Mini Labradoodles are what you get when you combine Labradors and toy poodles. They are affectionate and loyal dogs that come in small packages. That’s why they are the crossbreed of choice of many dog lovers. If you are thinking of getting mini labradoodles, one of the questions in your mind may be, “do mini labradoodles shed?”
There is no clear-cut answer to this question. The shedding habits of mini labradoodles will depend on the traits they have inherited from their parents, especially their coats. If they inherited the coat characteristics of their Labrador parents, they will shed more. If they inherited the coat characteristics of their toy poodle parents, they will shed less.
It’s important to note that there is no such thing as a non-shedding dog. All dogs will shed, but their shedding habits may vary. Mini labradoodles can be low, medium, or high shedders. I have done some research online about mini labradoodles and shedding, and here’s everything I have learned.
Coat characteristics of mini labradoodles
Determining the coat characteristics of mini labradoodles can be tricky. After all, they are the children of 2 breeds that have differing coat characteristics. You will never know if they will inherit the Labrador or the toy poodle’s coat characteristics.
What makes this trickier is the fact that you won’t see these characteristics show up until they are a few months old. So, if you are looking for a specific coat type, this is something you should think about before getting mini labradoodles.
Coat types
Mini labradoodles can have curly or straight fur. They can have short or long coats. And they can shed more or less. It all boils down to which parent they have inherited their coat characteristics.
If they inherit their Labrador parent’s coat characteristics, they are more likely to get straight fur and long coats that shed more. If they inherit the toy poodle parent’s coat characteristics, they are more likely to get curly fur and short coats that shed less.
Coat colors
The coat colors of mini labradoodles will not affect their shedding habits. But since this post is all about coats, you might be interested to know what colors mini labradoodles come.
They come in a huge variety of colors. Their coat can be black, white, gold, silver, cream, and red. There are other varieties too. But the mini labradoodles you will see will probably come in these colors. At the end of the day, their color will also depend on their parents. If you want specific colors, look for Labradors and toy poodles with your ideal colors and let them mate. They are more likely to give the colors you want.
Shedding habits
The shedding habits of mini labradoodles will depend on the coat characteristics they have inherited.
Labradors shed and lose their fur. This can happen all throughout the year, but it can be more prominent during spring and fall. Toy poodles, like their poodle parents, shed and the loose fur end up stuck on their curly coats.
If mini labradoodles inherit more of their Labrador parent’s shedding habits, they will shed and lose their fur in a medium to high frequency. But if they inherit more of their toy poodle parent’s shedding habits, they will shed and make the loose fur stuck on their coat in a low frequency.
Hypoallergenic traits
Hypoallergenic dogs are slowly gaining popularity because of their minimal risk of giving allergies to those around them. But take note that there is no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic dog. All dogs are capable of spreading allergens, including those that are said to be hypoallergenic. But if you are suffering from pet allergies, mini labradoodles are definitely good investments.
But what is a hypoallergenic dog in the first place? A dog can be considered hypoallergenic if it sheds very little. If it sheds very little, it has little opportunities to spread allergens from its body.
Mini labradoodles get their hypoallergenic traits from their toy poodle parents. Toy poodles are hypoallergenic because they shed very little. But if the mini labradoodles inherit the coat characteristics of their Labrador parents, these hypoallergenic traits may be minimized or not be present at all.
Why mini labradoodles shed
Mini labradoodles shed because they are dogs. All dogs shed. It’s as simple as that. If you hear someone claim that they sell non-shedding dogs, be very skeptical. Most of the time, they actually mean that the dogs shed very little and they are not entirely non-shedding.
Dogs shed because shedding is a part of their fur’s life cycle. Their hairs die and either fall to the ground or get stuck on their coats. This is just the same concept as human hair. Your hairs die too and you can experience hair fall. And sometimes, your loose hairs can get stuck on your head and you can only remove them by brushing or combing them away.
Some dogs shed more like Labradors while some shed less like toy poodles. Some also shed depending on the season to adjust to the weather. Labradors, for example, can shed more during season transitions.
