You probably know that this Doodle breed is a cross between a Poodle and a Schnauzer, but now you’re wondering “how long do Schnoodles live.” Schnoodles can live from 10 to 18 years, but there’s more you need to know about their life expectancy. Before we move further in-depth, here’s a little thing you should know about this unique Poodle mix.
Both Poodles and Schnauzers are very popular breeds and create an excellent gene pool. The intelligence, versatility, and athleticism of a Poodle combined with the energy, loyalty, and dynamic nature of a Schnauzer is a unique combination. The Schnoodle is one of the most trending doodle dog breeds because they are also mostly nonshedding and considered hypoallergenic.
How old do Schnoodles usually live?
The Schnoodle’s wasn’t known until the 1980s and eventually rose to popularity over the decades. Since Schnoodles are designer dogs, there is a wide range of genetic traits that affects their lifespan. Your Schnoodle puppy may develop physical or personality characteristics more reflective of either the Poodle parent or the Schnauzer parent. We will go over all the factors that factor into their life expectancy.
What is a Schnoodle?
Raising a Healthy Schnoodle
Like many dog breeds, Schnoodles come in various sizes, which means they can grow as heavy as 6 lbs. to 75 lbs. Usually, the average Schnoodle is between 12 lbs. to 20 lbs. If you’ve stumbled across a bigger size Schnoodle, then it’s likely resembling the Giant Schnauzers and Standard Poodles which can weigh anywhere between 20 lbs. to 75 lbs. Generally speaking, the smaller your Schnoodle is, the longer it will live. If you’re interested in figuring out the size of your Schnoodle and its associated health risks, we highly recommend that you try an Embark Dog DNA test for your dog.
Schnoodle Lifespan
The Schnoodle breed tends to have long, thick fur coats that overgrow. With its coat, owners are required to trim and maintain it regularly. Remember to brush their fur several times a week and have them groomed at least once every two to three months. Feel free to experiment with your Schnoodle’s hair. You can have it cut super short like summer crop or let it grow out to become the Rapunzel version of dogs.
Another critical thing to keep in mind is that Schnoodles are highly prone to ear infections from unkept ear hair. Whenever you bring your Schnoodle companion to a professional dog groomer, make sure that their ear hair isn’t overlooked and taken care of.
Exercise and training is another crucial thing to do to raise a health Schnoodle. In the past, Schnauzers were mainly used as farm dogs, while Poodles are predominantly retriever dogs—the combination of the two results in a breed with higher energy levels. It would be best if you aimed to get at least 30 to 60 minutes of exercise with your Schnoodle every day. The amount of time you should take your companion out for exercise depends on its age and size.
Lifespan of Schnoodles
The most significant determinant influencing the life of a Schnoodle is mainly its size. Applicable to other dog breeds, the smaller the Schnoodle means, the longer its lifespan. The average lifespan of a small-sized Schnoodle is about 10 to 18 years old. As for Standard and Medium-sized Schnoodle, their life expectancy is approximately 10 to 16 years in age. Most large Schnoodle variants are around 10 to 13 years.
However, various factors can affect the lifespan of a Schnoodle:
Parents’ Size
General Health Conditions
Lifestyle
On average, your Schnoodle should live between 13 to 17 years, which is higher than the average dog’s lifespan.
Schnoodle’s Health
While this Schnauzer-Poodle hybrid boasts longevity, it also has its fair share of health concerns to keep an eye out for. These health concerns may include sensitive skin, allergies, dry seborrhea, scaling skin, oily seborrhea, Schnauzer Comedo Syndrome, Hyperlipidemia, and more.
Aside from these, there are other problems to stay aware of:
Cataracts
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Epilepsy
Legg-Calve-Perthes Diseases
Diabetes Mellitus
Patellar Luxation
Addison’s Disease
Gastric Torsion
These can prove fatal to your Schnoodle puppy companion. The most you can do as a dog owner is to provide a healthy and balanced lifestyle. This includes feeding them high-quality food and giving them the proper exercise to ensure that your Schnoodle is well-taken care of.
A general rule of thumb to avoid overfeeding is to top for one cup of dry food for 20 lbs. Schnoodle. How much you feed your Schnoodle all depends on its size. Bear in mind that every dog breed has different dietary needs. If you’re unsure, consult with your veterinarian for the best routine.
Life Stages of a Schnoodle
The Schnoodle’s lifespan can be divided into several distinct life stages. Starting with puppyhood and adolescence, moving into adulthood, and finishing with senior years. If you know what to expect during each of those life stages, you’ll have a much better chance at providing your pup a healthy and comfortable life regardless of their age.
Puppyhood (0-6 months)
Puppyhood is considered from birth and up until 6 months of age, give or take. As smaller dogs tend to grow up faster, they generally also reach adolescence sooner than larger Doods.
In those delicate early days, weeks, and months, puppies are extremely delicate. They’re still growing, developing their immune systems, personality, and behavior. For one thing, you should take your new puppy out to public places or dog parks until they’ve had all of their vaccines.
