Labradoodle

Labradoodles are one of the better choices for a family with children. Expect a big dog that is high-energy, sheds a normal amount and needs professional grooming on a cycle. The big catch is company: this breed genuinely struggles when the house is empty all day.

Labradoodle is a cross, not a standardised breed, so there is no official standard for it. The figures above are the American Kennel Club standards for its two parent breeds — Labrador Retriever and Poodle (Standard) — and an individual dog lands somewhere between them, varying by generation.

The Labradoodle was the original doodle, and it was created for a specific reason: in 1989 an Australian breeder was asked for a guide dog suitable for a blind woman whose husband reacted badly to dog hair. The cross worked well enough to start a global fashion — and the breeder later spoke publicly about regretting what that fashion became, as demand outran responsible breeding. Practically, a Labradoodle is a Labrador's energy and enthusiasm in a coat that ranges anywhere from nearly straight to tightly curled depending on the individual. Straighter coats shed. The important thing to hold onto is that "hypoallergenic" was never an accurate claim, and the coat you get is not something anyone can guarantee in advance.

Day to day. High-energy — this is a dog that needs a real outlet every single day, not a stroll. Skip that and you get chewing, barking and digging, which is not naughtiness, it is boredom. On noise, it is about average for noise.

The coat, honestly. This breed sheds a normal amount and needs professional grooming on a cycle. A brush a few times a week and the occasional tidy-up keeps it in good order.

Being left alone. Struggles on its own. If your house is empty from the school run until the evening, this is the breed most likely to be unhappy about it — and separation problems are one of the top reasons dogs end up back in rescue.

Training. Eager and easy to train. That makes it a forgiving choice for a family training their first dog, as long as everyone is consistent.

• You want a dog with a reputation for putting up with children
• Someone in the house genuinely wants to run, hike or train most days
• You have room for a big dog and a car it actually fits in
• This is your first dog and you want one that makes training feel possible

• Your daily walk is really a quick trip round the block
• Your house is empty from the morning drop-off until the evening
• Nobody has budgeted for a groomer every few weeks
• A surprise vet bill would be a real problem this year
• You are in a flat, or nobody can physically hold this dog on a lead

Rough running cost: $$$ (one of the pricier dogs on our list) — because it is a big dog, so food, medicines and anaesthetics all cost more, and the coat needs a professional groom on a cycle, and that is the bill people forget.

Those are relative bands, not live prices. For real numbers across every pet we cover, see the pet cost study and the cost calculator.

Labradoodle is a cross, not a standardised breed — two from different litters can differ in size, coat and shedding. Everything on this page is the typical middle of that range.

Rescues do have Labradoodles and Labradoodle crosses, usually adults whose size, coat and temperament you can see rather than guess at.