Cavoodle, Spoodle, Groodle, Berdoodle—there’s no doubt that blending Poodles with other breeds is here to stay. And they are popular for good reason – goofy, playful, affectionate and always by your side! Several staff at Dogdayz own Oodles, including Alex (long time staffer at Silvan) whose family includes a Groodle (Lena) and a Schnoodle (Bella).
A brief history of Oodles
It might seem like a recent phenomenon, however cross-breeding Oodles has actually been around since the 1950’s. And Monica Dickens (great granddaughter of author Charles Dickens) is believed to have bred the first Groodle in the late 1960’s. The idea was to combine the less shed and more hypoallergenic hair of the Poodle with the temperament traits of the other breeds. For several years in the late 80’s and early 90’s an Australian breeder called Wally Conron (who bred Labs for the Royal Guide Dog Assoc of Victoria) worked to create a Guide Dog suitable for an allergy-prone home. Eventually he bred a Labrador with a Poodle and created the very popular Labradoodle. From there the practice became popular in Australia, where breeders began crossing pure-bred Poodles with Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Golden Retrievers.
Physical characteristics of Oodles
Often described as ‘teddy bears’ Oodle breeds tend to have wooly coats, which can vary from soft flat hair right through to tight coarse curls. In size they range from Miniature (around 5 kg) for a Maltipoo or Cavoodle right through to Extra Large (around 40kgs) for a Bernadoodle or Groodle. Often they have the physical appearance of their ‘other’ breed (ie Border Collie) with the coat of a Poodle.
Temperament of Oodles
Poodles are lively and intelligent, and often require a lot of activity and stimulation. The result of crossing them with another breed varies significantly. For instance, when crossed with a Cavalier you often get a very affectionate dog that craves attention and loves a cuddle. When crossed with a Labrador, you often get a very active dog that requires a lot of stimulation – but still loves a cuddle on your lap! On the whole Oodles make great companions as they are playful, gentle dogs that aim to please and are quick to learn.
Oodle Grooming
As they have the lower-shedding coats, Oodles do require extensive grooming – daily brushing is essential to remove matts and maintain their health and well-being. And regular visits to a professional groomer will keep their coat in best condition. They are prone to watering eyes due to the longer hair around their faces, so it pays to wipe them daily. And regular checks for grass seeds, prickles, fleas and ticks are required. It pays to get in the habit of completing these tasks daily with them right from a pup.
Get in touch with our friendly Dogdayz team to organise or Daycare for your Oodle.
