Did you know there are over 60 different types of Poodle crossbreeds? They range from small, to medium, to large-sized dogs. Why are the most popular and subsequently best poodle mix breed dogs also the smallest, cutest, laziest and calmest?
The popularity of Poodle crossbreeds in Australia is growing because many of these hybrid dogs have hypoallergenic or low-shedding coats. This makes them great for families that have one or more members with pet allergies. Poodle crossbreeds are also smart and usually quite easy to train.
In this guide, we will discuss 10 of the most popular Poodle crossbreeds in Australia.
Best Poodle mix breed dogs – An Introduction
Poodle crosses such as Labradoodles and Goldendoodles (or Groodles) are becoming increasingly popular because it is trendy to own a designer dog.
People also believe that the Best Poodle mix breed dogs have the advantage of low-shedding and hypoallergenic coats as well as the easy trainability and high intelligence of the Poodle half of the mix. None of this is predictable though – your mixed Doodle puppy’s appearance and temperament are not standardised.
Each Poodle mix puppy will be unique, and its appearance and behaviour will depend on the second breed used in the crossing.
We must not forget the fact that some breeders use Standard or Miniature Poodles to mix with other dogs. To produce small-sized dogs, breeders even use Toy Poodle studs by artificial insemination to create mini doodle mixes. So, the resulting dog’s size, coat colour, and temperament will also depend on the size of the Poodle used.
With that out of the way, here are ten of the most popular Poodle mixes in the Land Down Under.
What are the Best Poodle mix breed dogs in Australia?
1. Labradoodles
Labradoodles or the Poodle Labrador Retriever mix breed are one of the most popular Poodle crosses in Australia. They are also known as Lab Doodles or Lab Poodles.
Characteristics
Standard Labradoodles measure between 21 and 24 inches (53.4 to 60.96 cm) and weigh around 50-65 lb. (20-29 kg). A mini-sized Labradoodle could measure between 18-20 inches (45 to 52 cm) and weigh around 30-45 lb. (13-20 kg). Small or toy Labradoodles measure 12-17 inches (30-43 cm) and weigh 20-45 lb. (9-20 kg).
The coat type and colour will vary greatly but common colours seen in hybrid dogs are white, chocolate, cream, white, particoloured, black, merle, caramel, ruby, and red.
Labradoodles are devoted, intelligent, loving, smart dogs. They are good with children and can also get along with other house pets. Labradoodles also make excellent therapy dogs. They love to be with their family and are extremely loyal and protective. They do need a lot of exercise and certainly are not couch potatoes.
The downside to owning Labradoodles is that the large or standard-sized ones are very energetic and need a lot of exercise. Similarly, the larger the doodle, the more grooming will cost both financially and in terms of the time required to brush and comb their coat between grooms. Moreover, they could be expensive to purchase and keep in terms of feeding, vet bills, bedding etc.
There is no doubt that the Australian Labradoodle is one of the best poodle mix breeds. They have been used as guide dogs for the blind and if well-bred, they have a calm disposition.
The lifespan of Labradoodles is 12-15 years.
2. Groodles/Goldendoodles
Goldendoodles or Groodles are a cross between Poodles and Golden Retrievers. They are one of the most popular Doodle breeds in the United States and Australia.
Characteristics
Groodles are available in three sizes ranging from the smallest toy, miniature, and standard – so there is always a Goldendoodle for every potential pet parent. You can expect a Goldendoodle puppy to grow between 10-45 kg (22 to 100 lb.) and measure between 30-70 cm (11 inches to 27 inches) at the shoulders.
The smallest Groodle puppies for sale in Australia currently are the Toy Groodles. These are a cross between an F1 or F2 Groodle female and a Toy Poodle stud.
The Mini Groodle is becoming one of Australia’s most popular designer dogs. It is one of the best poodle mix breed dogs because it is a convenient size for families with small children and for those with small yards or living in apartments.
Groodles are happy, affectionate, and zestful dogs. They have a “life of the party” kind of personality. They are eager to please and highly intelligent which makes them easy to train. For the same reason, Groodles make excellent assistance dogs.
Goldendoodles are very adaptable to the family environment and make great companions for kids. However, their retriever parent genes make them mouthy, especially in puppyhood. Owners should train their Groodle to redirect this ‘mouthiness’ to suitable long-lasting chews and toys from a young age.
The lifespan of Groodles is 10-14 years.
3. Sheepadoodles
Sheepadoodles are obtained by crossing Poodles and Old English Sheepdogs. They go by several other names such as Sheepapoo, Sheeppoo, or Sheepdogpoo.
