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.
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 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.
