Doodle Dogs: Meet the 15 Cutest Poodle Mixes

What do you get when you combine a Poodle with another purebred dog and give the resulting puppies an irresistibly cute name? Doodle dogs. People are enamored with Poodle mixes, otherwise known as Doodle dog breeds. These days there seems to be no limit to the different types of Doodles you can find. From mini Doodle dog breeds, such as the Yorkiepoo or Maltipoo, to big Doodle dog breeds, such as the Goldendoodle and Bernedoodle, there’s a Doodle for just about anyone. Read on to learn all about Doodle dogs, including how to adopt one of your own.

Unfortunately, indiscriminate breeding created a surplus of dogs. With designer dogs and Doodle dogs growing in popularity, many Doodles find themselves in rescue in need of forever homes.

Why are Doodle dogs so popular?

With their wavy coats, soft paws, hypoallergenic coats, and high trainability, it’s no wonder Doodles are popular. Doodle breeders will advertise that Doodle dogs combine only the best qualities of both breeds (for instance, the trainability of the Golden Retriever and the non-shedding coat of the Poodle), making Doodles the “perfect” dog breed. 

But genetics are complicated. While it’s possible Doodle puppies may inherit those qualities, it’s also possible for puppies to inherit the less-desirable qualities of both parent breeds, such as hyperactivity from a Lab or stubbornness from a Bernese Mountain Dog.

And one of the biggest draws of Doodle dog breeds is the claim that they are hypoallergenic and do not shed. While some Doodle dogs might be more hypoallergenic and might not shed, it depends on the specific mix and how much Poodle the dog has in their makeup. Plenty of Doodles shed and cause dog allergies, which is why so many end up in rescue.

Popular Poodle Mixes

Most Doodle dogs are not standardized like purebred dogs so they can vary a lot in size, color, coat, type, temperament, and activity level. Two of the most popular Doodle dog breeds are the Goldendoodle and the Labradoodle, but there are many other popular poodle mixes.

Victoria Andrews / iStock/

1. Goldendoodle

Goldendoodles are a mix of Golden Retrievers and Poodles. Because Goldendoodles come from Standard or Miniature Poodles, they have three sizes (miniature, medium, and standard) and a wide variety of colors. The coat might be curly, wavy, straight, or a combination. Like their parent breeds, Goldendoodles are smart, affectionate, and friendly. They need a lot of companionship and exercise, and are great family dogs. 

Estimated size: 26 to 51 pounds

Trinette Reed / Stocksy/

2. Labradoodle

The very first Doodle dog was the Labradoodle. Labradoodles are a mix of Labrador Retrievers and Poodles. Like Goldendoodles, Labradoodles come in three sizes (miniature, medium, and standard) and many different colors. Their coat might be curly, wavy, straight, or a combination. With proper training, socialization, and daily exercise, Labradoodles are obedient, loving, and friendly pets. These excellent family dogs don’t like being left alone for long periods of time, so take them with you on your adventures.

Estimated size: 16 to 65 pounds

Cobra Nicole / Shutterstock/

3. Bernedoodle

Bernedoodles are a mix of Bernese Mountain Dogs and Poodles. Bernedoodles vary hugely in both size and appearance, but a tri-colored wavy or straight coat is popular. Bernedoodles can be wonderful companions, but they need an experienced dog parent who can provide the training and socialization they need to succeed. 

Estimated size: 10 to 90 pounds

IK Photography / Shutterstock/

4. Aussiedoodle

Aussiedoodles are a mix of Australian Shepherds and Poodles. These small to medium-sized dogs have loads of energy and love to play. Smart and trainable, Aussiedoodles are great family dogs, getting along well with respectful kids. The coat may be curly, wavy, or straight, and comes in many colors, though merle colors are popular. These active dogs need lots of daily exercise and prefer to be with their people as much as possible.

Estimated size: 25 to 70 pounds

Toma Evsuvdo / Stocksy/

5. Cavapoo

Cavapoos are a mix of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle. Cavapoos come in three sizes (toy, miniature, and standard). Cavapoos come in many colors and coat type can vary. The coat might be more soft and silky like the Cavaliers or curly like a Poodle. Cavapoos are sweet and affectionate companion dogs, and need only moderate exercise. 

