Labradoodles are popular hybrid, designer dogs widely appreciated for their affectionate and family-friendly personality. And if you’ve seen some with wild-looking coats, it’s not a lack of grooming; they may likely be a rare sable Labradoodle.
Sable Labradoodles are just as adorable as the standard Labradoodles. But they have specific characteristics that make them unique. So, this article will discuss everything you need to know about this Labradoodle type.
We’ll walk you through its origin and lineage, coat patterns and colors, temperament, shedding behavior, and many more. We also have tips on how you can find the sable Labradoodles if you decide that you want one to light up your day!
What Is A Sable Labradoodle?
The word ‘sable’ is often used to distinguish a specific coat type in dogs. They do not refer to a particular color but represent a color pattern. So, they do not have a single base color but form patterns throughout their body or on parts of it.
Dogs with sable coats have lighter hair at the base and darker hair at the tip. So, if a Labradoodle shows such patterns, you can categorize it as a sable.
The color variations in a sable dog are either clear, tipped, or shaded. Clear sables display varying, red-colored coats throughout their bodies; the patterns aren’t consistent.
Tipped sables display color variations on their head, back, and tails. Meanwhile, the shaded sable shows variations only on its head and back.
Colors And Coat Patterns
A sable Labradoodle’s coat is the first noticeable feature that sets it apart from other Labradoodles. Each hair on its coat has two bands of color; the tips are dark and almost black, while the base can be apricot, tan, or red.
Their coats are one color at birth (black or brown) and eventually gradient into the second color a few weeks after. The change may take anywhere between a week to six and becomes visible as the hair grows an inch long.
Sable Labradoodles with dark hair only on the face, legs, and tails are referred to as ‘phantoms.’ The rest of their coat only express one base color. Again, this is unpredictable at birth, so you may need to wait until their hair grows to adopt one.
Origin And Lineage
Like the standard Labradoodle, sable Labradoodles have their origins in Australia. However, they have slightly different parent breeds.
American (or standard) Labradoodles can inherit the sable genes only from the poodle parent. However, achieving consistent sable genes with a standard Poodle and Labrador Retriever mix may be challenging.
So, sable Labradoodles are usually a result of Labradoodles bred with a cocker spaniel. They are also called Australian Labradoodles (ALDs).
Unlike standard Labradoodles with only two parent breeds, sable Labradoodles have a minimum of three parent breeds. They can be further bred with other breeds to increase their coat variety. This is what makes it difficult to predict their coat colors at birth.
Since spaniels and poodles already contain sable genes, it was easier to find consistent results each time a Labradoodle was bred with a Cocker Spaniel. Doing so prevented the Labrador genes from being the dominant gene.
In addition, the introduction of spaniel genes resulted in more size variants, providing a small version to the medium and standard Labradoodle sizes. However, mini sables are uncommon.
Genes Affecting Coat Color
The genetic diversity in sable Labradoodles makes it difficult to predict the coat bands at birth. In addition, the combination of alleles in a gene is never uniform, so your puppy litter may have varying coat colors.
A sable Labradoodle’s genes may have one or two sable alleles, which is enough to make the Labradoodle appear dual-banded. However, in recessive sable alleles, the Labradoodle remains a sable yet does not show dual-colored coats.
Like all canines, Eumelanin (black) and Phaeomelanin (reddish-yellow) are the pigments responsible for providing the banded-colored coats. Eumelanin can produce different shades of black, brown, and grey. Meanwhile, phaeomelanin can have brighter shades like red, tan, and apricot coats.
Temperament And Behavior
Like all Labradoodles, sable Labradoodle are social dogs; they love being around people and other canines and make some of the best family dogs.
Because most sable Labradoodles have a spaniel bloodline, they are smaller and do not require much exercise as standard Labradoodles. But they still need their share of movement to keep them healthy.
Sable Labradoodles are intelligent and high-energy dogs. So, if you own one, you want to avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Sable puppies need frequent walks, many times a day.
On the other hand, adult sables need much daily exercise. Encourage them to run around in your yard and get their organs moving. Or, take them to a dog park for a larger space. It’s also a great idea to introduce them to other dogs.
