Irish Doodle dog: Irish Setter Poodle Mix

Irish Doodle dog: Irish Setter Poodle Mix

Height: 15-28 inches
Weight: 40-75 pounds
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Colors: Black, apricot, brown, cream, silver, blue, red, some with white markings
Suitable for: Singles, families, house dwellers
Temperament: Friendly, loyal, moderately active, easily trainable

The Irish Doodle is a result of breeding the ever-popular Poodle with the ever-impressive Irish Setter. The smarts of the Poodle mixed with the sporting instincts of the Setter makes for a fun and interactive companion in the Irish Doodle. Small in stature yet big in personality, the Irish Doodle loves a lot of outdoor exercise, but they enjoy spending time indoors with their human companions just as much.

The Irish Doodle is boisterous and seems to take joy in everything they do. They love getting attention and are eager to please, so they tend to take well to training efforts. While playful, Irish Doodles have a mischievous side that lends to some stubbornness. This dog isn’t territorial and doesn’t bark much, so it won’t make a good guard dog. But their quietness makes keeping neighbors happy an easy task.

Irish Doodle | Dog Breed Facts and Information
Irish Doodle | Dog Breed Facts and Information

Irish Doodles get along wonderfully with other dogs of all sizes as well as children of all ages. They can adapt to new situations easily, which makes them great adventure companions. They also make great service and therapy animals. While they shed less than other breeds, Irish Doodles need to be groomed      regularly to keep their coats in good shape and your home from looking like a shedding station.

What is a Irish Doodle?

Are you looking for a smart, energetic, and family-friendly pooch to bring into your life? Then you’re in luck! Also known as the Irish Doodle Setter, Irish Poo Setter, Irish Setterdoodle, and Irish Setterpoo (Whew! That’s a lot of aliases!), the Irish Doodle is a super cute, friendly, and light-hearted medium-sized crossbreed. That’s right, they have almost any many lovable qualities as they do names. A mix of Irish Setter and Poodle, the Irish Doodle is ideal for anyone seeking a dog that won’t shed a lot and who will be loyal, social, and intelligent. This dog rarely barks and will even get along great with children and pets. In other words, it’s a perfect dog to bring home and make part of your family. After a few days with your Irish Doodle, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without him!

 Irish Doodle Dog Breed Complete Guide
Irish Doodle Dog Breed Complete Guide

If the Irish Doodle sounds too good to be true, rest assured that it isn’t. These dogs are very real and they live up to the hype! Combing adorable looks and an equally loveable attitude, this crossbreed is becoming hugely popular. After a few minutes spent in the radiant presence of these irresistible pups, you’ll understand why. To find out if this dog would be the right fit for your family, check keep your eyes glued to this page and scroll away. We’ll tell you everything that you need to know about the Irish Doodle and why you need to bring one into your home post haste.

 Irish Doodle (Poodle & Irish Setter Mix) Info, Pictures, Traits
Irish Doodle (Poodle & Irish Setter Mix) Info, Pictures, Traits

The Irish Doodle is a super cute, friendly, and light-hearted medium-sized crossbreed.

Origin

The Irish Doodle is one of the newest designer dog breeds. As it is the case with most of these dogs, the Irish Setter and Poodle mix also doesn’t have much of a history to speak of. Or at least they don’t have a well documented history. Intentionally bred crossbreeds are still somewhat of a novelty in the world of canines. Before the 1980s, when the creation of the Labradoodle opened a whole new world of possibilities for hybrids, all mixed breed dogs were a product of accidental mating. Mutts, although undeniably as lovely as their purebred fellows, simply weren’t as popular or coveted. Thankfully, all of that has changed quite dramatically. In fact, designer dogs can now cost several times more than their purebred parents! It’s amazing how things can change in a few short years.

