F1 Labradoodle – From Mini To Standard -Everything You Need To Know

What does f1 Labradoodle mean?

Labradoodles are a cultural phenomenon. The first intentional Lab and Poodle mix dogs were bred in the 1990s as low shedding candidates for service work. At that time, mixed breed dogs were regarded with disdain by many people. Which made it difficult to rehome the puppies that weren’t cut out for working roles. The name ‘Labradoodle’ was coined as a way to make them more appealing to pet owners. And the rest, as they say, is history. Now almost everyone is familiar with what a Labradoodle is, and they have paved the way for dozens of other designer dogs too. But fewer people are acquainted with the filial numbering system for mixed breed dogs.

Put simply, an f1 generation Labradoodle has one pedigree Labrador parent, and one pedigree Poodle parent. The ‘f’ stands for ‘filial’, a word to describe the relationship between parents and their offspring. The number 1 describes how many generations removed a puppy is from their closest purebred ancestor. F1 Labradoodles are one generation apart from a purebred dog.

F1 vs F2 Labradoodle Puppies?

Breeders usually specify that their litter is an f1 generation in order to distinguish it from different filial generations. For example

• F1b Labradoodles have one F1 Labradoodle parent and one pedigree Poodle or pedigree Lab parent. Their closest purebred ancestor is still one generation away, and the b stands for ‘back cross’.
• F2 Labradoodles have two F1 Labradoodle parents. Their most recent pedigree ancestors are now their grandparents – two generations away. The physical and behavioral traits of f2 dogs are harder to predict. This is because in the confines of a pedigree population, we usually have a good idea of what genes Labs and Poodles may be carrying but not expressing, and how those genes might affect F1 Labradoodles. But the unexpressed genes in an F1 Labradoodle are an unknown quantity. Did they come from the Lab or the Poodle parent? Will they be expressed in the F2 generation? Who knows?
• An f2b Labradoodle has one F2 Labradoodle parent, and one pedigree Labrador or Poodle parent.
• And finally, multigen Labradoodles are several generations removed from their most recent pedigree ancestor on one or both sides.

What is a standard f1 Labradoodle?

Besides referring to a Labradoodle’s filial generation, a breeder might also describe them as standard or miniature. This describes the size of their Poodle parent. Poodles come in three sizes: Standard, Miniature and Toy. A standard f1 Labradoodle has a Standard Poodle parent.

What about a Mini-Labradoodle?

For many people the appeal of a Labradoodle, compared with a Labrador is that they are available in smaller sizes. A Miniature Labradoodle has a Miniature Poodle parent and a full grown Mini-Labradoodle can weigh as little as 20lbs.

What does an F1 Labradoodle look like?

Labradoodles are one of the best known ‘teddy bear’ dog breeds. Their coat is usually kept at a single length all over, known as a puppy clip.

In f1 Labradoodles the Poodle’s curly coat genes usually win out over the Labrador’s straight coat genes, but there is lots of scope for variation in coat type. Furthermore, lots of owners report f1 Labradoodle coat changes as their puppy grows up. Firstly, the length, softness, and texture can change when their adult coat replaces their puppy coat. This process starts at about 6 months old, and can take several weeks or even months. Secondly, their color can change over time if they inherit the progressive greying gene from their Poodle parent. The sable f1 Labradoodle coat will also be a different color depending on whether they’re kept clipped or unclipped.

Labrador Poodle mix dogs can have a tall and leggy silhouette like a Poodle. Or be more long and sturdy-looking like a Labrador. Labradoodle dogs have floppy, v-shaped ears because both of their parents do. But their muzzle can be wider or narrower depending on whether they take after a Labrador or a Poodle more.

F1 Labradoodle Size?

Th adult size of a Poodle Lab mix dog depends upon things like:

• whether their Poodle parent was standard or miniature sized
• whether their Labrador parent came from working or show lines
• their sex
• and individual variation.

In both Labs and Standard Poodles, male dogs are frequently bigger than females, so the same is true of a standard f1 Labradoodle. Females typically reach between 40 and 70lbs, and males weigh 60 to 80lbs. Within each sex class, things like the exact size of a puppy’s parents and whether their Lab parent was of working or show type will influence their adult size. Working type Labs are usually leaner and lighter, whilst show Labs are usually stockier and heavier – and they can pass this onto their puppies.

