Irish Doodle

The Irish Doodle is a hybrid dog resulting from a cross between a Poodle and an Irish Setter, recognized for its intelligence, sensitivity and affectionate nature. It has a square body structure and its coat, although variable in texture and color, usually resembles that of the Poodle.

General details

Dogs of the breed are of medium size, weighing between 18 and 29 kilograms, along with a height varying between 56 and 66 centimeters. Life expectancy is 10 to 13 years and they are not recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI).

Breed history in brief

The Irish Doodle is a hybrid breed of dog, the result of a cross between a Poodle and an Irish Setter, two different breeds of hunting dogs. The Poodle was originally bred as a waterfowl retriever, while the Irish Setter was bred as a field hunting dog. The Irish Setter was popular in Ireland and the British Isles and was later imported to the United States as a hunting dog and retriever. Although the Irish Setter can be crossed with different varieties of Poodle, the most commonly used to obtain the Irish Doodle hybrid is the Standard Poodle.

Breed characteristics

The Irish Doodle is a dog with a square body structure. Its head is narrow and the muzzle can be long and square like that of the Irish Setter, or straight and thin like that of the Poodle. Its eyes are of different shades of brown, from medium to dark, and almond or oval in shape. The ears hang on the sides of the face and are low set. The coat of the breed can vary in texture and color, although it is usually similar to the coat of the Poodle. The coat is single-coated, smooth, curly, long or short, and even with cords resembling dreadlocks. It may come in different solid colors. The Irish Doodle breed is intelligent, energetic and craves human companionship. They are very trainable and can be sensitive to conflict or chaos in the home. They are usually very good with children, but can be easily frightened if they have inherited this trait from their Poodle parent. With proper socialization, they are happy, playful companions who love to learn.

Common health problems

Information on the most common diseases in the Irish Doodle breed is limited, however, it is likely to be predisposed to some of the most common disorders in dogs such as hip dysplasia, volvulus-gastric dilatation and eye disorders.