Irish Doodle is a medium-sized designer dog, a cross between Irish Setters and Poodles. His size varies depending on the Poodle type the Irish setter is crossed with- toy, miniature, or standard. Irish Doodles are made for hunting and retrieving skills and are the first hybrid therapy animals. Irish Doodles inherit the skills of their parent breeds and are pleasant, playful, and perfect family companions. They love to play and be around kids and other pets. Irish Doodle’s Parent breeds, Poodle, originated in France and Germany, while the Irish setter is from Ireland.
Interestingly, the Poodle is the national dog of France. Though the origin of Irish Doodles is unknown, these mixed breeds are primarily found in North America, The USA, and Canada. Therefore, it is assumed that Irish Doodles must have been bred some thirty years ago, in the 1990s.
Irish Doodles also shine in agility competitions, advanced obedience training, freestyle dance, and tracking. In addition, they are perfect companion dogs that mesmerize the hearts with their winning personality. Are you looking for a super cute, friendly, clever pooch? Then, you are in luck. Irish Doodle is the right choice for you.

Table of Contents
Irish Doodle Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
Intelligent | Difficult to predict coat type |
Low shedding | High exercise needs |
Hypoallergenic | Separation anxiety |
Affectionate and social | Expensive |
Irish Doodle Basic Information
- Name: Irish Doodle
- Height: 22-28 inches
- Weight:40-70 pounds
- Size: Medium
- Coat: Variable
- Color: Cream, brown, black, blue, silver, red, gray, gold, apricot
- Group: Companion dogs
- Activities: Agility, conformation, hunting, obedience, rally obedience, tracking freestyle dance, and tracking
- Barking Level: Low
- Shedding Level: Low
- Hypoallergenic: Yes
- Energy: Medium to High
- Litter Size: 5-8 cups
- Life Span:10-13 years
- Other Names: Settepoo, Setter Doodle, Irish Doodle Setter, Irish Setter Doodle, Canis lupus familiaris, Irish Poodle
- Breed Recognition: American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), the Designer Breed Registry (DBR), the Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC), the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA), and the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR).
Irish Setter and Poodle: A Comparison
Features | Irish Setter | Toy Poodle |
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Origin | Ireland | Germany |
Height | 24-28 inches | upto 10 inches |
Weight | 55-75 pounds | 6 to 9 pounds |
Size | Medium to Large | Small |
Group | Sporting | Non-Sporting |
Children Compatibility | High | High |
Family Compatibility | High | High |
Pets Compatibility | High | Medium to High |
Barking Level | Medium to High | Low to Medium |
Shedding Level | High | Low |
Hypoallergenic | No | Yes |
Grooming Needs | Medium to High | Low |
Overall Health | Low | Low to Medium |
Energy | High | Medium to High |
Exercise Needs | High | Medium to High |
Trainability | High | Medium to High |
Activities | Agility, Conformation, Field Trials, Hunting Tests, Obedience, Rally | Agility, Conformation, Hunting Tests, Obedience, Rally Obedience, Tracking |
Complication in breeding | Yes | No |
Litter Size | 8-9 Puppies | 7 puppies on average |
Lifespan | 11-15 years | 12 to 15 years |
Other Names | Red Setter, Irish Red Setter | Pudel, Caniche |
Irish Doodle Personality
Irish Doodles are easy-going and friendly dogs with a cuddly teddy bear look. Irish Doodles come in different sizes depending on which Poodle is mated with the Irish Setter. They can be a Standard Irish Doodle or Mini Irish Doodle. Standard Irish Doodles grow up to 50-65 Pounds, whereas Mini Irish Doodles grow anywhere between 30-45 pounds.
Irish Doodles are athletic and energetic. They have relatively narrow, elegant heads and are attractive with long muzzles that can be either sturdy or square. The ears are floppy and drop as low as their beard. The almond-shaped eyes that are dark brown add to their teddy bear look. Irish Doodles mostly come in the Red Setter coloring, but some are also seen in gold, silver, apricot, brown, black, and blue. They usually have a soft and wavy coat like the Irish Setter parent, but some get the Poodle’s tight curly coat. Fortunately, they shed low and are hypoallergenic. This hybrid dog makes a great family companion even for those allergic to dogs.
