Doodle dogs are any dogs that are a mix between a Poodle and another breed, and they are some of the most popular pups out there. They are generally very gentle and friendly and make for good companions.
The most common Doodle is a Goldendoodle, but there are plenty of other Doodles out there that you may not know about, like the Irish Doodle, for instance. In this article, we’re going to take a look at the Irish Doodle and the Goldendoodle side-by-side to see what the differences between these two breeds are. Read on to learn more.
How the Breeds Came to Be
The biggest difference between the Irish Doodle and the Goldendoodle has to do with their origins. Just about everyone knows that the thing that makes a Doodle a Doodle is the Poodle. These dogs are the unlikely hunter-turned-lap dogs that were born at the turn of the century, but what makes each Doodle unique is their other half.
The Goldendoodle, as you may already know, is a mix between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Goldendoodles are used in waterfowl hunting and are known for their intelligence and loyalty to their owners. The purpose of the first Goldendoodle mix was to breed a hypoallergenic guide dog, but they quickly became popular and started the trend of Doodles that exists today.
Irish Doodles are half Irish Setters and are sometimes called Irish Doodle Setters. The Irish Setter is generally a hunting dog and is known for pointing towards game for their owners. The Irish Doodle is a newer breed that entered the dog designer world in the last 30 years.
Trainability
Irish Doodles and Goldendoodles are highly trainable dog breeds, and it is this trait that draws owners to both of them. Both breeds enjoy pleasing their owners, and they work best with a positive reinforcement style of training, generally enjoying their training sessions.
Both Irish Doodles and Goldendoodles are derived from working breeds, so training is essential for their health. They are highly motivated by treats and will do anything if they know it will make you proud.
Differences In Temperament
Irish Doodles are very charming dogs and love their families. It’s this loyalty that makes them well-suited for training, and they are gentle pups that are affectionate. They are great for families and have more than enough energy to put up with all of your antics.
Goldendoodles are also very charming dogs and are known for their loveable and goofy disposition. They love to make their owners happy in any way possible, and it is this eagerness to please that makes them trainable for just about anything. Goldendoodles perform their best when they have family around. They enjoy the company of their owners and don’t do well when left alone.
Exercise Needs
The amount of energy required is one of the greatest differences when looking at Irish Doodles versus Goldendoodles. The former is a very active breed, needing 90 minutes of exercise each day, sometimes even more for puppies. This means a walk around the neighborhood and high-endurance play, like tug-of-war or fetch.
If your Irish Doodle is not getting the exercise that it needs, they will turn to bad behavior to relieve their stress. They may dig, try to flee the yard, or run out the door if they are not getting sufficient exercise.
Goldendoodles, on the other hand, do not need as much exercise. Taking a 45-minute walk each day will be more than enough to keep them healthy, and they will prefer to spend most of their time near you doing the things you enjoy doing. However, if you are an active individual, you won’t have to do much convincing to get your Goldendoodle to be active with you.
Coats and Grooming
Goldendoodles receive lots of praise for their hypoallergenic coats. An average Goldendoodle will have curly or wavy hair, though some may be born with straight coats. Wavy and curly coats do not trigger allergies because they do not shed as much as the standard Golden Retriever, and despite their name, Goldendoodles can be born with a wide variety of coat colors, from reds to creams.
Irish Doodles also have hypoallergenic coats, and some may even be more hypoallergenic than their Goldendoodle counterparts. Setters do not shed as much as Golden Retrievers, so the Irish Doodle sheds half the amount of fur. They generally have fine, wavy hair that comes in many colors. Silver, blue, and cream are not very common but are still possible.
The grooming process for these Doodles is the same. You’ll be spending a bit of time and money on the hair of any breed of Doodle. First, you’ll need to purchase all of the special shampoos and brushes they need, and you will spend about 20 minutes a day brushing their hair to prevent matting.
Daily brushing is essential because Doodles are not able to shed, which means that their hair can become matted very easily. When matted fur forms close to the skin, things become painful, and walking and moving normally becomes uncomfortable.
You will also need to take your Doodle to the groomer. Doodle hair, like human hair, does not stop growing, so your Doodle will need a trim every 8 weeks to keep things manageable. Depending on your area, this can cost you anywhere between $50 to $100, and if a lot of work needs to be done, this cost can increase.
Health Concerns
There are a lot of similarities between the medical conditions of these two Doodles. The reason for this is that all mixed breeds are susceptible to the medical complications of each parent, and since all Doodles are half Poodles, they all share common conditions.
These include issues like elbow and hip dysplasia, eye disease, Addison’s disease, skin conditions, and allergies. These are all common in most Doodles, but other diseases can come from both the Irish Setter and Golden Retriever.
Irish Doodles are prone to acute Legg-Calve-Perthes, Cushing’s disease, and pancreatic diseases, while Goldendoodles are prone to Von Willebrand disease, heart disease, and chest abnormalities.