As a general rule, among the two, Labradoodles are known to be smarter. Owing to their ancestry, however, both are highly intelligent and trainable. If you’re wondering if Labradoodles are smarter than Goldendoodles this article will answer the most frequently asked questions.
Don’t be fooled by their almost similar appearance and the same “doodle” ending in their names. Labradoodles are definitely different from Goldendoodles. But what makes them smarter than their counterpart? Read on to find out.
Are Labradoodles Easy to Train?
Labradoodles are a cross between Labrador Retrievers and Poodles. Both parent breeds are known for their high intelligence and trainability, which equates to highly intelligent and trainable Labradoodles too!
As a matter of fact, Labrador and Poodle rank seventh and second, respectively, in Stanley Coren’s book, “The Intelligence of Dogs.”
Labradoodles need early training as they can be stubborn and too outgoing, thanks to their ancestry. You might be tempted to take it easy on them at first but setting boundaries from the very start would make an impact.
But the minute they step in your home, it is essential to make them feel who the pack leader is and take it from there. If you failed to do so, then they will practically lead and take the tasks by themselves.
However, using fear and intimidation are not suggested ways to train these fur babies. As Labradoodles are incredibly sociable animals, you can benefit by establishing a loving and bonding trust between you and them.
Positive reinforcements, such as providing treats, verbal praises, and a good rub on the head, are recognized and wanted.
Remember, too, that the fantastic high fives, rollovers, and other impressive dog tricks usually come only after your puppy gained a good grasp of the basics.
These necessary training activities include potty training, crate training, socialization, dealing with small children, and consistent routine.
Pieces of training that are mentally and physically challenging are also beneficial to this breed. It is no surprise to see a Labradoodle engrossed in the games of chase, fetch, or hide-and-seek across your garden or lawn.
If trained well, they can also excel in sports like flyball, agility, and obedience competitions.
Also, to make teaching a more straightforward and fun experience for you and your doodle, secure the essentials such as treats, dog bowls, dog crate, collar, chew toys, and poop bags.
Both Labradoodles and Goldendoodles have the two top factors that determine trainability – intelligence and sociability. In comparison to Goldendoodles, however, Labradoodles are believed to be the more loyal and reliable breed.
They can also be more reserved and cautious, which makes training them more straightforward.
In the end, training both breeds must be the same as how we treat ourselves – A little extra patience and love would mean the world to them, who want nothing but to please their humans.
Are Labradoodles Good Guide Dogs?
Despite its increasing popularity as a designer dog, do you know that the first labradoodle was a guide dog? Sultan was one of the three siblings in the litter successfully bred from a cross between Labradors and Poodles.
Engineered by Wally Conron in the late 1980s, he came about when Pat Blum, a visually impaired woman living in Hawaii, contacted the Australian Royal Guide Dog Association (ARGDA).
Mrs. Blum needed a seeing-eye dog to go around and about her tasks, but her husband was allergic to dog fur. The Sultan’s creation was beneficial to her and her husband as the doodle turned out to be hypoallergenic and a great guide dog too.
Popular Service Dog Breeds
At the moment, dogs such as German Shepherds, Labradors, Poodles, and Golden Retrievers are preferred by service animal facilities as guide dogs.
These dog breeds exhibit the temperament and intelligence necessary in the field. One can say that the Labradoodle mix is assured that it will do well as a guide dog.
The Labradoodle’s higher trainability than a Goldendoodle’s is another characteristic necessary to be a guide dog. Usually, when a serviced owner enters a business establishment, certain behaviors are imposed on the guide dog he brings with him.
Although there are laws regarding guide dogs, not everyone favors them, and your Doodle is still expected to be easily controlled by voice or hand command.
If you decide to have your beloved doodle work as a guide dog, expect that the road to being one is not an easy task. For a start, your doodle may assist people who have visual impairments, blindness, multiple sclerosis, cardiac issues, seizures, and other disabilities to help them in their daily lives.
PTSD and Anxiety
Their assistance might include calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) or experiencing an anxiety attack, pulling a wheelchair, or retrieving medication and dropped items. In-depth guide dog training requires 120 hours or more.
In order to jumpstart a Labradoodle’s career, the importance of training from puppyhood cannot be emphasized enough. Before training, though, see a vet to ensure that your Labradoodle pup is in the best shape and can handle the activity and the stress.
Although you can train your puppy yourself, finding a reputable service trainer could do wonders for your Doodle to pass the Public Access Test. This test is used to assess a dog’s suitability within the public space.
Once thriving, you can now have your dog registered and get the appropriate equipment necessary for guide dogs.
Guide dogs are usually expected to have a short working life from the age of two, and eventually retire at ten years of age.
Are Labradoodles Used in Law Enforcement?
In recent years, there has been a rise of Labradoodles in the law enforcement industry. After all, they are partly Labrador Retrievers who are famous for their “Lab noses” and police work stints.
Do not expect them, however, to be looking for weapons, explosives, or illegal drugs. This hybrid is exploring another line of work – as a therapy dog.
Therapy dogs are trained to provide affection, comfort, and support to people in hospitals, retirement homes, or other similar settings. They are said to help in improving one’s mental and physical health. Labradoodles are naturally affectionate and loving, which makes them a certified hit among children and adults alike.
Currently, Labradoodles have worked in helping children improve their relationships with law enforcement officers. Some have been comforting children who are victims of sexual and physical abuse.
They are also extremely popular as therapy dogs for police officers dealing with trauma and stressful situations in their daily work.
Just like with guide dogs, being a therapy dog would require training for your Doodle. Though Labradoodles are well known to be affectionate even to strangers, observing their temperament is still a must.
Therapy dogs are expected to interact with different people and different scenarios, spanning from the usual rounds in the city, school appearances, and even during disasters.
This would require your puppy to undergo basic obedience training to more complex ones making them suitable for the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title.
Other breeds working as therapy dogs for law enforcement is the Goldendoodle, a close relative of Labradoodles.
In conclusion, Labradoodles are smarter than Golden Doodles and can be the better choice if you are looking for a guide or therapy dog. Whether you agree or disagree with this statement is up for another discussion. At the end of the day, both the Labradoodle and the Goldendoodle are wonderful family pets. Our Goldendoodle is amazing.