Sable Labradoodles also love the waters and prefer swimming as a regular activity. This love for water is rooted in all their parent breeds.
Training
Training a sable Labradoodle is always fun because they quickly catch on to the things you teach them. You can start the training sessions when they’re around three to four weeks when they’re without any old habits and are ready to develop new ones.
Using treats will help motivate your pup for potty training, playing fetch, learning scent trails, and other training. And if you’re training them outside, a slip leash will also come in handy to encourage them not to jump at strangers.
Because sable Labradoodles love water, you want to train them to swim early on to get them used to the Labradoodles. Although they are great swimmers, you need to encourage the habit in them to help develop the skill.
Mental stimulation puzzles are a significant boost to the sable’s training routine. It backs up the physical exercise and boosts your canine’s intelligence, making your training sessions more effective.
Shedding Behavior And Grooming
Like all others, sable Labradoodles rarely shed, so if you trim the ends of their coat, they will have a single base color on their coats.
So, if you wish to maintain the dual bands, your pup’s grooming routine should include no more than a good brushing. This technique will also stimulate new banded hair growth by removing weak strands.
When considering getting a sable Labradoodle, you don’t want to compromise the brushing routine. If they have fleece or wool textured coats, you might even need to brush them every two days to prevent matting. As regards straight-hair coats, brushing them once a week should be enough.
Since Labradoodles are prone to ear infections, you want to ensure that you regularly clean their ears. Besides that, timely visits to the vet can help avoid health risks.
Allergenic Nature
The allergenic nature of a sable Labradoodle is like that of a standard one. They shed less, so they are some of the most hypoallergenic dogs.
However, ALD sables may develop inconsistent shedding and alarm allergenic individuals. This is because ALDs have more diverse genetic traits. So, your best bet is to observe changes in their coat color as they often tend to become lighter before shedding.
How To Find A Sable Labradoodle
Sable Labradoodles are rare, so finding one to adopt may be pretty challenging. Nonetheless, here are some tips that will help you find authentic and healthy sables:
- Find and visit a reputable breeder: The first step to adopting a healthy and true sable Labradoodle is to find a responsible breeder. You can ask for recommendations from friends who own one or search for breeders online.
I can recommend you take a look at PuppySpot, as they do a lot to ensure their breeders are ethical and only breed the best dogs.
Once you’ve found one, meet the breeder to evaluate the environment and upbringing of the puppies and ask the breeder any doubts you may have. You want to avoid pet stores or puppy mills as they aren’t as reliable.
Remember, a responsible breeder will always provide all the information you need on the dog’s lineage, personality, and care. They will also interview you to determine if you have a responsible lifestyle and family. In addition, they will fill you in on the individual traits of each dog and advise you on the proper care.
- Interact with the puppies: It always helps to interact with the puppies before choosing them. Doing so lets you determine which responds to your affection and is ready for a new home.
- Ask for medical history and DNA test results: Sometimes, sable Labradoodle puppies may take longer to grow out their base coat, even at the age when they’re old enough for you to adopt.
So, if you’re uncertain about the breeder’s reliability, you can always do a DNA test. Or, ask the breeder for medical records of the puppy’s lineage. It is also a great idea to meet the puppy’s parents.
Other Labradoodle Colors
Labradoodles can come in a variety of different colors besides sable, including:
- Cream Labradoodles
- Lavender Labradoodles
- Caramel Labradoodles
- Apricot Labradoodles
- Gold Labradoodles
- Red Labradoodles
- Chocolate Labradoodles
- Cafe Labradoodles
- Black Labradoodles
- Blue Merle Labradoodles
- Silver Labradoodles
- Parti Labradoodles(combination of two or more colors)
It’s worth noting that Labradoodles can also have different coat patterns, such as solid, brindle, or merle. Additionally, their coats can be curly, wavy, or straight.
Quick Recap
Sable Labradoodles are like any standard Labradoodle in temperament and behavior. But they have a complex coat pattern with a lighter base color and darker tips.
Depending on their parent breeds, they may display varying genetic traits, so you can never be too surprised if your sable Labradoodle doesn’t have the same temperament as a standard Labradoodle.
And if you can find a good breeder with a sable Labradoodle, you’re lucky because they will make some of the best members of your family!
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