🐩 Labradoodle
Temperament
Friendly, energetic, intelligent, eager to please. Excellent with children, other dogs and cats. Bonded with family.
Exercise
60–90 minutes of daily exercise — running, swimming, fetching, agility. Lots of mental enrichment.
Grooming
Coat varies from short Lab-like (sheds) to curly Poodle-like (low-shed, mats). Brush 3–4× weekly; professional groom every 6–8 weeks for curlier coats.
Health
Hip and elbow dysplasia. Eye conditions. Ear infections. Allergies. Addison's disease (Poodle inheritance).
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🦮 Labrador Retriever
Temperament
Outgoing, even-tempered and gentle. Labs are people-oriented to the point of being terrible guard dogs — they tend to greet strangers like long-lost friends. They're known for their patience with children, tolerance of other dogs and "puppy-like" exuberance well into their adult years.
Exercise
Labs need 60–90 minutes of vigorous daily exercise as adults — running, swimming, fetch and scent work all suit them. Without enough activity they gain weight quickly (Labs are genetically predisposed to obesity) and develop destructive boredom. Two walks plus 20 minutes of off-lead play is a good baseline.
Grooming
A short, dense double coat that sheds year-round and "blows" twice a year. Weekly brushing keeps it manageable; daily during shedding seasons. Labs only need bathing every 8–12 weeks. Don't shave a Lab — the undercoat insulates against both cold and heat.
Health
Common issues: hip and elbow dysplasia (always check parental hip scores), exercise-induced collapse (genetic test available), progressive retinal atrophy (PRA-prcd test), bloat / GDV in deep-chested dogs, and obesity-related arthritis. Lifespan averages 10–14 years; lean, active Labs can reach 15+.
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