How to get low-shedding mini labradoodles
If you want to have the low-shedding variety of mini labradoodles, you have to make sure that the mini labradoodles you are getting have the coat characteristics of their toy poodle parents. Look for curly and short coats. These traits are indications that the mini labradoodles have inherited their toy poodle parent’s coat characteristics.
Subsequent generation mini labradoodles have more predictable traits. They are created by mating a mini labradoodle and a toy poodle. Because of their poodle-dominant parents, they have an increased chance of getting poodle-like qualities. You can also ask breeders to give you mini labradoodles that were created by mating 2 mini labradoodles.
But take note that every mini labradoodle is unique. You will never know what it will get in the genetic lottery. There is also nothing inherently wrong with medium-shedding and high-shedding mini labradoodles. They deserve the attention and care of a loving home just as much as their low-shedding brothers and sisters.
How to tell if mini labradoodles are shedding too much
If you don’t have the luxury of choosing mini labradoodles, you may end up with some that shed a lot. Again, there is nothing wrong with mini labradoodles that shed a lot. They only take a little more effort to maintain compared to their low-shedding counterparts. But they are still perfectly normal mini labradoodles that will give a lot of life in their years with you.
But how do you know if your mini labradoodles are actually excessive shedders? Excessive shedding may be a symptom of an underlying condition, like poor nutrition, stress, or a serious medical problem. Here are some signs of excessive shedding you should look out for:
- Balding spots or obviously thinning coats. Mini labradoodles can shed a lot, especially if they get the coat characteristics of their Labrador parents. But you know that their shedding is excessive when you start seeing random balding spots throughout their body or their coats are obviously getting thinner than usual.
- Dry and dull fur that is easy to pull out. Mini labradoodles are not supposed to have dry and dull fur. If you notice that their fur has a crisp texture and a lackluster color, be wary. It’s even worse if the fur is easy to pull out, even just by touch.
- Bumps, scabs, rashes, and other skin irritations. Many times, excessive shedding is accompanied by some kind of skin irritation. You may see mini labradoodles with bumps, scabs, rashes, and other skin irritations. It doesn’t help that these crossbreeds are susceptible to allergies.
- Unusually frequent scratching. Other signs you should look out for are excessive licking of their feet, rubbing of their faces, and scratching of their bodies. They may be suffering from allergies, fungal infections, or parasites.
- Refusing to get touched. Mini labradoodles are some of the most affectionate, friendly, and social dogs you can get. This is thanks to all the temperament traits they get from their parent breeds. In fact, they have too much of a positive outlook that they tend to be bad watch dogs. They have the tendency to like even strangers. So, you know something is wrong when they don’t like to get touched. Be particularly wary if they don’t like to get touched on very specific spots, especially if these spots are showing signs of balding or thinning.
If the mini labradoodles are showing these signs for more than a week and you don’t see any improvements, consider taking them to a veterinarian for a checkup. It’s best to consult a professional instead of diagnosing problems on your own. If a veterinarian has diagnosed the problem properly, you will be able to help your dogs get treated properly.
How to deal with excessive-shedding mini labradoodles
If you think your mini labradoodles are shedding excessively, it’s not the end of the world. There are some things you can do to reduce the excessive shedding. Since excessive shedding is mostly a symptom of an underlying condition, treating the condition will most likely eliminate excessive shedding as well. Here are things you can do if you think your mini labradoodles are shedding excessively.
- Take them to the veterinarian. The internet is great. You can learn a lot about crossbreed dogs like mini labradoodles and how to take care of them. But the internet can only do so much for the health needs of your dogs. If you see the signs above and you don’t see any improvements in about a week, take them to the veterinarian.
- Follow the veterinarian’s treatment methods and recommendations. The veterinarian will be able to diagnose the underlying condition of your mini labradoodles, whether they have poor nutrition, stress, or other medical problems that are causing the excessive shedding. Follow the veterinarian’s treatment methods and recommendations and stick to them. They know what is best for your little pets.
