Poodles are some of the most popular dog breeds in the world. They are also one of the most intelligent dog breeds as well. What's not to like about them? Not only are they great family pets, but they are smart too. Originating from Germany, poodles were initially bred to be retrievers and bring ducks and other water birds back to the hunters. Today, some hunters still use them as retrievers, but they're also used for many other things. Also increasing in popularity is breeding poodles with other breeds to create a mixed breed dog. There are a lot of stunning mixed-breed poodles out there, so today, we'll start by taking a look at the different sizes that poodle breeds can be, as well as 8 poodle mixes you should know.
Different Poodle Sizes
There are three recognized sizes of poodles and poodle mixes- Standard, Toy, and Miniature. Let's look at what each of these is and what it could look like in different mixes of poodles.
The Standard Poodle
The Standard Poodle is the largest of the three recognized poodle sizes. These poodles are at least 15 inches as measured from their shoulders. They can weigh anywhere from 50-80 pounds depending on the mix and their sex. The standard poodle or a standard poodle mix is an excellent choice for people with families, active people, or people that live alone. The standard poodle, although large, adapts well to its surroundings.
The Toy Poodle
The Toy Poodle is the smallest of the three poodle sizes recognized by the American Kennel Club. They are usually only 8-10 inches tall, measured from the shoulder, and tend to weigh around 10 pounds or less. This small dog makes for good mixes with other small dog breeds, some of which we'll discuss later! Generally, as an aspiring poodle parent, the toy poodle or toy poodle mixed dog is a good pet for those that live alone or for those who don't have small children. They can be trained easily and respond well to stimuli, but they may be territorial around people they don't know.
The Miniature Poodle
The Miniature Poodle, or mini poodle as it's sometimes referred to, ranks in the middle between the standard poodle and the toy poodle. They are anywhere from 11-15 inches in height as measured by their shoulders and can weigh 13-17 pounds. The miniature poodle being a smaller dog can adapt well to many living situations, such as a poodle parent that lives in an apartment or a larger household. Mini poodles are good for families who don't have young children and are great for active people.
8 Different Poodle Mixes You Should Know
There are many different poodle cross breeds, each with unique traits and qualities. Generally, a poodle mix breed is a result of mixing two different breeds of purebred dogs. In no particular order, we'll look at 8 poodle mixes you should know about as a poodle parent and deeply dive into their histories and general information about them.
1. The Cockapoo
The Cockapoo is a mixed breed of the Cocker Spaniel and Poodle. Let's look at the cockapoo's history and more general information about them.
History of the Cockapoo
The earliest cockapoos were in the United States as early as the 1950s. They were hunting dogs that helped retrieve different waterfowl for their owners. The Cocker Spaniel originated in Great Britain and was originally used for hunting woodcock, which is how it got its name. The Cockapoo's other parent, the poodle, was originally used as a water hunting dog, as mentioned earlier.
General Cockapoo Information
Now, the Cockapoo is bred mainly to be a companion for people and a hypoallergenic dog for those with allergies. Although this poodle mix breed doesn't shed, she'll need to be brushed once every few days or daily because of her curly fur. The cockapoo is a very happy dog and sturdy and intelligent, making it a great choice for older people or younger children. Cockapoos can be bred in all the different sizing standards, as mentioned earlier, including the toy, miniature, and standard sizes. They love to play and exercise but can be left home during the day if necessary.
2. The Goldendoodle
The Goldendoodle is a cross between a parent breed of a Golden Retriever and a Poodle and is a relatively recent mixed breed dog. Let's look at how the Goldendoodle originated and other information about it.
History of the Goldendoodle
There isn't a deep history of the doodle dog, mainly because the first record of the Goldendoodle didn't present itself until 1969. Initially, it wasn't a popular breed and was originally bred as a guide dog. Popularity waned and picked up again in the 1990s for reasons almost entirely unknown. Some experts suspect it is because people wanted a Golden Retriever's temperament and a Poodle's intelligence, but we'll leave that up to you to decide.