As a designer dog breed itself, the Irish Doodle was probably first developed at some point over the last 30 years. Similarly, this Doodle hybrid likely had its start in the United States, like most hybrids did. Owing to the difficulties associated with discerning what are mutts and what are designer dogs, there’s no way to accurately pinpoint the time and place of the breed’s beginnings. Breeders simply didn’t think to document that sort of thing until quite recently. However, despite a general lack of information about the breed, the Irish Doodle does have an impressive history…through its parents. The Irish Setter originated in 18th century Ireland, and the Poodle is an even older breed. There have been records of Poodles stretching back as far as 15th century Germany. So there’s quite a rich heritage to the Irish Doodle, even if their exact origin remains a mystery.

Pedigree

The Ultimate Guide to Irish Doodles
The Ultimate Guide to Irish Doodles

The Irish Doodle is a cross between a purebred Irish Setter and Poodle. The Poodle comes in 3 different sizes: standard, miniature, and toy. Yet, only two types can be used to develop this designer dog. The standard Poodle is the most common choice, although there are breeders who use miniature Poodle studs with Irish Setter bitches. The result of that unique breeding is the Mini Irish Doodle.

Since this is still a breed in development, most Irish Doodle puppies are first generation or F1 mixes. This means that the mom and dad are purebred. Their offspring can look like a perfect combination of the two or more like one than the other. In other words, the appearance and the traits of F1 mixes are somewhat unpredictable. Yet despite that unpredictability, some breeders prefer them as they believe them to be the healthiest.

Multi-generational breedings are rare, but there are some F1b Irish Doodle mixes that are currently in development. These dogs are a result of breeding an F1 Irish Doodle to a non-related Poodle. In these cases, the Poodle genes are more prevalent (75%), so these dogs are a better choice if you are keen on the hypoallergenic coat and want a more Doodle-like breed.

However, despite the efforts of the breeders to standardize the appearance and qualities of the Irish Doodle, these dogs are still not considered to be an actual breed. The American Kennel Club still doesn’t recognize any of the designer dogs, so your Irish Doodle puppies won’t have official pedigree papers. Sadly, that’s a bias that the American Kennel Club is simply unwilling to drop, despite the fact that designer dogs are growing in popularity every year. Thankfully, there are other options. Instead, ask for a health guarantee and see if you can meet the parents. This is important both to see what you can expect with your own puppy and to eliminate the possibility you’re buying from a backyard breeder (a scourge on the dog breeding industry).

How easy are Irish Doodle to train?

One of the things you need to consider before adding an Irish Doodle to your family is the fact that these dogs aren’t always the easiest to train. They can be quite unpredictable, especially because the Irish Setter isn’t always willing to be trained and can get bored easily, while the Poodle is generally quite easy to train. So, it all depends on which traits your Irish Doodle inherits from each parent and as previously discussed, that’s unpredictable.

When training an Irish Doodle, you will need to be committed and patient. However, once you succeed at training your dog, he will remember everything that you taught him. The good news is that these dogs are easy to house train. So at least that won’t cause you much trouble. As always, no matter how difficult your Irish Doodle is to train it’s important to focus on positive reinforcement and giddy encouragement. Anything less is too close to abuse. Establishing yourself as the alpha with a gentle touch isn’t just the best approach, it’s the only one to consider.

Diet and Nutrition

A medium sized dog like an Irish Doodle will require a high quality canine diet that will provide him with the energy he needs for daily activity. You can feed your dog wet food, dry food, or a combination of the two. A good place to start is to feed your dog about 2½ to 3 cups of dry food, divided into two meals per day, but see if your dog requires more or less to maintain a healthy weight and energy level. Of course, if you are ever concerned about your dog’s diet and aren’t seeing the results that you expected, it’s always a wise idea to consult your vet. After all, not all dogs are the same and only an experienced vet will be able to identify the specific dietary needs of your personal pooch. So, don’t be afraid to ask your vet at your next checkup. It could make a huge impact on keeping your pup happy and healthy.

Combing adorable looks and an equally loveable attitude, the Irish Doodle is becoming popular.

How would you describe the temperament of Irish Doodle?

