The Vet’s Guide to Oodles & Poodle Cross Breeds

An Oodle is a cross between a pure-bred Poodle and another dog breed, originally bred to combine a Poodle’s hypoallergenic, low-shedding coats with desirable characteristics and temperaments found in other breeds.

Poodle cross breeds have become an extremely popular cross-breed over the past few years, especially in Australia. 

While there are over 40 Oodle variations, the most popular breeds include:

• Labradoodle (Labrador cross)
• Cavoodle or Cavapoo (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cross)
• Spoodle or Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel cross) 
• Groodle or Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever cross)
• Maltipoo or Moodle (Maltese cross)
• Yorkipoo (Yorkshire Terrier cross)
• Aussiedoodle (Australian Shepherd cross)
• Sheepadoodle or Sheepoo (Old English Sheepdog cross)
• Shih-poo (Shih Tzu cross)
• Schnoodle (Schnauzer cross)
• Bernedoodle (Bernese Mountain Dog cross)

Appearance

Oodles will vary in appearance depending on the type of mix they are. If toy Poodles are mixed with smaller breeds, such as a Pomeranian, then your Oodle could only weigh around 6 kilograms. However, if standard Poodles are mixed with Bernese Mountain Dogs, they can weigh up to 45 kilograms. Therefore, it is important to know what type of Poodle-cross you’re looking for!

Temperament

Oodle breeds are generally known to be quite energetic and high energy. However, they are also known for their intelligence and loving personality, making them easy to train and a great family dog breed.

Activity Level

This breed is very energetic and loves to exert their energy! In conjunction with at least a 30 to 60 minute walk a day, we recommend partaking in obedience and agility activities to keep your Oodle happy and healthy.

Health

In many purebred Oodles, they can experience mobility issues, such as hip dysplasia. This affects their joints and walking ability, and should be checked with your veterinarian as soon as possible so it can be addressed.

Oodles can also experience dental issues as a result of tartar and plaque build up. Monitor your Oodle’s dental hygiene and brushing their teeth regularly with a dog toothpaste. 

How Long Does an Oodle Live For?

The lifespan of your Oodle will depend on their size. For smaller and medium sized Oodles, ranging from under 10kg to 25 kg, they have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Larger Oodle breeds have a lifespan of 8 to 12 years.

Every Oodle is different! Choosing the right Poodle cross breed starts with understanding your own lifestyle just as much as the breed's traits. 

Each mix brings a different blend of intelligence, energy levels, coat maintenance, and temperament depending on its Poodle percentage and the traits of the other parent breed. 

This also means that each Oodle breed has specific needs, nutrition and exercise requirements. Be sure to get to know your Oodle so they can have the happiest and healthiest life possible.

Ask yourself: 

• How active are you?
• Do you have time for daily grooming? 
• Can you commit to early socialisation and training? 

Talk to your vet about breed-specific tendencies, and if buying, look for ethical breeders who prioritise health testing and early socialisation. 

Crossed with a Labrador, this mix is a family-friendly all-rounder with energy to burn. A Labradoodle suits active homes that want a smart, trainable companion with a love for the outdoors.

Read the Vet's Guide to Labradoodles.

Sweet-natured, cuddly, and ideal for smaller homes, Cavoodles thrive on affection (inherited from both their Poodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel side) and make gentle, low-shedding companions for families or first-time parents. 

Read the Vet's Guide to Cavoodles.

A lively, affectionate sidekick with a social streak, Spoodles (mixed with a Cocker Spaniel) love attention, playtime, and being part of the action, but need consistent grooming and early boundaries. 

Read the Vet's Guide to Spoodles.

Big-hearted like their Golden Retriever side and easy to train, Groodles are joyful, people-loving dogs best suited to households with time for exercise, enrichment, and plenty of cuddles. 

Read the Vet's Guide to Groodles.

A pint-sized charmer with a big personality, the Maltipoo (Maltese cross) makes a great lapdog for those who want low-shedding coats and a dog that adores constant companionship.

