Black Labradoodle Guide – Everything You Need To Know!

Black Labradoodles (AKA Black Labrapoos) are a mixed breed dog, the resulting of breeding a Black Labrador Retriever with a Black Poodle. They are a very pretty dog breed with a luscious black coat, dark eyes, floppy ears and black button nose. It’s no wonder that they are so popular considering their appearance as well as their beautiful nature.

If you are interested in Black Labradoodles keep reading this article to find out all the answers to your questions about this dog breed!

Table of Contents

What Does A Black Labradoodle Look Like?

Black Labradoodles feature a solid black coat with a black nose and dark eyes. They may have small white patches over their body like on their chest or paws however these as technically Black and White Labradoodles. Their coats can come in various textures including curly, wavy or straight.

Like all Labradoodles, Black Labradoodles have a lean body, very long legs and floppy ears that hang just below their jaw. Their overall size really depends on what size of Poodle was originally crossed with the Labrador Retriever – whether that was a Toy, Miniature or Standard Poodle.

Black Labradoodles are usually produced by breeding a Black Labrador with a Black Poodle.

Are Black Labradoodles Rare?

Black Labradoodles are not rare at all. In fact, they are one of the most common Labradoodle coat colors. The gene for the black coat can be introduced from either parent breed so you are very likely to find some puppies with a black coat in a Labradoodle litter.

This is unlike other Poodle mix breeds where black coats are usually one of the rarest coat colors.

Black Labradoodle Characteristics

Black Labradoodle Characteristics
Size	Depends on size (Mini, Medium or Standard Labradoodle).
Weight	Depends on size (Mini, Medium or Standard Labradoodle).
Temperament	Lively, friendly, affectionate, gentle.
Activity Levels	Moderate to High.
Exercise Requirements	45 to 60 min per day.
Lifespan	12 to 15 years.
Coat	Wavy or curly single coat.
Eyes	Brown or black.
Shedding	Low.
Apartment Adaptability	Depends on size.
Good with Children	Yes.

Coat Types

There are three main coat types Black Labradoodles can have: wavy, curly or straight/flat coat. Wavy and curly coats are the most common while straight or flat coats are seen in Labradoodle generations that have a higher percentage of Labrador Retriever genes than Poodle genes.

Black Labradoodle Wavy Hair

Wavy coats are very common for Black Labradoodles. Their coats are quite light, loose and shaggy looking and usually ripple when they move. Wavy hair is classified as a fleece type coat.

Black Labradoodle Curly Hair

Another common coat type for a Black Labradoodles is a curly coat. They are much denser and thicker than wavy coats and more closely resemble the coat of a Poodle. Curly hair Black Labradoodles are usually more hypoallergenic than other coat types as they shed less and therefore release less dander into their immediate environment. Curly hair is classified as a wool type coat.

Black Labradoodle Straight Hair

Straight Hair Black Labradoodles look more like Labradors than their Poodle parentage as they have medium length scruffy black coats. There can be variation in what straight coats look like for Labradoodles. Black Labradoodles with straight hair can feature:

Medium long fur that grows consistently over the face and body
Scruffy fur with tufts of hair sprouting out randomly over the body
Straight tufts of hair with a short wavy undercoat
Feathering along the tail, legs and face
Slick and glossy coat
Matte and flat coat
Variation in length and thickness of the coat

Flat Coated Black Labradoodle

A flat coated Black Labradoodle is the same as a Black Labradoodle with straight hair. They take more after the Labrador side of the breed with a scruffy medium length coat rather than a curly or wavy coat that people usually associate with the breed.

Coat Color Changes

Do Black Labradoodles Change Color?

Many Black Labradoodle puppies change color if they have inherited the ‘fading’ gene from the Poodle side. Coat color changes usually occur within the first two years of life and they made clear or fade to a grey or dark blue color. Some even turn “salt and pepper.” While their coat may fade, their nose and paw pads will still be black.

If your Black Labradoodle puppy is turning grey or silver, there is no need for concern. It is a very common occurrence however you should note that your Labradoodle is in reality a Silver Labradoodle not a true black one. True Black Labradoodles will hold their color throughout their adult life.

Black Labradoodle Haircuts

There are many different haircuts that you can give a Black Labradoodle. Some popular ones include:

Teddy Bear Cut
Puppy Cut
Poodle Cut
Lamb Cut
Summer Cut

Black Labradoodle Shedding

Do Black Labradoodles Shed?

Black Labradoodles do not shed much at all. They only drop a few strands of hairs here and there throughout the year. That is why they are classified as non to low shedders. Cross-back generations of Black Labradoodle such as F1b, F1bb or F2b shed less than F1 Black Labradoodles.

The best way to reduce the amount that your dog sheds is to regularly brush them. Slicker brushes are great for dogs with single coats and deshedding tools are great for dogs with double coats.

Are Black Labradoodles Hypoallergenic?

Black Labradoodles are hypoallergenic as they are a low shedding breed and therefore do not release much allergy inducing dander into their surroundings. Black Labradoodles that have a higher percentage of Poodle genes such as F1b Black Labradoodles are even more hypoallergenic than F1 Black Labradoodles.

You can make your dog even more hypoallergenic by keeping up a good grooming routine as it will stop them from releasing allergens into your home.

