All About Poodle Mixes: History, Temperaments, and Sizes

Is it just us, or have Poodle mixes slowly but surely taken over society as we know it? Poodle variations are often called Doodles, and it seems as though everywhere you look, you spot a Goldendoodle, Labradoodle, or some other doodle-y looking dog. Doodles are wonderful breeds and make great pets, but even so, it appears there has been a massive spike in Doodle ownership and consideration. 

Is there a reason, or is this increase in popularity just a random, unexplainable occurrence? Why have we just decided to love Doodles all of a sudden? 

Table of Contents

1. History of Poodle Mixes
2. Temperament & Behavior
3. Common Traits
4. Size and Variations

The Brief History of Poodle Mixes: Doodles

Doodle dogs consist of specific breeds that have been bred with Poodles. There are over 37 different kinds of Doodle breed variations!

Some of the most common Doodle breeds: 

• Goldendoodles (Golden Retriever x Poodle)
• Labradoodle (Labrador x Poodle) 
• Bernedoodle (Bernese Mountain Dog x Poodle)
• Cockapoos (Cocker Spaniel x Poodle) 

One of the first and most common North American Doodle breeds is the Cockapoo. Cocker spaniels were massively popular in America in the 1940s and 1950s, and it is assumed people eventually started breeding cocker spaniels with the Poodle, with the first Cockapoos showing up around 1960. Whether the Cockapoo breed was planned or came to fruition unintentionally is largely unknown. Like any attempts at breeding and mixing different dogs, the end goal is to combine the favorable qualities of each breed, making one extra favorable dog & breed. As the crossbreeding yielded positive results with the Cockapoos, other breeds were brought into the Poodle equation, years later leaving us with quite the Doodle family tree. 

Temperament & Behaviors 

Every dog is different, yes. However, every breed has its universal behaviors, giving us a biologically educated guess of the dog’s personality. As you may have guessed, Doodles have some desirable qualities to pet owners. 

Now, the only constant in this whole Doodle situation is the Poodle. So, we can assume many of the characteristics found in Doodle breeds can be traced back to the Poodle. With that in mind, let’s look at some common traits found in Poodles. 

Common Poodle Traits: 

• Highly Intelligent 
• Affectionate toward people
• Playful & Energetic 
• Hypoallergenic 

These examples do not include a full breakdown of any and all Poodle traits, but it gives us a window into why the Doodle breeds have become so popular. 

Poodles and Poodle mixes, the Doodles, are known to be brilliant dogs. While they might not get into college, this intelligence can make training extremely easy compared to other breeds. Poodle and Doodle breeds tend to pick up on commands quickly, saving owners a lot of time and frustration. This undoubtedly is a massive “pro” when considering a Doodle breed. This trait also makes them perfect for novice dog owners. 

These dogs are also very kind and affectionate toward family and friends. This is obviously a sought-after trait in any dog, but keep in mind that Poodle and Doodle breeds can also be very sensitive and vulnerable due to their loving affection. As long as you love them, they will reciprocate! Poodles and Doodles are also known to be energetic and playful dogs, making them perfect for an active family. Like many dog breeds, if Poodles and or Doodle breeds are left unstimulated and bored, they tend to be a little disruptive. 

One of the most significant advantages of owning a Poodle or Doodle dog is hypoallergenic. Some of us may have heard this word before, but it means these dogs rarely shed their hair. Because of this, allergy-causing dandruff found in their hair won’t be tracked all over your house and clothes. So, with pet owners who may be allergic to dogs or have a family member allergic to dogs, a hypoallergenic dog like a Doodle breed is the perfect (and many times, the only) choice.

Doodle Size & Variations

Most Doodles will grow into a perfectly average-sized dog, ranging from 1.5-2.5ft tall, weighing around 30-60lbs. This can vary depending on diet, what breed they are mixed with, and a number of other things, but you can “ballpark” their size based on these ranges. 

As far as what your Doodle dog will be like, that depends entirely on what variation you have chosen! We could sit here and go through each and every Doodle breed and their potential personalities (again, over 37 different kinds!!), but to save us all the time, we recommend researching the exact Doodle breed you are considering adding to your life. If you opt to go with a Labradoodle, research Labrador characteristics, and so on. With this brief breakdown of Poodle characteristics, half the equation is close to complete! 

The ElleVet Team
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