Read the Vet's Guide to Maltipoos.

Small, spunky, and surprisingly bold, Yorkipoos are suited to confident parents who want a compact dog with a big attitude (borrowed from their Yorkshire Terrier side) and low-allergen coat.

Read the Vet's Guide to Yorkipoos.

Clever, energetic, and always switched on, the Aussiedoodle is best for experienced owners who can offer training, mental stimulation, and a job to do.

Ideal for apartment living, Shih-poos (a Shih Tzu cross) are affectionate lapdogs with moderate grooming needs, thriving in calmer households that enjoy their quirky, charming nature.

A smart, spirited Schnauzer or Miniature Schnauzer x Poodle hybrid that’s great for allergy-sensitive homes, Schnoodles need early socialisation and firm guidance, but shine with structure and purpose.

A gentle giant with a goofy streak, the Bernedoodle blends loyalty and cuddliness by crossing the Poodle with a Bernese Mountain Dog: ideal for families who want a low-shedding big dog and can handle their size and smarts.

Oodle breeds have become increasingly more popular, with one of those contributing factors being that they require less grooming and maintenance. Depending on their particular cross breed and coat type, Oodles can experience little to virtually no shedding. 

Shedding patterns

While Oodles are known for shedding less than regular dog breeds, they are still prone to some shedding. Depending on the coat of your Oodle breed, they may shed more or less often. 

If your Oodle has a straight coat that resembles the non-poodle parent, they are likely to shed the most out of all Oodle breeds. 

This includes mixes like:

• Labradoodles (Labrador mix)
• Spoodles (Cocker Spaniel Cross) 
• Havapoos (Havanese cross)

If your Oodle has a wavy or curly coat, they will shed less and be more allergy friendly. While you can't always guarantee that all Oodles are hypoallergenic, there are some ways to distinguish these mixes from other Oodle breeds. Hypoallergenic mixes include Shih-Poos (Shitzu mix), Pomapoos (Pomeranian mix) and Oodle dogs that are predominantly Poodle (75% Poodle, 25% other breed), otherwise known as F1b generation Oodles.

Frequent brushing

For curly and wavy coat types, you should ensure that you keep on top of brushing your Oodle. Frequent brushing of their coat, especially if it is kept long, ensures that your Oodle’s coat remains healthy and lessens the likelihood of excessive and extreme knotting.

Brush your Oodle at least twice a week to keep their coat looking its best. If you begin to see any knotting, tame it with a slicker brush to relieve any discomfort your Oodle may be experiencing.

Bathing tips

If you choose to bathe and groom your Oodle at home, make sure to brush their coat thoroughly before bathing. As many Oodle breeds have curlier coats, they can easily become knotted and tangled. If you begin bathing your Oodle with tangled or knotted fur, these knots will actually become harder to handle and remove. Use a wide tooth comb or pin brush, and then move to a slicker brush for more knotted areas. 

Once you’ve detangled your Oodle’s coat, you can bathe them with a gentle shampoo and conditioner that will help support a healthy coat. Use a mild shampoo, and then following this with a conditioner. This will help prevent knotting, and leave your dog’s coat feeling soft and looking healthy.

When drying your Oodle, we also recommend that you pat or blot them dry with a towel. Rubbing their coat dry can create knots and tangles throughout their fur.

Nails

Monitor your Oodle's nails to ensure they don't experience discomfort when walking. Overgrown nails can be painful for your dog, and if they aren’t worn down naturally (i.e. through walks & activities), you should trim them on a regular basis. Introduce nail trimming to your dog at an early age, and avoid the “quick”: a sensitive area that contains blood vessels and nerves in the nail.

For Oodle breeds, there is no blanket way to describe their barking behaviours. However, Oodle owners often report that their dogs are less likely to bark compared to other breeds. Despite this, Oodles can bark in times of fear, excitement or protection (similar to all dog breeds). If this becomes excessive and disruptive, you may need to step in with some training.

