The Doxiepoo is an adorable combination of a Dachshund and a Miniature or Toy Poodle. The hybrid dog looks like a teddy bear with a long body! Thanks to the Poodle parent influence, most Doxiepoos are hypoallergenic making them ideal for people with pet allergies.
Are you looking for more information about the Doxiepoo? Want to know more about its appearance, temperament, and cost? Then this guide is for you!
What is a Doxiepoo?
A Doxiepoo – also known as Doxiedoodle (or simply Doodle) – is obtained by crossing a Dachshund with a Toy or Miniature Poodle. Like all hybrid dogs, the appearance of a Doxiepoo is not predictable. Also, the Doxiepoo’s origins are not clearly known due to a lack of documentation. However, some people believe that it might have first been created around the 1990s.
The craze for designer dogs began a few decades ago when the first Doodle mix (a hybrid dog having one Poodle parent) was created. The resulting cross was hypoallergenic and also smart – which enhanced its trainability. Soon, more and more dog fanciers were demanding small-sized Doodles.
One such small Doodle mix was the Doxiepoo. Doxiepoos are cute, cuddly, and compact dogs, having Poodle genes that make them fairly easy to train. This can be advantageous given the fact that the Dachshund breed is known for its stubborn streak.
Being a hybrid dog, the Doxiepoo is not registered with the Australian Kennel Club. However, in the USA the American Canine Hybrid Club keeps a track of the parentage and heritage of such hybrid dog breeds and Australia has similar associations.
How Big will a Doxiepoo Puppy Get?
As stated earlier, it can be difficult to predict the exact height, weight, and appearance of Doxiepoos. Most Doxiepoos weigh between 5 and 30 lb.(2.26 to 13 kg) and measure 5-15 inches (12 to 38 cm) at the withers.
The delightful little dogs could inherit the curly, tight coat of a Poodle or they could acquire a coat like that of its Dachshund parent. Dachshunds are themselves available in three coat varieties: long, smooth, or wiry. Accordingly, your Doxiepoo could have a short, curly, medium, long, wavy, or smooth coat.
As such, no two Doxiedoodles will look the same. After all; canine genetics can be quite complex and the puppies could take after either parent.
Doxiepoo puppies are available in various coat colours including red, tan, cream, white, black, beige, liver, brown, chocolate, merle, pied, parti, phantom and combinations thereof.
Do Doxiepoo Dogs Shed?
The Poodle breed is non-shedding but Dachshunds could shed depending on their coat type. The long-haired Dachshund variety sheds significantly. So, you might want to check with the breeder about which Dachshund type was used in the breeding program.
The best breeders of poodle mix breeds, use DNA testing to check for coat traits in their breeding dogs. Traits such as furnishings and shedding genes are particularly important to consider in any breeding program aiming to produce hypoallergenic family pets.
If an F1 (first generation) Doxiepoo inherits a Poodle-like coat, then chances are that it won’t shed too much. However, if it inherits more of the Dachshund genes, then you should expect some shedding.
If you’re looking for a low shedding poodle mix breed, generally the F1b generation (F1 Doxiepoo crossed with a purebred Poodle) puppies will grow to be less likely to shed than their F1 counterparts.
Likewise, a Doxiepoo bred back to a Dachshund (especially the long-haired type) will have a longer coat that is also prone to shedding.
As such no dogs, even the Doodle-mixes, are 100% hypoallergenic and a person with dander allergy could still experience allergy symptoms around these pets.
Do Doxiepoos Need Grooming?
All Doodle breeds need regular grooming as they have sensitive skin. If your Doxiepoo’s coat is like a Poodle’s coat, you will need to take it for professional grooming to wash, blow dry and trim its coat. You can choose to keep your Doxiepoo looking like a Poodle or keep it uniformly clipped in a puppy cut throughout.
You can also groom your Doxiedoodle at home- just make sure to brush it daily to remove the trapped debris in its coat. Failure to do so could lead to mats and tangles which can be painful for your dog.
The Temperament of Doxiepoos – What are The Characteristics of Doxiepoos?
Is Doxiepoo a Good Dog?
Doxiepoos make excellent family pets provided they get proper training and socialisation at the right age. They mostly get along with kids and since they are inherently playful, they love their company. However, as with any dog, it is important to socialise your Doxiepoo with children from puppyhood. It is equally important to teach children to be respectful to and gentle with the small dog.
Doxiepoos generally fare well with elderly or mobility-impaired people. However, they need daily exercise so there should be someone around to train and walk them. A larger Doxiepoo will need more exercise although the smaller Doodles should not be made into couch potatoes. Smaller Doodles are fine with one short walk a day followed by indoor play sessions.
