Doodles and Poodles

A “doodle” is the shorthand name for any crossbreed dog that has descended from a poodle. It’s not actually a breed, but more a term used to describe a type of dog - much like the term “lurcher” is used to describe a sighthound cross.

There are several different types of doodle, but the first ones were bred by Charles Dickens’ great granddaughter, Monica. She wanted to creat the perfect blend of Golden Retriever and Poodle, and thus the goldendoodle was born!

They mostly gained popularity though after an Australian breeder named Wally Conron realised that you could take advantage of a Labrador’s skill as a service dog, and a poodle’s naturally hypoallergenic coat, to create guide dogs for blind people with allergies. He dubbed them the “labradoodle” in an attempt to encourage people to be willing to have a crossbreed.

The advertising was incredible successful and since then, hundreds of other poodle crosses have been named (much to several people’s disgust) and there is even now a “double doodle” which is a Labrador, golden retriever, poodle mix. Throw in that there are multiple sizes of poodle, and you end up with lots of different personalities, looks, quirks and energy levels.

As a crossbreed, the lineage also makes a big difference. There are F1, F1B, F2, F2B and multi-generational doodles to contend with. Each generation has varying amounts of the non-poodle parent and the poodle. In general, poodles are often the fathers of doodles, so that the puppies gain more of the characteristics of the non-poodle mum, but inherit the (typically) low-shedding coat of the poodle.

Both Buzz and Casper are complete snuggle bugs, and live up to the doodle “Velcro dog” reputation.

They are high energy as spaniels and poodles were originally working dogs, so love to be out and about. Buzz completed the 100 mile West Highland away with us last summer, and has taken up Canicross too. Casper is looking forward to being old enough to be allowed to do the same based on how fast he runs around the garden!

They are also super intelligent dogs - emotionally and intellectually. Buzz always knows when he’s needed for a cuddle, and makes sure to lean right in. I’ve also not found a dog puzzle he hasn’t been able to beat! However, they are also very good at knowing when to settle. They can often be found in various odd sleeping positions around the house, and Buzz has really perfected the Sproodle sprawl.

We went for “doods” due to the higher likelihood of being hypoallergenic and non-shedding. Fortunately we have been lucky, so my house isn’t covered in a tonne of hair, but we have dogs that are very similar in personality to their mums - springer and cocker spaniels.

The only downside to having a doodle is dealing with judgement from other people for being “designer dogs” or being given “silly names” like Sproodle and cockapoo. I love both my boys though, and having to deal with some people every now and again is worth it!

Gemma Down and Casper and Buzz

Sproodle

Introduction to the breed:

A “doodle” is the shorthand name for any crossbreed dog that has descended from a poodle. It’s not really a breed, but more a term used to describe a type of dog - much like the term “lurcher” is used to describe a sighthound cross.

They gained popularity though after an Australian breeder named Wally Conron realised that you could take advantage of a Labrador’s skill as a service dog, and a poodle’s naturally hypoallergenic coat, to create guide dogs for blind people with allergies. He dubbed them the “labradoodle” in an attempt to encourage people to be willing to have a crossbreed.

The advertising was incredible successful and since then, hundreds of other poodle crosses have been named (much to several people’s disgust). and there is even now a “double doodle” which is a Labrador, golden retriever, poodle mix. Throw in that there are multiple sizes of poodle, and you end up with lots of different personalities, looks, quirks and energy levels.

The Sproodle or springerdoodle is just one of these mixes - an English springer spaniel being the non-poodle parent. They are less popular than many other doodle crosses, but definitely increasing in popularity as they become more well known.

Traits:

Energetic, intelligent, people-oriented, can be low-shedding, can be hypoallergenic.

Exercise:

They need a lot of mental stimulation - they are part springer after all! They are also very active dogs, although keeping their brain busy is often more important than keeping their legs running.

Health:

As a crossbreed, they are often considered healthier than purebred dogs, but still could inherit any issues that both poodles and springers are vulnerable to.

Why you will never have another breed again:

The emotional intelligence of my Sproodle is off the charts. He is so switched on!

Comparison to other breeds:

They are one of the mid-sized doodles, and definitely one of the more energetic. As they aren’t one of the “famous” doodles (cockapoo, labradoodle etc), there are less problems with the unscrupulous breeding that is a common issue with other doodles.

Average life expectancy:

10-15 years

Average weight:

Varies by dog - it depends a lot on who the poodle was in their genetics, but even then it’s not guaranteed. My Sproodle is larger than both of his parents at 18kg. His litter mate is just 10kg.

Ups of breed:

Emotionally and intellectually very intelligent, (typically) low shedding, (typically) hypoallergenic, very people oriented (known for being velcro dogs), high energy and enthusiasm.