Common causes

While Oodles are not known for excessive barking behaviour, there are some common causes of barking that you may experience with your dog. An easily remediable reason for barking in your Oodle is loneliness and lack of attention. Be sure to have frequent play sessions with your Oodle, and give them lots of affection throughout the day.

Another emotional reason your Oodle may begin to bark is from separation anxiety. If your Oodle has a hard time spending time apart from you, we recommend long-lasting distractions for them while you're away. Provide them with something they enjoy while you’re at home, such as long-lasting chews, their favourite TV show, puzzle toys, lick mats or treat-based toys.

Lastly, you may experience barking behaviours in your Oodle due to territorial tendencies. This often occurs when a dog senses a threat to their territory, and can be addressed with obedience training.

Address health concerns

If you are experiencing excessive barking behaviours in your Oodle, we recommend trying to find the root cause. If barking persists after consistent training, or seems out of character for your Oodle, take them to a trusted veterinarian to ensure that their barking isn’t caused by any health issues or conditions.

Our training tips

If unwanted barking persists, we recommend beginning training to address this as soon as possible. It is always recommended that you practise positive reinforcement with your Oodle when you are undertaking training.  This means rewarding wanted behaviours with treats or affection, and ignoring unwanted behaviours.

For more excessive barking behaviours, we suggest obedience training for your Oodle. Has a highly intelligent breed, obedience training is often highly effective for this breed.

Oodle breeds are highly intelligent, and are known for being very easy to train. While you can train your Oodle in many disciplines, you also have to remain on-top of their training and mental stimulation. We recommend starting the training with your Oodle as early as possible to ensure that you have a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

Intelligence

As Oodles are cross breeds with Poodles, they are known for their high levels of intelligence. By inheriting this intelligence, Oodles are often highly trainable dogs that excel in obedience and other training practices. 

Socialisation

As with many dog breeds, it is vital that you introduce your Oodle puppy to other dogs and people at an early age. Once they have received their essential vaccinations, you should begin socialising your Oodle between 12-16 weeks to get them used to other dogs and people. By socialising your Oodle at this young stage, they will likely be more comfortable with the outside world which will help in their development long after puppyhood.

Benefits of puppy school

A great way to not only socialise your Oodle but also teach them basic obedience skills is puppy school. This is one of the most accessible and simple ways to familiarise your Oodle with other dogs along with training them in basic commands.

Many veterinary practices hold puppy school classes, so you can trust that your puppy is getting training and care from the professionals. In this controlled environment, you Oodle will be introduced to basic commands to set them up well for further training.

Obedience

If you are looking to further obedience training with your dog, Oodles are a perfect fit! With their high level of intelligence and trainability, Oodles are known for being very obedient and eager to please.

By enrolling your Oodle in obedience training and classes, you can not only help them progress in their skills, but this will also keep their mind sharp for years to come.

Common training issues

Due to their intelligent nature, it is rare for Oodle owners to experience excessive training issues. However, some Oodle owners have trouble with leash training their dog, as they are an excitable and energetic breed. We recommend beginning leash training as soon as possible, and practising the positive reinforcement training model.

Likewise, if you encounter any training issues with your Oodle, such as stubbornness, we recommend practising the positive reinforcement approach. Be sure to reward wanted behaviours, such as commands or tasks, with treats and affection. If your Oodle is displaying unwanted behaviours, ignore them or redirect their attention to encourage wanted behaviours.

With their energetic temperament and high energy lifestyle, Oodles often require regular exercise. Depending on the size of your Oodle, they will need consistent and rigorous exercise and mental stimulation. This will ensure that they stay healthy and happy throughout their lifetime!

Regular walks

Keeping on top of your Oodle’s energetic lifestyle can become overwhelming, but with regular walks you can meet their exercise requirements each day. We recommend talking your Oodle on a 30 to 60 minute walk each day to ensure they are able to exert their energy and maintain a healthy weight. However, the length of daily walks may need to be extended for larger Oodle breeds like Labradoodles and Goldendoodles.

