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Why Breed Two Labradoodles
While many people like breeding Labradors and Poodles, the resulting Labradoodle is a great dog to breed. A lot of people with dog allergies appreciate that Labradoodles don’t shed as much as Labs, but they usually have a Lab personality. But the first generation of Labradoodles may not be as perfect as you think.
Breeding two Labradoodles can offer a few benefits:
- One reason to breed two Labradoodles is to get the right type of coat. Since first-generation mixes are half Labrador, a lot of them retain the hair-like coat of their Labrador parent.
- However, future generations will have less of a chance of having a hairy coat. You can breed a Labradoodle with a Poodle, and you can breed the litter of Labradoodles for an even higher chance of a shed-free coat.
- Continuing the breeding for a few generations can also lead to the Australian Labradoodle, which is another type of Labradoodle. Depending on the dogs you use to breed, you can enjoy the coat of a Poodle and the temperament of a Labrador.
The more generations of Labradoodle you breed, the more you can control factors like the coat. You can then breed dogs for specific purposes, such as to avoid triggering allergies. However, breeding for multiple generations can be problematic if you’re not careful.
Breeding Problems
While you can breed two Labradoodles, you should be very careful. Of course, you need to carefully select the dogs when breeding any kind of dog. However, you may not have as much genetic diversity with Labradoodles. Before you breed two Labradoodles, you should make sure that they are healthy and aren’t closely related.
Breeding two close relatives can lead to inbreeding, which is a problem for any dog breed. If you don’t have many Labradoodles to breed, you should look for a Labradoodle outside of what you have. But don’t forget to consider the dog’s health history.
Related: Can you breed Labrador siblings?
Some dogs carry genetic diseases that their offspring could develop. You should test your dogs and any dogs you get for breeding so that you can determine if they have any health issues.
Inbreeding
On the surface, breeding two closely related Labradoodles may not seem so bad. However, inbreeding can reduce the diversity of genes. Over a few generations, the lack of new genes can lead to diseases and other health concerns for the dogs.
While inbreeding can be a good way to control for factors like a dog’s appearance, it’s not ideal. Even if the initial litter doesn’t have problems, the more inbreeding that occurs, the worse the problem can become.
Mixed Coats
Whether you avoid inbreeding or not, you may not always have control over the coat that a new litter will have. Of course, this may not be a problem if you like how Labradoodles look and act. However, it’s a different story for potential dog owners with allergies.
The Labradoodle’s initial purpose was to avoid triggering a person’s dog allergies. And while many people love the breed for other reasons, the dogs are still popular for their lack of shedding. But to make sure a new generation won’t shed, you have to choose two Labradoodles who themselves don’t shed.
And even then, you may not have full control depending on the lineage of the two parents. If the type of coat isn’t an issue for you, then you don’t have to worry, but it’s still worth considering.
What Else to Consider
Before you rush to breed two Labradoodles, you should consider a few things. The biggest thing to look at is the overall cost. From the moment you decide to breed two Labradoodles, you’ll encounter a lot of unexpected expenses.
First, you’ll need to test each parent dog for common genetic problems, like joint dysplasia and eye diseases. You’ll also need to factor in the cost for supplies, like blankets and a whelping box. The female dog will need more food than normal, and that can cost a lot.
Once the litter is born, each pup will need worm medicine, vaccinations, and other routine veterinary care. And if you’re buying a Labradoodle for a breeder, you may have to pay a hefty price for the dog.
How to Breed Two Labradoodles
If you want to breed two Labradoodles, you should know what steps to follow. Of course, you may not have full control over the new dogs. However, you should do what you can to minimize the risk of genetic diseases and other health concerns.
Whether you’re a breeder or you want to work with one, knowing ways to prevent problems is essential. As a breeder, you can make sure to choose two dogs that have the desired qualities and are healthy. And as a potential owner, you can ask your breeder about the generations and health histories of the parents.
Choose Distant Relatives
When possible, choose two Labradoodles that aren’t related so that you can avoid inbreeding. While some inbreeding is okay, it can do more harm than good. Unless you want to breed for very specific traits, such as a coat type, stick with two healthy dogs from different gene pools.
If you’re a breeder, you might want to buy a Labradoodle to use for breeding. You can use dogs that you have, but they might be too closely related. Finding a distant relative can be difficult, but it can be worth it in a lot of cases.
Distant relatives will be easiest to find for first-generation Labradoodles, but you can find them for other generations. And if you can’t find a distant relative to breed with your Labradoodle, you have other options.
Go Multi-Generational
Another way to avoid the problems of inbreeding is backcrossing, which involves breeding a Labradoodle with a Lab or a Poodle. And in most cases, the breed of choice is the Poodle due to its shed-free coat. Backcrossing with either breed has some benefits.
Higher generations can have a smaller gene pool, and breeding them with a Poodle can add more genes to the mix. Then, you can breed the Labradoodles from the next generation with other Labradoodles. Of course, backcrossing can take time, especially if you or your client wants a Labradoodle bred with a Labradoodle.
But depending on the dogs you have for breeding, backcrossing can be worth the time. You can sell some of the dogs and raise one to breed with a second Labradoodle. However, you should also choose a Poodle or Lab from a different lineage. Otherwise, the backcrossing won’t be worth it.
Conclusion
Labradoodles are a popular breed for families and people with allergies, and luckily, you can breed two of them. Whether you’re a breeder or potential owner, you should consider the costs and risks so that you can breed them properly. Then, you can reduce the risk of common health problems.
