joy for life. She is loyal also, confident, never aggressive and sensitive. She can be quite lively and loves attention. She is friendly and intelligent and eager to please making her easy to train. Her temperament is such that she is often used as a service dog.

What does the Petite Labradoodle look like

She is a medium sized dog being 15 to 30 pounds and standing 12 to 15 inches tall. She has a round head, flappy ears that hang over her cheeks, eyes that are oval shaped deeply set and bright, a black nose and a medium muzzle. She has a coat that ideally would be curly, medium and silky but can also be wooly or coarse depending on which parents she takes after more. It is preferred for her to have a wooly or fleece coat as it is more likely to be hypo-allergenic and low shedding. Colors common to her are black, brown and gold.

Training and Exercise Needs

How active does the Petite Labradoodle need to be?

She is on the smaller side but has a lot of energy so she is fairly active still. That means she will need at least one long walk a day with some play time. She can adapt to apartment living so that play can happen inside, a yard would just be a bonus. She likes to swim or play in water, the usual dog games like fetch and tug of war, and she would love trips to a dog park. Make sure she gets some mental stimulation as well.

Does she train quickly?

She is intelligent, eager to please and inclined to listen to commands so she is easy to train. She needs positive but firm handling, reward and praise her rather than scolding and avoid being impatient. She should be socialized and trained early to see her grow into the best dog she can be. In general she trains quite quickly and may need less repetition. Remember the key to good training is consistency.

Living with a Petite Labradoodle

How much grooming is needed?

She should be brushed daily to keep out the tangles and given a bath when needed. She is usually a low shedding dog but on occasion her coat can be more coarse and shed more moderately. Usually when she has a coat like that she is not hypo-allergenic. When her coat is more like a Poodle’s she is more likely to be suitable for people with allergies. Cut her nails when they get too long, brush her teeth at least twice a week and check her ears for infection and wipe them clean once a week. Do not insert anything into her ears, and when cutting her nails do not cut too far down.

What is she like with children and other animals?

She is very good with children especially when socialized and if raised with them. This is the same for other pets and dogs too. She plays with children and is affectionate and usually gentle. Younger ones should be supervised and taught how to play with her and stroke her without hurting her.

General information

She is alert and makes a good watchdog. She will bark when strangers approach the house. She should be fed 1 1/2 to 2 cups of good quality dry dog food each day and split that up into at least two meals. She will bark rarely to occasionally and is good for most climates.

Health Concerns

To avoid having problems with her health buy from reputable breeders. Sometimes that might mean taking longer to find the right dog but that is time well spent. Do not let your money fund puppy mills or poor breeders. Ask to see health clearances for the puppy and for the parents. There are some health issues that could be more likely to come up because the parents are more prone to them. They include Epilepsy, diabetes, eye problems, hypothyroidism, joint dysplasia, ear infections and allergies.

Costs involved in owning a Petite Labradoodle

The Labradoodle is a very popular designer dog and it is quite the trend to have smaller dogs at the moment so Petite Labradoodles are in high demand. Prices are therefore high falling between $2000 to $3000. They are also high because the process is not as simple as many other mixed breeds. Other costs if not included in the price that you will have to cover are blood tests, chipping, deworming, spaying, bowls, collar and leash, crate and carrier bag. These come to $455 to $500. Annual costs for medical essentials like pet insurance, vaccinations, flea prevention and check ups come to $460 to $550. Annual costs for non medical essentials like food, license, training, treats and toys comes to between $455 to $550.