Behavioral Traits
Labradoodles share a love of water with their field Labrador and Poodle ancestors and often will enter water without prompting. Because so many Labradoodles in the United States are first-generation hybrids, littermates may not share the same behavioral traits. There are few reliable, or reliably reproducible, breed-specific generalizations that can be made about the Labradoodle, other than it is a very smart, friendly, affectionate, loyal, trainable and patient breed. Like Labs, they tend to chew when bored and enjoy chewing on bones and playing with toys whether bored or not. Most Labradoodles like to jump on furniture and into their owners’ laps, so prospective owners should be prepared to do lots of training if this behavior is not acceptable. Labradoodles are vigorous diggers. They can quickly rearrange a yard’s landscape and create a perfect start for an in-ground swimming pool. Labradoodles crave attention; they are not ideal dogs for people who work long hours or spend lots of time away from home. Labradoodles that do not receive enough affection or physical activity tend to bark excessively, which can annoy neighbors and owners alike.
