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7 Reasons to Get a Poodle Mix + Top 14 POODLE MIXES

Poodle mixes — crosses between a Poodle and any other breed — are increasingly popular. There are over eighty such “hybrids” listed unofficially.

If you are considering bringing home a Poodle mix then this article is for you.

Read on to learn the top reasons thousands of dog owners choose to get a Poodle mix. Then drive into any of the 14 Poodle Mixes we share below.

What Makes Poodle Crosses So Popular (7 Reasons)?

As you know the Poodle has a bit of a reputation for acting like a diva.

That doesn’t stop her fans, though – the Poodle is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States.

And this doesn’t extend beyond her purebred form to Poodle Mix breeds. People will take Poodles any way they can get them, mixed or otherwise. 

It must be something about that fluffy coat that people can shave or style to their heart’s content.

Or maybe it’s her elitist reputation that gives owners an air of nobility in simply owning a Poodle.

Whatever it is, if you’re looking for a Poodle to add to your family, you might just have some competition out there!

Here are the top 7 reasons to consider Poodle mixes.

1. Less Diseases – Hybrid Vigor

One of the big advantages of a cross is that they tend to be more robust than their purebred parents. This is because of genetics.

And without going into all the technical stuff about how genes flow from parents to pups, just know that the likelihood of genetic diseases  reduces dramatically when parents belong to different breeds, as in Poodle mixes.

2. More Intelligence

Poodles are believed to be the second-most intelligent breed, after the Border Collie . It is very common for a Poodle cross to inherit that intelligence.

3. Low Shedder

Depending on living conditions, breeds that shed fur can be a significant problem for owners. Poodles lack the undercoat of fine hair that most other breeds possess. This has two significant advantages:

  1. Firstly, this reduce shedding (since there’s less hair to shed) and,
  2. Secondly, it means that no high-allergenic fine hair enters the home environment.

Additionally, even though Poodles do shed fur, most of it tends to get tangled with the existing fur. This means that Poodles need to be brushed regularly, but it also means that most of the shed hair stays on the dog until brushed off.

Poodles’ shedding characteristics tend to get carried over to their crosses.

4. Non-Allergenic Fur

Another big advantage of Poodle mixes is their marked tendency to inherit the hypoallergenic quality of Poodle fur.

Of course, no dog fur is completely non-allergenic, but the fur of Poodles and their crosses tend to have low allergenic properties.

Couple that with the fact that they are low shedders and do not possess the fine undercoat hair layer, and one is left with a combination that most allergy sufferers can tolerate quite well.

5. Moderate personality

Poodle crosses, because of the way genetics works, tend to have personalities that appear to be moderate in comparison to their parents, a characteristic that can be welcomed by an owner not particularly interested in a high-energy dog.

6. Select Your Preferred Size – Small, Medium, Large

While pups can grow to be taller and stronger than their parents, the general tendency is for purebred pups to reach physical proportions that are close to the average of their ancestors.

Because purebred Poodles come in a variety of sizes — there are actually three recognized sizes: standard, miniature and toy — breeders of Poodle mixes can offer height as another choice to owners who have specific requirements.

7. Design Your Poodle Mix – Beyond Just Height

Not willing to stop at just height, some breeders are willing to guarantee ever more characteristics to the picky owner.

“Designer Dogs”, as the media calls them, are being increasingly popularized, in part, by association with movie stars.

The Poodle continues to dominate in this class, although there are some mixes that do not include Poodle genes.

Want a small, smart, playful dog that’s very easy to house train and is very social? Shop around for a Pomapoo.

Looking for a lower energy dog that’s there when you need it? The Labradoodle could be the one — it is very low on aggression, while moderate to high on sociability and friendliness, making it ideal as a therapy pet or guide dog.

Top 14 Poodle Mix Breeds

Today, because of their intelligence and low-allergenic fur, Poodle mixes are easily the most popular of the various crosses available.

All three sizes of Poodle — Standard, Miniature and Toy Poodles — have been crossed with a growing number of other purebreds to satisfy the most exacting owner.

Here is a list of the top 14 most popular Poodle mixes out there. (Yes, there really are so many popular mixes that a top 10 list just wouldn’t do!)

1. The Bichpoo (or Poochon) – Bichon Frise Poodle Mix

When a Poodle and a Bichon Frise come together, the end result is the Bichpoo.

