Labradoodles are one of the larger Doodle crossbreeds. Don’t let the Miniature title fool you, these lovable, sociable, and ever so slightly goofy hybrids can still be fairly chunky even in their smallest variation.
While they may not be guaranteed to fit in a handbag like a Maltipoo or Chipoo, they come in a variation of sizes that can make them more accessible for people with different living situations.
In this article, we will set out what to expect in terms of Labradoodle heights, weights, and growth rates. We will also explore if mixing up the generations gives more or less control over predicted size.
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What are the Different Labradoodle Sizes?
If we are looking at first-generation, sometimes known as F1, Labradoodles where puppies have one purebred Poodle parent and one purebred Labrador Retriever parent then Labradoodles come in three distinguishable sizes. These are:
- Standard Labradoodles
- Medium Labradoodles
- Miniature Labradoodles
What Determines the Different Sizes?
In first-generation Labradoodles, their size is determined by the Poodle parent used. As Labrador Retrievers only have one size the Labradoodle size is generally determined by the size of Poodle pairing. Now just to confuse things slightly, while we refer to Standard, Medium, and Miniature Labradoodles, these are actually the result of crossing with Standard, Miniature, and Toy Poodles.
Standard Labradoodle Pairing
As a Standard Poodle and Labrador retriever are of a similar size the resultant Labradoodle cross is referred to as Standard.
Medium Labradoodle Pairing
As a Miniature Poodle is quite a bit smaller than a Labrador Retriever the resultant Labradoodle is normally somewhere in between the two in size and referred to as Medium.
Miniature Labradoodle Pairing
As the Miniature Poodle is already utilized to breed a medium Labradoodle, to achieve a Miniature Labradoodle a Toy Poodle must be used to decrease the size even further.
It is worth noting this type of Labradoodle has the biggest difference in parent sizing meaning there can be more variation and the potential that they do take after their Labrador Retriever parent and still be on the tall side.
It is also a questionable pairing in terms of size. The Labrador should never be the sire in this instance. It is also safer for both the mom and the puppies for a Miniature Labradoodle to be achieved through several generations by using the smaller Labradoodles to achieve the required final sizing.
What are the Average Labradoodle Sizes at Different Ages?
The most important figure to prospective Labradoodle owners is what is their anticipated fully grown adult weight and height. Outlined below is a breakdown of the anticipated adult size for each variation.
| Standard Labradoodle | Medium Labradoodle | Miniature Labradoodle | |
| Height | 20” – 26” | 17” – 20” | 13” – 17” |
| Weight | 50lbs – 90lbs | 25lbs – 50lbs | 15lbs – 25lbs |
As the table shows there still can be significant height and weight variation within each subtype. Contributors to this include gender (females can be in the region of 10 to 15% smaller than males) and whether a particularly large or small Labrador Retriever parent was utilized. As with any hybrid pairing, there can be variation across a litter as it is never an exact science.
Although there is a big variation in adult size, as 8-week puppies’ weights are closer which makes it even more remarkable that some will go on to full-size Standards, an example of puppy weights are outlined below:
- Miniature Labradoodle at 8 weeks: Approximately 7lbs
- Medium Labradoodle at 8 weeks: Approximately 8lbs
- Standard Labradoodle at 8 Weeks: Approximately 10lbs
Across all three types, growth does take off in those early months and variations in the size between each type only become more and more obvious. Fast forward to 24 weeks and it will be starting to become apparent what type of Labradoodle you have:
- Miniature Labradoodle at 24 weeks: Approximately 20lbs
- Medium Labradoodle at 24 weeks: Approximately 30lbs
- Standard Labradoodle at 24 Weeks: Approximately 40lbs
By 40 weeks your Miniature Labradoodle will be considered fully grown and in the region of 25 pounds meanwhile, the Medium and Standard Labradoodle continue to grow and grow.
- Medium Labradoodle at 40 weeks: Approximately 35lbs
- Standard Labradoodle at 40 Weeks: Approximately 53lbs
While your Medium Labradoodle will be approaching full height and weight around 1 year and fall in the region of 40 lbs the Standard Labradoodle continues to race ahead towards an average of 60lbs.
Ultimately the Standard Labradoodle will continue to grow and gain weight up to around 18 months.
How Quickly do they Grow and Develop?
As with most dog breeds, all three variations of Labradoodles go through rapid puppy growth in their first 6 months and can feel as if they are doubling size overnight.
The good news is this begins to settle and while the Medium and Standard still have plenty left to grow this slows pace and becomes more gradual. Allowing you time to adjust (and by ever-increasing sized harnesses, collars, and dog beds!)
Does Labradoodle Growth Differ by Generation? (F1b, etc)
Up until now, to keep things simple we have only discussed first-generation Labradoodle crosses. This means these dogs are an even split 50% Labrador Retriever and 50% Poodle. However, there is a whole world of creative breeding that occurs.
Some of the common variations will be explored below. However, in essence, each of these serves to change the ratio of breed mix in the offspring which can impact characteristics such as height and weight.
F1b Labradoodle
Parents: An F1 Labradoodle and a purebred Poodle or Purebred Labrador (most often referred to as a Reverse F1b).
