The 16 Most Popular Types of Doodle Dogs

Victoria Lynn Arnold
By

Victoria Lynn Arnold

. Reviewed by Jo Cornett, DVM.
Updated Sep. 29, 2024
goldendoodle lounging on a couch

You may have seen some of the most common types of doodle dogs that have gained popularity in recent decades. Every doodle dog is a little different, based on the type of Poodle parent (Standard, Miniature, or Toy Poodle) and the breed they’re mixed with.

Each doodle dog takes on traits from their parent breeds, but because there is no breed standard for any doodle, the dogs’ appearance, temperament, and care requirements can vary widely. This is part of the reason why it’s important to find a reputable breeder that prioritizes the health and care of their dogs.

Even although every dog is unique—just like every human—below are a few general characteristics of each doodle dog breed so you can know what to expect in a potential pet.

1. Labradoodle (Labrador Retriever-Poodle Mix)

red labradoodle sitting on a couch
Photo by urbazon/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

As the original doodle dog, the Labradoodle is still one of the most popular doodle breeds. Labradoodles are desirable because the parents, the Labrador Retriever and the Poodle, are two of the smartest dog breeds. Because of their intelligence and athleticism, this doodle mix was first created to work as service dogs.

  • Weight: 50–70 pounds (Standard; those with a Miniature Poodle parent may be smaller)

  • Height: 20–25 inches (Standard; those with a Miniature Poodle parent may be smaller)

  • Lifespan: 12–15 years (Standard; smaller dogs may live longer)

  • Common coat colors: brown, red, yellow, cream, black, white

  • Coat texture: curly, medium to long

  • Personality: intelligent, friendly, outgoing, playful

2. Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever-Poodle Mix)

cute goldendoodle lying on a human bed
Photo by Adobe Stock/jessjaimie

The Goldendoodle first gained popularity in the 1990s, following in the Labradoodle’s pawsteps. This designer dog breed mix has been extremely popular because of the desired traits of athleticism, intelligence, and obedience of both the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. 

  • Weight: 50–90 pounds (Standard)

  • Height: 20–24 inches (Standard)

  • Lifespan: 10–15 years

  • Common coat colors: brown, red, gold, cream, black, white

  • Coat texture: curly, medium to long

  • Personality: friendly, smart, gentle, playful

3. Bernedoodle (Bernese Mountain Dog-Poodle Mix)

tricolor bernedoodle lying in grass with his tongue out
Photo by Timothy Guarderas/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Most Bernedoodles are giant, adorable fluff balls bred for companionship. Although the Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle are both traditionally bred for outdoor work, Bernedoodles are just as happy snuggling up on the couch with you as when they are running through the woods. Bonus: their high intelligence makes them easily trainable. 

  • Weight: 60–100 pounds (Standard)

  • Height: up to 29 inches (Standard)

  • Lifespan: 12–15 (Standard)

  • Common coat colors: brown, black, white

  • Coat texture: curly, long

  • Personality: playful, friendly, outgoing, gentle

4. Cavapoo (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel-Poodle Mix)

red cavapoo puppy playing in grass and looking up at the camera
Photo by Making Connections/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Cavapoos are known for being great family dogs because they usually inherit the lightly-shedding fur and intelligence of the Poodle, plus the loving nature of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. These mini doodle dogs have a reputation for being calm dogs and are often used as therapy animals.

  • Weight: 8–25 pounds

  • Height: 9–14 inches

  • Lifespan: 12–15 years

  • Common coat colors: black, gray, red, brown, cream, white

  • Coat texture: curly, medium to long

  • Personality: outgoing, playful, curious, gentle

5. Aussiedoodle (Australian Shepherd-Poodle Mix)

merle curly-coated aussiedoodle climbing on rocks at a beach
Photo by Steve Bruckmann/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

The Aussiedoodle is the high-energy doodle mix of an Australian Shepherd and Standard or Miniature Poodle. These adorable pups are well liked because of their widely known goofy and loving personalities. Just keep in mind that they are high-energy and require a good amount of exercise and outdoor activity to keep them mentally stimulated. 

