Petite Labradoodle: Dog Breed Facts and Information
| Height: | 12 to 15 inches |
| Weight: | 15 to 30 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 10 to 15 years |
| Colors: | Chocolate, cream, gold, caramel |
| Suitable for: | Apartments, houses, families who have active children |
| Temperament: | Playful, energetic, loyal, obedient, intelligent |
If you’re looking for a pet dog that’s playful, energetic, and a cross between a couple of different designer breeds, then the Petite Labradoodle fits the bill to a tee. This designer breed is crossbred between a Cocker Spaniel and a Labrador Retriever, then crossbred even further with a Toy Poodle.
The result is a Petite Labradoodle that grows to around 15 inches and won’t get over 30 pounds. This pup already goes against the norm with its crossbreeding. Still, it goes even more against the norm because part of its parentage is already a designer breed, meaning the Labradoodle itself.
This breed is super intelligent, has a life span of up to 15 years, and works great in apartments or houses. The perfect pet for families with active children, there’s very little not to love about this breed of dog.
If you’re considering purchasing or adopting a Petite Labradoodle, then you’ll want to know everything you can about the breed before making a final decision. In this guide, we’ll discuss what you need to know before you buy a Petite Labradoodle puppy, a few facts about the breed you might not have known, and quite a bit more.
What is a Petite Labradoodle?
The Petite Labradoodle is a hybrid mix of the Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel and Poodle (usually the Toy or Miniature version). This hybrid is a bit different from others in that the Labradoodle, a mix of Labrador and Poodle, is already a recognized designer breed which is quite popular. The Labradoodle hybrid is one which was developed in the 1990’s to early 2000’s and is currently quite popular, giving rise to the desire for a smaller version of this fun and loving canine. To achieve the Petite Labradoodle, the smaller version of the already popular Labradoodle, breeders utilized the Labrador and the Poodle which were the breed parents of the Labradoodle and added the Cocker Spaniel to the bio mix. This mix of parent breeds gives a delightful mix of a variety of qualities and traits from each of the parent breeds, which is dependent upon the percentage of the mix of each parent breed. The Labradoodle (a mix of Labrador and Standard Poodle) originated in Australia was considered hypoallergenic and, due to its size, utilized as service dogs in addition to family companionship, a talent discovered as an offshoot from the original intent and purpose of the breed. The Labrador parent originated in Canada in the 16th century and, as its name suggests, was bred for hunting and sporting tasks. The Labrador remains one of the most popular breeds in the United States, being recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917. The Poodle parent is available in the standard version, the miniature version and the toy version. It originated in Germany and actually became its own distinct breed in France. Though this may seem hard to believe when looking at the regal breed, it was bred for hunting, especially water retrieval, with even the grooming of the coat of the canine making it easier for her to move freely in the water without being weighted down and being snagged on underwater obstacles. This breed today remains one of the most popular, being hypoallergenic and low in the shedding category, making it a wonderful family companion. The Poodle breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887. The American Cocker Spaniel breed parent hails from the United States. The name “Cocker Spaniel” has been used, down through the centuries, to refer to any number of small canines and a variety of spaniel breeds. This changed in the 1870’s, when more specific breed specifications were utilized to characterize the breed we know today. The Cocker Spaniel was bred to be a bird dog in England and is today the smallest of the Sporting Breed group. The English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel are closely related and very similar in appearance, and while both breeds are recognized by the American Kennel Club, they officially recognized them as separate breeds in 1946. The Cocker Spaniel was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1878 and continues today as an extremely popular canine breed, both in the show ring, and in the living room. The Petite Labradoodle is recognized by the Dog Registry of America.
How easy are Petite Labradoodle to train?
Because of her mixed parentage, this breed is intelligent, eager to please her family, and listens to what she’s told to do quickly. All these things combined mean that she’s easy to train. However, you do need a firm hand with her and plenty of treats and praise to go around if you want her to listen.
Never be mean to or hit a dog to get them to do what you want. Not only is it abuse, but it could also backfire on you badly. Instead, make sure to train and socialize your Petite Labradoodle early on, so she can grow into the loving, gentle dog she’s meant to be.
Diet and Nutrition
- While this breed is small to medium-sized, they are very active. It’s recommended that you feed her twice a day with a total of 1.5 to 2 cups of food. Her food should be dry and be high-quality food. Give treats sparingly to make sure she stays the ideal weight.
