The Irish Setter and Poodle mixed breed Irish Doodle also goes by Irish Poo Setter, Irish Doodle Setter, Irish Setterdoodle, and Irish Setterpoo. These lovable dogs are a hybrid of an Irish Setter and a Standard Poodle that are hypoallergenic and full of fun and smarts.
Irish Doodles are like the fiery red version of the beloved Goldendoodle. They are an intelligent, sensitive, and active breed with a fondness for people. They make great family companions as they generally tolerate both children and other animals. Inhibiting hunting dog characteristics like their Irish Setter parents, Irish Doodle may inhibit hunting characteristics like retrieving.
To find out if this cute dog is for you, read on to see about its activity needs, general temperament, grooming requirements, and more.
Breed Characteristics
Adaptability
How easily a dog deals with living in an apartment. Despite the dog's size, you should also consider energy level, calmness, and friendliness.
Some breeds bond very closely with their family and are more prone to panic and separation anxiety when left alone. When left alone, they can become very destructive, bark, whine, chew and cause mayhem. These breeds do best in a home with a family member around during the day, can go to work with their owner, or recommend attending doggy day care if the owner is not home during the day.
Low sensitivity dogs are easygoing, tolerant, and resilient. They can handle a noisy and chaotic household, a loud or assertive owner, and tolerate an inconsistent or variable routine.
Short coat and little to no coat breeds are vulnerable to cold climates. These breeds will have a low cold tolerance and need to live inside in a cool climate and should have a jacket or sweater on for chilly walks.
Breeds with a thick and double coat are vulnerable to overheating. Breeds with a short nose and flat face are also vulnerable as they can't pant as well to cool themselves off. If these breeds of dog live in a warm and humid environment, you will need to be extra cautious about taking them outdoor in the heat.
Friendliness
Friendliness towards cats and humans is very different. Some breeds are gentle and accept cats readily as part of the family. Some breeds will chase, fight, or rough play with a cat and cause severe injury. However, no matter the breed, proper socialization, and training can improve the situation.
Friendliness towards other dogs. Some dogs may try to dominate other dogs and attack and fight, while others would rather play. However, no matter the breed, proper socialization, and training can improve the situation.
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members or other people he knows well. Some breeds are independent, some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while others treat everyone they know like it's their best friend.
Breed, however, isn't the only factor affecting affection levels. Proper socialization and training can improve the situation.
Kid-friendly dogs should be gentle with children, be more tolerant of screaming and running children as well as other children's behavior.
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some dogs will greet a stranger with wagging tails, while others are shy, reserved, cautious, or aggressive. However, no matter the breed, proper socialization, and training can improve the situation.
Health And Grooming
Amount of bathing, brushing, trimming, and professional grooming needs. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drool-prone dogs may drape ropes of slobber on your arm or wet spots on your clothes when they come over to say hello. If you've got a laid-back attitude toward slobber, fine. But if you are a neat freak, dogs that are drool prone may not be the right choice for you.
Due to poor breeding practices, some breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems. However, this doesn't mean that every dog of that breed will develop those diseases, and it just means that they're at an increased risk.
If you're adopting or rescuing a puppy, it's a good idea to find out which genetic illnesses are common to the breed you're interested in. You may also want to ask if your shelter or rescue has information about the physical health of your potential pup's parents and other relatives.
If you are purchasing from a breeder, be sure to do your research. Purchase from a reputable breeder and ask for the parent's health records to understand what potential health issue your pup may have.
Amount and frequency of dog hair shedding.
If you are getting a dog, you'll need to deal with some level of dog hair on your clothes and in your house. However, shedding does vary greatly among the breeds. Some dogs shed year-round, some "blow" seasonally, some do both, and some shed hardly at all.
Trainability
Easy-to-train dogs are more adept at forming an association between a prompt, an action, and a reward (such as treats, appraise, or toys). Other dogs need more time, patience, and repetition during training.