Oodles are often known for their excellent temperament, which is one of the contributing factors of their ever-growing popularity. However, like many dog breeds, they are prone to some unwanted behaviours and habits. These behaviours can be addressed through redirection, socialisation, attention, training, regular exercise and mental stimulation.

Chewing

As a high energy breed, both mentally and physically, Oodles can become bored and result in destructive behaviours. Your Oodle may start to chew on furniture or items like shoes when they are bored, which is why you need to address it early on.

We recommend providing your Oodle with the appropriate amount of exercise a day along with mentally stimulating activities to keep them entertained and happy. Along with daily walks and obedience training, you can redirect destructive behaviours with puzzle toys or chew toys for your Oodle.

Separation Anxiety

As previously mentioned, your Oodle may experience bouts of separation anxiety when you leave the home. This can result in excessive barking or destructive behaviours. This can be addressed through redirection of this behaviour and mentally stimulating distractions. 

We recommend long lasting distractions such as lick mats, long-lasting chews, puzzle treat games or treat toys. Be sure to pick a distraction that your Oodle already enjoys when you’re in the home, so they don’t associate this distraction with you leaving. This will help keep your dog occupied whilst you’re away, and refrain from defaulting to those unwanted behaviours.

Shyness

When meeting new people or dogs, your Oodle may appear to be shy or resistant. This is normal, as Oodles can be unsure about strangers. Because this is part of their personality, this is something for you to monitor when they are meeting new people for the first time. You can overcome your  dog’s shyness with early  socialisation when they are 12 to 16 weeks old.

Feeding your Oodle a balanced and nutritional diet helps support longevity and quality of life. Make sure to provide your Oodle with food specific to their size, as different Oodle breeds have varying health and nutritional needs.

For smaller Oodle breeds, we recommend sourcing a small Oodle specific dog food that contains vitamins and minerals such as Omega 3 that will promote healthy skin and coat, as well as nutrients to support heart health.

For larger Oodle breeds, we recommend feeding them a large Oodle specific dog food that promotes healthy joints and a soft coat, along with optimum heart health. 

Avoid table scraps

As with all dog breeds, you should avoid giving your Oodle any table scraps from your own plate. Not only can this turn into a bad habit, it can inadvertently affect your Oodle’s health. Feeding your human food scraps to your dog can lead to weight issues, along with digestive problems if dog-unsafe foods are provided to your Oodle.

Hydration

With their active lifestyle, it is essential that your Oodle stays hydrated throughout the day. We recommend providing them access to fresh and clean water at all times to ensure that they are receiving the appropriate amount of water. By keeping your Oodle hydrated, they can maintain a healthy coat as well as prevent health issues related to dehydration such as loss of appetite or breathing trouble.

Meal frequency

The frequency in which you feed your Oodle will depend on their life stage. For Oodle puppies, we recommend around three smaller meals a day with additional snacks, as they have smaller stomachs compared to adult Oodles. This will ensure that they receive all the nutrients they need to continue their growth and development.

As your Oodle grows into an adult dog, you can move to two meals a day. For smaller Oodle breeds, such as Pomapoos and Maltipoos, they can often benefit from still receiving three meals a day. 

Portion sizes

The portion size of the food you give your Oodle will be dependent on a range of factors. Larger Oodle breeds will of course require larger portions, while smaller Oodle breeds will need smaller meals. As we also recommend size-specific Oodle dog food, the portion sizes will likewise vary on the type of food. Make sure to follow packet directions on your Oodle and size specific dog food for accurate portion sizes for each of your dog’s meals.

Whether you have an Oodle or you're thinking about getting one, we hope you learnt something by reading our article. Whilst this guide is great start to learning about Oodle ownership, never stop seeking out new information from reputable sources. Share your experiences with other Oodle owners, and always continue to learn more about your dogs breed, temperament and how best to care for and love them.

This article was written by Dr Jack Ayerbe