The Welsh Terrier has the distinction of being the oldest existing breed in the U.K. Its story begins in Wales around 1700 where it was bred to hunt otter, badger, and fox in the remote northern regions of the country.
Badgers especially were dangerous foes, and as such, these dogs had to be extremely tough and courageous. Luckily, these dogs have powerful jaws and considerable strength that made them fit for the task.
Nowadays, this breed is developed almost exclusively for showing. However, it is listed as one of the U.K. Kennel Club’s endangered breeds that are in danger of dying out as only around 300 Welsh Terriers are registered each year compared to the tens of thousands registrations some of the most popular breeds see.
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.”
Woodle Breed History:
The origins of the Woodle breed are unknown.
Welsh Terrier Poodle Mix Appearance & Grooming
How Big Do Woodles Get?
A Woodle’s size is determined mostly by whether its Poodle parent was a standard, miniature, or toy. On top of that, the gender of the puppy and the genetics of the parents play important factors as well.
Typically Woodles are a cross between the Standard Poodle and the Welsh Terrier. They will weigh approximately 20-40 pounds and stand about 15-18 inches tall.
Woodle Dog Breed Coat & Grooming:
The coat of a Welsh Terrier Poodle mix typically comes in red, white, cream, black, or a combination of those colors. Their fur can range anywhere from wiry, like the Welsh Terrier to curly like the Poodle and usually is of medium to longer length.
How curly your dog’s fur is dictates how often they must be brushed. A minimum of brushing once per week is required for Woodles, with the ideal frequency being every other day if not every day for more curly-haired dogs.
Are Woodles Hypoallergenic? Do Woodles 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 Woodle breed is a cross between two hypoallergenic breeds, it’s typically a safe bet that Woodle puppies will be hypoallergenic and non-shedding as well.
Welsh Terrier Poodle Mix Health & Wellness
Woodle Dog Breed Lifespan:
A healthy and well-cared-for Woodle’s life expectancy is around 12-15 years.
Woodle Dog Breed Common Health Concerns:
The Woodle breed may be susceptible to the common health problems of both the Welsh Terrier 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 include Patellar Luxation, Epilepsy, Eye Problems, Hypothyroidism, Addison’s Disease, Cushing’s Disease, and Von Willebrand’s Disease.
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.
Woodles are very intelligent dogs and eager to please. This combination makes them fairly easy to train. They get along well with both kids and children and while they will bark at strangers or unfamiliar noises, they don’t do so excessively making them a good fit for families who live in apartments or small houses.
Woodle Dog Breed Activity Requirements:
An ideal apartment dog, Woodles don’t require too much vigorous exercise each day. A nice 15-20 minute daily walk should do the trick, with occasional fetches, dog park visits, and other forms of playtime mixed in for physical and mental stimulation.
Welsh Terrier Poodle Mix Pictures
Alternative Breeds to the Welsh Terrier Poodle Mix