Estimated size: 7 to 45 pounds

Jasper / AdobeStock/

6. Yorkipoo

Yorkipoos, sometimes called Yorkie Poos or Yorki-Poos, are a mix of Yorkshire Terriers and Toy or Miniature Poodles. The toy-sized Yorkipoo has a soft, silky coat that may be curly or straight, and comes in many different colors. Yorkipoos are playful, curious, and very loving. Because of their small size, they do best living with children who are five and older who can play gently with them. 

Estimated size: 3 to 14 pounds

ozgurdonmaz / iStock/

7. Sheepadoodle

Sheepadoodles, sometimes called Sheepapoos, are a mix of Old English Sheepdogs and Poodles. Sheepadoodles vary in appearance and coat type, but a black-and-white wavy or curly coat is popular. Sheepadoodles come in three sizes (micro/toy, mini/medium, and standard). Sheepadoodles can be wonderful family dogs, but like many Doodles, they need lots of daily exercise and consistent training. 

Estimated size: 10 to 85 pounds

Danita Delimont / Alamy Stock Photo/

8. Schnoodle

Schnoodles are a mix of Miniature Schnauzers and Toy or Miniature Poodles, which means the Schnoodle is on the small side. The Schnoodle’s coat may be curly like a Poodle, or straight, wavy, or wiry. Schnoodles are smart, animated, and friendly, though some can be reserved with strangers. They are good family dogs and need moderate daily exercise.

Estimated size: 10 to 20 pounds

Lim Tiaw Leong / Shuterstock/

9. Shih-Poo

Shih-Poos, sometimes called Shih-Poos or Shihpoos, are a mix of Shih Tzu and Toy or Miniature Poodles. Shih Poos come in many different colors, and the coat may be curly, wavy, or straight. They are very affectionate and friendly pets. The Shih-Poo is small and portable and does best in families with older children.

Estimated size: 7 to 20 pounds

Chelsea Victoria / Stocksy/

10. Cockapoo

Cockapoos are a mix of Cocker Spaniels and Toy or Miniature Poodles. Cockapoos come in three sizes (toy, miniature, and standard), and many different colors. The coat is usually dense and may be wavy or curly. Cockapoos are intelligent, very trainable, and bond closely with their family. They are good with gentle children and need only moderate exercise. 

Estimated size: 12 to 20 pounds

ti-ja / iStock/

11. Maltipoo

Maltipoos are a mix of Maltese and Toy or Miniature Poodles. Maltipoos come in many different colors, and the coat may be curly like a Poodle, straight like a Maltese, or wavy. Lively and small, Maltipoos live happily in almost any environment, including apartments. They are very friendly and get along well with gentle children who can handle them carefully.

Estimated size: 10 to 20 pounds

thatsmrbio / Shutterstock/

12. Whoodle

Whoodles are a mix of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers and Poodles. Whoodles can be almost any color, but the wheaten (light tan) color of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is popular. The coat may be curly or wavy. Whoodles are loyal and affectionate, but they have tons of energy and can be challenging to train, so they do best with experienced pet parents. 

Estimated size: 20 to 45 pounds

Mary Swift / Shutterstock/

13. Pomapoo

Pomapoos are a mix of Pomeranians and Toy or Miniature Poodles. Pomapoos come in many different colors, and the coat may be single-coated and curly like a Poodle, double-coated and straight like a Pomeranian, or a combination of these types of hair. These small dogs are friendly and affectionate, and are happy in almost any household. 

Estimated size: 5 to 15 pounds

Mario Korterik / Shutterstock/

14. Poochon

Poochons are a mix of Bichons Frises and Toy or Miniature Poodles. Because both parent breeds have a similar single curly coat, Poochons are generally non-shedding and hypoallergenic. Poochons come in many different colors, though white and apricot are popular. Charming and affectionate, these dog need moderate daily exercise and live well almost anywhere, including apartments. 

Estimated size: 6 to 20 pounds

Vince Scherer / Shutterstock/

15. Chipoo

Chipoos, sometimes called Chi-Poos, are an adorable mix of Chihuahuas and Toy or Miniature Poodles. Chipoos come in many different colors, and the coat is highly variable. It might be curly like a Poodle, straight like a Chihuahua, wiry, wavy, or a combination of two types of hair. These little dogs are affectionate with family but might be standoffish with strangers. 

