6 month old labradoodle

6 Month Old Labradoodle

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This complete guide to your 6 month old Labradoodle will take a closer look at your dog’s size, diet, exercise needs and more, to ensure your puppy grows up as healthy as possible.

A 6 month old Labradoodle is still very much a puppy. At this age, some Labradoodles will have another 12 months of puppy growth until they reach their adult size! 6 month old Labradoodles can vary hugely in size, depending on their genetics, sex, and other factors. They can also be quite the handful at 6 months old, as they now have lots of confidence to explore the world on their own! Whether that means running off on walks or chewing everything in sight…

About the 6 Month Old Labradoodle

Labradoodles are a popular modern mixed breed. However, they are not accepted by the AKC or Kennel Club. Whilst the Labradoodle mix only contains Labrador Retriever and Poodle genes, the Australian Labradoodle blends up to 6 specific purebred breeds, so your Labradoodle’s size and appearance at 6 months can depend on which type they are.

Labradoodle size can be quite unpredictable, as it can fall anywhere between that of its parents. First generation Labradoodles tend to be the least predictable, as they have two purebred parents – which will be more distinct than two Labradoodle parents. Despite this, you’ll be able to make some predictions and estimates.

6 month old Labradoodles are not fully grown, either physically or in maturity. This mix can continue growing until they’re around 18 months old, but the exact development period will vary from one Labradoodle to the next. A 6 month Labradoodle will also still act like a puppy, though they may be more mischievous and curious about the wider world than they were when you first brought them home. So, training and continued socialization are just as important as your Doodle’s size and growth.

6 Month Old Labradoodle Size

At 6 months, Labradoodles can look quite different to one another. So, don’t panic if your Labradoodle doesn’t match up to the size guides you find online. As a mixed breed, Labradoodle traits can be quite unpredictable, including their size. A first generation Labradoodle can grow up to be anywhere between the size of its parents. At their extremes, standard Poodles can be as small as 16 inches tall, and Labs can be as large as 24.5 inches. So, that’s a pretty big scope for Labradoodle growth.

As well as genetics, factors like sex, neuter-status, diet, and more can all impact your Labradoodle’s size. A good general estimate for a 6 month Labradoodle’s size is somewhere between 15 and 20 inches at the shoulder. They won’t yet be at their adult height, but they’ll look much more like an adult dog than they did a few months ago!

Your Labradoodle’s size will also depend on the type of Poodle parent they have. Labradoodles can come in three size varieties – standard, medium, and miniature. If your Labradoodle has a Miniature Poodle parent, they will usually grow to be smaller than a Doodle with a Standard Poodle parent.

How Much Should a 6 Month Old Labradoodle Weigh?

Like height and your Labradoodle’s overall size at six months, their weight can also vary. And, a healthy weight for one Labradoodle might be very different to another. Smaller Labradoodles will have a lower healthy weight, so if you have a medium or miniature variety, they will weigh less at 6 months old than a standard Labradoodle.

As a vague idea, a standard 6 month old Labradoodle will likely weigh somewhere between 40 and 50 lbs. But, some might fall outside of this boundary. Instead of aiming for a certain weight, feel your Labradoodle’s ribs and work with your veterinarian to ensure your puppy is staying at a healthy weight.

When you feel your puppy’s sides, you should be able to just feel their ribs. If they are very prominent, your Labradoodle may not be eating enough. But, if you struggle to feel them at all, your Labradoodle may be eating too much. Work with your veterinarian if you’re concerned that your Labradoodle is over- or underweight. They will be able to help you adjust meal allowances in healthy amounts.

When is a Labradoodle Fully Grown?

As we briefly mentioned earlier, Labradoodles won’t reach their adult size at 6 months old. Instead, they will be fully grown somewhere between 12 and 18 months. So, a 6 month old Labradoodle has quite a lot of growing left to do.

Smaller Labradoodles will reach their adult size faster than larger Labradoodles. So, miniature and medium varieties will be closer to the 12 month mark than 18 months. On top of this, female Labradoodles are usually smaller than males. So, female Labradoodles are likely to reach their adult size faster than male puppies.

6 month old labradoodle

How Much Bigger Will My Labradoodle Get?

