What is a Schnoodle Dog?
Heritage:
Schnauzer Poodle Mix
Other Names:
Schnauzerdoodle, Schnauzerpoo, Schnauzer Doodle, Schnauzer Poodle Mix
Schnauzer Poodle Mix Breed History
Schnauzer Breed History:
Long before the birth of mechanized agriculture, farmers all over the world strived to breed the most versatile dogs to use as helpers. Ireland came up with the Kerry Blue Terrier while the United States’ choice was the Rat Terrier among others.
Germany’s attempt at solving this problem resulted in the Schnauzer. On farms in the Middle Ages, Schnauzers’ jobs included herding, guarding, hunting, and keeping rats away.
Schnauzers made their way to America around 1900 but weren’t common pets until the 1920s. Now there are separate breed categorizations in the AKC for Standard Schnauzers and Miniature Schnauzers.
Poodle Breed History:
While commonly associated with the French, the Poodle actually originated as a duck hunter in Germany over 400 years ago. In German, “pudelin” refers to the splashing in water that the dogs would do to retrieve waterfowl. The Poodle’s curly, weatherproof coat as well as its natural swimming ability and high intelligence made it an excellent retriever.
Eventually, Poodles made their way from the lake to the life of luxury as they were the breed of choice by French nobles, and eventually royalty across all of Europe. To this day, the Poodle is still the national dog of France. The entertainment industry then caught on to the Poodle’s showy looks, intelligence, and ease of trainability and gave them a prominent role in circus acts across the world.
While the Poodle started out as the “standard” variety, eventually the miniature and toy variations were bred. The Toy Poodle started in the United States in the early 20th century to be a city-dwelling companion dog.
Due to the many positive personality traits and its hypoallergenic coat, Poodles are now commonly bred with a wide variety of other breeds to produce the “designer” hybrid dogs known and loved by many as “doodles.”
Schnoodle Breed History:
The Schnoodle breed dates back to the 1980s when Poodle crosses were first starting to develop interest. Like most Doodle breeds, the Schnoodle was designed with the hopes of creating a low-shedding, family-friendly dog.
While Schnoodles are not as mainstream as some other varieties of Doodle, they have a dedicated following and still boast high demand for puppies.
Schnauzer Poodle Mix Appearance & Grooming
How Big Do Schnoodles Get?
The size of a Schnauzer Poodle Mix is determined by whether its Poodle parent was a standard, miniature, or toy and whether the Schnauzer in its heritage was of the giant, standard, or miniature variety. On top of that, the gender of the puppy and the genetics of the parents play important factors as well.
With that in mind, a Toy Schnoodle will typically weigh between 7-15 pounds and have a height of 10-12 inches. A Miniature Schnoodle will weigh in at around 15-30 pounds and stand roughly 12-14 inches tall. The Standard Schnoodle will weigh approximately 30-50 pounds and stand about 18-22 inches tall. Finally, the Giant Schnoodle will weigh around 50-80 pounds while standing 20-25 inches high.
Read More: Schnoodle Size Full Grown: How Big Do Schnoodles Get? (Toy, Mini, Standard, Giant)
Schnoodle Dog Breed Coat & Grooming:
The coat of a Schnoodle can be a single color or a mix of two or more colors, with the most popular being white, black, and brown. Their fur can range anywhere from wiry like the Schnauzer to curly like the Poodle and usually is of medium length.
Read More: Types of Schnoodle Colors: Photo Gallery & Complete Guide
How curly your dog’s fur is dictates how often they must be brushed. A minimum of brushing once per week is required for Schnoodles, with the ideal frequency being every other day if not every day for more curly-haired dogs.
Read More: Schnoodle Haircut Styles: Before & After Grooming Photos!
Are Schnoodles Hypoallergenic?
Do Schnoodles Shed?
Due to the unpredictability of genetics, there is no guarantee that any particular dog, or litter of dogs will be hypoallergenic and/or non-shedding. Some individuals’ allergies are more sensitive to certain breeds than other breeds, but there is no scientific evidence that shows that certain hybrid breeds are universally more or less hypoallergenic than others.
With that being said, as the Poodle Schnauzer Mix is a cross between two hypoallergenic breeds, it’s typically a safe bet that Schnoodle puppies will be hypoallergenic and non-shedding as well.
Schnauzer Poodle Mix Health & Wellness
Schnoodle Dog Breed Lifespan:
A healthy and well-cared-for Schnoodle’s life expectancy is around 13-16 years.
Schnoodle Dog Breed Common Health Concerns:
Schnoodles may be susceptible to the common health problems of both the Schnauzer and the Poodle. However, due to the genetic diversity from crossing these two breeds, the result may be a lower chance of developing these inherited health concerns.
Some of the more common genetic disorders to be on the lookout for in the Schnoodle dog include Addison’s Disease, Cataracts, Diabetes Mellitus, Epilepsy, Gastric Dilation Volvulus, Legg-Calve Perthes Disease, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy.
Due to the cost of treating these common health concerns, we highly encourage all dog owners invest in pet insurance. We recommend getting a free online quote from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance.
Schnauzer Poodle Mix Temperament & Personality
Schnoodle Dog Breed Behavioral Traits:
Schnoodles are very loving and intelligent dogs, but with that comes a tendency to be a bit headstrong. They need constant companionship for mental stimulation to be happy, otherwise they may get themselves into trouble. With that being said, families who can’t be home as often should make sure that they’re utilizing either doggy daycare or a dog walker if they choose to have a Schnoodle.
This breed is very affectionate and loves to be the center of attention. They’re good with other pets but can be hit or miss with children depending on their personality. With their extremely high intelligence but headstrong tendencies, they’re moderate as far as ease of trainability is concerned.
Schnoodle Dog Breed Activity Requirements:
Schnoodles are very energetic and active dogs. In general, it’s safe to assume that most need at least 60 minutes of exercise each day.