Labradoodles have become a highly desired dog that a lot of families love to have. But many people who want a dog doesn’t always have the needed time or resources to train one. I was wondering if Labradoodles are easy to train and how to train them, and here is the research I found regarding this.
Labradoodles are known to be quite intelligent dogs that are able to learn a lot of skills and commands swiftly and efficiently. Their ancestors were originally bred to be working dogs, so they are very competent at doing what they are trained to do effectively.
If you are interested in learning training tips for a Labradoodle, why Labradoodles are so easy to train, and if a Labradoodle is right for you, continue reading below.
Origins
Bred from Labrador Retrievers and Poodles, Labradoodles are regarded as being both intelligent and easy to train. As a cross-breed or hybrid, they get different characteristics from each of the breeds from which they originate.
Poodle: One of the most intelligent dogs there is. They are able to adapt their behavior to fit whatever mood you are in. Early training is required as their intelligence can also lead to them being quite stubborn at times. Poodles are ranked #2 as the most intelligent of all dog breeds.
Labrador: The Labrador Retriever is also highly ranked when it comes to intelligence in dogs. In fact, they are ranked at #7 of all breeds. Labradors are not only a smart dog breed, but also gentle and courageous.
Basic Training Tips for Your Labradoodle
One of the best commands to start with when training any dog is the “sit” command. It is one of the best and easiest commands to teach, and it will help your dog be a lot more receptive when learning more difficult commands in the future and it works as a foundation for other commands such as “stay” and “lay down.”
The by far most efficient way to train your Labradoodle is by using treats. Food is generally a huge motivating factor for dogs and when you’re just starting out with training a dog, it also more effective than verbal praise. Treats are something that you will eventually want to phase out, but they are a great place to start.
Here are some great training reward treats from Amazon which are good for Labradoodles and every other dog.
If you are worried about filling your dog up with treats, you can also buy smaller special training treats such as these. These will also leave your dog wishing for more so they don’t end up bored or wanting to stop training because they get full off of the treats.
Another thing that very important is that you build trust with your Labradoodle.
A dog that sees you as a master or someone that they are safe with, especially if you are working with an older Labradoodle, and not a puppy, will be a lot more willing to listen. Older Labradoodles can be quite unwilling to learn from someone they don’t know or trust.
A great way to build this trust is by spending time outside and training with your labradoodle, playing around with them, or holding them and petting them.
Remember ton ever use fear as a motivator when training a Labradoodle. As I said earlier, you want your Labradoodle to really trust you and feel safe with you and fear only leads to the exact opposite of that.
And while you can get results immediately by using fear, in the long run, your dog will only become more disobedient when you’re away or try to get escape whenever there’s even a small chance of it.
Patience is essential. Even though a dog can feel like just a regular member of the family, a Labradoodle is still a dog. Some Labradoodles learn faster, and some learn slower, no two dogs are exactly the same.
Don’t get discouraged or frustrated if your Labradoodle isn’t catching on with a new command straight away, it can easily take more time than you expected and that’s perfectly fine. You just have to keep working together with them, and perhaps take a different approach to what you are trying to teach them.
How to House Train Your Labradoodle
One of the first things you should do is house train your Doodle, as nobody wants their dog to have accidents all over their home.
House training is also the hardest thing to train a puppy in comparison with other basic commands because of it being something that just takes as much effort, consistency, and commitment from your dog, as well as it does for you.
The best and fastest way to begin house training a dog is by establishing a feeding schedule. If you make sure that you feed your dog at exactly the same time every day, it’s a lot easier to predict when they will have to go to the bathroom.
Routines and schedules will eliminate most of the confusion you could get with a dog and will allow your dog to pick up on new training routines faster, and thereby making the general training of them much easier.
When your Labradoodle has finished eating, bring him/her outside and show the spot that you want them to use. You should expect to wait a few minutes outside with them. Get your treats ready for when it works, and praise them all you can. Continue doing this until they are able to go outside and use their spot by themselves.
You should also be aware of any of the signs that they have to go to the bathroom and ensure that you get them outside before it happens inside. Signs to look out for includes things such as circling around the home, pacing, and sniffing the ground.
Consistency is key when training your Doodle, so lead them to the same spot you want them to go every single time. They will only end up confused if you change your plans every single time.
How to Teach Your Labradoodle to Sit
Sit is probably the easiest command to teach, as it typically doesn’t require all that much time or effort. As with most things when it comes to dogs, the one thing you have to remember is reinforcement and repetition.
- The first thing you have to do is get your Doodles’ attention. Do this by having a treat in your hand and showing your dog without giving it to them yet.
- Once this treat has caught your Doodles’ attention, slowly raise it over their head which will lead them to look straight up, then you say “sit” or whatever word you have chosen as the command.
- This moment will usually ensure that your dogs’ path of vision will cause them to move into a sitting position.
- When sitting, now’s the time they can get a treat and also add a lot of love and verbal praise for them.
- If they begin to back up instead of sitting, gently press down on their back end while holding the treat over their head, and keep saying your command word.
- When they finally sit, reward them with the treat and give them praise.
Continue doing this about 3 to 5 times, and each time they do it successfully, give them a reward. Don’t continue doing this for hours on end, as your Doodle will most likely end up losing interest and not want to do it anymore. You should always end a training session on a good note, and when you say so, and not your dog.
Continue doing this once or twice a day, for as long as it takes for your Labradoodle to completely understand it. When they seem to have totally figured it out, you should start phasing out the treats.
Instead of giving them treats every time they accomplish the task, give them one every second or third time, until eventually they don’t need any treats and can do as told just by hearing the command.
How to Teach a Labradoodle to Stay
Now that the “Sit” command has been mastered by your dog, “stay” should be next in line. Teaching your Labradoodle how to stay is another very important command that can help ensure your dog turns ou well-behaved.
- Start off this session by first telling your Doodle to “Sit”.
- When he/she sits, stick out your palm and say “Stay” in a slow and steady voice(you can use whatever command word you want).
- Now take a few steps backward. (Just take one or two steps to start with) and give your dog a reward if he/she stays.
- Continue doing this all the while increasing the number of steps you take each time.
“Stay” will typically take a little bit longer to learn for your Doodle as it is all about teaching them self control, something that is especially hard for a high-energy dog like a Labradoodle, they usually want to always keep moving. Just remember to be patient, and once again, don’t overdo this exercise.
Just practice a bit every day until they have this completely under control. This might take up a few weeks, so don’t lose hope and become frustrated if your Labradoodle isn’t catching on right away. No dog knows how to do this the first many times.
How to Teach Your Labradoodle to “Come”
Another of the most important commands you should teach your Labradoodle is to come when called for.
Mastering this command can help them stay out of trouble, or just stop them from doing things they aren’t supposed to. This command also serves as a good base for other and more advanced commands, as it will teach your Labradoodle to come directly to you instead of you having to always lead them when you want something done.
For this training session, besides the usual treats, you will also need to get a good harness and a leash for your Labradoodle.
- The first step is to hook your Doodle to the leash and then move the distance of the leash away from them.
- Get to the eye level of your dog by squatting down, and use the command you’ve chosen, it could be their name or just a whistle, and pull on the leash simultaneously.
- Once your dog comes to you, praise him/her verbally and hand out a treat.
- Keep doing this until your dog will come to you just by saying the command word, and you no longer have to pull on the leash.
- When this is mastered take your dog to a safe and enclosed area where you can take the leash off your Doodle, and then make them perform the same exercise.
- As with the other training, start to phase out the use of treats, to end up only giving verbal praise.
This exercise is something you should only do for about five to ten minutes a day until they have it perfected, as getting a bored dog isn’t something we want. This is the same as when training them to stay or sit, end the training session when you and your dog are still in good spirit, and continue another day until its mission is accomplished.
It might take a few days for your dog to be able to ditch the leash so be patient. Don’t get mad or try rushing them, if your Doodle isn’t getting it right away, just be patient and keep trying, and eventually, this will be a cakewalk.
Is a Labradoodle Right for You?
Labradoodles have become quite popular dogs, in part due to their intelligence, but also their lovable nature. Now that we’ve looked at how to train a Labradoodle, and if you think it’s something you could do, the next question could be…
Is a Labradoodle right for you? That depends on what exactly you are looking for.
If you’re looking for a companion:
A Labradoodle makes a great companion dog, because not only are they very loyal, they are also extremely loving. They love pleasing their master and desire all the attention they can get.
If you’re looking for a family dog:
Labradoodles make for a very good family dog as they are affectionate, kind, and fun-loving. They are great around children, and also most other animals. They aren’t an aggressive breed which is great for families.
If you’re looking for a guard dog:
While Labradoodles aren’t known to be aggressive dogs, they do have some quite protective instincts that would make them a good guard dog. Their loyalty and intelligence mean that they are smart enough to sense danger and will protect their owner. They aren’t the best guard dog if you are looking for a dog that will keep people away, but if you want some extra sense of protection a Labradoodle would be a great fit.
If you’re looking for a passive dog:
If you are looking for a passive dog, for an apartment or small house, a Labradoodle probably isn’t the best dog for you due to their high energy levels. While they are able to be calm, and loving and affectionate, they also require quite a lot of exercise and space to roam. They aren’t particularly fond of being cooped up in small rooms, as they love to get out and play equally as much as they love to stay in your bed and cuddle.
If you‘re looking for a working dog:
Labradoodles were bred from the hard-working Labrador Retriever that is a great working and hunting dog. Combining this with the loyalty and intelligence of a Poodle means that they are great as working dogs.
If you want a dog that doesn’t shed:
If you are looking for a dog that doesn’t shed, then a Labradoodle isn’t the right dog for you. They shed quite a bit and aren’t hypoallergenic.
If you are looking for a low maintenance dog:
Labradoodles are quite high-maintenance, as they don’t take a lot of time to train but they do require brushing at least once every day. They also need daily exercise and combining that with their need for grooming, if you are looking for a dog that just lays around the house doing nothing for most of the day, a Labradoodle definitely isn’t the best fit for you.
Are Labradoodles Easy To Train – Conclusion
If you’re bringing a Labradoodle home with you, congratulations, you’ve chosen a breed that is extremely outgoing and friendly, with enough love to share with the entire world, and also with the new family.
There are many different ways to train your Labradoodle, but the key is to start the training when they’re as young as possible and always keep it positive.
Once they’re trained, Labradoodles shine at being attentive to their owner. This charming, active dog only wants to receive as much love as he can give.
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