Miniature f1 Labradoodle size is much harder to predict. Male and female Miniature Poodles both weigh 10 to 15lbs. So most mini f1 Labradoodles will weigh between 30 and 45lbs, but outliers can weigh much more or much less! Breeding f1b mini Labradoodle litters with one Miniature f1 Labradoodle parent and one Miniature Poodle parent is a popular way of producing Lab and Poodle mix dogs which are consistently small.

Do f1 Labradoodles shed?

One of Labradoodle dogs’ most desirable traits is their low- or non-shedding coat. Generally, the Poodle’s curly, non-shedding coat type is genetically dominant over the Labrador’s short, shedding fur. This means most f1 Labradoodles shed significantly less than a purebred Lab. But, this is not guaranteed, and exactly how much less they shed does vary. Moreover, a non-shedding coat does not mean that a Labradoodle mix (or even a purebred Poodle for that matter) is hypoallergenic. The proteins which trigger people’s allergies to dogs are produced in their saliva, sweat and urine. So despite persistent myths to the contrary, there’s no evidence that any dog can be truly described as hypoallergenic.

Training and exercising f1 Labradoodles

Labradors and Poodles are both lively, energetic and intelligent dogs. In fact, they both started out as working gundogs, bred to spend long and physically arduous days retrieving shot waterfowl and returning it to their handler. Since a lot of those unlucky birds fell in water, Labs and Poodles were also favored by duck hunters for their natural love of swimming.

With this heritage, Labradoodles are likely to pick up new commands quickly and easily, especially if their Labrador parent came from working lines. If they have lots of working dogs in their family tree, they are likely to crave the mental stimulation of having a ‘job’ to do as well. Which means training can’t stop with the basics. They benefit from activities like gundog training, agility, or canine freestyle to stretch their mental muscles as well as their physical ones. Speaking of physical muscle, Labradoodle dogs need at least 2 hours of outdoor activity every day, which can including walking on or off leash, or swimming. Exercise isn’t just good for their physical condition either: adequate exercise contributes to lower aggression, fear and separation anxiety.

F1 Labradoodle health

Just like everything else, first generation Labradoodle health is a mixed inheritance from both of their parents. Labradors and Poodles share a genetic predisposition to some health problems, such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. But they also both carry some recessive genetic conditions that the other does not. This is significant to Labradoodles because recessive diseases only affect puppies who inherit the faulty genes that cause them from both parents. So mixed breed dogs tend to be protected, if only one parent breed carries the faulty gene. Examples of recessive genetic diseases in Labs and Poodles that f1 Labradoodles are usually protected from include exercise induced collapse, and sebaceous adenitis.

F1 Labradoodles are also susceptible to the acquired (i.e. not genetic) health problems of Labs and Poodles, including obesity and ear infections. You can protect your dog from these by making smart lifestyle choices, such as measuring food out accurately, and drying their ears after they go swimming.

Labradors and Standard Poodles typically live for approximately 12 years, so a standard F1 Labradoodle will be about the same. On average, mixed breed dogs live for 2 years longer than pedigree dogs, thanks to factors like the protection from some hereditary diseases described above. But, this extra lifespan is a population average – it’s impossible to say whether it will definitely apply to any single individual. Miniature Poodles live nearly 14 years on average. This extra life expectancy might also be seen in mini f1 and mini f1b Labradoodle dogs.

Are f1 Labradoodles good pets?

Labradoodles have taken the world by storm, because they have the potential to be fantastic pets in the right households. Whilst they’re not hypoallergenic after all, they do usually shed less than a Lab, which means less vacuuming and removing hair from clothes and furniture. Labs and Poodles are both affectionate with their human family, and patient with younger family members. However, the Poodle tends to be less interested in unfamiliar people and dogs than the Labrador, and an f1 Labradoodle could go one way or the other. Careful socialization as a puppy can help make sure that disinterest doesn’t turn into fear. But, if you’re relying on your dog having lots of social confidence in new situations, then a purebred Lab might be a more suitable, reliable choice.

Finding and raising f1 Labradoodle puppies

To maximise the chances of bringing home a healthy, confident little f1 Labradoodle puppy, look for a breeder who can provide evidence that their litter’s parents were both tested for

• hip dysplasia
• elbow dysplasia
• and eye disease.

Good breeders will have lots of questions about you, your household, your lifestyle, and what you expect life with a Labradoodle to be like. Some breeders say they will only offer a puppy to a family after they’ve tried their hardest to talk them out of it first! This isn’t because they don’t want you to have a dog. It’s because they want to make sure you’re getting the right dog at the right time, and you won’t regret your commitment. Finally, good breeders also have a waiting list, so expect to wait a while for your puppy to be ready.