Once you get to know an Irish Doodle, you will completely understand what all the fuss is about. These canines are affectionate, loyal, and devoted to their families. They are also eager to please and highly intelligent. Plus, they are gentle with other pets and kids, so they make fantastic family dogs, whether you live in a large house or in a modest apartment. These dogs are bred to love and are the perfect match for almost any home.

Even though an Irish Doodle won’t mind meeting strangers, this dog will be attentive and alert and will let you know if he comes across anything that seems suspicious. So, while they will never exactly be a guard dog, they can be a decent watchdog. Of course, this has a lot to do with their tendency to form strong bonds with their owners. This is an affectionate and protective breed, and they will often stand by your side as guardians. Even so, the Irish Doodle is not a violent or aggressive breed. They’ll warn, but rarely – if ever – follow that with a reaction. Both the Poodle and the Irish Setter, the parent breeds of the Irish Doodle, are affectionate and friendly dogs. And these traits are fully transferred to their offspring.

Weight

A medium sized breed, the Irish Doodle weighs between 40 and 70 pounds. As such they usually require plenty of free space and room to exercise. The Irish Doodle will best thrive in an average-sized home or a spacious apartment. It is even better if you have a large house with a fenced in yard. This will give your pet the chance to exercise and play all they want. This is an energetic and athletic breed, and their need for exercise needs to be satisfied. Of course, this means that owners of tiny homes and small apartments simply won’t be able to keep an Irish Doodle and expect to provide them with a good life quality. They will feel cooped up, and that’s never good for a dog of this size.

How long will Irish Doodle live?

  • The Irish Doodle has an average lifespan of 10 to 13 years. Considering that 15 years is considered as a maximum life expectancy for most dog breeds, the Irish Doodle falls right into that medium category. Of course, 10 to 13 years is quite a respectable age for any dog. This guarantees that you will have an affectionate and friendly companion dog by your side for well over a decade – and that’s not a number to underestimate. Plenty of love and adventures can be crammed into a decade!
  • Of course, you can’t fully rely on these estimates. To reach that max lifespan, your pet will need all the help you can offer. They depend on you, and that’s a fact! To that end, you will need to provide ample care throughout their life: regular vet checkups, a healthy and balanced diet, tons of exercise, and heaps of love and affection. In the recipe of a long and carefree life, these are the most important ingredients.

How healthy are Irish Doodle?

  • Irish Doodles are typically hardy dogs. Much like other designer dog breeds, they may benefit from what’s known as hybrid vigor. This breeding method helps the offspring become more resilient than their parents.
  • However, hybrid dogs like the Irish Doodle are still susceptible to the conditions that most commonly affect their parents. In the case of the Irish Doodle, those conditions include epilepsy, Cushing’s disease, bloat, Addison’s disease, hypothyroidism, patellar luxation, Von Willebrand disease, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, eye problems, panosteitis, hypertrophic osteodystrophy, canine atopic dermatitis, osteochondritis dissecans, and sebaceous adenitis. So quite a bit.
  • Even though a dog’s future health can’t be predicted for certain, whether that dog is a crossbreed or a purebred, keep an eye out for general canine health conditions, such as blindness, deafness, and hip dysplasia, particularly as your dog gets older. Regular visits to a vet are the best way to spot any potential problems before they arrive.

Coat

Irish Doodles are perfect dogs for those who don’t want to be cleaning up fur around the house and in the car all the time. The Poodle is popular because it hardly sheds, so the Irish Doodle will also feature a coat that is long, wavy, and shaggy and that sheds minimally and doesn’t require a lot of grooming to keep it under control.

How active are Irish Doodle?

  • The Irish Doodle doesn’t need a lot of exercise. Instead, a moderate amount of daily activity, through games like fetch and a walk or a jog, will help keep your dog happy and in great shape. If you do have an enclosed, safe yard, you can even let your pooch play freely outside when the weather permits. It won’t be too hard to keep these doggos in shape, which is why they can be a good choice for urban dwellers in apartments, as long as they are active and spend time outdoors.
  • The Irish Doodle is the ideal dog to take to the park once per day for a short bit of fun and games. They are playful, goofy, and energetic, and will love to engage in games such as fetch or frisbee. Around half an hour of these games in the park, and you will satisfy this breed’s need for exercise. If there is no opportunity to go to the park every day, a simple and brisk walk on the leash will certainly do the trick!
  • Irish Doodles are affectionate, loyal, and devoted to their families.