Without exercise, these small dogs tend to get bored and restless. Younger Doxiepoos are extremely energetic so you need to make sure to stimulate their bodies as well as their minds on a daily basis.
Environmental enrichment activities such as stuffed Kongs, food puzzles, licky mats and snuffle mats will be very helpful in keeping your Doxiepoo puppy stimulated and occupied.
Do Doxiepoos Bark a Lot?
Doxiepoos are generally happy, affectionate, and cheerful dogs. They are also playful and energetic. However, like all Doodles, they have a tendency to jump and bark. Therefore, your Doxiepoo puppy (and you!) will benefit from its early training and socialisation.
Untrained Doxiepoos will jump on or bark at every person that enters your home or at anybody they meet on the street. It is just one of the traits of a Doxiepoo. Not everybody appreciates this behaviour. So, you need to train your Doodle to do a behaviour such as sitting quietly for attention. You will also have to be very consistent and patient with training and always use positive reinforcement.
Doxiepoos even tend to jump on other dogs. Some dogs can be patient with them but not all. Pay careful attention to how your Doodle greets other dogs. You might also want to enrol your puppy in obedience school, puppy preschool or group training classes so they can learn to interact appropriately with other dogs.
The good news is that Doxiepoos are highly trainable. However, training should start from an early age. Young dogs learn faster than older dogs so it is important to establish what you want your puppy to do and what you don’t want them to do, and be consistent from the day your puppy comes home.
Can Doxiepoos Be Left Alone?
Doodles are known to suffer from extreme separation anxiety. After all; they love their humans and consider them their pack. When separated from you, Doxiepoos tend to feel despondent and insecure. Some bark and whine while others get destructive. Some might even chew their paws raw.
If you have to leave your young Doxiepoo alone for long periods of time, consider enrolling it in doggy daycare. That way, your puppy can play with other dogs, get exercise, and also be around people. Adult Doxiepoos might do well being left alone but you may want to have a dog walker come in at least once a day to take them out.
The Cost of a Doxiepoo Puppy
Doxiepoo puppies cost around $1500-$2000 although some reputable breeders are known to charge almost $2500 for these pups. Good breeders spend time and money on health testing the parent dogs. The Dachshund dog breed is known to suffer from several health issues and genetic problems (more about this later in the guide). Therefore, testing is a must. The best, responsible dog breeders only use healthy dogs in their breeding programs.
Dietary Requirements of Doxiepoos – Doxiedoodle Feeding Guide
Like most Doodles, Doxiepoos are known to have sensitive digestion. They react to certain foods especially dairy, grains like wheat or corn, fillers, and other artificial ingredients. The Poodle dog breed is prone to skin issues and eating certain foods causes them to break into rashes, hives, itching, and hair loss. This is often passed on to the Doxiepoo offspring.
It is best to consult a vet nutritionist about the right food for your Doxiepoo. These days, there are several types of foods specially formulated for sensitive dogs. You can choose from a hypoallergenic and grain-free diet, homemade food, raw dog food, or special vet-prescribed foods.
In general, a diet rich in protein with meats like chicken, turkey, fish, lamb, etc. along with raw meaty bones and vegetables is a good diet for most Doodles.
Health Issues in Doxiepoos – What is the Lifespan of a Doxiedoodle?
Most Doxiepoos live a healthy life but any dog can fall prey to ill-health. The Dachshund breed is known to be chondrodystrophic which causes various back issues in them. Intervertebral Disc Disease or IVDD is a major problem seen in Dachshunds and some Doxiepoos inherit it.
It is important that you are aware of these issues so you can watch out for the warning signs. Early treatment along with a good diet, exercise, and supplements could prevent these problems from escalating and can also improve your pet’s quality of life.
Other health issues seen in Doxiedoodles are hip/elbow dysplasia, seizures, neurological issues, and cardiac problems. The parent dogs should be tested for joint issues and genetic problems in the breed and only dogs that demonstrate excellent health should be used. Poodles also carry the genes for a number of eye problems so good breeders should make it a point to test them through DNA testing and CERF eye exams.
Healthy Doxiepoos are known to live for 12-15 years depending on their size. Smaller dogs generally live longer.
The Doxiepoo is a fairly rare designer dog breed in Australia. If you’re having trouble finding Doxiepoo breeders or puppies for sale near you, consider looking for a rescue or other similar poodle mix breeds such as the Schnoodle, Peekapoo, Chi-Poo, Jackapoo or Westiepoo.
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