A mini labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador retriever and a toy or miniature poodle. This mixed breed is also known as a teacup mini labradoodle or toy labradoodle. The mix is much smaller than a standard labradoodle because the standard breed comes from a Labrador retriever and a standard poodle.
The miniature labradoodle is playful, intelligent, and a low shedder. These traits make the dog perfect for families and owners looking for the sweet personality of a regular labradoodle, in a smaller size. This mixed breed is generally smaller than 20 inches at full height and weighs between 15 and 30 pounds. Mini labradoodles have a long lifespan of 10 to 18 years.
The mixed breed is a lovable and active pup that’s gentle with children of all ages. This dog is easy to train and friendly toward strangers and other pets. The mini labradoodle’s accepting nature makes it unsuitable to be a guard dog. This social dog also makes an excellent service dog because of its calm and intuitive nature.
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Mini Labradoodle Quick Summary
| Breed type | Miniature designer breed |
| Size | 14–20 inches |
| Weight | 15–30 pounds |
| Lifespan | 10–18 years |
| Coat type | Soft, curly, and thick ringlets or a thick, dense, straight coat |
| Coat Color | Single or bicolored — black, chocolate, yellow, cream, gray, blue, apricot, silver, red, or white |
| Coat markings | Some have small patches on the face or ears |
| Shedding tendency | Low-shedding coat |
| Temperament | Energetic, occasionally stubborn, and calm |
| Personality | Intelligent, playful, and friendly |
| Trainability | High |
| Suitable for | Owners with children or solo and couple retirees |
| Exercise requirements | Two 30-minute exercise sessions each day — running, fetching, or swimming |
| Dietary needs | Approximately 1–2 ½ cups of high-quality dog food per day |
| Common health problems | Hip dysplasia, obesity, bloat, Addison’s disease, progressive retinal atrophy, and exercise-induced collapse |
| Cost | $500–$2,500 |
Mini Labradoodle Appearance
The appearance of a mini labradoodle varies considerably based on which parent traits are more dominant. This mixed breed generally adopts the facial structure, broad snout, and large eyes of the Labrador, and the poodle’s curly coat. The body structure of the mini labradoodle is typically a mix of the two parents’ bodies.
Size and Weight
The full-grown mini labradoodle measures between 14 and 20 inches at full maturity and weighs between 15 and 30 pounds. The size of the mini labradoodle is never guaranteed and varies depending on the parent breeds’ genes and which breeds are mixed. In some cases, the breed is taller than 20 inches.
Coat
The mini labradoodle’s coat is either wooly (like a poodle’s coat), soft, wavy, and has a spiral curl, or shaggy and straight like a Labrador. The dog has a medium-length double coat and sheds minimally.
Potential coat colors of this breed include black, chocolate, yellow, cream, apricot, gray, blue, red, silver, or white. Possible markings include small patches of other colors, typically around the dog’s face and ears.
Mini Labradoodle Origins
The standard labradoodle was bred in Australia in the 1970s to create a loyal, trainable, and intelligent dog that doesn’t shed a lot. The main purpose of the mixed breed was to create an allergy-friendly service dog for the elderly. Soon after the mix was bred and gained popularity, breeders began creating a miniature version of the friendly and lovable labradoodle.
The mini labradoodle was primarily bred using a miniature or toy poodle and a purebred Labrador Retriever as a family- and allergy-friendly breed. The mini dog is now created by breeding a mini labradoodle with a Labrador or miniature poodle. Sometimes, two minis are also bred together, resulting in a predictable temperament and appearance.
To understand this mix, it’s helpful to understand the parent breeds’ temperaments and appearances.
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador retriever was initially bred as a gun dog and became a popular family dog because of its friendly, energetic, and soft-hearted nature. The Labrador is a sensitive and loyal dog that loves to be around its family and shows protective qualities when needed.
These dogs love vigorous exercise alongside their owners, especially fetching games, water activities, and hiking. The breed is gentle and bred to work, making it well-suited as a service dog. The mini labradoodle mix generally inherits the Labrador’s temperament, facial features, and body structure.
Toy or Miniature Poodle
The toy and miniature poodles were bred from the smallest standard poodles to create a miniature version of these low-shedding dogs in two sizes — miniature and toy. Mini labradoodles share the qualities of standard poodles, including their intelligence, energy, and occasional stubbornness.
Miniature and toy poodles are elegant athletes with noble statures that are sure to draw attention at dog shows. These dogs are easy-going, friendly to children, love, companionship, and have thick, curly coats — all traits that are passed on to miniature labradoodles.