Nonetheless, early socialization and training is key from day one. Make sure you introduce your puppy to new people, animals, places, and situations. You’ll also want to start with potty training and obedience training from an early age,
During those first 6 months, puppies do lots of growing. They rapidly grow in height and weight, which will gradually start to slow down once they’re about 6 months of age. By this time, Schnoodle puppies have most likely also reached half their adult weight, some are even close to their full adult weight.
The smallest Toy Schnoodles usually reach half their adult weight around 2 to 3 months of age. By the time they’re between 6 and 7 months old, Toy Schnoodles will likely finish growing in height and weight. In contrast, Giant Schnoodles usually get to half their adult weight between 6 and 8 months of age.
For your puppy’s proper development and later quality of life, we recommend you feed your Schnoodle pup a specially formulated puppy food. Moreover, for very small Toy and Mini Schnoodles we recommend puppy formulas for small-sized breeds. Similarly, larger Giant Schnoodles would very likely benefit from puppy formulas made for large-sized breeds.
Adolescence (6-18 months)
Around 6 months of age, puppies will reach sexual maturity. This means that they enter the beautiful teenage period of their lives. Once this happens, it’s time you consult with your vet as to when your puppy should be spayed or neutered.
With all those hormonal changes, puppies are bound to get a bit moody and mischievous. They may act like they’ve forgotten all of their previous training. But, as long as you stay firm and consistent, they’ll soon grow out of it. In fact, age appropriate spay or neuter surgery can also benefit your puppy’s health and behavioral development.
By the adolescence period, smaller Schnoodles are already at their full adult size, whereas larger Schnoodles probably look all lanky with their long legs, huge ears, and puppy-ish looks. Still, growth rates for larger Standard and Giant Schnoodles will gradually start to slow down as well, and you won’t be noticing as many rapid changes in their height and weight.
Adulthood (1-10 years)
Once puppies reach their full size and maturity, they enter adulthood. Again, this is individual for each dog. Smaller Schnoodles enter adulthood faster, whereas for larger Schnoodles it usually takes a bit more time. Now that puppies are leaving their teenage months behind, they usually become calmer as they age and more level-headed.
Based on observed growth patterns of Schnoodles, we can expect Toy and Mini Schnoodles to reach adulthood even before their first birthday. Usually between 6 and 10 months of age. In contrast, larger Standard and Giant Schnoodles usually reach adulthood between their first and second birthday.
Once your Schnoodle pup is all grown up, it’s probably time to switch their puppy food for an adult formula. You may want to consult with your vet about your now fully-grown Schnoodle’s caloric needs, since adults have different dietary requirements than puppies.
As your beloved Dood is nearing its senior years, you may notice the first signs of aging. Your pup may become calmer with each passing year, and their movements may also start to slow down.
Senior (10+ years)
Sometime around their 10th birthday Schnoodles enter their golden years. Although some of them may show signs of aging, they are usually easily manageable or even treatable if paid attention to in a timely manner. For this reason, taking your senior dog for routine vet visits is crucial, as it can greatly extend their quality of life and lifespan.
It’s also very common for senior Schnoodles to overall become slower and calmer and more relaxed as they age. With that being said, since elderly dogs aren’t as active as they used to be, they’re also at a higher risk of weight gain and obesity.
If you’ve noticed that your senior pup is packing on the pounds, you may have to adjust your dog’s food intake accordingly. Obesity and weight gain pave the way to a host of other health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes, and joint problems. All of which can severely affect an older Schnoodle’s lifespan.
How Big is a Full-Grown Schnoodle?
The Mini Schnauzer is a small dog, typically 12 to 14 inches tall and between 11 to 20 pounds upon reaching full maturity. The Poodle comes in four standard sizes: toy, mini, medium, and standard. Thus, they can grow 9 to 18 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 5 to 55 pounds. The size of your fully-grown Schnoodle will be much larger if they are bred from a Standard Poodle rather than a Miniature or Toy Poodle.
A Miniature Schnoodle will probably remain within the 20-lb range, while Toy Schnoodle will achieve its full size when it’s between 10 to 20 pounds in weight. These smaller size Schnoodles will typically live well over 10+ years. A standard size Schnoodle that is 40+ pounds won’t live as long as a smaller Schnoodle because larger dogs are more prone to health issues.
Final Thoughts
There’s a reason why Schnoodles received the nickname “the teddy bear dog.” They’re generally small and are the most-loving dog! The Schnoodle is perfect for families and other family pets. Never alone and aloof like the “lone wolf” outdoor dog type, Schnoodles love company and will want to be around their owners 24 hours a day.
Not only does this breed get along well with family members, but it also makes for an incredibly loving and devoted family member. Don’t mistake its size because they’ll protect their owners when they sense any potential threats. While not strong, they’ll protect you with its vocal manifestation rather than physical and aggressiveness.
The average lifespan of a Schnoodle is between 13 to 17 years old, which is much higher than the average lifespan of many other dog breeds. If you’re willing to take on the challenges and rewarding experience of raising a Schnoodle, then check out our Schnoodle guides that’ll help you:
