Every breed of dog usually falls in a specific size category. Dogs are small, medium, large, or giant, and it is unlikely to find a particular breed in sizes more than one. However, Labradoodles are a breed that comes in three size variations. As the name suggests, it is a hybrid from Labradors and Poodles. Their size depends on the first-generation breeding Poodle. Due to the poodle’s size, Labradoodles come in three sizes; Standard, Medium, and Small, so how big does a Labradoodle get?
A standard Labradoodle will typically reach a size of around 45-75 lbs and a height of 21-24 inches, and they reach this size at around two years of age. A Labradoodle will typically stop growing once they reach 1.5 years or 2 years tops.
If you have this fluffy pet, it is crucial to know when it stops growing. Labradoodles have the health ranges they need to be staying within, just as humans have our BMI to keep a check on our growth pattern. It is also crucial to know their growth pattern to be on the right path of their growth.
How Big Does A Labradoodle Get?
As they age, many of their traits will change over time, be it their physical shortcomings, hunting potential, cognitive mettle, or overall growth. Besides the years to their full development, it is equally important to know as much about them to keep them as fit as possible.
Life Expectancy
The standard life expectancy of Labradoodles is between 12-15 years. This is because smaller or medium dogs have a higher life span than large or giant size dogs. Labradoodles have lean bodies and are well-built dogs. Their body shape depends on the breed of dogs that make them. For instance, a Labrador Retriever’s hunting ability passes down as a genetic blessing.
Adulthood
Labradoodles usually reach their adulthood at 1.5 years. It concludes that they typically take a longer time than other breeds in terms of physical development.
Cognitive Development
A Labradoodle reaches its full potential of cognitive ability at the age of 2 years. They become more competent in picking up new skills as they grow older. They should be doing certain things as per their age and maturity and restrain them from doing certain things at some other age.
It’s essential to be aware of these little things to keep them healthy and happy. After all, growth is not only subjective to physical. There are other aspects to it, such as socializing, cognitive ability, and their overall behavior at all phases of growth.
Labradoodle Size And Weight
As revealed earlier, not all Labradoodles will fall in the same category of size. Nor will they be the same size at the same time as they grow older. Some may be smaller, while others may get faster depending on their nature and breeding.
Although they come in three variants in size, they are mostly medium to large-sized dog breeds once they are fully grown. Here is a chart to familiarize you with an idea of their growth and how large they can get. It is a generic chart and may not fall accurately right to all dogs equally.
| Age | Weight |
| 0 months | 10 oz |
| 2 months | 7 lbs |
| 4 months | 21 lbs |
| 6 months | 30 lbs |
| 8 months | 35 lbs |
| 12 months | 38 lbs |
| Full-grown | 45-75 lbs |
The one significant reason to know the growth pattern and its factors is to watch their weight. Dogs can quickly become obese if you don’t watch their weight and diet at every phase of their growth. One must be careful with the type of food and quantity to keep them on the right growth spectrum.
The numbers above aim to show a general weight structure of a Labradoodle at different phases. It need not be considered as the ultimate truth. It’d be best to discuss with your vet if you have concerns regarding your dog’s weight and growth. No two dogs will bear the same characteristics. But obesity is an area of concern and should not be neglected.
You may also notice that female Labradoodles are usually smaller in size, similar to various other breeds. However, they take lesser time to develop their cognitive skills as compared to their male counterparts.
Female Labradoodles are also better with hunting. At the same time, we cannot count on gender alone for their hunting prowess.
In the end, it depends on the dog and its gender to arrive at a benchmark full-grown stage. Below are a few ranges that most adult female and male Labradoodles fall into.
| Gender | Height Range | Weight Range |
| Female | 23-26 inches | 45-65 lbs |
| Male | 25-28 inches | 55-75 lbs |
Here’s another reference of a Labradoodle’s height and weight range depending on their three-size variation.
- The Standard Male Labradoodle can grow up to 22-24 inches in height. At the same time, a Female can grow up to 21-23 inches. Both the gender in this category can weigh from 50-65 lbs.
- The Medium Labradoodle can grow to be 18-20 inches and 17-19 inches high for males and females, respectively. Both males and females in this category can weigh from 30-45 lbs.
- The Miniature Labradoodle’s average size is between 14-16 inches and 15-25 lbs.
Milestones Of A Labradoodle
A Labradoodle will be able to accomplish certain things at a certain age. Their skills get better as they age and grow. For instance, a puppy may find difficulty with jumping onto a couch at a certain height. But, the same task may seem more comfortable as it grows a few months older.
It is safe to say that growth coincides with the progression of age. Growth need not be necessarily physical but overall in terms of ability during their training. It isn’t about how big they become over time. There are other aspects to it, such as mental and social, that flow along with physical growth.
Let’s understand how they can cope in phases.
- Training helps significantly with the growth of a dog, be it any breed. You may begin with basic training and socializing when a Labradoodle is 8 weeks old.
- At 2 months old, their cognitive skill will have reached a stage where they will recognize their natural instincts.
- Notice how your Labradoodle responds to exercises. If it takes the exercises in the desired manner, you may begin hunting specific training when your dog is between 6-12 months.
One crucial factor to remember is that the age of a Labradoodle doesn’t primarily determine its maturity. It depends on the dog and their readiness to learn.
If we have to talk about hunting in particular, age, weight, and natural growth do not necessarily rule their ability to learn. A lot depends on their persona, will, physical capabilities, and commitment of the owner. If your Labradoodle is keen to learn and does well in socialized settings, you may very well proceed with their training for hunting. But, one needs to remember that training your Labradoodle is a never-ending task irrespective of their age.
If you want to imbibe good habits into your Labradoodle, it’s going to take time and consistency. Fortunately, they are athletic and have a high-energy level, which means they will need ample exercise. You may get the job done in such a way where both you and the dog enjoy the stimulation.
Try taking them along on your bike rides or when you go for your daily run. But make sure you do not do these exercises with them until they are 18 months old. The reason being, their legs, and joints continue to develop until that age. They could risk injuring their joints while trying to cope with you on hard surfaces. This practice may, in turn, lead to health complications at a later stage in their life.
You may limit your Labradoodle to less strenuous exercises in smoother settings until it reaches 18 months. Keep them safe and make them play on softer surfaces such as grass, dirt, forests, and the like as they grow until they become fit to play more rigorously.
Health Drawback That Can Impact Growth
You must let your Labradoodle follow its natural growth process to maintain its health and well-being. And that is why it becomes crucial to make the right decisions always. One needs to make a diligent effort to keep every health aspect of a Labradoodle on track.
As much as you would look out for your child, your Labradoodle also needs an equal amount of care and dedication, if not more. Every detail needs contemplation and control, be it their diet, grooming, exercises, training, or regular visits to the vet.
Despite all the care, one must be aware of the natural health problems a Labradoodle may face in its lifetime. All breeds of pets have their fair share of natural or inherent health issues that they may or may not encounter. Some of the common conditions that a Labradoodle is most likely to face are as follows.
- Ear Infections
Owing to their drooping ears, Labradoodles are prone to ear infections. Their ears can accumulate moisture and need regular checks and cleaning.
- Hip Dysplasia
It is one of the inherent conditions of a Labradoodle where the thighbone doesn’t fit well into the hip joint. Some dogs may experience discomfort on one or both the rear legs, while others don’t show obvious signs. The best way to identify this disorder is through X-Ray. A dog will develop arthritis-related issues as it ages regardless of the diagnosis. Please avoid breeding dogs with dysplasia.
- Elbow Dysplasia
Another case of degenerative disease in Labradoodles is elbow dysplasia. In most cases, abnormal growth and development may cause this condition, characterized by a deformed and weakened joint. It may vary where the dog may either develop arthritis or limp. You may treat this health condition with surgery, weight supervision, medical care, and anti-inflammatory medicines.
- Epilepsy
This condition is neurological and is often inherited, if not always. It involves mild or severe seizures, which can be recognized by distress running out of panic, staggering, cowering, or falling and losing consciousness. Seizures can be alarming, but an early diagnosis can be helpful. You make take your dog to the vet for early diagnoses to take necessary care.
- Allergies
It is a common ailment in all dogs. They can be allergic to certain foods, products that apply topically, or matters in the air such as pollen or dust. The respective treatment may vary depending on the cause and include dietary supervision, medications, and change in environmental settings.
- Diabetes
A dog becomes diabetic when its body cannot control blood sugar levels. A diabetic dog may eat more because the glucose cannot get into the cells to burn for energy due to erratic insulin levels in the body. Symptoms may include immoderate urination, increase in appetite, weight loss, and excessive thirst. Treatment involves diet management and insulin administration.
- Eye disease
Labradoodles are prone to Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). Its symptoms involve gradual worsening of the retina. During its early stage, a dog may face night blindness and may develop loss of sight even during the day as the disease progresses.
- Hypothyroidism
It is a condition in which the thyroid gland fails to produce sufficient crucial hormones. It often causes other disorders like epilepsy, hair loss, obesity, and skin conditions. You can treat it with medication and diet management.
They may come regardless of your care, but you can certainly try to keep them at bay by making sure you give them the best quality diet. An ideal diet will help nourish their muscles and brain and improve their immunity. On average, you may feed 2-3 cups of dry food to your Labradoodle.
Labradoodles are very nimble and smart dogs. That’s why they need a fair amount of physical activity and mental stimulation. They also need the best corresponding diet to fuel their stimulation.
Feeding your Labradoodles the right amount of quality food will indeed keep them healthy. It will also help maintain their weight and prevent obesity. Obesity can invite a host of health issues that may not even be in their nature to acquire.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is no clear answer when it comes to how big does a Labradoodle gets, as there are numerous different factors that can ultimately influence their final size.
But no matter their size, rest assured that Labradoodles are awesome dogs, that any family will end up loving unconditionally.
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