When you’re considering a joyful new addition to your family, a labradoodle puppy makes a wonderful pet that you’ll treasure for years to come. These charming canines have the sweet yet boisterous personality of a Labrador retriever combined with the luxurious curls of a poodle. There are many differences from one labradoodle to the next, depending on factors such as size and gender. Read on to learn more about the differences between genders in labradoodles and make a well-informed decision about your next pet.
Size Difference Between Male and Female Labradoodles
As in the case in the majority of dog breeds, male labradoodles tend to be larger than females, though the size difference is much less pronounced in mini-labradoodle breeds. The size of your labradoodle puppy will depend on its genetics as well as its age. Obviously, puppies are considerably smaller, but a larger breed might quickly grow to a size you wouldn’t expect. Labradoodles are the product of breeding a Labrador with a poodle of standard, medium, or teacup size. There are many varieties of both species, from differing colors, fur patterns, tendency to shed, temperament, and size.
Smaller labradoodles tend to be around the same size regardless of gender. The males tend to outweigh female labradoodles, with a more dramatic difference in larger breeds. Standard male dogs tend to outweigh their female counterparts by 10 to 15 pounds. Here are the average sizes of different types of labradoodles:
- Standard labradoodle males weigh around 55-65 pounds, and females weigh an average of 40-60 pounds
- A medium labradoodle can weigh 25-35 pounds
- Mini-labradoodles average 15 to 25 pounds, with female dogs being slightly smaller
Male vs. Female Labradoodles: Grooming & Coat Differences
Coat variations are another characteristic of labradoodles that’s not really affected by gender. Male and female dogs have very similar hair and grooming requirements, with the big differences being based on how old the labradoodles are. Poodles and labradoodles require grooming to keep their coats soft, shiny and free of debris. Because the hair of the male and female labradoodle tends to be coarse and curly, you might notice they easily pick up burrs and small leaves when playing outside.
If you’re the proud parent of labradoodles, you may find cheap, generic brushes don’t work for them. A slicker brush with thin pins and a wide surface area can work to easily detangle matted fur and get your puppy’s fur nice and clean. These brushes are perfect if your male or female labradoodle inherited its locks from the Labrador side of the family and has smooth, silky fur, also known as a fleece coat.
If your male or female labradoodle has more poodle-like fur, it’ll take a bit more maintenance to keep it clean and healthy-looking. Whether it’s a male or female dog, wool coats have certain advantages and disadvantages. For example, curlier hair tends to shed far less. This might make life easier for people who have friends or family with dog allergies. However, this fur is much coarser and tangles fast, meaning brushing is more of a chore and needs to be done more often. Wool-coat labradoodles can be combed easier with a metal pick comb or pin brush than with a bristle brush.
Male Dogs vs. Female Labradoodles: Health Differences
There aren’t many remarkable differences between male and female dogs when considering health issues, aside from reproductive issues and unwanted pregnancy, particularly for unspayed females. An unspayed female labradoodle is also at higher risk for diseases like breast cancer.
Because your doodle has poodle breeding lines, it could face common issues seen in poodles, such as Addison’s disease and Von Willebrand’s disease. When your male or female dog has breeding lines that are a mixture of Labrador and poodle, it’ll be at a special risk for hereditary health conditions common to both breeds, namely hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Adequate veterinary care can help you catch potential issues early, ensuring a long, comfortable life for your furry friend.
Male vs. Female Dog: Labradoodle Temperament
Some breeders say male labradoodles are more affectionate than females tend to be, and others claim the opposite. The truth is that male and female labradoodles are both incredibly sweet and active breeds. Personality differences will become evident as they grow older, but in general there is not much of a difference between female and male dogs.
There are, however, certain characteristics that may be more inherently pronounced in male dogs. Some studies show that male dogs tend to score higher in areas such as dominance and aggression. A good training program is essential to help form male as well as female dogs’ healthy temperament early in life.
Male vs Female Labradoodle – Aggression Differences
Most people assume male labradoodles are more aggressive than females and female labradoodles are gentler and more submissive. Although certain studies are likely to give credence to these views, it seems more likely a dog’s personality depends on nurture rather than the natural elements. It’s possible to find female dogs that are sassier and more independent than their male companion dogs as well as male doodles that are amiable and gentler. Each puppy has its own unique personality that, after much love and learning, complements its family.
Research shows that the strongest factors in a dog’s temperamental development are:
- Age
- Training received either in home or through a professional labradoodle training program
- Breed
- Amount of time spent interacting with its human friends in a healthy manner
- Diet
- The presence of emotional trauma such as abandonment or physical abuse in its past
Are Female or Male Labradoodle Puppies More Trainable?
Trainability is another area where gender plays little role. The labradoodle personality is a hybrid of the Labrador retriever and the poodle, both of which are highly intelligent breeds. Some studies show that toy poodles, the third-smartest dog breed, are able to learn 165 words and count up to five and are capable of deception, as you might know if you’ve ever owned a mini-poodle. Labradors are also very smart — the seventh-smartest breed, in fact, though their qualities of strength and sheer charm are more highlighted.
As a hybrid of the two, you can expect your labradoodle puppy to be exceptionally clever and easy (and fun!) to teach new commands and tricks.
Spay or Neuter Male and Female Dogs To Regulate Temperament
It’s important to spay or neuter your female and male labradoodles, both to prevent unwanted pregnancies and to help breed docility in your dog. Unspayed female and unneutered male dogs are at risk for health issues such as:
- Cancer
- Abnormal bone growths
- Hypothyroidism
- Excessive sexual and territorial behaviors including spraying, fighting and humping
- A shorter life than neutered dogs
Behavioral differences between female and male dogs can be attributed to the hormones present early in life and throughout development. Testosterone is the cause behind many unpleasant behaviors in puppies, especially aggression and behaviors like humping that can arise during sexual maturity. When you spay or neuter early, you’ll see less of a difference in temperament between the genders — both boy and girl labradoodles are as sweet and loving as they are energetic, regardless of their sex differences.
Both Male and Female Labradoodles Need Training
Factors other than gender can affect labradoodle temperament, such as home environment and training. Puppy behaviors are not always a good predictor for the adult’s nature. A calm labradoodle pup can be energetic all day long for hours. A lively male dog may seem quite calm and peaceful in rare moments. A dog’s personality is as diverse as its human family members’ personalities.
Regardless of the gender of your dog, labradoodles need a lot of time and attention from a young age in order to grow into well-trained adults. Bothersome behaviors such as chewing, biting, marking their territory and fighting at the dog park, for example, can be trained away with a rigorous motivation-focused program. Invest in a training program for your new labradoodle puppy to ensure a great fit for life.
If your busy lifestyle makes it hard for you to devote the amount of time needed to train your labradoodle puppy, reach out to the professional dog trainers at Pride & Prejudoodles in Virginia, where we train male or female dogs as well as breeding labradoodles, goldendoodles and cockapoos. Our friendly training team can get your puppy walking obediently, playing with the rest of the family safely, and let you skip the most troublesome behaviors in puppyhood.