Characteristics
Because Sheepadoodles can be bred from Standard, Miniature or Toy Poodles, your puppy can grow anywhere between 13-27 inches (33-68 cm) in height and weigh between 45 and 80 lb.(15-36 kg).
Sheepadoodle pups are usually born black and white. As they grow older, their coats may turn grey. Some Sheepadoodles have brindle, chocolate brown or red markings. They are often called ‘panda’ dogs because of the black patches around their eyes. Sheepadoodles usually have long and shaggy coats with varying degrees of curls, depending on canine genetics.
These cutest of poodle mix breed dogs are often known as loveable teddy bears due to their affectionate nature. They are social, intelligent, and hard-working dogs.
Sheepadoodles love to be with their people and value companionship. While they are mostly gentle with kids, they are known to herd and nip at the feet of kids and small animals. They benefit from plenty of training to encourage impulse control and calmness, which will help to reduce this behaviour.
The life expectancy of Sheepadoodles is 12-15 years.
4. Bernedoodles
Bernedoodles are a mix of Poodles and Bernese Mountain Dogs. They are also known as Bernese Mountain Poo. They are cuddly and look like teddy bears, it’s no wonder they are one of the best poodle mix breeds in Australia for families.
Characteristics
Bernedoodles come in three sizes: standard, medium/mini, or toy/micro-mini. Medium Bernedoodles grow to 20 inches (50 cm) and 35-40 lb. (15-20 kg), standard Bernedoodles grow to 26 inches (66 cm) and 80 lb., (36 kg) and Toy Bernedoodles grow to 15 inches (38 cm) and anywhere between 10-24 lb. (4.5 to 10 kg).
Like the Bernese Mountain Dogs, Bernedoodles can be white, black, merle, or brown. Their coats can have one solid colour, two colours, or even tricolours. Depending on canine genetics, a Bernedoodle’s coat can be silky and long, curly, or wavy, or straight. The straight-coated Bernedoodle is likely to shed a lot and is the least likely to be hypoallergenic. The curly or wavy-coated Bernedoodle is most likely to be hypoallergenic and low-shedding.
Bernedoodles tend to remain puppies for a long time. Their bodies might mature quickly but their brains are slow to catch up. Training a Bernedoodle is also quite challenging. However, they are intelligent dogs and like to learn new things. They need plenty of playtime with their owners to keep their minds sharp and active. They are protective dogs and appear aloof with strangers.
The lifespan of Bernedoodles is 12-18 years.
5. Cavoodle
Cavoodles are the cross between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle. They are also known as Cavapoos. They are among the smallest and possibly the cutest of the poodle mix breeds and they are currently considered to be the Best Poodle mix breed dog by Australians.
Characteristics
The average size of Cavoodles is 11 inches or 30 cm and 6.6 lb.-26 lb (or 3 to 12 kg) in weight.
Most breeders use miniature or toy Poodles to cross with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to create a Cavoodle. Toy Cavoodles are generally more popular than Mini Cavoodles because they are suitable for apartment living and require less overall time spent brushing and combing their coats than their larger counterparts.
Teacup Cavoodles are becoming increasingly popular – breeders utilise teacup-size toy poodles to create the smallest Cavoodles which weigh less than 3.5kg.
Therefore, they are mostly small dogs. Their coats can be long, straight, and silky or curly and wavy. No two Cavoodles are the same – you can get them in gold, tan, ruby, brown, white, black, merle, chocolate, red, phantom, cream, parti-colour, blenheim, or tri colours.
Cavoodles are playful, energetic, and active dogs. They need a lot of physical and mental stimulation to prevent boredom and destructive behaviour. With socialisation, they can get along with other dogs and children. Cavoodles are intelligent, loving, and loyal dogs that make wonderful family pets. They are also suitable for elderly people if they have someone to exercise them daily.
Common behaviour problems associated with Cavoodles include separation anxiety and barking. The best dog training focuses on building core life skills such as independence, optimism, confidence, calmness, tolerance to frustration and impulse control. This helps to stop separation anxiety and barking, without the need to use fear and intimidation-based dog training techniques which can make behaviour problems worse.
Cavoodles are one of the most popular Poodle crossbreeds in Australia due to their low-shedding coats and ease of trainability.
The lifespan of a Cavoodle is 10-14 years.
6. Bordoodle
Bordoodles are mixed-breed dogs obtained by breeding Poodles with Border Collies. They are also called Borderpoos, Borderdoodles, or Border Poodles.
