Labradoodles are one of the most popular dog breeds across the nation. They are beloved for their intelligence, obedience, and loyalty. Labradoodles can have a variety of coat types and colors. When it comes to trying to guess what type of coat your labradoodle puppy will have, things can get a bit tricky.
The best way to gauge what kind of coat Labradoodle puppies will have is to look at the parents. This will give you an idea about the dog’s genetics. Although Labradoodles come in a huge range of colors, they have three distinct coat types: straight coat, wavy coat, and curly coat.
In this article, we will discuss Labradoodle characteristics, the different types of Labradoodle coats, and how you can tell which kind of coat a puppy will have.
What is a Labradoodle?
A Labradoodle is a cross-mix breed that can be any combination of a Labrador Retriever and a Standard, Miniature, or Toy Poodle. This breed was created in the 1980s in Australia in order to mix the outgoing, happy personality of a Lab and the non-shedding coat of a Poodle. These traits would create the perfect hypoallergenic service dog. But, with the increase in popularity, the Labradoodle became a great choice for family and therapy dogs.
Because of the ability to be mixed with multiple different variations of the Poodle, this breed can vary tremendously when it comes to size and weight. For example, a Labradoodle can weigh anywhere between 5 and 70 pounds! This means there is a perfect Labradoodle size for everyone’s needs! (Which could be the reason they are so highly desired.)
Labradoodle Characteristics and Traits
One of the reasons Labradoodles are such a popular dog breed is because of their personalities. When dog owners list the best qualities of a dog, Labradoodles usually check off all the right boxes.
Labradoodles are highly intelligent, easily trained, and great family dogs. They have high energy levels and require proper care, attention, and stimulation. This means long walks, hikes and plenty of fetch. A Labradoodle will always be on high alert, but simultaneously friendly to strangers.
Different Types of Labradoodle Coats
As we mentioned previously, the Labradoodle is a cross-mix of two existing dog breeds. Just like human siblings can look different even though they share the same parent genetics, the same can be true with dogs.
With this in mind, let’s discuss the different coat types that can be seen on Labradoodles, as this information will help us properly gauge the kind of coat your adult dog may grow into. There are three Labradoodle coat types you can see on these dogs.
Straight Coat or Hair Coat
The straight coat is (you guessed it) a Labradoodle with straight hair! It resembles closer to a Labrador Retriever’s coat and not what you usually think of when you picture “Labradoodle.” In fact, straight coat Labradoodles can easily be confused for a purebred Labrador, even by a professional groomer!
This coat type is typically less desired by Labradoodle owners because it sheds more than the other hair types. Straight hair Labradoodles are not considered fully hypoallergenic dogs. Sometimes this hair type will have some waves or curls, but not a tight coiled curl that you would see in a typical Labradoodle coat.
A big advantage of this type of coat is that you will be able to get away with much less grooming and brushing, as it is less prone to tangles due to its straight nature.
Wavy Coat or Fleece Coat
Now, when you think “Labradoodle,” you’re probably picturing the teddy-bear-like, silky soft texture, curly cascading coat. This is called the wavy, or “fleece” type coats.
Most people consider this a standard coat type among Labradoodles. Because this coat type is considered standard, this is the most desired coat type for a Labradoodle. Dog owners love the fleece coat due to its extremely low shedding levels, (making it hypoallergenic, so you don’t have to worry about an allergic reaction!) and physical appearance.
A fleece-coated Labradoodle is the perfect combination of Labrador Retriever and Poodle. It is important to note that this type of coat will require some dedicated weekly brushing time from pet owners, at least three times per week!
Curly Coat or Wooly Coat
The third type of coat you can see on a Labradoodle is the curly or wooly coat. This coat type, like the straight coat, contains the genetic makeup that displays more of a single parent rather than being a mixture of the two.
The difference is that this coat emulates that of the Poodle parent rather than the Labrador. This type of coat is characterized by tight, dense curly hair that can look like wool when trimmed very short. Hence the nickname “wooly” coat!
Like the wavy coat, this coat type is a non-shedding coat and is perfect for allergy sufferers. Out of all three coat types, a wool-coated Labradoodle is the most high maintenance and requires brushing at home on a daily basis. Curlier coats are exceptionally prone to matting.
Labradoodle Coat Colors
As we mentioned earlier, Labradoodle coats can come in a variety of colors. When it comes to predicting your Labradoodle’s coat, color will also be a genetic factor. For example, if you mix a Black Labrador Retriever with a Black Poodle, you are most likely to get Black Labradoodles!
The most popular Labradoodle coat colors are listed below:
- Chocolate
- Caramel,
- Red
- Cream
- Partial, Mixed or Spotted
Predicting a Labradoodle Puppy’s Coat
Truthfully, you probably won’t be able to predict the type of adult coat your Labradoodle puppy will have. This is because they have something called a “puppy’s coat,” which is much different than the main coat types we discussed earlier.
Labradoodle puppy coats have a soft feel, and slight wave or curl. It is a single coat, meaning it is just a single layer of hair rather than multiple layers that you may see in an adult coat of a Labradoodle. A puppy is born with this soft coat and sheds at about six months of age. From there, a Labradoodle’s coat can take up to an entire year to fully develop!
Only experienced breeders may be able to tell the pups coat in advance after paying close attention to the parent’s coats. The less variation between the parents coats, the easier it will be to predict a puppy’s future coat.
Summary
Labradoodles are a popular mixed breed consisting of one Labrador parent and one Poodle parent. Labradoodles coats can come in a variety of colors and textures. The different types of Labradoodle coats are straight, wavy and curly. Most of these coat types are low maintenance, but require grooming with a slicker brush on a regular basis.
Predicting a dog’s coat, especially Labradoodles coats, can be a difficult task. This is because a Labradoodle coat changes from the time they are a young age and into adulthood. The good news is a reputable breeder should be able to predict this based on the Labrador and Poodle genetics of the parents.
We hope this article was helpful in learning about Labradoodle coat types and how to predict what kind of coat a Labradoodle puppy will have!
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