In this mix, in theory, any size of F1 Labradoodle can be backcrossed with a Poodle to create offspring that will now be 75% Poodle and only 25% Labrador Retriever. This can be done to help consistency in size. For example, if the Labradoodle parent is a Medium but on the large size, a breeder may wish to backcross with a Toy Poodle to try and reduce the size of the resultant F1b litter.
Less commonly a breeder may choose to backcross a Labradoodle with a purebred Labrador resulting in offspring that are 75% Labrador and only 25% Poodle. The resultant offspring are much more likely to be Labrador sized regardless of the Poodle size present in the F1 as the Labrador genetics will be dominant.
F2 Labradoodle
Parents: Both parents are F1 Labradoodles.
In this cross, the ratio of 50% Poodle and 50% Labrador is maintained. This does offer further opportunities to try and manage size variation. For example, a breeder may choose to cross two larger examples of Standard Labradoodle to predict a litter that is likely to be on the larger size.
How do Labradoodle Sizes Compare to Labradors and Poodles?
Labrador Retrievers only come in one recognized size, unlike their Poodle counterparts.
Generally speaking, a female Labrador can be expected to come in at between 21” and 24” in height and around 55lbs to 70lbs.
A male Labrador will be slightly larger at 22” to 25” and nearer to 80lbs.
The Standard Poodle is around 18” to 24”. However, they are, on average, lighter at up to 70lbs.
This means a Standard Labradoodle is closer in weight and height to a Labrador than a Poodle.
Fall In Love with The Puppy, Plan for The Adult
As Labradoodles remain in demand it can be easy to get carried away when seeing puppies advertised. It always pays to be wary though as some unscrupulous breeders may advertise puppies as the size they believe to be most in demand regardless of the parentage. Unfortunately, these breeders will be long gone by the time your pup is fully grown.
As outlined above all three types may appear similar in size in early puppyhood meaning the only true indicator of what size Labradoodle you may end up with is by being sure of the parents and their size. Even with this information hybrid breeding is not an exact science and you may get the outlier in a litter who is significantly bigger or significantly smaller than their littermates once they become fully grown.
Buying from a reputable breeder who can advise on previous litter growth, weights, and heights with the same parentage is one way of reducing the gamble.
While it is always encouraged to check rescue shelters, it pays to be mindful that if you pick up a young Labradoodle pup from a rescue there is also the potential, they could end up pretty big. No one wants to have to return a pup to a rescue so best to plan and ensure you can cope if your end up with a friendly giant.
How to Work out Labradoodle Predicted Growth
Sometimes it is impossible to say with certainty overall height and weight. Maybe you can’t confirm the parents’ size? Maybe you do know the parents’ size, but your pup looks massive or tiny compared to their littermates.
Of course, one option is just to allow nature to take its time (ultimately you won’t be able to change it anyway) or if you just want a bit of forewarning there is a general formula that may give a more tailored estimation of overall height and weight.
This will not be exact, but a general guide for a Standard Labradoodle is to take your pup’s weight at 4 months, double it and add 10lbs. So, for example, a 4-month Standard Labradoodle may weigh 26 pounds, based on this formula their adult weight would be expected to be in the region of 62 pounds.
For a Medium Labradoodle, the equation is adjusted to double their 4-month weight, so a 19lb pup at 4 months would be expected to reach 38lbs fully grown.
For Miniature Labradoodles, the overall growth is less so they will have reached half their likely full-grown weight earlier, normally around the 13- or 14-week mark. Doubling their weight at this point will give an idea of their overall growth potential.
Cost Saving Tips in Catering for a Fast-Growing Labradoodle
As even the Miniature Labradoodle’s will go through some significant growth, never mind the mammoth change in a Standard Labradoodle puppy and adult, it can be a costly business replacing various key bits of doggy gear.
It can be tempting to buy everything in small for your little pup coming home and there is no denying that tiny little beds can appear adorable however your Labradoodle will quickly outgrow it.
If you decide to go down the route of crate training, consider buying a larger crate that you can section off and then enlarge as they grow. Most dogs enjoy a bit of space in their dog bed so consider buying a size up from them to grow into. It can always be made cozy with additional blankets while they are small.
Some items ultimately will need replacing as your Labradoodle grows and it is important to budget for this. While harnesses and collars have some adjustability it is likely your Labradoodle will go through some variations before they are fully grown. Local buy and sell pages can be a great way to pick up second-hand or no longer required dog items to make the costs more manageable.
One of the biggest costs if you have a Standard Labradoodle, will be food and it pays to do a bit of shopping around. A quick internet search can return websites that allow you to compare and contrast food brands by price and nutritional content. While it can be tempting to go for the cheapest option if the nutritional content is poor you may end up paying more in vet bills for a poorly pup.
Conclusion
No matter what size or generation you settle on, there is no denying that the Labradoodle makes for a great companion pet. They have steadily risen in popularity since they began being actively bred in the mid 20th Century and have gained popularity as a good family dog with a caring nature towards children if appropriately trained.
Their large build and stamina inherited from both parent breeds mean they are also great for active singles, or couples seeking a dog to hike and adventure with.