Recognized Clubs

The Irish Doodle is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, as it is considered to be a hybrid breed. However, this breed is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), the Designer Breed Registry (DBR), the Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC), the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA), and the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR).

Puppies

  • Irish Doodle puppies and adults have a strong desire to be around their human families because they enjoy getting as much love and attention as they possibly can. So it’s a wise idea to spend as much time with your puppy as possible. You should also allow him to meet a variety of people and other pets that ensure that he grows up to be a friendly and confident adult. It will be easy to socialize them too, since any human who comes near your Irish Doodle will fall in love almost instantly.
  • That said, these dogs can occasionally be difficult to train. So, it is best to start training as early as possible. Pack leader training and obedience training can be used early on to socialize your puppy and get him accustomed to meeting other pets and people.

Related Questions

Do Irish Doodles bark a lot?

No, Irish Doodles do not bark very much.

How tall do Irish Doodles get?

The height of a Setterdoodle will depend on whether the Irish Setter was mixed with a Miniature Poodle to create a Mini Irish Doodle or a Standard Poodle to create a Standard Irish Doodle. Mini Irish Doodles are generally between 12 and 17 inches tall while Standard Irish Doodles are between 22 and 26 inches tall.

What does a full-grown Irish Doodle look like?

The appearance of a full-grown Irish Doodle can vary based on the exact mix of genes the dog inherits from the Poodle and Irish Setter parents. They have either a wavy or curly coat that sheds minimally to none at all. Their coat may be black, brown, cream, red, blue, silver, or apricot in color and typically has some white markings.

Are Irish Doodles good with kids?

Yes, Irish Doodles are very good with kids. They are playful, but also very patient and affectionate. This breed is also very loyal and devoted to the members of their family.

Have You Met The Active and Intelligent Irish Doodle?
Have You Met The Active and Intelligent Irish Doodle?

How much does an Irish Doodle cost to own?

  • The cost to purchase an Irish Doodle from a breeder can range from $1,500 to $5,000. Before purchasing from a breeder, be sure to do your research to make sure they have a good reputation and follow best breeding practices. Chatting with the breeder can also help ensure the puppy you get will be a good match for your lifestyle.
  • You may also find some Irish Doodles up for adoption through a rescue organization. Adopting one of these dogs should be considerably less expensive and will likely only cost a few hundred dollars.
  • After you bring home your dog from a breeder or a rescue, there will be additional expenses you’ll need to cover. Irish Doodles live for 10 to 15 years, so you’ll need to be committed to covering their expenses for their entire lives. Think about veterinary care, food, treats, and the various other supplies a dog will require. The first year you own the dog will be the most expensive, so you should budget at least $1,000 to $1,500. For the following years, be sure to budget at least $500 to $1,000.

Final Thoughts:

Irish Doodles are for anyone who enjoys an active lifestyle and who wants a loyal companion to spend their time with. This breed can teach humans a thing or two about maintaining a fun-loving attitude. While lots of love, attention, and training is required, owners of this breed are sure to reap many rewards along the way.

If you’re considering adopting an Irish Doodle, spend some serious time thinking about your lifestyle and the needs of such a breed. Are you compatible? If so, it’s worth a trip to a breeder or adoption agency. If not, consider looking for another breed to adopt that can better accommodate your personal lifestyle.

Edward Hollon is an avid dog lover and writer, knowing all there is to know about our furry friends. Edward has been writing for petdii for three years now, wanting to use her knowledge for good and share everything she can with new dog owners. Edward has two dogs herself - a German shepherd called Banjo and a chocolate labrador called Buttons. Edward knows more than anyone how adjusting to new life with a puppy can turn your life upside down, and she wants to ease some of the burdens through her articles.