- If you’re worried about your Petite Labradoodle gaining weight or are unsure what food and diet she needs, contact your vet for help. He’ll let you know the best choices for your individual puppy.
How healthy are Petite Labradoodle?
As with any other pet out there, the Petite Labradoodle has severe and minor health conditions that you need to be on the lookout for. There are conditions that your dog may inherit from its parents, but that doesn’t mean that these conditions will for sure present themselves.
We’ll give you a list of the most common serious and minor health problems to keep an eye out for with your pet Petite Labradoodle.
Serious Conditions
- Obesity
- Exercise-induced collapsing
Minor Conditions
- Retinal atrophy
- Bloat
- Ear infections
- Allergies
Keep an eye out for the minor and severe conditions that are possible in this breed of dog. If you see any symptoms of the above, make an appointment with your vet for diagnosis and further treatment options.
How active are Petite Labradoodle?
While small, the Petite Labradoodle loves to play and is quite active and energetic. While this puppy can adapt easily to apartment life, it is great if she has a fenced-in yard to play and run in. Make sure to take her on one long walk a day and to get outside to play with her. Whether it’s Frisbee, tossing a ball, or just running around together, she’ll love the companionship and exercise.
This breed loves to play in water and needs games that challenge them mentally also.
Grooming
- The Petite Labradoodle needs daily brushing to keep tangles from forming in her coat. Give her a bath with a high-quality dog shampoo when it’s needed, but not too often. Trim her nails if they get too long, making sure not to cut too far down. Make sure to brush her teeth at least twice a week and take her in for regular checkups for her teeth and her general health.
- Clean her ears gently one time a week, but never stick anything into her ears. If you’re worried that you can’t handle grooming, nail trimming, or cleaning her ears, make an appointment with a reputable groomer instead to take care of the job for you.
Male vs. Female
There are very few differences between the male and female of this breed to discuss. It has been reported that the male tends to be a slight bit friendlier than his female counterpart. However, the difference is so slight as to almost not matter at all.
Related Questions
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
- This breed gets along quite well with other dogs and other pets in general. Make sure to train and socialize your Petite Labradoodle as a puppy by taking her to the dog park, out for walks, and to be around strangers and other pets to ensure this remains true as she gets older.
- It’s essential to remember that this breed does have the Labrador Retriever nature as well, which could see them chasing smaller animals around the yard, especially as a puppy before she’s trained properly.
Are These Dogs Good for Families?
- The Petite Labradoodle seems to have been made to be part of an active family. Full of energy and always ready to play, children love this breed because you can often find the dog being goofy and silly right along with them.
- The fact that this dog looks like a cute little teddy bear adheres to children everywhere. If you have several people in your family who are active and love to play, you’ll easily be able to give this breed the exercise, training, and love they need to be healthy and happy for years to come.
- However, it’s important to note that just as with any dog or pet, you need to socialize and train your Petite Labradoodle from an early age to ensure she gets along well with children.
What’s the Price of Petite Labradoodle Puppies?
- Since it’s a trend in the United States to have petite dogs now, the celebrities love the Petite Labradoodle. This, of course, drives the cost up, so it’s super hard to determine exactly how much this designer breed will cost you.
- According to the breeder you purchase from, the best estimate is a low end of falling at $2,000 and the high end coming in somewhere between that figure and $3,000 per puppy. However, it’s important to remember that the money to purchase the Petite Labradoodle isn’t where the costs of your new puppy end. There’s a lot involved in taking care of any dog, whether they’re a designer dog or a mutt.
- There are a few things that could be included in the price of your puppy, again, according to the breeder. If they aren’t, expect to shell out between $450 to $500 for services such a microchipping, blood tests, deworming, and spaying. Also included in that cost should be bowls, a carrier bag, a crate, a collar, and a leash.
- Once you have these things taken care of, you need to factor in your yearly costs for vaccines, flea prevention, checkups, and pet insurance, which will run you between $460 to $550.
- Expect to spend anywhere from $450 to $560 on toys, treats, dog food, licenses, and training yearly as well. These costs are non-medical expenses but just as essential to the health and safety of your puppy.
Final Thoughts
This is it for our guide on the Petite Labradoodle and what you should know before you make that decision to go out and purchase or adopt one.
Make sure that you’re prepared to deal with the costs, training, and love it takes to bring a dog into your family, no matter what breed the dog is. Follow the tips and advice above, and you’ll have a loyal, happy, energetic, loving companion for a great many years to come.
