The Irish Doodle is a beautiful hybrid dog breed that can bring joy to the hearts of children and adults alike. With Irish Setter and Poodle parents, this dog is outgoing, friendly, playful and full of curiosity. Their smarts make them easy to work with when it comes to obedience and agility training.
Breed Overview
Height:
24–26 inches
Weight:
40–65 pounds
Lifespan:
10–15 years
Colors:
Red, black, apricot
Suitable for:
Families and singles, apartment and house settings, multi-animal households
Temperament:
Friendly, active, intelligent, good with kids
This mixed breed does not need tons of exercise and does not mind spending time at home alone, making them a great pet option for households with busy schedules. However, these are dogs that do love spending time with humans, so they expect to get plenty of attention from their household members every day.
Irish Doodle Characteristics
Energy:
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High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
Trainability:
+
Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
Health:
+
Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Lifespan:
+
Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
Sociability:
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Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.
Irish Doodle Puppies
Image Credit: Joca de Jong, Shutterstock
It is important to learn all that you can about the Irish Doodle before deciding whether to adopt one, as this may not be the right breed for your household when all is said and done. The Irish Doodle is an energetic and loving dog that loves to spend time playing with people, especially with kids. They’re easy to train and are a highly-sociable dog breed.
Irish Doodles are generally healthy, but keep in mind that they can be susceptible to a couple of health problems. With good care, a healthy diet, and exercise, your Irish Doodle should be a healthy and happy dog. Bringing an Irish Doodle home will be a fun and playful experience.
Image Credit: Left – Jumpstory | Right – Lisjatina, Shutterstock
Temperament & Intelligence of the Irish Doodle
Irish Doodles are active but do not require hours of exercise every day to stay happy and healthy. These dogs have a sensitive side that makes them crave the attention and approval of their human counterparts.
Once a new skill, task, trick, or habit is learned, it is tough to get this mixed breed to unlearn it. Therefore, it is important to offer positive reinforcement when they do the right things and redirection when unwanted actions take place. They thrive with obedience training in place, and they have no problem hanging out with other dogs.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
Irish Doodles are fun-loving, intelligent dogs that take well to training and love spending time with human companions, especially children.
With a curious nature and penchant to play, the Irish Doodle typically accepts dog friends of all types, small and large, as time goes on. However, if this breed grows up isolated from other dogs, they may feel threatened when confronted with another dog during adulthood. Therefore, it is pertinent to introduce obedience training and ensure socialization with other dogs during puppyhood. These dogs can also get along with cats and other pets if they are introduced early on and trained not to chase or hunt at a young age.
Things to Know When Owning an Irish Doodle
There are many things to learn about the Irish Doodle before deciding whether to adopt one! Find out everything from food and water requirements to exercise preferences and training abilities and more here.
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
The average Irish Doodle can eat anywhere from 2 to 4 cups of commercial dry food (or the equivalent of wet or homemade food) each day. Most owners find that 2 to 3 meals a day are best for digestion and performance. Commercial dog food should include real protein in the form of chicken, beef, turkey, or fish as the first ingredient.
Whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, and oats should also be included, as should fresh fruits and veggies, including berries, bananas, cranberries, greens, squash, corn, and sprouts. Any wet or homemade food should include all the features laid out here for commercial dry food. Owners should consult a veterinarian if in doubt of their Irish Doodle’s nutritional needs.
Irish Doodles are active and love to run and play. However, they do not require hours of work or physical interaction every day to stay healthy as they age. What each Irish Doodle does require is a brisk, 5–20-minute walk around the neighborhood or apartment community each day. They will never turn down a game of fetch in the yard, and they will not hesitate to play a game of tug-of-war with another dog or a child companion in the house during evening hours.
On the other hand, owners can expect their Irish Doodle to spend a great deal of time cuddling, hanging around, and lying near laps whenever possible. These dogs are chill when everyone else is and excited when the social situation calls for it, if they get a quick walk and regular interactive attention.
Training 🎾
The intelligence and eagerness to please that most Irish Doodles exhibit makes them awesome animals to work with when it comes to training. These dogs can easily learn the basics including, come, sit, and stay. They can also learn advanced skills, such as fetching the remote control and properly greeting visitors at the door.
These dogs can also learn agility training and excel in competitions, thanks to the smarts of their Poodle side and the agility of their Irish Setter side. Hunting training is possible, but owners should not expect this mixed breed to become a superb hunter for commercial reasons.
Irish Doodles typically shed frequently, no matter what time of year it is. Combing or brushing three to five times a week is necessary to keep shedding under control. Summer months may require up to 5 days of grooming to minimize shedding throughout the house. These dogs may require nail trimming once a month or so if they do not get out to walk on the ground at least five times a week.
Ears should be checked and wiped clean with a damp rag or cotton swabs regularly. Some Irish Setters are semi-hypoallergenic if their coats are inherited from their Poodle parents. However, potential owners should assume that their Irish Doodle is not hypoallergenic and should make ownership decisions accordingly.
Health and Conditions 🏥
Owners can expect their Irish Doodles to remain generally healthy when proper care, food, and exercise are in place. However, there are certain health conditions they can become susceptible to that are worth knowing about.
Minor Conditions
Bloating
Skin diseases
Serious Conditions
Hip dysplasia
Eye disorders
Epilepsy
Color dilution alopecia
Male vs Female
Both male and female Irish Doodles are loving, interactive, and loyal. Where the sexes may differ are in the training and independence departments, but the differences are typically subtle. For example, a male may be more independent at home, while a female is more attentive on the agility course. However, both sexes can handle being alone at home and both can do excellently during agility drills.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Irish Doodle
1. They Have Multiple Nicknames
These dogs go by many different names, depending on who is talking about them. Some people call them Irish Doodle Settles, while others prefer the term Irish Setterpoo. Irish Poo Setter, Irish Setterdoodle, and Irish Doodle Setter are other popular nicknames for this designer mixed-breed dog.
2. They Rarely Bark
Although the Irish Doodle typically inherits the intelligence of their Poodle parent and the hunting instincts of their Irish Setter parent, they do not make for a good watchdog because they rarely bark. This breed does not spend time looking out for strangers through the window or barking at kids playing in the yard. Instead, they prefer to focus on household members and leave the watching and barking to other dogs.
3. Their Coat Can Be High Maintenance
Due to the Irish Doodle’s wavy thick hair, this hybrid breed tends to shed frequently throughout the year. Therefore, it is important to make sure that they are brushed or combed several times a week unless having dog hair on furniture, clothes, and the car is not a worry.
Final Thoughts
Are you interested in adopting an Irish Doodle for your own? If so, what about this hybrid dog makes you the most excited? We love that these dogs are outgoing, friendly, loyal, and loving to children. However, they do require a serious commitment and plenty of space to stretch out, interact with others, and enjoy life overall. Always spend time considering dog ownership and weighing the pros and cons before making a final adoption decision.
Rachael has been a freelance writer since 2000, in which time she has had an opportunity to research and write about many different topics while working to master the art of fusing high-quality content with effective content marketing strategies. She is an artist at heart and loves to read, paint, and make jewelry in her spare time. As a vegan, Rachael is obsessed with helping animals in need both in her community and anywhere in the world where she feels she can make a difference. Animals also happen to be her favorite topic to write about! She lives off the grid in Hawaii with her husband, her garden, and her rescue animals including 5 dogs, a cat, a goat, and dozens of chickens....Read more