Friendliness Overview
Affection level | High |
Family-friendly | High |
Kid-friendly | High |
Dog-friendly | High |
Stranger-friendly | Medium to High |
Adaptability Overview
Good for apartment living | Medium to High |
Good for new owners | Low to Medium |
Sensitivity level | Medium to High |
Tolerates being alone | Low |
Cold tolerance | Low to Medium |
Heat tolerance | Low to Medium |
Irish Doodle Temperament
Irish Doodles are friendly, warm, and fun-loving dogs. They are intelligent, confident, and protective of their owners. They love to be around people and are very friendly and affectionate towards children. Irish Doodles always are eager to please their human companions and suffer from separation anxiety when left alone. They bark when necessary at the sight of movement and noises to alert their owners.
Irish Doodles are sensitive depending on which parent they inherit. If they inherit the Poodle traits, they are sensitive to loud noises and an unfriendly environment. They are super playful and full of energy, and boredom is destructive and causes anxiety. Irish Doodles are loyal and have high compatibility with family and kids. They are great with multi-pet homes and easily adaptable. With Irish Doodle at home, you get to live with clownish plays and endless cuddles all day, week, and year.
Irish Doodle Training
Irish Doodles are sometimes sensitive dogs and require positive reinforcement in training. However, they are easy to train and enjoy socialization and playtime. Irish Doodles are naturally intelligent and energetic dogs. Daily enriching training sessions will help behavior correction and improve the bond between the dog and the owner.
Trainability Overview
Easy to train | Low to Medium |
Intelligence | High |
Prey drive | High |
Mouthiness tendencies | Medium |
Barking and Howling tendencies | Low – Medium |
Wanderlust tendencies | Medium to High |
Irish Doodle Exercise Needs
Irish Doodles are energetic dogs, and it is no surprise that their exercise needs are high. They love hiking, trekking, swimming, and any outdoor activity such as flyball and agility. An ideal sixty minutes exercise is essential for Irish Doodle dogs. However, remember not to over-exercise your Irish Doodle, and always walk him on a leash.
Exercise Needs Overview
Energy level | High |
Exercise needs | High |
Intensity | Medium to High |
Playfulness | High |
Irish Doodle Grooming
Irish Doodles have long coats and need trimming or clipping. They are high-maintenance dogs, but some owners clip their coats to minimize costs. The coat should be brushed 2-3 times a week if cut. Otherwise, daily brushing is necessary to avoid knotting and matting. Ears should be cleaned and regularly checked as they are prone to ear problems. Brush their teeth daily to prevent plaque and other dental problems. Also, clean their eyes and trim their nails, as a part of regular grooming needs.
Grooming Overview
Easy to groom | Medium to High |
Drooling tendencies | Low to Medium |
Amount of shedding | Low |
Irish Doodle Health
Irish Doodles are healthy dogs and may not develop any health concerns. But it always helps to know when to take your pup to the vet.
Health Overview
General health | Medium |
Weight gain tendencies | Medium to High |
Size | Medium |
Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is outwardly a painful disease that occurs when the bones of the back legs do not fit properly in the joints. While some dogs will exhibit symptoms, the majority of canines will not. Hip dysplasia is primarily genetic, although other causes such as accidents, excessive weight gain, and inappropriate training can also cause it. Even though this disease is fatal, therapies range from medicine to hip replacement surgery. To avoid this problem, avoid breeding dogs with hip dysplasia parentage and get annual examinations.
Addison’s Disease: This highly severe disease, also known as hypoadrenocorticism, is caused by the adrenal gland’s inadequate synthesis of adrenal hormones. Most dogs with Addison’s illness vomit, have a low appetite and are sluggish. Because these symptoms are nonspecific and can be confused for other diseases, it’s easy to overlook this condition. More severe symptoms appear when a dog is agitated or when potassium level increases to the point where they interfere with cardiac function, resulting in severe shock and death. If Addison’s disease is suspected, your veterinarian may run a battery of tests to make a diagnosis.
Epilepsy: Idiopathic epilepsy is a common hereditary disorder. It frequently causes seizures, ranging from mild to severe. Unusual behaviors may indicate a stroke, or frantically fleeing as threatened, stumbling, or hiding.