Dogs bred for jobs requiring decision-making, intelligence, and concentration, need to exercise their brains. Such as, dogs bred to run all day need to exercise their bodies. If they don't get the mental stimulation they need, they can become destructive and exhibit behaviors such as digging and chewing. Obedience training and interactive dog toys are good ways to give a dog a brain workout, as are dog sports and careers, such as agility and search and rescue.
Common in most breeds during the puppy stage. Mouthiness means a tendency to nip, chew, and play-bite (a soft, fairly painless bite that doesn't puncture the skin). Mouthy dogs are more likely to use their mouths to hold or "herd" their human family members, and they need the training to learn that it's fine to gnaw on chew toys but not on people. Mouthy breeds tend to really enjoy squeaky toys, as well as a good chew on a toy that's been stuffed with kibble and treats.
Dogs who were bred to hunt have an inborn desire to chase--and sometimes kill. Anything whizzing by, such as cats, squirrels, or rabbits, can trigger that instinct. Dogs who like to chase need to be leashed or kept in a fenced area when outdoors, and you'll need a high, secure fence in your yard. These breeds generally aren't a good fit for homes with smaller pets that can look like prey, such as cats, hamsters, or small animals. Breeds that were originally used for bird hunting, on the other hand, generally won't chase. But you'll probably have difficulty getting their attention when birds fly by.
Some breeds are more vocal than others. When choosing a breed, think about how often the dog vocalizes with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passing bird, some may use other sounds to express themselves.
Physical And Mental Needs
The amount of physical and mental stimulation a breed needs. High-energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. Low-energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to lay around and sleep.
Some breeds do fine with a slow evening stroll around the block. Others need daily, vigorous exercise, especially those originally bred for physically demanding jobs, like herding or hunting.
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities. Without the brain exercise they need, they can be destructive and have unwanted behavior issues.
A dog's inclination to be protective of his family members, home, yard, or even car.
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window.
Origin of Irish Doodles
The exact date and location of the origins of the first Irish Doodle dogs are unknown. Before the 1980s, purposefully crossbreeding dogs to get a designer breed was rare. Most mixed-breed dogs were considered mutts, and parentage was often unknown. Designer breeds became popular in the 80s and 90s with the Labradoodle hybrid, the first intentionally designed dog for hypoallergenic pet owners. As such, the Irish Doodle, whose history as a designer breed is undocumented, probably dates back to the late 90s in the United States.
Irish Doodles were primarily bred for hunting and companionship, being another of the hybrid dog breeds that were at least partially hypoallergenic. While the designer breed does not have a long or known history of its own, it does come from parent stock that is old and impressive. Irish Setters have a history dating back to 18th century Ireland and Poodles originate even further back in 15th century Germany.
The Irish Doodle is a relatively new hybrid dog with no standards or regulations for appearance or temperament. It is not recognized by any major kennel clubs, including the American Kennel Club, but it is recognized by a number of designer dog and rare breed dog clubs.
Height: 24-26"
Weight: 50-75 lbs
Height: 24-26"
Weight: 40-65 lbs
Life Span: 10-15
Breed Group: Hybrid
Size
The Irish Doodle is a medium-sized dog breed. The female adult Irish Doodle reaches weights of 40-65 pounds and the males of 50-75 pounds. They grow to be 24-26 inches high.
However, Mini Irish Doodles are available and are much smaller. Miniature Poodle mixed with Irish Setter, mini Irish Doodle stand about 12-17 inches tall and weigh between 25 to 35 pounds with male Irish doodles slightly bigger than female.
Personality
The personality of the Irish Doodle is part of why the dog has become such a popular one. These dogs have pleasant, mellow personalities while still being playful, loving, smart, and loyal family dogs or personal companions.
Image source: Deposit photos
Appearance/Colors
The Irish Doodle is a hybrid that looks similar to a goldendoodle, except that an Irish Doodle's coat is usually darker and more red or apricot in color.
Some Irish doodles are black, and sometimes they will have white markings. Their coat is dense, wavy, and long and could be double or single-layered, depending on their setter and poodle parent. Their heads are narrow and elegant, with long muzzles and floppy ears.