- Give them more nutrition. Poor nutrition is an underrated problem among dogs. And an unhealthy dog is pretty easy to spot, especially when you look at its coat. To combat excessive shedding that may rise from poor nutrition, give your mini labradoodles a healthy diet. They will need the right balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Dog foods with these ingredients are not that hard to find. There is really no reason to not have healthy dogs.
- Reduce their stress level. Mini labradoodles are fun and social dogs. If you see them avoiding social interactions, hiding in corners, and making random whining noises, you know that something is up. Minimize their stress level by giving them a routine. Feed and walk them on specific hours, so they know what to expect. Give them a lot of love and attention too because they are prone to separation anxiety.
- Give them a clean and comfortable environment. Do you know that fleas can thrive in your garden, lawn, or yard? They can get to your mini labradoodles if you let your pets play outside. Do you know that an uncomfortable environment can also stress your dogs? Provide them with a space where they can feel safe, like a playpen. It’s important to keep their surroundings clean and comfortable to avoid putting them at risk to factors that can result in excessive shedding.
The key is to diagnose the problem why your mini labradoodles are shedding excessively and get the help of a veterinarian to get rid of the problem. Minimize the risk of your dogs in getting these problems again by giving them the proper care.
How to take care of medium and high-shedding mini labradoodles
But what if your mini labradoodles shed normally? Sure, they will require less attention compared to mini labradoodles that are excessively shedding. But this doesn’t mean you can neglect them. Mini labradoodles require maintenance, even those that are low-shedders. Here are things you can do to take care of medium and high-shedding mini labradoodles.
- Understand the difference between normal shedding and excessive shedding. Remember that all dogs shed. Don’t panic if you see your mini labradoodles shedding a lot. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they have some kind of underlying condition. If you don’t see the signs enumerated above, they are probably medium to high shedders and there is nothing to worry about.
- Brush them regularly. Maintaining their coats can be a pain. You may see their loose fur on the carpet and other places where they will be hard to pull out. You can minimize these incidents by brushing your mini labradoodles regularly. If you brush them regularly, you will be getting most if not all of their loose hairs. These hairs will have fewer chances to get into your furniture and other house items. But how frequent is “regular?” For medium to high shedders, it’s best to brush once or twice a week.
- Bathe them regularly. If you bathe your mini labradoodles regularly, you will be washing off most if not all of their loose hairs. They may clog up your drains, but hey, at least you know where they are. You won’t be surprised by a cluster of hairs on your sofa. Again, the frequency of “regular” may vary. But as a general rule, it’s a good idea to bathe them once a month.
- Use the right shampoo. Medium and high-shedding mini labradoodles already shed a lot. So, you don’t want to make them shed even more by using the wrong shampoo on them. There are even people out there who use the same shampoo as their dogs. Mini labradoodles can shed more if you subject them to strong ingredients. There are a lot of hypoallergenic and mild shampoos out there and they are quite easy to find. Use these alternatives to avoid irritating your pets.
- Give them all the love and attention they need. There is no need to discriminate against medium and high-shedding mini labradoodles. Like their low-shedding brothers and sisters, they will light up your home for about 15 years. Give them all the love and attention they need, and they will give it back to you. Remember that mini labradoodles are affectionate and friendly dogs. And this is true whether they are low, medium, or high-shedding variants.
Medium and high shedders will require more maintenance than low shedders. But the maintenance is definitely worth it in exchange of all the love and attention you will get from these Labrador-poodle crossbreeds.
Mini labradoodles shed
Yes, mini labradoodles shed. But remember that all dogs shed anyway, so this isn’t really a disadvantage. Mini labradoodles can be low, medium, or high shedders, depending on whether they have inherited the coat characteristics of their Labrador parent or toy poodle parent.
If they inherit the coat characteristics of their Labrador parent, they are likely to shed more compared to those who inherit the coat characteristics of their toy poodle parent.
At the end of the day, they are all the same. They are all mini labradoodles – dogs that are affectionate, friendly, and social.