Schnoodle – Friendly Mix of Schnauzer & Poodle

Like many other designer dogs, the Schnoodle has been given a name in English that is composed of the original breeds: Schnauzer and Poodle (Poodle) – in short: “Schn-oodle”. This mix of dog breeds is not recognized by any association worldwide, so there is no breeding standard or registered breeders.

In most cases, Schnoodle puppies result from the direct cross between a purebred Poodle and an equally purebred Schnauzer. But some Schnoodles result from the mating of Schnoodle and Schnoodle or even mixed forms (e.g. Schnoodle and Poodle).

You can’t tell from the name what kind of poodle and schnauzer is in the Schnoodle. Was it a miniature, medium, or giant schnauzer? A toy, small or standard poodle? Depending on which of these breeds was involved, the fluffy mixes can grow to anywhere from 25 to 65 centimeters in size. When looking for a puppy, questions about the parents are therefore indispensable.

The mix aims ​​to pass on the best of both breeds to the offspring. Poodles are considered highly intelligent, very docile, and attentive. They bring a high degree of “will to please” – the willingness to cooperate with their humans and to please them. However, the smaller poodle breeds in particular tend to be insecure and can easily overreact.

The Schnauzer, who brings a fair amount of confidence to any size, is meant to counteract these traits of the Poodle when crossbred. His temperament is considered balanced, his character is playful, alert, and loyal. He goes through life with more confidence and calm, which can offset the slight hyperactivity of the smaller Poodle breeds. At the same time, schnauzers are considered to be extremely clever to the point of stubbornness. They question commands and may choose not to follow them. Here, the poodle’s willingness to cooperate can have a positive effect on the mix.

However, it is impossible to predict how a particular Schnoodle will develop in character. In the best case, you get the desired mixture with all its strengths. However, it cannot be ruled out that the character of one of the parent breeds will prevail. Do a thorough study of both parent breeds before committing to a Schnoodle. So you are always prepared for your new family member. You won’t find out about his disposition until your little puppy grows up.

Thanks to the influence of both parent breeds, the Schnoodle is also a friendly, docile companion with an even temperament. Most members of this mix are very active: They love to jump, run and play. Take this joy of movement into account when keeping them – either in the form of a large garden or by giving them enough time for long walks. The lively fellows like both best of all.

Dog sports such as agility, dog tricks, or the search for treats, which can be easily integrated into everyday life, are also ideal for agile four-legged friends. They trigger the Schnoodle’s intelligence, docility, and willingness to run. When properly utilized, the affectionate four-legged friend can also be happy in a city apartment.

The high level of intelligence of the Schnoodle makes training easier for you but also ensures that the furry friends get bored quickly. If they are underutilized, they often show this in undesirable behavior such as intense barking. Mental capacity and clear rules for living together are therefore decisive factors when raising your Schnoodle puppy.

Practice staying alone with your Schnoodle in small steps and keep the phases of being alone as short as possible – the Schnoodle prefers to be with everything anyway. Anyone who pays attention to good socialization right from the start can form a perfect companion, office, and family dog ​​from this mix.

There is one main reason for the numerous poodle mixes that are currently popular: the coat. Poodle fur hardly sheds at all, so the breed is often even suitable for allergy sufferers. Regular brushing and clipping are sufficient to care for your poodle’s coat.

However, whether a pup gets a Poodle coat is a matter of chance – one litter often contains all case types from the sturdy Schnauzer to the soft, curly Poodle coat. Some Schnoodles even carry both on their bodies. Choosing a curly, soft pup increases the likelihood of “catching” a non-shedding furry friend. However, since the adult fur does not appear until later, there is no final certainty about this.

Schnauzer fur requires regular hand trimming. The best contact for the right fur care for the Schnoodle is the dog salon: This also takes care of the important removal of the hair in the dog’s ears. If this does not happen, the ears will easily become blocked and inflamed.

In addition to the poodle coat, the mix of the two parent breeds is based on another goal: the breeding of healthier mixed breeds. The expansion of the genetic pool can have a positive effect on the health of young animals. This advantage is offset by the disadvantage that the parents of Schnoodle breeders are usually not health tested and it is, therefore, unknown which diseases they bring with them. The most common in the original breeds are eye diseases and joint problems such as hip dysplasia or patellar luxation.

Overall, both parent breeds are considered to be robust and long-lived, which they pass on to the Schnoodle: With good workload, correct feeding, and health care, small representatives of the mix can live up to 15 years, larger ones up to twelve years.