With their striking, good looks and adorable fluffy faces, it’s no wonder the black Labradoodle is a popular choice for Labradoodle parents.
But before you go out and get one, did you know that there are two (2) kinds of Labradoodles? Or that their dark coat can fade as they reach adulthood?
Did you know that different colors are associated with different personalities?
Join us as we take a look at the Black Labradoodle and all their wonderful qualities.
Plus, we will go over a few things that you need to consider before deciding to get one.
Looking for a black colored dog? Check out our posts on other black colored doodles like the Bernedoodle, black Goldendoodle, Newfiepoo and mini Goldendoodle to discover even more doodles that come in black.
The Different Types of Labradoodles
Before we start to discuss the specifics of the Black Labra doodle, let’s first talk about the different variations of Labradoodles you can find.
1. Labradoodle Breeding
First there are two different dog types that use “Labradoodle” in their name.
The best known one is the Australian Labradoodle. But there is also the American Labradoodle, which often goes by the name Labradoodle here in the United States.
While it might seem like they are the same breed that just comes from different countries, their breeding is in fact a little different.
History of the Labradoodle
Labradoodles got their start in Australia when a woman in Hawaii reached out to the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia looking for a guide dog that would not trigger her husband’s allergies.
They first tried to train standard poodles to be guide dogs since they were known to be hypoallergenic. But after trialing 33 different standard poodles, it was determined that they did not have the right temperament for the job.
So the next idea was to breed the hypoallergenic, standard poodle to the hardworking and trainable Labrador Retriever. The hope was that the combination would result in at least one puppy that could work for the women and her husband.
Out of the 3 puppies that resulted from the pairing only one proved not to affect the husband’s allergies and went on to be trained to be a guide dog for the woman.
But that left two dogs without a home to go to. It seemed no one wanted a mixed breed guide dog.
So to find them homes, the dogs were named Labradoodles and touted as a special breed that was hypoallergenic. Since that time, the demand for the Labradoodle has only increased.
Australian Labradoodle
The reason for this story is to point out that the original Labradoodles from Australian were a first generation cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle.
But today’s Australian Labradoodles are a complex mix of multiple breeds that were included in the Labradoodle’s breeding back in the 1990’s. This was done to create litters with consistent conformation, coat type and temperament.
The Australian Labradoodle has at the very least; Poodle, Labrador Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel in their mix.
Plus, there were a few other breeds that were used to a lesser extent in the breeding of the Australian Labradoodle, but they have mostly been bred out at this point. Though, these other breeds may still show up in DNA reports for some dogs.
American Labradoodle
The American Labradoodle is a traditional crossbreed between a poodle and a Labrador Retriever.
However, there are some people and breeders that call the American Labradoodle, an Australian Labradoodle simply because the original Labradoodles were from Australia and they follow the same breeding practices as the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia.
But they are not the same dog. The Australian Labradoodle is a multi-generation dog. The American Labradoodle can be a true first generation Labradoodle with much of the Labrador’s personality retained as well as a multi-generation Labradoodle if you choose to get a F1b or F2.
There are pluses and minus to both the American Labradoodle and the Australian Labradoodle, but that is a topic for a different post.
Labradoodle Sizes
You can find both the American and Australian Labradoodles in three sizes.
The American Labradoodle’s size is generally determined by the size of the poodle used in breeding and the generation classification. But you often will not know the true size of your American Labradoodle until they are full grown.
This is due to genetics. Since when you breed to different sized dogs there is no guarantee you will end up with a small dog. Especially if you are dealing with a first generation doodle.
The unknowns become less of an issue when you are dealing with multi-generation doodles like the F1b Labradoodle (see chart below for generation meanings) or the Australian Labradoodle. That’s because over time unwanted genes, like a larger size can be bred out.
But you could still end up with a dog that is as big as the Labrador or small like the mini poodle. There is no way of knowing which genes were passed down until they are full-grown. There is even a chance that they will be a mix of both sizes.
Although it’s hard to accurately determine the size a dog will become when they are a mix of two very different sizes, there are clues you can look for. Knowing the size of the parents and the two generations before that, will let you know if there are any outliers with what you are expecting.
Size ranges for the Australian Labradoodle
- Miniature – between 14 and 16 inches in height
- Medium range – between 17 and 20 inches in height
- Standard range – between 21 and 24 inches in height
The above size ranges are from the Australian Labradoodle Association of America. These size ranges are commonly used for the American Labraoodle too.
American Labraoodles weights can vary based on which breed they take after. Labrador Retrievers tend to have a muscle, stocky build, where the poodle tends to have a leaner, athletic build.
3. Labradoodle Generations
As I mentioned above, the American Labradoodle comes in different generations. The most common generation codes you will find are F1, F1b and F2.
A doodle’s generation tells you about a dog’s breeding.
For example a F1 Labradoodle is 50% Poodle and 50% Labrador Retriever.
If you mate a F1 Labradoodle with a poodle you get an F1B Labradoodle. This cross is believed to have less of a chance of shedding because they have more poodle genetics.
In some cases a F1B doodle can also be 25% poodle and 75% retriever if the breeder crosses an F1 doodle with a retriever.
At the time these classifications were created it was the only way to know approximately how much poodle genes are in a doodle once the breeding moved beyond the F1 doodle.
Since poodles are low shed and considered hypoallergenic, the more Poodle genes meant there was less chance of shedding.
However, in multigenerational doodles like the F2 Labradoodle, the exact percentage of poodle or Lab that is passed down is really unknown.
4. Labradoodle Colors
Labradoodles, regardless of which one, come in a wide assortment of colors. They can be any of the colors that the Labrador Retriever or poodle comes in.
Labrador Retriever Colors
The most common colors of the Labrador Retriever are Black and Yellow. A Brown or Chocolate Labradoodle is a less common color.
Poodles colors include: Black, White, Sable, Silver, Apricot, Gray, Red, Cream, White and Brown. They also come in different color patterns like parti, phantom, abstract and sable.
All About the Black Labradoodle
Black Labradoodle Breeding
A dog’s traits, like size, color and even temperament to a degree are controlled by their genes. Every dog carries two genes for every trait.
And every dog parent passes down one of their two genes for each trait to their offspring. These genes can either be dominant or recessive. Some genes even have the ability to influence other genes.
While black fur is a dominant gene in Labra doodles, there are other genes that can change the dominant black to other colors like yellow or gray.
Two black dogs can also carry recessive genes for brown or other colors that can not be detected just by looking at them.
There are also fading and dilute genes that can lighten a Labradoodle’s colors as they grow up. Our poodle mix was black with white on her nose, chest and paws as a puppy. Now she is various shades of gray with a white chest.
If having a black Labradoodle is important to you, take the time to talk with the breeder about the parents and grandparents. If there were other colors in the litters, they may not have an all black litter to choose from.
Black Labradoodle Questions
Are Black Labradoodles Rare?
Because black is a dominant color for Labra doodles, black Labra doodles are not rare. But be careful when selecting a breeder. They should have a good understanding of the genetics that go into Labra doodle colors or you could end up with a dog that is no longer black when they are full grown.
Do Black Labradoodles Shed
A common question people ask is whether a dog’s coat color has any impact on the amount of fur they shed. Currently the answer is no.
While there are studies that link a dog’s fur type (either straight or curly, long or short) to the amount of fur they will shed, there is no correlation between shedding and the color of a dog’s fur.
What does affect whether your Labradoodle will shed and how much, is the MC5R-gene and the RSPO2-gene. The combination of these two genes will determine whether your dog will shed a lot or just a little.
Just remember there is no such thing as a non-shedding dog. Just ones, like the poodle, that shed less. There are tests available for both the MC5R and RSPO2 genes so your breeder can test the parents to see if there is a chance that the puppies will shed.
Before these tests were available, breeders would use a combination of visual clues like fur type, facial fur length and generation classification (first generation vs multi-generation) to determine if a Labradoodle is likely to shed.
Typically a Labradoodle that has a curlier, poodle type coat will shed much less than a Labradoodle with a straight or wiry coat. But either way they both have the same lovable personality.
Are Black Labradoodles Good Dogs?
Both the poodle and Labrador Retriever are popular family dogs. Known to be close to their families but still friendly with strangers. They come from hunting backgrounds therefore are easily trainable and like to be active. They love the water and are ready for just about any adventure that involves their family.
If these are important traits to you then Black Labradoodles are great dogs.
Does fur color affect a dog’s personality?
May have heard that some colored Labradors are harder to train than others. In a study published in the journal, Applied Animal Behavior Science back in 2014 the findings seem to back up this claim.
The study looked at whether Chocolate Labrador Retrievers were harder to train and more hyperactive and aggressive then the more common black Labrador.
To do this, researchers collected data on 1,978 dogs that included their behavior and information on their physical and management characteristics from their owners.
The study found that “Chocolate Labrador Retrievers were more ‘agitated when ignored’ and showed more ‘excitability’ than black dogs, and lower ‘trainability’ and ‘noise fear’ than both yellow and black dogs.” The black Labrador was considered the easiest to train and most common choice for hunters.
Training requirements of a black Labradoodle
As you can see from above, the black Labrador is considered to be the easiest of all the color Labradors to train. And we all know by now that the poodle is very smart and willing to please.
This is why you see them in circus acts.
But it’s important that your puppy receives the right type of training to help them thrive. All dogs learn quicker from positive reinforcement. After all, wouldn’t you learn quickly if you knew you were going to be rewarded for good work?
Training your puppy should be done in short intervals throughout the day. Puppies, like children, have very short attention spans. They will only be able to concentrate for a few minutes at a time. But over time they will learn to listen to you.
Don’t forget lots of safe activities and playtime to break up those training sessions.
You should start training them as soon as they are with you.
Start by teaching them their name. To do this, call out the name near your puppy. When they look at you to see what is going on give them a small treat. Continue to do this until they have learned their name. Next start on other simple commands like, sit, stay, lay down etc.
It’s also very important that you focus on socializing your puppy in the first few months while keeping them safe until they are fully vaccinated.
If you don’t have time to devote to training your puppy, including potty training, you should think twice about getting a puppy. There are plenty of older Labradoodles looking for a home that might already be trained.
Can a Black Labradoodle Turn Silver?
It’s possible for your Labradoodle to inherit the G (progressive graying) locus from their poodle side. This gene affects dogs with black fur, causing their fur to turn silver over time. Dogs with the progressive graying gene will start off with a rich black coat color but it will lighten up overtime to a gray or silver color.
Do Black Labradoodles Shed?
Currently there is no correlation between the color of a dog’s fur and the amount of fur they will shed in any given period. What does affect how much a dog sheds is their fur type. Dogs with long, curly or wavy fur shed less than dogs with short, straight fur.
Also dogs with a double coat like the Labrador will go through a seasonal coat change where they lose all the downy fur from their undercoat. But single coated dogs like the poodle do not. Labradoodles can inherit either coat type.
You can check to see what type of coat your pup has by parting the fur to see if there is a shorter layer of fur under their long fur.
Genetic research has found that the genes MC5R-gene and the RSPO2-gene, affect how much a dog will shed.
They also control whether a dog will have the long facial hair and eyebrows that are common in doodles. Breeders can now test for these genes to see what might be passed down to the puppies.
Just remember there is no such thing as a non-shedding dog, just ones, like the poodle, that shed less.
Before these tests were available, breeders would use a combination of visual clues like fur type, facial fur length and generation classification (first generation vs multi-generation) to determine if a Labradoodle is likely to shed.
One last comment on shedding. All dogs regardless of fur type will loss their puppy coat sometime during their first year. This means a lot of shedding at the time, but the heavy shedding may not continue after the coat change.