General Information About the Goldendoodle
The Goldendoodle is known for its temperament and non-shedding properties. This mixed breed makes a good choice for those who want a dog but have sensitivities or mild allergies to dogs, as this breed barely sheds. The Goldendoodle is a loyal companion and is also intelligent, making them easy to train and keep around many different types of people. Another unique quality of the Goldendoodle is its hybrid vigor, a term used to describe its outstanding health concerning its two parent breeds. Many Goldendoodles outlive their Golden Retriever and Poodle parents when you take proper care of them. Goldendoodles are one of the larger poodle mixed breed variations and can weigh up to 100 pounds.
3. The Labradoodle
The Labradoodle is a mixed breed that results from breeding a Poodle with a Labrador Retriever. Although it has a recent history, the Labradoodle came around for a reason, so let's look at it.
History of the Labradoodle
You can trace Labradoodle's first records back to 1988 in Australia. A visually impaired woman in Hawaii was looking for a dog that could be a guide dog but wanted a hypoallergenic dog due to her husband's mild allergies. She chose Australia as a country of origin to get a dog because her dog wouldn't have to quarantine in Hawaii for long before she got to take it home with her. After a few years of testing different Poodle fur samples for her husband's allergies, nothing seemed to be working. Finally, a gentleman named Wally Conren suggested to try mixing a Labrador Retriever with a Poodle, and the rest was history. The lady was able to get her dog but remained sensitive to her husband's allergies.
General Information About the Labradoodle
Today, the labradoodle is a hypoallergenic dog that's not only smart but social, making it a good choice for people with allergies or kids/multiple people living in their household. They can also make a good therapy dog, as the Labradoodle is tolerant towards other dogs or strangers. They're easy to groom, and you should bathe them every couple of months to keep their fur health strong. They can be easily trained but require a lot of exercise because they're big dogs. Labradoodles are on the larger end of the poodle mix spectrum, weighing up to 65 pounds and 2 feet tall at their shoulders. They can live anywhere from 12-14 years. There can also be an Australian Labradoodle variation of the labradoodle as well.
4. The Saint Berdoodle
The Saint Berdoodle is a mix between Saint Bernard and Poodle and has a relatively recent history. Let's take a look at its origins as well as other traits about it.
The Saint Berdoodle's History
Because the Saint Berdoodle is a mixed breed, its history is quite recent and relatively unknown. The first records of the Saint Berdoodle date back to the late 1980s in the United States. Many suspect this mixed breed is a companion dog, but the true reason and origin are still unknown.
General Information About the Saint Berdoodle
The Saint Berdoodle makes for a great companion dog, as do many other poodle mixes we've looked at so far. They have very loving personalities and require a lot of time around their owners. As a dog owner, if you're planning on working from home or staying at home for most of your life, then a Saint Berdoodle may be an excellent option for you because of their love of attention. The Saint Berdoodle is huge in personality and body size- not only are they loving dogs, but they're also some of the biggest in existence. They can weigh anywhere from 110 to 200 pounds and measure up to 2.5 feet tall at the shoulder. Saint Berdoodles aren't hypoallergenic and need regular grooming and upkeep with their coats because they are thick.
5. The Irish Doodle
The Irish Doodle is another mixed-breed dog resulting from an Irish Setter and a Poodle. Unfortunately, because of how recent this breed is, its history is largely unknown. Many records claim to be the first official record of the Irish Doodle, so it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where it came from and what year it came around. Now, we'll look at some general information about the Irish Doodle.
General Information About the Irish Doodle
The Irish Doodle is available in two different sizes: the miniature and standard. Regardless of size, the Irish Doodle loves to be around people and is intelligent. They can adapt well to many situations, including an apartment lifestyle or a larger house. Irish Doodles love running around and exercising but can tolerate being on their own. Their coats should be brushed a few times per week because of how curly it is, and the rest of their overall health is generally healthy if they're taken care of properly.
