Talbot vs Labradoodle - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Known as the Talbot Hound, nobody really seems to have accurate records as to the origins of the Talbot dog breed but it seems to have originated in France.

It is believed that the Talbot, with his excellent nose, was a hunting dog, but he is now extinct.

It is thought that the dog descends from the beagle and the bloodhound. It came to England in 1066 and vanished towards the end of the 18th century.

The Labradoodle is certainly a popular cross breed dog which was developed originally in Australia to be a hypoallergenic guide dog.

The dog is a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle, possessing some of the excellent characteristics from each dog while also being a low shedding dog.

The Labradoodle became known in 1988 when an Australian breeder, crossed the Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle. The success of the dog led other breeders to begin breeding with Labradors and Poodles, with breeders wanting to move the dog from hybrid to official breed status. As of today, the Labradoodle isn’t recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club.

The Talbot hound was a large, white purebred dog. He stood at roughly 58 to 69cm and weighed between 36 and 50kg.

He had a large head and a short, smooth, coarse pure white coat. He has a long tail which he held upright and fairly long floppy ears. He was a slow but efficient scenthound.

Temperament:

It is believed that this strong, hard working dog was gentle, loving and loyal and that he would have made an excellent family pet.

They were the kind of dogs that needed lots of social interaction with his human family. His amicable nature would have meant him getting on well with children and other dogs.

Slow, it’s a dog that had low intelligence and he may have taken a long time to learn any simple tricks or commands. If he were around today he wouldn’t have been suited to city living as he was a vocal breed – having quite a selection of barks and howls to voice his opinion.

The Labradoodle can come in different sizes – miniature, medium and standard. The standard Labradoodle is a large dog which stands at 53 to 63cm and weighs 23 to 30kg.

The coat also differs and it can be made up of tight curls or it can be thick and wavy or even straight. The coat is of medium length and is available in lots of colors – cream, apricot, black, whitish, brown and even a brindle color.

Strong and muscular, he has floppy ears and the tail which was once docked, is left long these days and hangs down or it can be carried somewhat upright and curved.

Temperament:

Known as a designer breed, your Labradoodle is sure to be nothing but a pleasure for you, being a 100% companion dog.

Because he comes from two popular dog breeds of which each possess some exceptional characteristics, your Labradoodle could inherit any or all of the characteristics from one or both dogs. He has also been bred to be a hypoallergenic dog which means you aren’t going to have to worry about too much hair flying around. But there again, if he has inherited more of the Labrador’s coat then there will be some shedding.

Because of his amicable nature, he makes a good first-choice dog for first-time dog owners too. The friendly nature of the dog doesn’t make him a particularly good watch dog however.

These are dogs which are happiest when they’re with their human family. They’re a dog breed which is also easy to train because he is intelligent and an eager-to-please dog. He gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

He is the kind of dog that is willing to blend into your lifestyle. If you’re quietly reading indoors he will be lying with you and if you’re pursuing some outdoor activity, he’ll be happy to join right in with you.

The beauty about the Labradoodle is that he can adapt to any kind of lifestyle in the city or countryside, but he wouldn’t be recommended for a place with hardly any garden.He is the kind of dog who will certainly need to be exercised and he will want to join you in your outdoor activities.

It is important to remember that the way your Labradoodle turns out will be affected by socialization and training, his genes and your home and lifestyle.

The Talbot is extinct, but he was no doubt a docile, calm kind of dog that would have made a great family pet.

He would have been an ideal dog for first time dog owners too as he was a gentle, affectionate dog.They were tough, protective, stubborn but loving and loyal, and more’s the pity that this dog has disappeared.

Maybe it’s the diversity of Labradoodles that makes them so popular – as you never know quite what you’re going to get.

Everyone agrees however that these cross-breeds make lovable, wonderful pets - lovely to look at and with all the qualities needed to ensure he is man's best friend. They’re available in 3 sizes but each size is going to make you an incredibly amazing pet and companion.

Nobody can say what the health status of the Talbot dog was, but being a hunting dog, out in the open and getting plenty of exercise, he was no doubt a healthy dog. But all dogs can fall ill at some time or another with any one of the many dog illnesses there are -

Ear Infections:

Ear infections in dogs are quite common, but more so with dogs that have floppy ears.

You’ll see your pet scratching and pawing at his ears and shaking his head. There will in all likelihood be redness in your pets ears and you may even detect an abnormal odor.

There are quite a few things that can cause these ear infections in dogs such as ear mites, an excess of dirt and wax and bacteria.

Don’t allow your pet to suffer – get him to the vet. Your veterinarian will also show you how you can clean the ear for future times with a gentle cleanser. You have to be so careful not to rupture the ear drum, and some people prefer to get their vet to do this or professional groomers.

Ectropion - eyelid abnormalities:

The Talbot could have suffered with ectropion – when the lower lids are turned out. Ectropion disrupts the function of the lower lid so that it can't protect the eye, and there is abrasion of the surface of the eye.

This condition can also bring on conjunctivitis. Get your pet to the vet for treatment and relief.

The lifespan of the Talbot was anything from 9 to 12 years of age, and one or two other health problems that could have shortened his life were dermatitis, cancer, hip dysplasia and eye infections.

Labradoodles can be a little bit unpredictable when it comes to their health because they can inherit problems common to one or both parent breeds. This means you could well have to deal with hip dysplasia or one of the many eye disorders there are.

These dogs could well be susceptible to an eye disease known as progressive retinal atrophy which is an inherited disease which can result in blindness.

Because they have floppy ears, the inside of the ear can accumulate dirt, wax and moisture, and this combination can lead to bacteria within the ear and to an infection if nothing is done to clean the inside of the ear. There are products available which can help you to gently clean the ears.

Addison's Disease is a disease found in Poodles and Labradors.It is where the pituitary gland doesn’t create the hormone ACTH. This hormone regulates cortisol and without cortisol, your Labradoodle can’t digest food properly.

Dogs with Addison's disease are usually lethargic, thirsty, they urinate often and they have an abnormally fast heart rate.

Grooming:

The Talbot with his short hair would have been looked upon as a low maintenance breed and would have required a brush now and again.

Because of the floppy ears, they would have needed to be checked inside for infection.

Diet:

The Talbot was a strong, hard-working kind of dog so if commercially manufactured dog food was available in that time, you would have ensured a good quality one for strong, energetic dogs.

At that time, Talbot dog owners tossed their dogs bits of raw meat. Home-made food like boiled chicken, brown rice, spinach, carrots and sweet potatoes without any exotic flavorings would have been an excellent diet.

Any dog will need a constant supply of fresh, cool water to drink.

Grooming your Labradoodle will be necessary if you want the coat to look bright, vibrant and healthy. Not all Labradoodles will have the same coats, so grooming requirements might be different from dog to dog.

As with any dog, he will also need a brush-down twice a week. Also your Labradoodle might require trimming or clipping which will help you to maintain the coat in an easier fashion.

Make sure to ensure a top quality diet suited to his size, age and energy levels. Check him over regularly for illnesses and make sure you provide him with lots of love and attention.