Poodles (in form of -doodles, -poos) are taking over the canine world!

In My Humble Opinion
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I understand that many people advocate rescuing. I respect that position, but this thread is not intended to address that preference.

I’m amazed at the increasing popularity of poodle mixed breeds. Of the top of my head, I’ve seen Goldendoodles, Labradoodles (including Austrailian), Bernedoodles, Schnoodles, Cockapoos, Cavipoos, and I’m sure there must have been more. What mixes have you encountered?

Here in Chicago, there is no longer a benched dog show - we used to have at least 2. We were speaking with a golden breeder who suspected that this was a direct result of the increasing number of poodle mixed breeds.

Anyone interested in discussing your interactions/impressions/opinions w/ poodle mixes?

We recently got a mini-Goldendoodle, Lincoln, after our 3d golden passed. So far we’re very pleased w/ the pup - although we sorta question how much golden is actually in this poodle. The mother was supposedly multigen goldendoodle, and the father purebred poodle. I’ve always favored poodles, tho, and wonder if we could’ve just gone w/ a pure poodle and been just as happy.

Our choice was determined in large part by our age. Nearing 60, we are eager for a dog smaller than our past Goldens. We also wouldn’t mind a little less hair. Finally, many hotels and such accept smaller dogs. Our current guy is supposed to max out between 25-35#.

I’m not sure what the downside is. The breeders seem as concerned with health as any purebred breeders, with the advantage that they are not as concerned w/ appearances alone. They are more interested in temperament and coat. Tho researching them can almost seem like a genetics course! :rolleyes: We’re loving the non-shed, and Lincoln seems VERY smart and trainable. He does everything we liked in our goldens - fetches, runs, affectionate. Hopefully the mix will add hybrid vigor, making this guy last longer than any of our goldens.

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That’s good. I was going to say that nearly all of the Labra- or GoldenDoodles I’ve seen were as big or bigger than a purebred of either of the other two breeds. You got a small one, which is great for you.

Temperament I’ve seen is all over the map. A few as friendly as a typical Lab. Most sort of inquisitive, and a few that were sharp as the Standard Poodles I’ve been familiar with. The owners I’ve talked to sound happy with their pets, if a bit in awe at times of the energy level, “He wants to go for a walk again?!”

That said, most pet owners, IMHO, don’t have anywhere near the control of their animal, nor knowledge of its needs, that they think they do. And are invariably surprised when their off-leash Lab or Golden, walking ahead about 20 yards on the path, like they have 19 times before. But on the 20th, sees a squirrel across the road, dashes, and just misses getting past the front tire of the Hausfraupanzer. Crunch! And tears all around.

So if you train your dog, and pay attention, you’re already ahead of most pet owners. Maybe they’re more conscientious where you live.

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Poodles come in 3 different sizes. Individual dogs of the same -doodle cross can grow to very different sizes, depending on whether a standard poodle or a miniature was used.

Not sure how the hell you’d cross a toy poodle (even smaller than mini) with a golden, but they’re used for other small-breed -oodle crosses.

Try to see the parents, if possible, or at least find out the size of the poodle parent.

With all that outta the way, poodles have a bad rep for being yappy, dumb airheads. That … would usually be their owners, instead. People forget that poodles were bred to be hunting dogs just like a Springer spaniel or Weimaraner. A standard poodle is no joke, as far as strength and stamina, and they are intelligent and tend to intuit people well.

Between the intelligence and the short, low-shed fur, they make excellent cross breeds. Only downside is … they tend to male goofy looking cross breeds.

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:smiley:

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I had a cockapoo way back when they were just “accidents” mom was thinking she was getting toy poodle size no she forgot regular poodles can be big …

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Toy poodle sires are used via artificial insemination, easy peasy.

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Yeah - also, after the first cross, the next generation is likely smaller. I read something stating which the smaller is always used for - sire or dam. Like I said - it can seem like a genetics lesson trying to figure this out. Some - like the Australian labradoodles - add in spaniel or something.

Mine’s mother was a “multigen” goldendoodle weighing approx 30# - not sure exactly how many gens beyond poodle + golden. Father was purebred poodle approx 30#. So my pup is considerably more poodle than golden.

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My first dog was a Cockapoo, a first generation miniature Poodle-Cocker Spaniel cross. She was a wonderful dog. She was a tireless fetcher and catcher and would tire anyone out in tug-of-war. Unfortunately, a milk truck did her in at the tender age of eight.

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I’d presume the dam is taken from the larger variety to ensure she’d large enough to carry the pups.

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Well, these breeders are breeding mutts. I like mutts. But I like pretty much all dogs.

I have only owned mutts*, and they have all been great. They have all been The Best Dog Ever.

My inclination was to go out and find another mutt-breed exactly like the last one, but that was never possible. The -doodles and -poos probably do make it possible. But it’s still gonna be a different dog.

*Beagle/dachshund, German shepherd/aussie cattle dog, husky/chow, and border collie/???

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I saw a Yorkie-poo at the Vets office. It was truly adorable.
I wonder how much terrier tenacity it retained?

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Over the last 30 years, we’ve had 3 bischon-(miniature) poodle mixes in my family and they’ve all been excellent dogs. Bischons are sweet but a little too dumb. Poodles can be high strung. Neither sheds. Together, you get a sweet trainable lapdog.

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Our friends have been long-time bichon fans. Unfortunately, they are HORRIBLE at training their dogs. Pretty much the epitome of little yappers who pee in the house! :rolleyes:

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The whackiest one I’ve come across is a neighbour’s Wheaton terrier/poodle mix, called a “Woodle”. Not much dignity in that name! I have an 8 year old labradoodle that is much more poodle than lab and because her father was a miniature poodle, she is a nice manageable medium size. She’s a lovely dog but is currently recovering from a very expensive TPLO surgery. We had pet insurance when we lived in the UK and totally forgot to arrange for it when we moved back to Canada in November sigh

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I think the popularity of poodle mixes is partly a response to the skyrocketing rate of allergies in the world. Hypoallergenic-ness seems to be a trait that all poodle mixes automatically inherit. I also see a lot of bichon mixes in my neighborhood (cavachons, havachons, etc.) which also inherit the hypoallergenic thing.

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We had a poodle when I was a kid. Smartest dog I’ve ever seen, and so good-hearted that she used her genius for good, not evil.

So brains and temperament?

I just wish they didn’t look so cute… it makes owners look like they’re going for trendy ‘n’ adorable. (our poodle was shaggy, kind of a just-out-of-bed-rasta look, and no one knew WHAT breed she was).

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I have to like the crazy names which this trend, engenders. An acquaintance of mine owns a cockapoo – though I’m not a “dog person”, find this individual quite an affectionate and engaging beast. The breed name, though, put me in mind of a quotation from the British media person / actor / general polymath Stephen Fry, a propos a visit by him to New Zealand: “the birds of New Zealand…all appear to have been named by ten-year-olds… the kakapo… the kokako, the kaka, the takahe, the cocky-poo. Okay, I made the last one up…”