6. The Shepadoodle
The Shepadoodle is a cross between a German Shepherd and a Poodle. The Shepadoodle's history is a bit more extensive, so let's look at that and other information about this beautiful breed.
History of the Shepadoodle
Poodles were originally bred in Germany as water-hunting dogs, while the German Shepherd herds sheep and other livestock. We can trace the history of the Shepadoodle back to the 1960s in the United States. The U.S. Army was working on developing a police dog and, after many different crossbreeds, decided to try breeding a German Shepherd and Poodle for each of the respective breed's intelligence and working qualities. The breeding worked, and the Shepadoodle was born.
Other General Information About the Shepadoodle
Because the Shepadoodle comes from a heavy working and high-energy background, this breed will only work for those who have a lot of time to exercise their furry friend. Shepadoodles require a lot of exercise and attention, so it would not be an ideal environment to have one in an apartment or another closed-in setting. They're brilliant dogs that can be trained well and used for many purposes, including guide dogs, guard dogs, and family dogs. The Shepadoodle is a larger dog and can weigh up to 90 pounds and be close to 2 feet tall at the shoulder. Depending on their health, they can live anywhere from 12-14 years.
7. The Bernedoodle
The Bernedoodle is a Bernese Mountain Dog with a Poodle. Their history is also pretty well developed, so let's look at that along with some other exciting information about the Bernedoodle.
History of the Bernedoodle Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog was originally used in the Swiss mountains to help pull carts, herd cattle, and be companion dogs to families. At the end of the 1800s, different breeds of dogs were imported to the mountains, almost driving the Bernese Mountain Dog to extinction. However, the dog was able to live on through preservation efforts. The Bernedoodle is a relatively new breed, with its first records as early as 2000. They were originally companion dogs.
General Information About the Bernedoodle
Although the Bernedoodle can be a companion dog, due to its size and work efforts, it can also be a herder or guard dog. They are amiable dogs and like to be around their owners. Bernedoodles don't like to be left alone for very long, so they may not be the best fit for those away from their homes for the whole day. They can be stubborn and difficult to train at first, but after socializing them and giving them positive reinforcements, they adapt well. They make a great family pet and work well with kids (they love playing). They are medium-sized dogs and have no major health concerns until they age.
8. The Aussiedoodle
You can get an Aussiedoodle by breeding the dog breed of Australian Shepherd with a Poodle. The Aussiedoodle has been around for many years, but with it being a mixed breed, official records of the first Aussiedoodle are unknown. However, the Australian Shepherd and Poodle both have rich histories, which we will briefly discuss before going into more information about the Aussiedoodle.
As we know by now, the Poodle originated in Germany many years ago waterfowl fowl dog. The Australian Shepherd, as you may have guessed, originated in Australia and was mainly used as a herding dog. Australian Shepherds became well known in the U.S. during the 1950s when people used them in rodeos and movies. The Poodle and Australian Shepherd were bred together, resulting in the fantastic Aussiedoodle that many know and love.
General Information About the Aussiedoodle
The Aussiedoodle has an overall personality that's intelligent, sweet, and outgoing. They love to be around people and tend to be always happy dogs. Aussiedoodles can make great family pets, as they're active and love the attention. They're also really good with kids because of their herding personalities. Aussiedoodles are middle-sized dogs and can even be a small poodle mix that can be anywhere from 30-70 pounds, depending on sex and other traits. Their coats can have a variety of lengths and aren't hypoallergenic, so they may not make a good choice for those with allergies. With regular care and maintenance, the Aussiedoodle will be an excellent pet for any dog owner.
Conclusion
Poodles are some of the most intelligent and loved breeds out there. When people started crossbreeding poodles with other breeds, many variations resulted for various purposes. There's sure to be a mixed breed poodle for every dog owner and type of family.