  • Weight: up to 70 pounds (Standard)

  • Height: about 25 inches (Standard)

  • Lifespan: 12–15 years

  • Common coat colors: black, red, brown, white, cream, gray, tan, merle

  • Coat texture: wavy, curly, medium

  • Personality: loyal, smart, energetic, active

6. Sheepadoodle (Old English Sheepdog-Poodle Mix)

black and white sheepadoodle sitting with his head tilted at the camera
Photo by Cavan Images/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Sheepadoodles are an Old English Sheepdog-StandardPoodle cross that’s a friendly and fluffy dog. Like other doodle dogs, Sheepadoodles are playful and carefree, making them popular family dogs. But make sure you have the time (and funds) to dedicate to grooming, as the coat care for a Sheepadoodle requires daily brushing and regular professional grooming sessions.

  • Weight: 65–85 pounds

  • Height: 16–22 inches

  • Lifespan: 12–15 years

  • Coat colors: black, white, gray

  • Coat texture: curly, medium

  • Personality: active, friendly, playful, smart

7. Yorkiepoo (Yorkshire Terrier-Poodle Mix)

curly-coated yorkiepoo sitting in grass
Photo by Adobe Stock/Mary Swift

Another small doodle breed, the Yorkiepoo’s parents are the Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) and either a Toy or Miniature Poodle. Pet parents love them for their affectionate, gentle nature and tiny size—which makes them great for apartment-living.

  • Weight: 3–15 pounds 

  • Height: 7–15 inches

  • Lifespan: 10–15 years

  • Coat colors: brown, cream, black, gray, blue, gold

  • Coat texture: wiry, curly

  • Personality: intelligent, affectionate, gentle, outgoing

8. Schnoodle (Schnauzer-Poodle Mix)

black miniature schnoodle dog lying in grass
Photo by Adobe Stock/Shashank

Schnoodles are a wide-ranging doodle mix because each of their parent breeds comes in three sizes: Standard, Miniature, and Toy for Poodles, and Miniature, Standard, and Giant for Schnauzers. Depending on what parent combo you breed, you can end up with a pint-sized lapdog or a towering pooch that’s ready to work.

But no matter the combo, Schnoodles tend to be smart, active, and friendly dogs with proper socialization and training.

  • Weight: 5–70 pounds

  • Height: 10–26 inches

  • Lifespan: 8–12 years

  • Common coat colors: Brown, red, yellow, cream, black, gray, white

  • Coat texture: curly, medium 

  • Personality: Smart, active, friendly, gentle

9. Shih-Poo (Shih Tzu-Poodle Mix)

black and white shipoo dog lying on the back of a couch
Photo by Adobe Stock/Ian

Shih-Poos are adorable small dogs bred from a Toy Poodles and a Shih Tzu. They are playful, friendly, and affectionate—but remember that their size makes them fragile, so supervise playtime with kids and teach children how to interact gently with dogs.

Toy Poodles and Shih Tzu are also two dog breeds with the longest lifespans, so expect your Shih-Poo to be a longtime companion.

  • Weight: 8–15 pounds

  • Height: about 10 inches

  • Lifespan: 10–18 years

  • Common coat colors: brown, yellow, black, cream, white, gray

  • Coat texture: curly, short

  • Personality: affectionate, cuddly, friendly, intelligent

10. Boxerdoodle (Boxer-Poodle)

black and white boxerdoodle wearing a red collar
Photo by GeorgePeters/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Boxerdoodles are a less-common and more recent doodle mix known for being playful, friendly, and active. They need a lot of exercise and do best when they have a fenced-in yard where they can run and play. If well-socialized, they can be great playmates for kids, and they usually love being a family dog.

Though Boxers are always medium-to-large dogs, a Boxerdoodle’s size can vary depending on whether they have a Standard or Miniature Poodle parent.