Seizures frighten, but dogs with idiopathic epilepsy have a relatively good long-term outlook. Other than unexplained epilepsy, seizures can be induced by metabolic disorders, respiratory illnesses of the brain, malignancies, toxin poisoning, and severe traumatic injury.
Bloat: A common issue in large breed dogs and occurs when the stomach is filled with gas and thus bloats.
Eye Diseases: Irish Doodles can be prone to the following eye diseases and disorders:
- Corneal damage
- Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)
- Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
- Eyelid mass
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Cherry eye
- Entropion
Skin Problems: The continual scratching or licking paws can be annoying, but don’t blame your dog for his bad behavior; the skin issue is to be blamed. Parasites, allergies, and underlying sickness are all possible reasons. The following are the symptoms of skin problems:
- Skin Sores
- Dry Skin
- Rashes
- Lumps
- Redness
- Dandruff
- Bumps
- Sunburns
- Hair Loss
Osteochondrosis Dessicans: Osteochondrosis Dessicans is an inflammatory condition that occurs due to the cartilage’s abnormal development, leading to its separation from the underlying bone. Although it most prominently affects the shoulder, it may be prevalent at the elbow, hip, or knee.
Symptoms of OCD
- Limping in the affected leg
- Extremely painful when the affected leg is manipulated
- Swollen or warm joint
- Treatment generally involves following a strict rest schedule, medications, supplements, and surgery if necessary.
Legg-Calve Perthes Disease: The blood supply of the femur is decreased, due to which the pelvis begins to disintegrate, and the hip becomes gradually weakened. Symptoms include limping and atrophies of the leg muscle. The diseased femur can be corrected with surgery.
Cushing’s disease: Cushing’s illness (sometimes called Cushing’s syndrome) is a condition in which the adrenal glands secrete excessive amounts of various hormones. Hyperadrenocorticism is the medical term for this condition. “Hyper” literally means “overactive,” “adreno” means “adrenal gland,” and “corticism” refers to the adrenal gland’s outer component (cortex). The symptoms of Cushing’s disease in dogs are:
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
- Increased appetite
- Reduced activity
- Excessive panting
- Thin or fragile skin
- Hair loss
- Recurrent skin infections
- Enlargement of the abdomen – resulting in a pot-bellied appearance.
Irish Doodle Diet and Nutrition
Irish Doodles require high-quality nutritional food, mainly from meat sources. Puppies need 3-4 meals per day, while adult dogs need to be fed twice daily. Irish doodle dogs can be given dry food, wet food, or a combination of both. Never hesitate to consult a vet to meet your doodle’s dietary requirements to keep them happy and healthy.
Irish Doodle Living Condition
Irish Doodles are easy-going and adaptable dogs. They can live in an apartment with urban settings and play and romp around in a big country yard. They love to be with caring families and require regular exercise to keep them happy and healthy. Irish Doodles suffer from separation anxiety when left alone.
Adding an Irish Doodle to Your Family
Things to remember before adding an Irish Doodle to your family
It is best to get an Irish Doodle from a reputable breeder to prevent unavoidable circumstances like health disorders and provide you with vaccination certificates. It is best to check with the puppy’s parents to ensure his health and happiness.
Cost of an Irish Doodle Puppy
Irish Doodle puppies cost somewhat more than Standard Chow Chow puppies. They range in price from $1000 to $3000.
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Other Irish Setter Mixes
- Golden Irish
- Irish Bostetter
- Irish Shepherd
- Lab Setter
- Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel Mix
- Irish Setter Rottweiler Mix
- Irish Setter Afghan Hound Mix
- Irish Dachshund
- Irish Setter Great Dane Mix
Other Poodle Mixes
- Cockapoo – Poodle Cocker Spaniel mix
- Maltipoo – Maltese Poodle cross
- Labradoodle – Labrador Poodle Cross
- Goldendoodle – Poodle cross Golden Retriever
- Schnoodle – Schnauzer cross Poodle
- Yorkipoo – Yorkshire Terrier Poodle cross
- Pomapoo – Pomeranian cross Poodle
- Shihpoo – Poodle cross Shih Tzu
- Poochon – Poodle cross Bichon Frise
- Bernedoodle – Bernese Poodle mix
- Bassetoodle – Basset Hound cross Poodle
- Dalmadoodle – Dalmation cross Poodle
- Bloodhound-Poodle mix
Irish Doodle Images








