If you’re in search of a beautiful pearly coat and affectionate companion to bring home to your family, then a White Labradoodle could be what you’re looking for. Labradoodles come in a variety of colors and white happens to be one of the most popular. Without a doubt, the White Labradoodle has a captivating coat that’ll catch the attention of numerous people and resemble a polar bear.
While they’re astonishing, white coats typically require more grooming maintenance than other coat colors. Before you make the decision of bringing home a Labradoodle with a white coat, there are several responsibilities and expectations to keep in mind. If you’re able to manage these responsibilities, then prepare for an avalanche of compliments from countless dog lovers.
How Do White Labradoodles Get Its Color?
When the genes of a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle are combined, it’ll result in a Labradoodle and the colors of its coat depend on the more dominant gene. Genetically, every dog’s complexion originates from two pigments within their skin cells:
Eumelanin
Pheomelanin
Variations in either pigment supply during a Labradoodle’s growth will determine its final coat tone by the time they reach adulthood. However, what’s intriguing about this is how the snow-colored White Labradoodle gets its coat color. A white Labradoodle typically get’s its coat color from a lighter-colored Labrador Retriever like yellow, cream, or white. When mixed with a lighter colored Poodle like apricot, white, silver, or grey, you will usually get some Labradoodle puppies with a white coat.
It’s also worth noting that English Labrador Retrievers have become extremely popular and they have a cream-colored coat. These genetics are usually passed down to the offspring which results in a white-colored coat.
It’s also worth noting that if you have an albino Labradoodle, they would have white eyes and noses. Most Labradoodles with a white coat color are not albino and it’s just the color of their coat. The color of your Labradoodle’s coat also has no effect on their temperament or personality.
Does a White Labradoodle’s Color Fade?
Labradoodles, and any other dog breed, with a darker shade of coat are known to lose their colors because of genetic or health-related issues. However, Labradoodles with a white coat are generally not affected and the coat will typically have the same color throughout the dog’s life.
With dogs with darker coats, there is always the risk of the puppy developing a lighter shade as it grows up. However, dogs with lighter coats are not susceptible to such changes.
Training a White Labradoodle
White Labradoodle’s are an eager-to-please doodle breed that’ll flood their owners with constant positive energy. However, your Labradoodle companion might start causing unnecessary problems by the time they become adults. Like all dog breeds, owning a White Labradoodle means that you have to establish authority and a regular training program. The best time to start establishing authority and training is when your Labradoodle is still a young puppy.
Many people advise training dogs when they’re still a puppy because they don’t have any habits yet. If you wait for your White Labradoodle to become an adult, training it would be more difficult because they would have already developed habits by then. During your training session, try providing your Labradoodle companion with dog treats whenever you see any good behaviors. Use positive reinforcement training methods.
White Labradoodle Temperament
White Labradoodles are just like regular Labradoodles. They don’t differ in behavior from others of their kind. However, most puppies will embody their parents’ dominant characteristics. Understanding the parent breeds’ behavior can help give you a hint of what to expect from your new White Labradoodle companion. Aside from specific genetic quirks deposited from parent genes, Labradoodles exude an affectionate aura.
Labradoodles don’t display aggressive tendencies compared to other dog breeds, and they’re usually warm and friendly towards strangers. With the proper guidance and training, your Labradoodle will do wonders because you’re building your companion’s habits into a submissive and obedient house companion. When your White Labradoodle has exposure to children, crowds, and other household pets – your companion will become more confident in its socialization skills.
White Labradoodle Health Issues
White-colored Labradoodles owe their milky coats to the absence of two naturally occurring pigments in dogs—eumelanin and pheomelanin. Although rare, the lack of pigmentation can affect the auditory canal’s sensory nerves, leading to partial or total deafness. Furthermore, if the cells responsible for pigmentation in a white-toned Labradoodles eyes are not available in adequate proportions, your puppy could possess a deteriorated vision.
The best way to avoid buying a Labradoodle with genetically-induced deafness is to ascertain it has no hearing disability before making any payments to a breeder. Apart from issues resulting from pigmentation deficiency, there isn’t any illness associated with the white Labradoodle that isn’t common in other breeds of its kind. Some of the common illnesses all-white Labradoodles have originates from the parent breeds. A good example of this is hip dysplasia, which is peculiar to Labrador Retrievers. Another illness Labradoodles are susceptible to is bloating, a typical problem associated with its parents.
Grooming a White Labradoodle
Owning a White Labradoodle comes with more grooming responsibilities because of their curvy and wavy coat. Imagine your puppy’s clear and milky coat being stained for days with dirt and mud. Of course, every owner wants their companion to have a clean appearance. These responsibilities include brushing, hair clipping, and finding any spots that require maintenance. You want to keep an eye out for tangles and mats.
At least once every several months, bring your White Labradoodle to a professional groomer because you never know what you could’ve missed. Unlike darker shades of Labradoodle colors, lighter colored Labradoodles are more noticeable because of their bright coat. You should make it a habit to groom your White Labradoodle because it’ll benefit you and your dog in the long run.
Is A White Labradoodle The Right Choice For You?
Owning any dog comes with its set of responsibilities and expenses, and owning a Labradoodle is no different.
Labradoodles need to be regularly groomed and require plenty of exercises, along with a healthy nutritious diet and proper training. White Labradoodles also have certain specific health concerns that you will need to be prepared to handle. If you are someone who stays away from home too often, owning a white Labradoodle may not be a good decision for you.
There are also other considerations you will need to keep in mind when buying a white Labradoodle puppy, such as making sure the breeder is ethical and asking all the relevant questions concerning the pup’s genetic history and health.
Where To Find A White Labradoodle Puppy?
Many breeders provide Labradoodle puppies but not all follow ethical breeding practices. Make sure you avoid puppy mills and backyard breeders at all costs; they are in it only for monetary gains and breed for quantity and not quality.
When buying a white Labradoodle from a breeder, research the breeder properly. Make sure they follow ethical breeding practices, are registered with a Labradoodle organization, and are experienced with the breed.
Some of the Labradoodle organizations to look for are:
Australian Labradoodle Association of America
Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association
Australian Labradoodle Club of America
These organizations make sure the breeders follow ethical breeding practices and that the parent dogs used in the breeding programs are of sound health.
You can ask the breeder for genetic coat testing of the parent dogs to determine the possibility of having a white-colored puppy. And remember that the S gene comes from the Poodle parent. So, there is a higher chance of a white Labradoodle if the Poodle parent had a white coat rather than the Labrador Retriever parent.
However, even with genetic testing, there is still no guarantee of a white Labradoodle. But, you can have your name on the wishlist of breeders so that whenever a white Labradoodle comes along, you will be contacted.
Final Thoughts
Many people view the White Labradoodle breed as a cute polar bear. The White Labradoodle’s coat requires proper maintenance to retain its appealing appearance. Apart from regular grooming and training, the rewarding experience of raising a companion will outweigh the responsibilities. Health issues to the Lab’s white no-pigment coat can be reduced by making sure your companion is healthy. Feeding your Labradoodle the property dietary needs and help them exercise will ensure a longer and healthier life.
If you’re planning to purchase a Labradoodle companion from a breeder and the cost seems too good to be true, it’s most likely is. As with all dog breeders, you should always do your due diligence before buying your Labradoodle. There are numerous puppy mills breeding Labradoodles for unethical purposes.