Characteristics
Bordoodles measure between 14-22 inches (38-56 cm) and weigh around 13-60 lb. (6 to 27 kg). As with other Doodle breeds, Bordoodles are available in three sizes. Toy Bordoodles measure around 38 cm (14 inches), miniature Bordoodles measure around 43 cm (16 inches), while the standard Bordoodle is about 56 cm (22 inches) tall. Most Bordoodles have an athletic and agile build.
Some Bordoodle owners have found the Toy and Mini Bordoodle to be suitable for apartment living. However, it’s important to acquire your puppy from an ethical breeder. The best bordoodle breeders in Australia only breed from calm dogs, not working line border collies.
The coat of a Bordoodle can be straight, wavy, long, stocky, or coarse.
Poodles and Border Collies are two of the smartest dog breeds known to be highly trainable. Resultantly, Bordoodles are very smart, probably the smartest among all Poodle crossbreeds. They are also a bundle of energy and need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. They make great jogging and hiking/bushwalking companions.
Bordoodles are eager to learn and do well in obedience training. However, they can have a protective and herding instinct that owners can train them to redirect. Strangers will certainly not have unhindered access to your property and your Bordoodle will always alert you with loud barking.
The lifespan of Bordoodles is 11-16 years.
7. Spoodle/Cockapoo
Spoodles are among the most popular Poodle mixes around the world. They are a mix of English or American Cocker Spaniels and Poodles. They are also known by other names like Cockapoo, Cockerdoodles, Cockadoodle, and Cockerpoo.
Characteristics
Spoodles come in three sizes. The Maxi is the largest size, and they measure over 19 kg or 9 lb. The miniature or mini Spoodle weighs around 6-8 kg (13-18 lb.). Toy Spoodle weighs less than 12 lb. or 5 kg.
There are some breeders that advertise a fourth size called the Teacup Spoodle, but beware of puppy farms and other unethical breeders who tend to breed from dogs that have health issues. Only enquire about Spoodle puppies for sale that have been vet checked, DNA tested and at least one of the parent’s hip scored.
In UK and Australia, Cockapoos are typically mid-sized (cross between miniature Poodle and English Cocker Spaniels). Like their parent breeds, Cockapoos come in a variety of coat colours – both solid and combination.
Cockapoos or Spoodles are loyal, affectionate, energetic, lively, and playful. They do have the tendency to get jealous if their owners pay attention to someone else. Some even inherit the ‘Cocker Rage Syndrome’ from the Cocker Spaniel parent. They especially dislike it if anyone from the family leaves for work or school.
The best dog training for a Spoodle or any poodle crossbreed is a positive reinforcement-based approach. Any dog trainers that use fear, intimidation and punishment should be avoided as such methods can increase anxiety and aggression.
Small-sized Spoodles are odourless, do not drool much, are less expensive to feed compared to the larger dog breeds, and are extremely loyal. What more can a pet owner ask for?
Spoodles live for 12-15 years.
8. Moodle/Maltipoos
Moodles are a hybrid between Maltese and Poodles. They are also known as Maltipoos.
Characteristics
Moodles are extremely popular in Australia and the US because of their hypoallergenic coats and the fact that they remain puppy-like in appearance all their life.
The average height of Maltipoos is between 8-14 inches (20-35 cm) and they weigh between 5 and 20 lb. (2-9 kg). Most Moodles have a scruffy or curly coat that is cream or white although other colours like cafe-au-lait, red, black, apricot, grey, silver, merle, and even bi or tricolours are also possible. Moodles usually change colour at around 16 weeks.
Maltipoos or Moodle pups can be difficult to potty train. Like the other small poodle mix breeds, their cute cuddly size can be distracting. This increases the likelihood that owners will struggle to form a reliable toilet training routine.
Buying a Moodle puppy from a responsible breeder will aid the transition into your home. The best breeders commence toilet training with their puppies from 3 weeks of age and keep sleeping and any other non-potty areas meticulously clean. This sets their puppies up for potty training success!
Due to their small size, they do not make the best pets in households with small kids. They are very fragile and could be seriously injured by larger dogs.
Most Maltipoos are friendly, outgoing, playful, loyal, loving, and affectionate. They love companionship and want to participate in all family activities. They are also highly intelligent. However, this intelligence can have a downside in that, they need plenty of mental stimulation. Without it, they can get bored, destructive, or depressed.
The average lifespan of these small hybrid dogs is 10-15 years.