Your dog’s grooming routine should include both brushing and bathing. A brush down with a slicker brush every other day is ideal to remove any loose hairs. As for washing, a bath with a gentle dog shampoo every 3 months will remove dead skin cells, dirt and debris.

This may not seem that often but you don’t want to over wash your dog otherwise their coat will dry out which will only cause flaky skin which is an allergy irritant.

Black Labradoodle via @jackie.thelabradoodle

Black Labradoodle Size

The size of a Black Labradoodle depends on the size of Poodle the Labrador Retriever was crossed with. The three most common Black Labradoodle sizes are Mini, Medium and Standard. You can also sometimes find Teacup and Toy Black Labradoodles however they are not as common.

Once your puppy is fully grown you’ll need to start investing in dog products that you’ll keep for their whole life such as:

A full size dog crate so they have their own cozy den to sleep in – consider a dog crate pad to make it that much comfier!
An adult sized dog raincoat to keep them dry during wet weather
An adult sized dog life jacket to help with swimming in lakes and oceans
An adult sized dog jacket for cold winter weather
A dog cooling vest if you live in a hot climate
High quality no-pull dog harness to reduce stress on their neck while walking
And other similar products

Mini Black Labradoodle

Mini Black Labradoodles get to a height of 14 to 16 inches (35.6cm to 40.6cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 15 and 25 pounds (6.8kg to 11.3kg) when fully grown.

Medium Black Labradoodle

Medium Black Labradoodles get to a height of 16 to 20 inches (40.6cm to 50.8cm) tall at the shoulder. They weigh between 25 and 50 pounds (11.3kg to 22.7kg) when fully grown.

Golden Retriever Poodle Mix (Goldendoodle Breed Guide)

Standard Black Labradoodle

Standard Black Labradoodles get to a height of 20 to 26 inches (50.8cm to 66.0cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 50 and 100 pounds (22.7kg to 45.4kg).

Did you know that you can estimate your dog’s full size with DNA test? Embark Vet offers a health test which will give you a predicted adult weight for your puppy.

Black Labradoodle Temperament

Black Labradoodles have a lively and friendly temperament. They are a great addition to families as they are very gentle and get along well with children. Black Labradoodles are often described as being outgoing, playful, curious and eager to please. They are a very intelligent breed and respond very well to training from an early age. As they are a mixed breed dog, their temperament can be more like a Poodle or more like a Labrador Retriever.

Black Labradoodle Lifespan

The average Black Labradoodle lives for 12 to 15 years. There are many factors that affect the lifespan of a Black Labradoodle including size, gender, generation and whether they are desexed or intact. These variables mean they can have shorter or longer lifespans than the average. Read our Labradoodle lifespan guide here to find out how the life expectancy for each Labradoodle size (Mini, Medium, Standard etc.) and each generation (F1, F1b, F1b, F2, F2b etc.).

You can give your Black Labradoodle the best chance of living a long life by exercising them daily, giving them healthy food and keeping on top of vet appointments.

Black Labradoodle Price

Black Labradoodles usually cost between $2700USD and $3000USD. They are one of the most common coat colors which is reflected in their relatively low price point compared to other colors of the breed.

black mini labradoodle — Black Labradoodle via @mybrochico

Black Labradoodle Generations

F1 Black Labradoodle

An F1 Black Labradoodle is the first generation of the breed created by crossing a purebred Black Labrador Retriever with either a purebred Toy, Miniature or Standard Black Poodle. An F1 Black Labradoodle is 50% Labrador Retriever and 50% Poodle.

F1b Black Labradoodle

An F1b Black Labradoodle is created by crossing an F1 Black Labradoodle with a purebred Black Poodle that is either Toy, Miniature or Standard sized. The resulting dog is 25% Labrador Retriever and 75% Poodle.

F1bb Black Labradoodle

An F1bb Black Labradoodle is a cross between an F1b Black Labradoodle (Labradoodle x Poodle) and a purebred Black Poodle which can be toy, miniature or standard sized. They are 12.5% Labrador Retriever and 87.5% Poodle.

F2 Black Labradoodle

An F2 Black Labradoodle is the second generation of the breed created by breeding a F1 Black Labradoodle with another F1 Black Labradoodle. They are 50% Labrador Retriever and 50% Poodle.

F2b Black Labradoodle

An F2b Black Labradoodle is created by crossing an F2 Black Labradoodle with a purebred Black Poodle that is either Toy, Miniature or Standard sized. The resulting dog is 25% Labrador Retriever and 75% Poodle.

Black Labradoodles Names

Black Labradoodle Boy Names	Black Labradoodle Girl Names
Milo	Raven
Teddy	Ebony
Tucker	Cindy
Max	Olive
Leo	Sadie
Dusk	Frankie
Smoky	Opal
Jet	Dakota
Thor	Luna
Thumber	Indigo

Black Labradoodle Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Black Labradoodles are very intelligent and easy to train.	Black Labradoodles are very expensive as they are a designer dog breed.
Black Labradoodles are considered to be a hypoallergenic breed.	Even though Black Labradoodles are classified as hypoallergenic they can still shed.
Black Labradoodles are very friendly and sociable.	Black Labradoodles have to be groomed very regularly which can be expensive.
Black Labradoodles coats stay looking cleaner for longer as dirt can be hidden in it.	Black Labradoodles are a very high energy dog and need lots of exercise each day.