Standard Poodle Mixes

The in 1970s, Australian breeders attempted to solve a problem among the blind community. Some people who could otherwise benefit from a service dog suffered or lived with people who suffered from pet allergies. The Guide Dog Association Victoria bred a Labrador with a hypoallergenic Poodle to see if a hypoallergenic dog would be produced that was suitable for service work. They found their answer in Sultan, a hypoallergenic Labradoodle that became a seeing-eye dog. Today, Poodles are bred with numerous other dogs to create cross-breeds called hybrids.

  1. History

    • Standard Poodle mixes have always existed, but breeders did not begin purposely crossing their poodles with other breeds until the late 1900s, when designer dogs began to increase in popularity. A designer Poodle mix occurs when a purebred Poodle is bred with another purebred dog, creating a hybrid. Breeders consider these dogs to be different from mutts, in that the dogs come from a known lineage. Consequently, they often sell them for high prices, like purebreds.

    Characteristics

    • Poodle mixes may exhibit any combination of their parents' traits. This is one reason why they are considered mixes instead of breeds, which must have a consistent physique and personality. One trait that is very popular, however, and present in many poodle mixes, is that they shed very little hair. This makes them largely hypoallergenic and suitable for owners with mild to moderate dog allergies. They also tend to be smarter and healthier dogs than their purebred parents.

    Breeds

    • As of July 2011, there are 66 recognized Poodle mixes, which includes crosses between Standard, Miniature and Toy Poodles. Among those crossed with the Standard Poodle are the Airedoodle (Airdale and Poodle), Dooberman Pinscher (Doberman Pinscher and Poodle), Giant Schnoodle (Giant Schnauzer and Poodle), Rottle (Rottweiler and Poodle), Sheepadoodle (Old English Sheepdog and Poodle), Shepadoodle (German Shepherd and Poodle), and two of the most popular designer dogs, the Golden Doodle (Golden retriever and Poodle) and the Labradoodle (Labrador and Poodle).

    Recognition

    • The American Kennel Club (AKC) does not yet recognize any Poodle mix as a distinct breed, largely due to the fact these designer dogs do not yet have predictable qualities. To qualify for inclusion, each mix must "breed true," or produce dogs with a predictable physique and temperament. There must also be at least three generations of interbreeding between mixes of the same type, a National Breed Club, and at least 300 dogs disbursed among 20 or more states. In the meantime, other registry clubs have sprung up for the purpose of recognizing designer dogs, such as the American Canine Hybrid Club.