How Long Do Labradoodles Live? 4 Tips For A Long Life
When considering your breed options for a new puppy, you want to ensure that your pup is going to be around for a while, but how long do Labradoodles live?
Few breeds can compete with the upbeat and joyful attitude of a Labradoodle, which is why Labradoodles are one of the most popular breeds among pet owners. Although the life expectancy of Labradoodles is quite high, you want to be aware of all of the factors that contribute to how long they will actually live.
What’s the life expectancy of a Labradoodle?
The average life expectancy of a Labradoodle is between 11 to 12 years. However, this number can fluctuate depending on the size of the dog, as well as how well it’s looked after – with healthy Labradoodles from reputable breeders often living longer than expected.
The Labradoodle is a mix-breed dog that combines the affection and playfulness of the Labrador Retriever with the cunning intelligence of the Poodle. These qualities are what make Labradoodle puppies so special and desirable.
If you want a dog that is going to have a long life expectancy, the Labradoodle is an excellent choice, as mix-breed dogs are known to outlive purebred pups.
How long a Labradoodle lives is greatly influenced by its genetic makeup and ancestral history, but we also need to consider that a pup’s lifespan is greatly expanded when it is properly cared for.
As pet owners, we need to keep in mind that our dog’s health is ultimately up to us. To help you understand this further, we are going to take a closer look at how long a labradoodle lives in more detail.
After extensively researching Labradoodles, I have been able to gather enough information to determine the life expectancy of this breed.
My research has shown me that although a Labradoodle’s ancestry is a good indication of life expectancy, there are a number of healthy habits that can be implemented to maximize the lifespan of the animal.
Labradoodle Life Expectancy
As a mixed-breed dog, the Labradoodle will live longer than most dogs. Labradoodles live to be around 11 to 12 years old. However, there are plenty of Labradoodles that outlive this average figure – with some getting up to 14+ years of age.
To understand what affects this spread, we need to analyze the ancestral background of the Labradoodle. This breed is a mix of the Labrador Retriever and the Poodle. It is a well-known fact that smaller dogs tend to outlive larger ones – with most small pups getting to be 12 to 15 years old.
With that being said, the Poodle component of the Labradoodle is what greatly influences the average age of this breed. Poodles come in a variety of different sizes – with standard, miniature, and toy breed options.
Depending on the size of the Poodle that was used in the breeding process, the life expectancy of the Labradoodle will fluctuate. Here is a breakdown of the Labradoodle’s average lifespan based on size.
- Standard Labradoodle – 11 years
- Miniature Labradoodle – 12 to 13 years
- Toy Labradoodle – 13 to 14 years
If you want to get a Labradoodle that has a longer life expectancy, your safest bet is going to get one of the smaller options.
However, it is also important to understand that so much of what influences a dog’s lifespan is not just its genetic makeup, but also how well it is looked after over the course of its life.
How to Maximize a Labradoodle’s Lifespan
The bottom line is that a healthy Labradoodle is going to live longer. If you want to keep your pup around for as long as possible, you are going to need to put in some effort to maximize its lifespan.
This requires a considerable amount of work from your end but it will be well worth it to spend some extra years with your canine companion.
Let’s take a look at how you can maximize the life expectancy of your Labradoodle.
Reputable Breeder
Although selecting the right breeder can seem like an arbitrary decision to some aspiring pet owners, it is actually one of the biggest factors that influence the health of a dog and how long it lives.
A quality breeder puts in the time and energy to ensure that their dogs are going to be healthy based on genetic selection. This is particularly true with dogs that have potential underlying health problems such as Labradoodles.
Labradoodles are known to develop hip and elbow dysplasia, which is a hereditary disease for this breed. This can greatly affect the lifespan of a Labradoodle and it is also incredibly tragic to have to witness your beloved pup go through this horrific disease.
A quality breeder will take steps to ensure that this does not happen with your dog.
Breeders with integrity and compassion for their dogs will have their Labradoodle’s hip joints tested. If the dogs have hip joints that are rated high, then the Labradoodles will be bred and the chances of them developing hip and elbow dysplasia are greatly mitigated.
Exercise
You will be amazed by how much your Labradoodle will benefit from routine, quality exercise. All dogs need to be active for their lifespan to be maximized – much like humans.
If you want your Labradoodle to live as long as possible, make sure that you are taking them out every single day for exercise.
On average, you should expect to give your Labradoodle at least 60 minutes of exercise. However, your pup will benefit even more from 90 minutes. How you approach this exercise time is up to you, as each person has a different schedule in their daily routines.
If you need to take your dog out for a long walk with a stop at the park to get their one hour of exercise in, that will get the job done.
However, people with busy work schedules often need to split this time apart throughout their day – with multiple shorter walks being more realistic. You Labradoodle loves physical activity, so be sure to give them their full one hour every single day. This is not only going to affect their physical health but it will also benefit them mentally as well.
For owners who have extremely busy schedules, make sure that you do not neglect your Labradoodle’s need for physical activity, as this can greatly affect their overall lifespan.
If you are finding it hard to give your pup the physical attention that it deserves, you should consider hiring a daily dog walker.
Diet
Your Labradoodle’s diet is going to be a key factor in determining its lifespan. You should consider how food affects human health and correlate the same principles with your pup.
The chances of health problems developing down the line are going to be mitigated significantly if you simply feed your Labradoodle the right food.
There are a number of different ways that you can approach this, but ultimately you should be picking dog food options that are made with quality, natural ingredients. In addition, keep an eye on your Labradoodle’s weight, as overfeeding (even healthy foods) encouraged health issues to develop.
Check-Ups
No one likes going to the doctor – especially not your Labradoodle, but it is vital for maximizing its life expectancy. Make sure that you are seeing your veterinarian routinely so that a professional can examine the health of your animal and give you the green light.
Your veterinarian is going to be the person you can count on to spot potential health problems before they arise, which will enable you to take action to stop them from developing early on.
This is a critical and often overlooked aspect of owning a dog and it is often what leads to premature death.
Your veterinarian is also going to be someone that you can ask questions about your Labradoodle’s lifestyle and behavior.
Each pup is different and you need to give your Labradoodle the attention and care that it requires based on its needs. Ask your vet about nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes that you need to adjust in your Labradoodles day-to-day.