9. Bichoodle/Poochon
Also known as Bichon Poodle or Poochon, the Bichoodle is a mix between a Poodle (Mini, Toy, or Standard) and a Bichon Frise.
Characteristics
Bichoodle or Poochons are cute dogs measuring around 9-15 inches (22.86 to 38.1 cm) and weighing around 7 – 16 lb. (3.17 to 7.25 kg.) Their colours can vary depending on the Poodle parent but are usually whitish or cream. A darker-coloured Poodle parent will result in a Poochon with a dark-coloured coat. Their coats are hypoallergenic since both the parent breeds have hypoallergenic coats.
Poochons or Bichoodles are highly intelligent dogs. They have happy dispositions and loving and sunny personalities. They are overly attached to their humans and devoted to them. They also need little exercise – small Poochons can be exercised indoors while larger ones will need two or three walks a day.
Bichoodles are somewhat rarer in Australian than Cavoodles. They are similar in stature and temperament. However, if you’re looking for a lower maintenance option in terms of grooming, the fleece and straight-coated Cavoodles are much easier to brush and comb.
In contrast, if you suffer from allergies and want a non-shedding, hypoallergenic dog, the Bichoodle is a good option. Neither of their parent breeds (Bichon Frise & poodle) shed. Whereas the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is renowned for its seasonal high-shedding coat and this can influence whether a Cavoodle is likely to shed or not.
Poochons/Bichoodles live for an average of 15 years.
10. Yorkiepoo/Yorkidoodle
A Yorkiepoo (or Yorkipoo) is the cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a toy or miniature Poodle. They are known as Yorkiedoodles (or Yorkidoodles) and Yo-Yopoos. In 2020, Yorkipoos were rated in the top 15 popular hybrid dog breeds by a popular website. This was mainly due to their easygoing nature and supreme confidence.
Characteristics
Yorkiepoos are lovable little balls of fur measuring 7–15 inches (17 to 38 cm) and weighing around 5–15 pounds (2 to 6 kg). Since the Yorkshire Terrier and Poodle both have hypoallergenic and low-shedding coats, the Yorkipoo also has a hypoallergenic coat. This makes it a great choice for families where one or more members suffer from pet allergies such as asthma.
The Yorkipoo is among the smallest of the poodle crossbreeds. Their loyal disposition and cuddly size, make them one of the best poodle mix breeds in Australia, particularly for the elderly and less mobile.
Most Yorkipoos inherit the Poodle’s long legs. They also have a muscular build although they are lean. You can find Yorkipoos in various coat colours including white, black, cream, sable, and apricot.
Yorkipoos are loving and affectionate and relish their time in the limelight. They are usually bred to be companion pets, so they rely heavily on their owners for interaction. Therefore, they also suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for prolonged periods of time.
Yorkipoos are known for their high energy, and feisty and bold natures. These traits often come as a shock for people considering that they are pint-sized dogs. You must not forget that these dogs may be small, but they have ten times the spirit of dogs that are much larger than them.
Yorkipoos are eager-to-please dogs who love training with their owners and learning something new every day. Their high intelligence also enhances their trainability. They are also good with kids and other dogs, but their small and fragile size means that they need to be handled with care.
The lifespan of Yorkipoos is 10-15 years.
FAQs – Best Poodle Crossbreeds in Australia
What is the best mixed breed with Poodle?
Some of the best Poodle mixes include Labradoodles, Cavoodles, Poodles, Goldendoodles/Groodles, Bordoodles, Bernedoodles, Yorkipoos, and Bernedoodles.
The best poodle mix breeders, utilise Poodles with calm temperaments, full non-shedding coats, and better-than-breed average health test results. By using only the best poodles in their breeding programs, they ensure that their Poodle Mix puppies have non-shedding coats, the calmest temperaments and health that is far superior to that of a purebred dog due to increased genetic diversity.
What is the calmest Poodle mix?
Some of the calmest Poodle mixes are St. Bernard cross Poodle, Boodles (Bulldog cross Poodle), and Bernedoodle or Bernese Mountain Dog crossed with Poodle.
What is the easiest Poodle mix?
Toy Cavoodle, Yorkipoo, Mini Groodle, Mini Labradoodle and Moodles are easy to care for owing to their easygoing natures and smaller sizes.
What is the laziest Doodle breed?
The Bassetoodle or Basset Hound cross Poodle mix, Frenchie Doodle, Boodles or Bulldogs cross Poodle, and Pug doodles or Pugs crossed with Poodles are some of the lazy couch potatoes!
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