A Doodle is simply a hybrid variety of dog that results when a Poodle is cross-bred with another breed of dog. Doodles gained prominence during the 1990’s, after a female Labrador was successfully crossbred with a male Standard Poodle, producing the world’s first known “Labradoodle” offspring.
With their friendly demeanor, high intelligence, and curly coat, the Doodle dog has become incredibly popular with pet owners. Importantly, all Doodles are low shedding and make a great option for anyone who suffers from allergies because of their hypoallergenic nature, derived from the Poodle. They seem to be the perfect breed, especially for a family with small children.
However, before you even consider getting one of these mixed-breed dogs, you should learn more about them. Below, we’ll further answer the question: what is a Doodle Dog?
A Closer Look at Doodle Breeds
You’ve probably come across a few Doodle dogs by now. You may even have family or friends who own one of the many Doodle dog varieties available.
Some may refer to them as designer dogs, others as hybrids. But at the end of the day, what it boils down to is that these family pets are mixed breed dogs.
What Exactly Is a Doodle Dog?
A doodle dog is any cross between a pure bred poodle and some other breed of dog, such as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and toy breeds like Yorkshire Terriers and King Charles Spaniels.
History of Doodle Dog Breeds
The first of these now popular dog breeds appeared in the US back in the 1940s and is believed to have been a mix between a Poodle and Cocker Spaniel, resulting in what is now known as a Cockapoo. However, official records recognizing this particular mixed breed were not created until the 1950s. Soon after this, other varieties of Doodle dogs started to appear, including Peekapoos (Pekingese crossed with a miniature Poodle) and Yorkipoos (Yorkshire Terrier crossed with a miniature Poodle). But it wasn’t until 30 years later, with the creation of the world’s first Labradoodle, that Doodle dogs really began to grow in popularity.
In 1989, Wally Conron, a puppy-breeding manager for the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia was approached by a vision-impaired woman and was having trouble finding a suitable guide dog. The problem with most service dogs was that they moulted, and her husband was highly allergic to dog hair. Although Poodles were hypoallergenic, their temperament didn’t allow them to perform well as a service dog. Conron came up with the novel idea of crossing a Standard Poodle with a Labrador Retriever, hoping that certain traits that make Labs excellent service dogs would be passed through and combined with the non-shedding characteristics of Poodles. The cross-breeding experiment was a success and Conron decided to call this newly invented dog a Labradoodle.
What Are Some of the More Popular Varieties of Doodle Dogs?
All Doodle dogs are a mix of one popular breed of dog, such as a Golden Retriever, with a Poodle. Such cross breeding aims to obtain the best qualities from each breed mixed into one dog.
In addition to Goldendoodles (a mix of Golden Retriever and Poodle), some of the most popular types of doodles include the following:
- Sheepadoodles: a mix of Old English Sheepdog and Poodle
- Schnoodles: a Schnauzer that has been cross-bred with, say, a Miniature Poodle
- Cockapoos: the cross-breeding of a Cocker Spaniel with Toy Poodles
- Aussiedoodle: the cross-breeding of an Australian Shepherds and a Poodle
- Bernedoodle: a mix of a Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle
- Whoodle: a Wheaten Terrier that has been cross-bred with a Poodle
- Maltipoo: a mix of a Maltese and a Toy Poodle
Doodle Dog Characteristics
These designer dog breeds have become very attractive to pet owners because of the combination of specific traits that each dog has. But you need to be aware that when you breed a dog from two different purebred parents, the results may not always be what you were hoping for.
To avoid such issues, it is essential you get one of these family pets from a responsible breeder. Reputable Doodle breeders will have specific standards that they must meet, and they should also provide you with accurate health records for their healthy puppies and their parents.
Do your research to avoid dealing with health issues relating to the various genetic traits of different dog breeds. Spend time looking into each of the specific breeds.
Choosing a dog simply because it looks nice shouldn’t be your top priority. You need to look closely at any genetic health issues a particular breed has and what strong personality traits they might possess.
Not All Doodles Are Alike
Most potential owners interested in Doodles gravitate towards them because of their reputation for not shedding and having an affable personality.
They hope that the best of both breeds will appear in any healthy puppies they produce. But there isn’t any guarantee this will be the case, especially when the genetics of each breed comes into play.
We often generalize different breeds — for example, we see Golden Retrievers as friendly, whereas German Shepherds are considered protective. But as you will soon learn, this simply isn’t the case.
Why Are Doodles So Popular?
There are two main reasons why these mixed breed dogs have proved to be so popular with prospective buyers.
The first, of course, is that they shed less hair compared to other designer dog breeds, which is excellent for people who suffer from allergies.
Secondly, these furry friends have gained a reputation for having playful personalities and looking adorable.
Due to certain individual breed traits, people find that they are suitable to be trained as service dogs and ideal for families who enjoy an active lifestyle.
It is essential when you are looking for a Doodle puppy that you arrange to get one from a reputable breeder. Unfortunately, as these dogs have become increasingly popular, many puppy mills are trying to take advantage of unwary pet owners.
So, before you choose to hand over any money, make sure you carry out plenty of research into the person selling the dog. Especially ask them for information relating to the health and wellbeing of the puppies’ parents. Plus, if you can, arrange to visit the location where the puppies are being kept.
Conclusion
So, what is a Doodle Dog? A Doodle is simply any dog breed that is crossed with a Poodle. If you think that an intelligent, cuddly dog that will shed relatively little is just what you need, then a Doodle might be the ideal pet for you and your family.
However, you need to invest both time and energy into training them, giving them plenty of exercise, and developing a close bond with them. This will ensure that they become a wonderful companion.