The amount of growing that your Labradoodle has left to do will vary depending on how big they will be as an adult. At their largest, Labs tend to be bigger than Poodles. So, the biggest Labradoodles could reach these heights, growing up to 24.5 inches tall and weighing as much as 80 lbs. Of course, this isn’t guaranteed.

There are a few things that can help you predict how much growing your Labradoodle has left. Firstly, take a look at their paws! If your puppy’s paws still look enormous, or like they don’t quite fit with the rest of their body, they likely have quite a bit of growing left to do. You can also revisit your breeder and take a look at your puppy’s parents, if possible. This is perhaps the most accurate way to see how large your puppy could grow.

How Much Food Does a 6 Month Old Labradoodle Need?

The best amount of food for your Labradoodle will depend on their size and current weight. Generally, most dog foods have guidelines and charts on the back of their packaging. These guidelines will tell you how much food to give your puppy based on either their current weight or their predicted adult weight. So, these measurements are a great place to start.

However, these measurements won’t necessarily be perfect for your puppy. So, start off with the guidelines on your dog food, and monitor your dog’s weight at the same time using the method we mentioned earlier. Feel your dog’s sides! If their ribs become too prominent, increase the amount of food. If you stop being able to feel your dog’s ribs, decrease the amount of food slightly.

However, when changing the amount of food your dog eats, it’s always best to work with a veterinarian. This way, you won’t risk damaging your dog’s development, or giving them an unhealthy and incorrect balance of nutrients.

The Best Dog Food for 6 Month Labradoodles

At 6 months old, Labradoodles are still puppies. So, they should still be eating puppy food. Puppy food is designed to support a dog in their period of growth. It will contain a slightly different balance of nutrients than adult dog food to do so. And, it might include ingredients like real protein, omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and so on.

The type of food you give your Labradoodle is up to you, though kibble is the most common option. Kibble can help to keep your dog’s teeth clean and can also make an easy training tool. Some owners prefer to prepare homemade diets for their Labradoodles, but ensure you work with your vet if you’re going down this route. Homemade diets for dogs can easily have nutritional imbalances, which would harm your puppy’s growth.

Exercising a 6 Month Old Labradoodle

6 month old Labradoodles have a lot of puppy energy to burn. So, it can be tempting to just give them as much exercise as possible. But, this can actually do more harm than good. Your Labradoodle puppy is still developing, so their joints and bones need rest as much as they need exercise. As a general rule of thumb, puppies should get 5 minutes of exercise per month of age, up to twice a day. So, a 6 month old Labradoodle can have 30 minutes of formal exercise twice a day.

This formal exercise refers to walks, swimming, retrieval games, and so on. General playtime and training around the house won’t count as part of this.

Training a 6 Month Old Labradoodle

By the time your Labradoodle puppy is 6 months old, you should have a regular training routine in place. It’s likely your puppy will be well on their way with basics, such as potty training, sleeping in a crate, and some obedience commands like sit. As your puppy ages, you can continue to introduce new challenges. You can begin to teach your puppy to walk to heel, to come back when called, and even tricks like rolling over and jumping through hoops!

Training will provide some exercise, but is also an important source of mental stimulation for a growing Labradoodle. Labradoodles are intelligent dogs. Without mental stimulation, they can become bored and destructive. Training and interactive toys are a great way to stave off this boredom.

Grooming a 6 Month Old Labradoodle

The exact grooming needs of your 6 month old Labradoodle will depend on the coat type they have. Over the first year of their life, your Labradoodle will shed their puppy coat to reveal their adult fur type. This can be one of three things in this mix. Wool coat Labradoodles are the most like a purebred Poodle, hair types are the most like a purebred Labrador, and fleece coat types are somewhere in the middle.

To get a better idea of the best grooming methods for your puppy, learn which fur type they have. Then, you can find the best tools for that fur type. It’s a great idea to get your Labradoodle used to grooming from a young age, so most Doodle owners will have started on this process by now. But, if you haven’t yet, it’s not too late! Treats and affection are a great way to show your Labradoodle how fun grooming can be. And, they will love the attention from you!

6 Month Old Labradoodle – A Summary

A 6 month old Labradoodle is still very much a puppy. But, they’ll be growing in size, confidence, and intelligence with every passing day. By now, they’ll be well on their way with training and a routine, but you can continue to build on this as your puppy grows.

Do you have a 6 month old Labradoodle puppy at home? We would love to hear about them in the comments!

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