Mini Labradoodle Personality and Temperament
The mini labradoodle is an excellent family dog because of its loyal, caring, gentle, and friendly nature. The mixed-breed loves to play and is highly intuitive around young children and the elderly. The dog, bred from working and service dogs, is also ready to work — especially as a care or companion dog.
These designer dogs need to stay active and love exercising or adventuring with their owners. Mini labradoodles’ small size makes them excellent companions to accompany their owners on errands. These dogs are highly sociable toward children, other pets, and even strangers, although they are wary and protective of their owners when necessary.
The poodle parent’s intelligence and the Labrador’s eagerness to please make the miniature labradoodle easy to train. This mixed-dog breed enjoys learning new tricks and attempting to delight its owner with its silliness and learning capabilities. Mini labradoodles need human company and don’t tolerate being left alone for long periods, making the breed unsuitable for owners who aren’t home during the day.
Taking Care of a Mini Labradoodle
The miniature labradoodle is easy to care for because of its small size, and apart from regular brushing, it doesn’t require too much grooming. Take note of the demanding exercise and mental stimulation needs of this breed. These dogs are generally healthy, but still have certain health issues to consider.
Food Needs
Generally, feed a miniature labradoodle 1 to 2 ½ cups of high-quality dog kibble designed for small dogs. Split the food into at least two meals a day to avoid bloat and obesity. Always consult a veterinarian to determine the correct portion sizes for mixed-dog breeds.
Every dog is different and has specific food requirements, which is especially true for mixed-dog breeds due to the high variation in size, weight, and activity levels in these dogs.
Grooming Needs
Brush the mini labradoodle once daily or twice weekly to keep its coat untangled and healthy. This low-shedding breed is considered nearly hypoallergenic, but the dog still needs a monthly professional grooming session.
The professional groomer should cut the dog’s nails as needed and offer teeth brushing and ear cleaning. In addition to the monthly cleaning, brush the mini labradoodle’s teeth two or three times a week and clean the dog’s ears regularly, especially after swimming, to prevent infections.
Exercise Needs
The mini labradoodle has two highly energetic parents and needs a lot of exercise despite the dog’s smaller size. Give the mixed breed an hour of exercise daily as well as play sessions at home. The dog needs vigorous exercise such as water activities, hikes, brisk walks, runs, and fetching games.
The miniature labradoodle is suitable for small apartments if there’s enough open space to allow the dog to run around and expel energy.
Mental Needs
The miniature labradoodle needs at least 20 minutes of mental stimulation per day. Play games like hide-and-seek or an indoor agility course.
The mini labradoodle is highly intelligent and needs daily mental stimulation to prevent undesirable behaviors such as chewing furniture, digging holes, and eating clothes. Keep the dog busy with scent games, obedience training, agility sports, puzzles, and searching activities.
Common Health Concerns
Mini labradoodles are generally healthy dogs living up to 18 years, but take note of certain health conditions. The mixed breed may develop health problems that are common in either parent breed. Regularly visit a veterinarian to prevent and treat diseases early.
Here are common health conditions that may affect the mini labradoodle.
- Hip dysplasia: occurs from birth when the dog’s hip joint develops incorrectly, sometimes due to over-exercising puppies before their joints fully develop. This condition may lead to paralysis if left untreated. However, the condition is treatable with medication and surgery in extreme cases
- Obesity: is caused by overeating or thyroid problems and leads to other health issues. Prevent obesity by following the veterinarian’s guidance on how much to feed the dog. Be sure to limit treats to meet the dog’s required calorie intake
- Gastric dilatation-volvulus: also known as bloat, is a life-threatening condition caused by large meals or exercising too soon after eating. Bloat needs urgent medical treatment, and symptoms include dry heaving, excessive drooling, and a hard, swollen belly
- Addison’s disease: also known as hypoadrenocorticism, is caused by a decreased production of hormones from the dog’s adrenal glands. This condition is life-threatening if left untreated, but the dog can live a full, healthy life with the proper treatment plan
- Progressive retinal atrophy: affects the dog’s eye cells and leads to blindness in some instances. The condition is inherited and can’t be cured, although many dogs adapt well to the lack of eyesight and live full lives
- Exercise-induced collapse: is common in mini labradoodles because the dog tends to over-exert itself during exercise. Keep an eye on the dog during exercise and stop activities if the dog shows a lack of coordination or muscle weakness because these collapses are life-threatening in some cases
- Centronuclear myopathy: is an inherited condition that causes a lack of muscle control in dogs. The illness is incurable, but treatment options are available to manage the disease
Training a Mini Labradoodle
Training a mini labradoodle puppy is easy — even for first-time owners — because of the dog’s intelligence and eagerness to learn and please its owner. Train and socialize the mixed breed from as young as eight weeks old to ensure a well-adjusted adult dog that gets along with children and other pets.