Estimated size: 6 to 12 pounds

Are Doodles good dogs?

Yes, Doodles are good dogs. As with any dog, Doodle breeds need daily exercise, a high-quality diet, and regular vet checkups. But Doodles also need a lot of coat care, sometimes more than their Poodle relatives. Here are a few things to know about Doodle dogs.

Doodles require a lot of grooming.

Doodles need regular brushing and combing at home, as well as professional clipping and grooming every month or two. But just how much brushing a Doodle needs depends on the type of coat the dog has and whether they’re prone to shedding or matting.

Doodles have different coat types.

Coat type in Doodles is highly variable among the different breeds as well as among individual dogs. A Doodle coat might be tight and curly like a Poodle or loose and wavy like a Terrier.

Doodles can sometimes have more than one type of hair — a mix of the coat types of the two parent breeds. This can be problematic; matting can occur even if the coat is thoroughly brushed daily and professionally groomed regularly. The types of coats might also shed. The type of coat a Doodle has comes down to genetics. 

• F1 Doodles: 50/50 Doodle puppies (one purebred Poodle parent and one purebred parent of another breed) are called first-generation (F1) Doodles. F1 Doodles often don’t inherit the hypoallergenic coat of the Poodle parent, so many F1 Doodle dogs end up shedding, matting, and causing dog allergies. 

• F1b Doodles: A non-shedding coat becomes more standardized when one Doodle parent is an F1 and the other parent is pure Poodle. Puppies resulting from these breedings are called F1b, and they are viewed as 75 percent Poodle, increasing the likelihood of a non-shedding, hypoallergenic coat.

Considering adopting a Doodle dog?

If you love Doodle dogs, you’ll be happy to know it’s easy to find one to adopt. Many Doodles end up in rescue when their original families realize they are allergic to their dog or can’t keep up with the extensive grooming the coat requires. This is sad news for the dogs, but good news for those who want to adopt a Doodle dog breed. 

Before you adopt

If you are allergic to dogs and think you want to adopt a Doodle, be sure to spend a lot of time with the specific dog in question to see if you have a reaction. While some Doodles are hypoallergenic, others are not, even if their hair seems to be non-shedding. 

Additionally, puppy Doodle coats are different than adult Doodle coats. Their puppy coat eventually falls out and is replaced by their adult coat. Some people who are allergic to dogs find they do not react to a puppy but do react to the dog once they have their adult coat. This is one reason so many Doodles end up at rescues.

Start your adoption search

Start your search for a Doodle dog or puppy on an adoption website, such as Adopt a Pet. You can also check your local animal shelters. Another way to adopt a Doodle dog breed is to check with local dog ]-rescue groups. Some private rescues are even breed-specific, focusing on Poodle mixes and other designer dogs.

Commonly asked questions

What is a Doodle dog?

Doodle dogs are crossbreeds between Poodles and other purebred dog breeds. Unlike purebred dogs or mixed-breed dogs (with many different breeds in their background), crossbreeds, like Doodles, have the genes of only two purebred dogs in their background. Doodle dogs are also known as designer dogs.

What is a double Doodle dog?

A Double Doodle is a crossbreed dog of two different Doodle breeds, such as a Labradoodle and a Goldendoodle.

Are Doodles healthy?

Doodles’ health can be influenced by the genetics they inherit from their parents. While true mixed-breeds benefit from a wider genetic pool that reduces the risk of genetic health issues, Doodles can still inherit health problems from their parent breeds.

References:

BerneDoodle Dog Registration

AussieDoodle Dog Registration  

Cavapoo Dog Registration 

Yorkie Poo Dog Breed 101

SheepaDoodle Size Guide (Micro, Mini & Standard)- Complete Information

Schnoodle Dog Breed

Shih-Poo: The Adorable Shih Tzu-Poodle Mix

Cockapoos Are Wonderful Pets

Caring for a Maltipoo

Caring for a Whoodle

Pomapoo Breed Details

Poochon: Dog Breed Characteristics & Care

Mixed-breed dog Chipoo