Schnoodle Breed Description

A schnoodle is a hybrid dog. It is a cross between a schnauzer and a poodle and was bred by design. Theoretically, a schnoodle should be exactly half schnauzer and exactly half poodle. This is not always the case. Schnoodles are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) because they are mixed breeds. As a designer dog, the schnoodle puppy fetches from $550 to $950 as of this writing. The price depends on the size and the sex.

  1. Breeding

    • A schnauzer is the other part of a schnoodle.

      A schnauzer, purebred A, and a poodle, purebred B, mate to produce a schnoodle. The puppy is classified as filial 1, or F1 --- a first-generation offspring --- and is 50 percent of each parent's breed. This should cause the puppy to be healthier than either parent over its life. After this, the ratios vary. There can be a "backcross puppy" that is only 25 percent of purebred A and 75 percent of purebred B, an F1b. An F2 is the cross between two F1s and is a second-generation puppy. This gives the same parent breed percentages as an F1 --- half and half. After that, there can a second-generation backcross puppy, or F2b. The ratio here is an F1 bred with an F1b. There is also an F3, which results from two F2s breeding. Any offspring from the union of two F3s is called multigenerational. Most enthusiasts are looking for an F1 or F2.

    Physical Characteristics

    • The AKC classifies schnauzers as three breeds: miniature, standard and giant. The AKC classify poodles as one breed with three sizes: toy, miniature and standard. A schnoodle can be any combination, more or less, of the two. Standard schnoodles are usually the mix of a miniature schnauzer and a miniature poodle. Those offspring are less than 20 pounds and 15 inches tall. Their coat is a combination of the straighter and longer one of the schnauzer and the curlier one of the poodle. Genetics and luck decide whether they favor one or the other parent. As a rule, schnoodles shed very little, so they are held to be hypoallergenic (though not completely). Their coat colors can range from black to white or any combination in between. White ones are the rarest. Schnauzers have cropped ears and tails. Poodles have only a cropped tail. Schnoodles have cropped tails but not cropped ears.

    Temperament

    • Schnoodles are called companion dogs and not show dogs. They are easy to train, intelligent, enjoy people and get along with other animals. Obedience and energy are cornerstones of their outgoing personality. They are easily housebroken, but that is the one area where they are shy. They love exercise, whether in the house or a long walk. Their exact temperament depends on those of the parents and that of schnauzers and poodles in general.

    Health and Life Span

    • With a proper diet, schnoodles are expected to live at least 15 years. The problem with health occurs if both parents carry the same health defect like a joint problem, whether hips or elbows or both. In that case, the schnoodle will likely inherit it as well. As a rule, the first-generation schnoodle should be healthier than either of its parents.