Temperament
Irish Doodles have very easy-going and amiable temperaments. These dogs live with their people and make great family dogs. If trained and socialized early, these dogs are great with kids and other pets and will be friendly towards strangers. These dogs make great pets for seniors, singles, or families due to their calm nature.
It should also be noted that while this breed is technically hypoallergenic, But no dog is 100% hypoallergenic, and the more of the Irish Setter in a puppy, the less hypoallergenic it is. Getting a multi-generational puppy with a higher percentage of Poodle is recommended for those wanting a dog with the most hypoallergenic potential.
Diet/Nutritional Needs
The Irish Doodle's dietary needs are average. They should be given quality food, wet or dry, and the quantity or frequency can be discussed with your vet so as to determine the best diet for your dog's age, size, and activity levels.
Irish Doodles can be prone to bloat, so extra care should be taken to avoid overfeeding. You may also choose to split up your dog's meals into two or more smaller meals throughout the day or use a slow food feeder to lower the risk of bloat.
Image source: Deposit photos
Activity/Exercise Needs
The Irish Doodle comes from two breeds of dogs known for their hunting and retrieving skills, so it follows that the hybrid breed requires a good amount of mental and physical stimulation. These dogs should get at least ninety minutes of exercise a day. This can consist of runs, walks, playdates at the dog park, fetch, swimming, or hiking, but Irish Doodles also thrive in dog sports like agility, tracking, and obedience.
An Irish Doodle that is not well exercised will develop negative habits like destructive chewing, boredom, anxiety, and increased barking. Before choosing this breed, you will want to ensure that you have the time or lifestyle to accommodate this dog's average activity levels.
Grooming Needs
The shedding potential for an Irish Doodle varies greatly depending on the coat type any one puppy inherits. Poodles have low shed and hypoallergenic coats, but Irish Setters can shed quite a bit.
Most Irish Doodles can be expected to have low to moderate shedding. But this does not mean they are low-maintenance grooming. Even with a low shedding coat, you may have to brush your Irish Doodle once a day to keep tangles and mats at bay.
Irish Doodles are not a breed that is best bathed or groomed at home since doing so can lead to very bad matting. You should take your Irish Doodle to a professional groomer every four to six weeks if you want to maintain a longer coat. If you clip their coat closer, then they can go a little longer between grooming and may not need to be brushed as often. Their nails should be clipped, and their ears regularly examined for debris, irritation, or infection.
Adaptability
Irish Doodles are quite easy-going and calm pets that get along with most people and pets if they are properly socialized and trained when they are puppies. They thrive best with individuals or families with backyards to run in. But if you can meet their daily activity needs, they could thrive as apartment dogs too. Otherwise, these dogs can become too vocal for small spaces.
They can be a sensitive breed if not socialized, making them shy, easy to frighten, or even make them anxious and stressed. Extra patience and care will be needed to give them a calm environment while they adjust to new things and people.
Image source: Deposit photos
The Trainability of Irish Doodle Puppies
Because Irish Doodles combine two very intelligent hunting breeds, they are very trainable. They love to learn, and they love to make their owners happy, so training your Irish Doodle puppy should be easy.
You will need to use positive reinforcement and start quite young with obedience training, but that can easily become the building blocks for more advanced classes or tricks as they get older. Socializing is very important if you want to help your puppy get over being hypersensitive, so you should strive to expose it to many people, creatures, places, and situations while it is young.
Life Expectancy
The life expectancy of a relatively healthy Irish Doodle is 10-15 years.
Cost
Irish Doodle is considered a designer breed. Therefore, Irish Doodle pups can be expensive. Depending on the breeder, they can cost anywhere between $1500 to $5000.
Potential Health Issues
The designer breed is a fairly healthy, hardy, and resilient breed. However, you should always ask to see health reports of both litter parents from a reputable breeder before picking a new puppy. A few common health issues related to the parents' breeds include—
- Hip Dysplasia
- Bloat
- Eye Disorders
- Osteosarcoma
- Von Willebrand's Disease
- Addison's Disease
RELATED POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE
