Knowing what is the lifespan of a standard Labradoodle will provide you with the ability to understand how long your new companion should be with you.
Also, you can then look at any possible methods that could extend their life allowing you to spend even more time with them.
As an owner of a standard Labradoodle, it can prove useful to understand certain things about the breed. One important piece of information may very well be the average life span of the breed.
But any breed of dog also comes with its own potential health problems. So, along with telling you all you need to know about their life expectancy, we will also look at their common health problems as well.
The Answer
On average, the life expectancy of a standard Labradoodle is between 12 and 15 years. This does mean they sit in the average life expectancy for most dogs, but it’s never as straightforward as that.
Instead, just as us humans have an average life expectancy, things can go wrong. Alternatively, you may find that your standard Labradoodle lives beyond those 15 years.
So let’s look at what contributes to their life expectancy, and identify ways in which you may possibly extend how long your dog will live.
You see, caring for your dog the right way can have a profound effect on their life. As a good owner, you should have a willingness to try anything you can. However, you do also need to know what you could find yourself up against from a health point of view.
Common Health Problems with the Labradoodle
From a health perspective, the Labradoodle may have a tendency to suffer from certain ailments throughout its life. However, there remains no guarantee that they will develop them at any point.
Do note that not all health problems your Labradoodle may suffer from will be serious.
Ear Issues
The first thing to note is they may suffer from ear issues, and in particular something called Otitis. Basically, Otitis refers to inflammation of the ear canal, and while it’s not serious it does cause some real discomfort.
This stems from the Poodle part of the breed. They may also suffer from ear infections and general discomfort. It may prove helpful to have a vet check their ears on a regular basis as this does tend to occur more regularly than it would do with other breeds.
Cysts and Lumps
A Labradoodle may also prove prone to developing different cysts or lumps around their body. While they will mainly turn out as non-serious, you can never rule out the possibility that it may indicate something else going on.
That does mean it’s best if you spend time checking over their body on a regular basis to identify any lumps as soon as they appear. As we said, they will usually mean nothing at all, but it’s always best to check and have a vet look them over.
This check could make a difference to their life span if you manage to catch something serious early enough.
Skin Allergies
The Labradoodle can suffer from various skin allergies, and while they may not reduce their life expectancy, it can lead to them suffering as a result. Dermatitis remains common with this breed, and they may also react to things they come into contact with.
However, skin allergies remain easy to treat, and your vet should have no problem in doing this.
GI Disorders
Gastrointestinal Disorders remain a common occurrence with Labradoodles, and it does mean you need to keep on top of any such conditions. Sadly, they can progress into more serious issues if you fail to tackle them head-on at the outset.
Obstructions in the bowel can occur, and this may prove highly problematic and dangerous for their health. Often, it may occur thanks to your dog eating stones, so do keep an eye out for that.
One real issue with a Labradoodle is the fact they do have a larger than normal appetite. They will also end up eating things they really should not eat, and that does not help when it comes to these GI problems.
Cruciate Ligament Disease
The final main issue focuses on cruciate ligament disease, and that means they may develop problems with their knees. This may hinder their mobility, and while it does not endanger their life, it does make a difference in how they can enjoy their life.
At times, this issue may result in surgery to add some stability back in the knee joint.
But overall, what you can see is that the more common health issues related to the Labradoodle will typically not affect their life expectancy. However, that’s not all you should know about.
Additional Factors
It’s important that you pay close attention to areas such as the overall health of your dog, and their weight. Just as with humans, weight can lead to different health problems, and you do want to avoid them.
Also, dogs can develop heart issues, kidney issues, and other things just like we do. That is why you need to take your Labradoodle to the vet to have them checked over on a regular basis.
By doing this, you allow the vet to identify any possible issues as early as possible. While prevention is the best cure, getting the correct treatment at the earliest opportunity also helps.
What You Need to Do
At this point, you probably want to know what to do to ensure your dog stays with you as long as possible. After all, that’s what we all want with our furry friend.
Luckily, you do have a number of things to think about that could very well make a difference to how long they live. However, this does not come with a guarantee, so while we cannot promise anything, even the potential makes it worth your while.
Keeping Them Fit
You must look at trying to keep your Labradoodle as fit as possible. They do love to walk and play, so ensure you provide them with this whenever you can.
Ideally, they should have around 60 minutes of walking per day. You can break this up into two different 30-minute time slots if that makes life easier for you.
By taking them out to walk and explore, it keeps them active and this activity helps keep them healthy and young.
Give Them the Correct Food
It’s important to provide your dog with the correct food throughout their life and to also do so in the correct quantities. Remember that the nutritional needs of a puppy differ from an adult dog, which then differs again for a senior dog.
So, prepare to change their food as they grow and age.
Also, the quantity of food changes depending on their age. Pay close attention to snacks as well. Too many will mean they put on weight, and that’s going to have a negative impact on their overall health.
Play with Them
It remains essential for you to play and bond with your dog. A Labradoodle loves to have their mind kept busy, so work on tricks and training with them to keep them entertained.
A Labradoodle that feels bored will become depressed, and that’s not a good thing. So, you must counteract this as soon as possible by interacting with them on a regular basis.
A Labradoodle does also love to feel connected to you, and getting down there and spending time with them remains the best way to do this. Actually, make sure you do it daily even if you can only manage 15 minutes.
That time will mean the world to your dog, so that should prove enough motivation for you to do it.
But not one single thing will make a difference to their life span. It’s a combination of everything for you to then manage to achieve your end goal, which is to have your dog with you as long as possible.
Sadly though, and we have said this on a number of occasions, we cannot guarantee anything even though that fact should not put you off trying.
Overall Conclusion
A standard Labradoodle should easily have a life expectancy of between 12 and 15 years. If you care for them correctly, then it should not prove a problem for them to get closer to those 15 years.
But we cannot predict the future. Who knows what may happen just in the same way as we cannot predict it for our own selves.
The key is for you to make sure you do everything in your power to keep them healthy. That involves getting them their vaccinations and having a vet check them over.
Pay close attention to how they act, and take action as soon as you identify a potential problem. Even if you feel unsure as to whether or not something is wrong, you need to go ahead and seek professional advice.
By simply taking action, you could very well ensure your Labradoodle lives as long as possible. As a result, you get to make even more memories than you ever thought possible.