Use positive reinforcement training methods by offering treats and verbal praise for good behavior. The mini labradoodle puppy becomes stubborn and aloof from harsh punishment and negative training methods. Start obedience training immediately after bringing the dog home to start creating good habits early.
Train mini labradoodle puppies in short periods — five to ten minutes — throughout the day and incorporate this training into games like fetch, scent games, and follow the leader.
Start training using basic commands, including “sit” and “stay,” and progress to complex commands once the puppy has mastered the basics. Begin potty training and socializing labradoodle puppies as early as possible.
Mini Labradoodle Cost
Mini labradoodles are relatively expensive because few breeders are breeding these dogs. The small size of these dogs means they’re relatively cheap to care for, but they live longer on average than many other breeds.
How Much Is a Mini Labradoodle?
A mini labradoodle is $500 to $2,500. Buying this breed from a reputable breeder costs more than $1,500, increasing when fewer breeders are in the area. This designer dog breed often ends up at rescue centers, and adopting a rescue mini labradoodle costs about $500. Adopting older dogs is the cheapest option, but remember that the temperament and behavior of the dog are already fixed.
How Much Does it Cost to Raise a Mini Labradoodle?
On average, raising a mini labradoodle costs between $1,000 to $3,000 for the first year of care. The cost decreases slightly after the initial fees, but the grooming, healthcare, and food costs vary greatly based on the dog’s size.
Should You Get a Mini Labradoodle?
The mini labradoodle is an excellent dog for families and elderly owners because of its gentle and playful nature. However, consider a few things before choosing this mixed breed because the dog is unsuitable for some lifestyles.
Mini Labradoodles are Suitable for:
Mini labradoodles are suitable for new and experienced owners, including families with young children and older owners. These designer dogs are gentle and easy to care for apart from their demanding exercise and grooming requirements. Because of its energetic nature, this dog is well suited for active owners that want to take the dog along during vigorous adventure exercise.
These designer dogs are suitable for owners that stay home often, but the dogs are also small enough to go on errands with the owner. Mini labradoodles are an excellent choice as a small companion dog or lapdog for single owners because of the dog’s lovable and caring attitude.
This mixed breed is suitable for most allergy sufferers because of the dog’s low-shedding tendency. However, to ensure the dog’s fur doesn’t trigger allergies, potential owners should spend some time with the dog first.
Mini labradoodles are suitable for smaller homes and apartments as long as the dog has spaces to run around, whether it’s a small yard or an open space in the home. This miniature dog adapts to smaller spaces but still needs daily vigorous exercise.
Mini Labradoodles are NOT Suitable for:
Mini labradoodles are prone to separation anxiety, making these dogs unsuitable for owners that are out of the house for eight or more hours a day. The small dogs can only handle being left alone for short periods.
The mixed breed is unsuitable for owners who can’t afford professional grooming because, despite being low-shedders, the dogs have thick curls that need regular grooming.
These dogs are unsuitable for inactive families because of their exercise and mental stimulation needs. This mixed breed becomes destructive and disobedient when the care requirements aren’t met.
The mini labradoodle is unsuitable for owners who want a predictable dog because of the mixed breed’s variations in size and temperament. Second-generation mini labradoodles — bred from two labradoodle parents — have more predictable appearances and personalities.
Other Labrador Retriever and Miniature Poodle Mixes
If you’re interested in learning about other Lab mixes or Miniature Poodle, check out the hybrid dog breeds below.
Lab Mixes
- German Shepherd Lab Mix
- Pitbull Lab Mix
- Blue Heeler Lab Mix
- Golden Retriever Lab Mix
- Rottweiler Lab Mix
- Beagle Lab Mix
- Border Collie Lab Mix
- Husky Lab Mix
- Australian Shepherd Lab Mix
- Labrabull
- Boxador
- Labradoodle Dog
- Australian Labradoodle
How long does it take to crate train a miniature Labradoodle puppy please
Not long for my mini. Fully house broken one week after we took him
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