Bichon Frise Poodle Mix (bichpoo, poochon)
(c) mbtrama at Flickr.com

The Bichpoo is a smart little dog with a playful and sociable streak.

She’s a people-loving dog who does just as well with small children as she does with older ones.

In fact, it's more important to supervise your children when they’re playing together, as they could accidentally hurt this small, fragile pup.

She also has no problem with any other pets you may have, which makes adding her to your family a non-issue.

Bichpoos have a seemingly endless supply of energy, so make sure she gets her daily exercise.

They also have a tendency to develop separation anxiety, so don’t leave the Bichpoo alone for too long.

2. The Cockapoo – Poodle Cocker Spaniel Mix

The Cockapoo may sound like a kind of bird, but it’s actually cross between a Poodle and a Cocker Spaniel.

Beautiful Red Cockapoo
Cockapoo

The Cockapoo is a smart dog who, as long as you train her early and often, makes a fantastic family pet.

The Cockapoo is all the best qualities of the Poodle and the Cocker Spaniel rolled into one dog.

She’s outgoing, like her Cocker Spaniel parent and, like her Poodle parent, she doesn’t shed much.

She loves when you give her attention, so she’ll do what she can to remain in your spotlight.

She needs about a half-hour every day of exercise to satisfy her higher energy drive.

3. The Goldendoodle – Golden Retriever Poodle Mix

Goldendoodles are just as sweet and loving as you would expect a Golden Retriever mix to be.

Gorgeous Goldendoodle Puppies | DogTemperament.com
Two Goldendoodle Puppies

These dogs are so smart that the Goldendoodle Association of North America reported their score as 4 out of 150 insofar as smartest dog breeds go.

Because these dogs are so loving, however, they make terrible watchdogs.

So, if you’re looking to get a dog to help protect your home, this dog ain’t it!

The Goldendoodle loves everyone, and those they don’t know they’re willing to make friends with.

This makes them fantastic family pets, as they not only coexist with but enjoy the company of other pets and children.

In fact, they’re so sociable that if you don’t socialize them properly, they can develop behavioral problems, like barking, anxiety, and jumping up on people.

They can also act out if you don’t give them proper exercise.

4. The Labradoodle – Poodle Labrador Retriever Mix

As you might expect, this Labrador Retriever Poodle mix has a wonderful temperament.

Chocolate Colored Labradoodle (Poodle Labrador Retriever Mix) Lying
Chocolate Colored Labradoodle

They are friendly, devoted dogs who are incredibly smart, which makes them easy to train.

The Labradoodle is a nice mix because he has the smarts of a Poodle and the cooperation of a Labrador. This makes her a great dog for the first-time dog owner.

Labradoodles can be a little pushy, though, so you definitely need to show them you’re the one in charge.

5. The Maltipoo – Poodle Maltese Mix

When you mix a Maltese with a Poodle, you get the Maltipoo.

Photo of Happy Brown Maltipoo Outdoor On Lawn
Happy Brown Maltipoo

More than just a cute name, the Maltipoo is a friendly, sweet-natured dog.

However, she can be a little snappy with younger children who play too roughly with her.

It’s a crapshoot with a Maltipoo – you can end up with a dog who’s curious and adventurous, or one who’s so confident he’s aloof.

It all depends on which parent she takes after more.

The Maltipoo is quite a character, so if you’ve ever just sat back and watched your dog because she was more entertaining than the TV, that’s the Maltipoo.

6. The Peekapoo – Poodle Pekingese Mix

This Pekingese Poodle mix is a great breed for those with allergies.

That’s right – if you’ve never been able to own a dog before because your allergies were killing you, you can now!

The Peekapoo temperament is so sweet that people often use her as a therapy dog.

She’s also a great watchdog and will bark at anything that seems “off” to her.

For this reason, you may want to consider a different breed if you live in the city, since she’s not a great match for a noisy environment.

Similarly, if you live in an apartment, she won’t be a great fit. While she’s a small dog, she has a deceptively loud bark that won’t believe came out of such a little dog!

She is incredibly active, so be sure to give her the exercise she needs or face the consequences: bad behavior, like digging, chewing, or other kinds of destructive mischief.