  • Weight: 12–70 pounds

  • Height: 10–25 inches

  • Lifespan: 10–12 years

  • Common coat colors: black, gray, red, blue, cream, white, yellow, brown

  • Coat texture: curly, short to medium

  • Personality: intelligent, active, friendly, playful

11. Irish Doodle (Irish Setter-Poodle Mix)

irish doodle on a walk
Photo credit: zeldaandsebastian/Instagram

The Irish Doodle—also known as an Irish Doodle Setter, Irishpoo Setter, Irish Setterdoodle, or Irish Setterpoo—is known for being a great hunter and retriever, just like their parent breeds: the Standard Poodle and Irish Setter.

They make great family dogs and are typically good with children and other pets. Just make sure to keep them physically and mentally stimulated, or they can develop undesirable behaviors like digging to entertain themselves. 

  • Weight: 40–70 pounds

  • Height: 22–26 inches

  • Lifespan: 12–15 years

  • Common coat colors: cream, brown, black, blue, silver, gray, red

  • Coat texture: wavy, dense, long

  • Personality: intelligent, energetic, easy to train, friendly

12. Whoodle (Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier-Poodle Mix)

miniature whoodle dog lying on patio furniture and looking up, wearing a red white and blue bandana
Photo by MDoculus/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Whoodles are adorable, smart, and friendly dogs that have silky-smooth fur thanks to their Poodle and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier parents. They can make great companion pets, love being active, and can sometimes have an independent streak. But they are also known for being loving, loyal, goofy, and affectionate.

  • Weight: 20–45 pounds

  • Height: 14–20 inches

  • Lifespan: 12–15 years

  • Common coat colors: black, gray, red, cream, white, yellow

  • Coat texture: curly

  • Personality: smart, friendly, outgoing, playful

13. Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel-Poodle Mix)

cream and white cockapoo perched on a couch
Photo by simonbradfield/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

As the offspring of Cocker Spaniels and Poodles, Cockapoos are versatile dogs that are happy to join you out on a hunt or snuggle next to you on the couch. Also like their parents, Cockapoos require regular appointments at a professional groomer every four to six weeks to keep their fur in top shape and tangle-free.

  • Weight: 15–22 pounds

  • Height: 10–18 inches

  • Lifespan: 12–15 years

  • Common coat colors: cream, white, chocolate, red

  • Coat texture: wavy to curly

  • Personality: smart, friendly, curious, eager to please, outgoing

14. Shepadoodle (German Shepherd-Poodle Mix)

brown shepadoodle dog looking up
Photo by Adobe Stock/Holly Michele

Shepadoodles are large, intelligent, and hard-working dogs bred from Standard Poodles and German Shepherds. These big doodle dogs do best in active families that prioritize exercising and training their canine companion.

  • Weight: 40–90 pounds

  • Height: 22–28 inches

  • Lifespan: 10–14 years

  • Common coat colors: brown, black

  • Coat texture: straight to curly

  • Personality: energetic, intelligent, active, athletic, playful

15. Maltipoo (Maltese-Poodle Mix)

maltipoo dog running on a leash
Photo by Adobe Stock/Rita Petcu

At just 10–20 pounds, Maltipoos are mini doodle dogs that are as friendly as they are cute. Their small stature and outgoing temperament makes this Maltese-Poodle mix a great dog for apartment-dwellers, families, singles, and seniors alike. 

  • Weight: 10–20 pounds

  • Height: 8–14 inches

  • Lifespan: 13–16 years

  • Common coat colors: white, black, gray, cream, brown, gold

  • Coat texture: curly to wavy, silky

  • Personality: friendly, outgoing, gentle

16. Chipoo (Chihuahua-Poodle Mix)

scruffy white and black chipoo holding a tennis ball
Photo credit: Nikki Naser

When you cross a Chihuahua with a Toy or Miniature Poodle, you get a Chipoo: a pint-sized pup with a big personality. They love to play and, because they’re so small, playing inside or going on short walks is enough exercise for a Chipoo.

  • Weight: 4–15 pounds

  • Height: 5–15 inches

  • Lifespan: 10–18 years

  • Common coat colors: white, black, gray, brown, tan

  • Coat texture: straight to curly

  • Personality: active, sassy, playful, affectionate


Victoria Lynn Arnold

WRITTEN BY

Victoria Lynn Arnold

Freelance Writer


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