What grows back in will be the fur type they keep. In some cases the fur may change drastically from what they had as a puppy.
Chocolate Labradoodle Fur Types
As I just mentioned, the type of fur your labradoodle has will affect their level of shedding.
A multi-generational Australian Labradoodle should have a single coat that is either fleece or wool in texture. Their coat may be wavy, straight or soft spirals, but should not be too thick or dense.
They should shed minimally.
American Labradoodles can have a much greater variety in fur type, depending on their breeding.
First generation American Labradoodles can inherit either the straight fur from the Labrador or the curly coat from the poodle. Or they can have a combination of fur where some parts are curly and some are straight or wavy.
Our poodle mix has straight fur on her back but curly fur on her legs. Her back never mats but her legs do.
F1B Labradoodles that are crossed back to a poodle tend to have a curlier coat than the first-generation Labradoodles. This is due to having a greater percentage of poodle genes. Typically the curlier the coat the less then shed
Are Black Labradoodles Hypoallergenic?
If we go back to the story of the first Labradoodles, we see that only one puppy out of the three that were born from the pairing resulted in a dog that did not trigger the husband’s allergy. This is because every dog is different.
It’s believed that people are allergic to the protein that is found in a dog’s skin cells, saliva and urine. Coming in contact with any of this can cause a reaction in some people.
The most common way that people are exposed to the protein is when a dog sheds and a small piece of skin (dander) becomes airborne.
Since doodles are bred to shed less there is less dander in the air to react to. But this is only one way a person comes in contact with the protein. Since puppies tend to nibble on everything around them, you can easily come in contact with their saliva.
Plus the regular brushing a Labradoodle needs will expose their caretaker to the dander.
Are Black Labradoodle’s Healthy?
Because the American Labradoodle is a mix of two dog breeds, long term data on their health and lifespan is limited. Instead we need to look at the type of health conditions the parent breeds may have.
Below is a list of 10 common health problems for the Poodle and Labrador Retriever based on data from Metlife Pet Insurance.
10 Common Health Problems for the Poodle and Labrador Retriever
| Poodle | Labrador Retriever |
| Addison’s Disease | Obesity |
| Hip Dysplasia | Hip Dysplasia |
| Cushing’s Disease | Osteochondritis Dissecans – soft joints |
| Epilepsy | Eye Disease |
| Bloat | Epilepsy – seizures |
| Allergies – skin allergies | Allergies – environmental allergies |
| Cancer | Bloat |
| Blood Clotting Diseases | Tumors |
| Kidney Disease | Exercise-Induced Diseases |
| Cataracts – usually progress to blindness | Heart Disease |
Hybrid Vigor
Hybrid vigor is a term that breeders often use to describe Labradoodles. But hybrid vigor is associated with dogs that have several breeds in them. The argument is that the more genetically diverse a dog is, the less likely they will suffer from genetic health conditions.
Since the American Labradoodle only has two breeds that share some of the same health concerns, it is less likely that they will benefit from hybrid vigor. Also since multi-generation doodles are breed back to one or the other breed the benefits of hybrid vigor lessens.
Does a Black Labradoodle get hot in the sun?
All dogs will get hot if left out in the hot sun without a way to cool off, but a black Labradoodle will get hotter, faster than a light colored Labradoodle when left out in the sun. The darker the fur is, the more heat they draw in and retain.
How much is a Black Labradoodle?
Since the black Labradoodle is a common color and easier to breed they will not have a premium added to their final cost like some Labradoodles with rare colors or patterns.
The average price for a black Labradoodle is around $2,500 to $3,500 and the average price of a black Australian Labradoodle is around $ 3,500. You can find dogs for more or less depending on where you look and the size of the Labradoodle you are looking for.
Remember that a well-bred, genetic health tested Labradoodle will cost more than one from a puppy mill or backyard breeder, but it may save you in the long run.
Where to find a Black Labradoodle to adopt?
Black Labra doodles are common in rescues. You can look for one in one of the many Labradoodle rescues we have listed.