7. The Pomapoo – Poodle Pomeranian Mix

Could you imagine a floofier dog than the Poodle Pomeranian mix?

The Pomapoo is an affectionate, smart little dog.

She loves to play, and she’s hypoallergenic.

She’s a little anxious when you’re not around, and she’s not a great watchdog because she considers everyone a friend.

But, unlike other Poodle mixes, she doesn’t have as high of an energy level. Take her for a daily walk, and that’s all she really needs.

8. The Schnoodle – Poodle Schnauzer Mix

The Poodle Schnauzer mix, or Schnoodle, is a breed who’s so happy that nothing can break her stride.

Schnoodle Dog Close Up| DogTemperament.com
Happy Schnoodle

Her favorite things to do in life are to play with and relax with her family.

She loves to exercise with you, especially if you’re jogging.

Her protective nature makes her a good watchdog, though she can take it to the extreme and become a bit of a barker.

You’ll want to train her out of that while she’s young, or it can become quite annoying when she’s an adult.

She can also act stubborn from time to time, which can throw a wrench into training her. But stay persistent, and she’ll come around.

9. The Yorkipoo or Yorkie Poo– Poodle Yorkshire Terrier Mix

Mix a Yorkshire Terrier with a Poodle and you get…the Yorkipoo!

Yorkipoo Puppy

The Yorkipoo is an intelligent dog who’s more confident than her size would allow.

She might know she’s small, but she doesn’t care – she’ll boss you around just the same! And you’ll crack up laughing to watch her.

She’s a gentle, affectionate, and friendly little dog, though.

She may have a tendency to bark more than she should, but you should be able to train her out of this while she’s still young.

10. The Shihpoo – Poodle Shih Tzu Mix

When a Shih Tzu and a Poodle fall in love, you get…the Shihpoo.

If you want a small dog as a lap dog, then the Shihpoo is the perfect little dog for you.

She can get a bit yappy, though, so make sure you train her while she’s young to understand when is the right time to bark and when isn’t.

She’s a smart little cookie, but smartness often translates to stubbornness – as it does with this breed.

Just make sure you stay consistent with her training and don’t give up on her, and she’ll eventually come through.

11. The Chipoo – Chihuahua Poodle Mix

The Chipoo, or Chihuahua Poodle mix, is a sweet breed who loves to cuddle.

Though, she can act bossy at times if you let her get away with it.

She’s a clever clog, though, so watching her play can be a true joy.

You shouldn’t have a Chipoo if you have small children, since they can play too rough with and hurt her.

She also doesn’t shed much, which means she’s a great choice if you suffer from dog allergies. However, she does require regular grooming just the same.

12. The Sheepadoodle – Old English Sheepdog Poodle Mix

The Sheepadoodle is a mix of Old English Sheepdog and Poodle.

If you thought a dog couldn’t get any floofier than the Pomapoo, look no further than the Sheepadoodle!

This sweet lady isn’t as little as some of the other Poodle breeds.

In fact, she’s like a large teddy bear!

She’s puppylike in that she loves to play, and she’s also easy to train.

She doesn’t shed much, so she’s great for allergy-sufferers, but she does hate when you leave her alone.

Exercise is super important for the Sheepadoodle, since she can gain weight later in life.

13. The Bernedoodle – Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle Mix

The Bernadoodle looks like a fluffier version of a Bernese Mountain Dog.

It’s easy to tell just by looking at this dog what her mixture is.

The Bernadoodle is a rather new Poodle mix, so it may be difficult to determine which traits are consistent with this designed breed.

However, what experts do know is that she is friendly, playful, affectionate, and hypoallergenic.

She may be a stubborn puppy, but it’s usually just a phase – you can expect her to grow out of it.

14. The Aussiedoodle – Australian Shepherd Poodle Mix

The Aussiedoodle, or Australian Shepherd Poodle mix, looks like a miniaturized, furrier wolf.

She is highly trainable, like both of her parents, and she loves to please you.

It’s actually fun to train this dog – that’s how agreeable she is!

She has a high energy level, so only consider this breed if you can keep up with her.

She makes an excellent family pet, and while she does need her rules and boundaries, she feels ever-so-devoted to her master(s).

Most Popular Poodle Mixes – Quick Reference List

Some of the most popular Poodle mixes are the