Downs of breed:

Coat is (typically) high maintenance (full groom every 6-8 weeks), high prey drive (poodles and springers are originally hunting dogs), can struggle with separation anxiety, often vocal. Because they look like teddy bears, they are bought by people who can’t deal with high energy dogs, which can cause problems.

Biggest down side is dealing with judgment from some other people - “it’s just a mongrel, I don’t understand why people insist on giving them these stupid names”.

Labradoodles

The animated and personality-filled Labradoodle is a crossbreed between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. This sociable dog was originally intended as a hypoallergenic guide dog (although it’s important to keep in mind that no dog is truly hypoallergenic). Often called a “designer breed” the Labradoodle is not an actual breed. The designer dog label refers to a mixed breed dog who was intentionally bred in hopes they might exhibit desirable attributes of their foundation breeds, for example the non-shedding coat of a Poodle and the laid-back demeanour of a Labrador. Mixed-breed dogs, like all dogs, are individuals and could tend to express the traits of one of the breeds of its parentage more than the other.

The Labradoodle has become an extremely popular choice for many different types of families due to their affectionate and friendly nature.

I’d like to introduce you to Kane, who is our 19 month old, F1b Labradoodle, from a Poodle Dad and a Labradoodle Mum, you can see the doodle in his face with eyebrows described as just like “Denis Healey” and a beard, which comes through chocolate colour, although overall he is black, with a more Labrador coat and while having many Labrador traits he has definitely lost the retriever part along the way.

As a mixed breed, Labradoodles can differ from dog to dog in looks—including in size, colouring, coat style depending on the original parents. the variations can become even greater from litter to litter when the parents are two labradoodles. Even with variations within a litter, Kane’s litter was a mixture of colours and coats.

The size of a Labradoodle depends largely upon whether the Poodle side of their ancestry was a standard, miniature, or toy variation. While their coats can vary just as much as their parents, and you can find some Labradoodles with wacky colour names–cafe, chalk, parchment, apricot anyone? But the most common colours are the classic caramel, black, chocolate or cream. The texture of those different colour coats also come in several varieties; the soft, wavy, or tightly curled (and ever-so chic) fleece coat, the Poodle-esque wool coat and the hair coat, which is straighter and more akin to their Labrador parent’s coat type.

Their bodies tend to be more robust and well rounded than a Poodle’s svelte frame. Their heads are adorned with classic long, droopy ears, while their faces tend to be more Labrador-esque with a longer, rounder snout. They can also somewhat resemble teddy bears, but perhaps not to the same extent as other Poodle crosses such as the Cavapoo, Yorkiepoo and others. Kane has certainly mastered the “Paddington Bear” stare.

Labradoodle History

An Australian man named Wally Conron bred the first Labradoodles. His goal was to breed a hypoallergenic guide dog for a blind woman in Hawaii whose husband was allergic to dogs. Wally first thought he might be able to train a Poodle as a guide dog, since a Poodle’s curly coat keeps hair and dander trapped so they don’t aggravate allergies. He found that his Poodles weren’t the easiest to train as guide dogs so he intentionally crossbred his best Standard Poodle with his best Labrador Retriever.

When he couldn’t get a family to foster and train the blended litter, he did a little marketing work—he stopped calling them crossbreds and started hailing the breed as a new, allergy-free guide dog. There was instant interest in the “new breed” of dog, the Labradoodle.

Some doodles are a lot like Poodles—they’re smart, reserved, and quiet with a fine hypoallergenic coat that can take a lot of work. Some are more like Labs—they’re rowdy kids-at-heart with coats that shed.

All Labradoodles do share a common love for their families and the great work ethic that’s second nature to both Labrador Retrievers and Poodles.

They’re energetic dogs who need at least 30-60 minutes of exercise a day, sometimes more. You’ll quickly get a sense of how much exercise your Labradoodle wants from whether they show signs of tiring after several rounds of ball in the park, or after a good stretch of the legs. They’re active enough to accompany you on long hikes or runs, but once that’s done, they’re happy to chill with the rest of the family. Kane absolutely loves to zoom, whether that be out with his doggy pals or just around our garden or house! He has even mastered the contained zoom down our hallway and into the Kitchen, without crashing into the doors and walls. Kane also loves to wrestle and will typically try to greet other doodles in this way, as shown in the picture with his siblings, where you can also see the different colourings of his litter.

Kane is a very caring boy, who is great company and will sleep under my feet while I work, but will let you know when he wants to play or have your attention and will then settle down for a cuddle or sprawled out revealing everything as doodles do!

Health:

Major concerns: Elbow Dysplasia, Epilepsy, Hip Dysplasia, Hypothyroidism, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

Prone to allergies and sensitive stomachs

Occasionally seen: Ear infections

Average life expectancy: 12-14 years

Average weight: 50–60 pounds (Standard), 30–45 pounds (Medium), 15–25 pounds (Miniature)

Written by Karen Calvert-Mindell

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