Labradoodle rescue dogs and puppies for adoption and rehoming in the UK

A Labradoodle is "a mix between a Labrador and a Poodle", as Dogs Trust puts it, and Dogs Trust lists it among the popular Poodle crossbreeds. It is not a breed. It isn't on The Royal Kennel Club's Breeds A to Z, so there is no breed standard. The Royal Kennel Club's guide to crossbreeds names the Labradoodle as an example of a "designer dog", and says a cross's traits combine in ways that make it "difficult to predict how the puppies will look and behave". Any one Labradoodle can take after the Labrador, the Poodle, or both.

Doodle Trust, which began in 2007 as Labradoodle Rescue UK, rescues them across the UK. It says they "get a lot of positive press" and that many people believe they're the "perfect dog", but that they "are absolutely not the right choice for everyone" (things to consider). Every Doodle, Labradoodles included, is part Poodle, it says, which means high intelligence, sensitivity, a need for structure and significant grooming. They're eager to please but get bored easily, so training is essential.

The parents themselves are well liked. PDSA calls Labradors devoted, affectionate and eager to please, and PDSA calls Poodles playful, adventurous and very obedient. A rescue Labradoodle is an individual, though, so ask the rescue how this dog behaves at home, on the lead and with visitors.

The parents differ here. The Royal Kennel Club lists the Labrador as needing more than two hours of exercise a day and the Standard Poodle up to an hour, and suggests a large house with a large garden for both. Doodle Trust says most Poodle crosses need 60 to 120 minutes of "proper daily exercise plus mental stimulation", that a quick run in the garden is not enough, and that without it many become frustrated, destructive or anxious.

With a young dog, more is not better. Doodle Trust's exercise advice, written mainly for the Standard Labradoodle, says many grow into very large dogs that can take up to 18 months to reach full growth, and that over-exercising a growing puppy can increase the risk of skeletal problems including hip dysplasia. It suggests short, interesting walks for puppies and building up to proper walks from about one year old.

Coats vary more than in most breeds. The Royal Kennel Club's crossbreed guide uses this exact pairing as its example: mixing a Standard Poodle's coat with a Labrador's "may produce a coat that's a hybrid of the two and requires extensive grooming". Doodle Trust says scruffy-coated Doodles need a good brush and comb once a week, while fleece or wool coats need an intensive routine to avoid being clipped short, and that most Doodles need the hair just inside the ear plucked to keep air moving.

Doodle Trust also says "All Doodles shed, though some definitely shed more than others". The Royal Kennel Club lists the Labrador coat as shedding and the Standard Poodle coat as not shedding, which is why a Labradoodle can land anywhere between. With a rescue Labradoodle, ask when it was last groomed and what its coat is like to care for.

The Royal Kennel Club's crossbreed guide warns that crossing two breeds that both have hip dysplasia, and it names the Labrador and Standard Poodle, "could still produce puppies that suffer from joint problems". It says anyone breeding this cross should consider carrying out all the tests for both breeds, including hip and elbow scoring, eye testing and DNA tests.

For the parents, The Royal Kennel Club asks Labrador breeders for hip and elbow scoring, eye testing and DNA tests including progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA) and exercise induced collapse (EIC). It asks Standard Poodle breeders for hip scoring, eye testing and DNA tests for von Willebrand disease and two forms of progressive retinal atrophy. PDSA lists hip and elbow dysplasia and PRA among the problems Labradors are prone to, and PDSA lists conditions in Poodles including gastric dilatation volvulus ("bloat"), which it calls an emergency often seen in large, deep-chested breeds.

A rescue Labradoodle's parents may never have been tested. Ask the rescue what vet checks the dog has had and whether any condition is already known, and talk to your own vet about anything you notice later.

Doodle Trust says "many of the myths that made them popular are the same reasons so many end up abandoned", and its list of reasons not to get a Doodle covers shedding, allergies, energy, training, grooming and time alone. It says it rescues and rehomes Labradoodles, Goldendoodles, Cockapoos, other Poodle crosses and Poodles throughout the UK, assessing each dog in a foster home before rehoming. The next section shows how many Labradoodles the rescues we list have today.

As of 14 November 2026, 4 Labradoodles are listed with rescues in the UK on LocalPetFinder: by their listed age, 4 adults.

The rescues mark 1 as able to live with children and 3 with other dogs. Where a profile says nothing, it doesn't mean no: ask the rescue.

PDSA says Labradors make perfect family pets given the right socialisation, and PDSA says Poodles generally get on well with other pets and children, given the right socialisation as puppies. Doodle Trust is more cautious about the cross: it warns against getting a Doodle "for the kids", and says not all are suitable for homes with children, as some are sensitive to noise, unpredictable movement or hands-on handling. Go by the rescue's own assessment of this dog with children, cats and other dogs, which is often noted on the profile.

Labradoodles are sold as "miniature", "medium" or "standard", but with no breed standard those words have no fixed size. Doodle Trust's exercise advice says the smaller "Miniature" Doodles are often growing into dogs that are 20 inches tall and need as much care. Ask the rescue for this dog's actual height and weight.

The Royal Kennel Club's crossbreed guide explains the letters. An F1 puppy has two parents of different breeds (a Labrador and a Poodle). An F2 puppy has two F1 parents, and an F1b has one F1 parent bred back to one of the original breeds. A rescue rarely knows a dog's generation, so judge the dog in front of you.