#labradoodle

Labradoodle (2025)

Reflecting on her chaos

Just brushing them every day can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, and cutting their hair takes even longer. You have to clean out their ears and remove their ear hair, you have to brush their teeth, and you have to take good care of their skin because they are often prone to ear, dental, and skin issues. If they go to a groomer, you need to take them every 4 to 6 weeks. Sometimes they have to go even more frequently, depending on the haircut they have.

They also need good training, being ‘friendly’ doesn’t change that. In fact, it can be dangerous because an untrained friendly dog is capable of trampling and knocking over both people and other nonhuman animals. I’ve seen small dogs end up with broken bones because of larger, excited dogs. You have to teach them self-control. And they’re also stubborn and highly intelligent yet very sensitive.

Poodle mixes (“doodles”) are often even higher maintenance because they’re mutts (and backyard bred) which means they have unpredictable genetics. They can end up with fur that has a really bad texture and is therefore more prone to matting, they can end up with neurological issues, and the list of health issues they could end up with is pretty much endless.

Oh, and of course they’re high energy. That, combined with high intelligence means, if you don’t give them the proper physical and mental stimulation, they can either get depressed or bored and destroy your house.