A Schnoodle is a Poodle hybrid that is a cross-breed of a Poodle and a Schnauzer. Schnoodles are known for being sturdy, yet elegant and light on their feet. Some have kinky fur like a poodle, others have more relaxed fur like their Schnauzer halves. Colors can range from white to buff to a light gray. If multi-colored, the dogs generally have a “mottled” appearance rather than clearly defined color variations. Ears can turn out floppy, half-cocked, or perked.
The Schnoodle is, technically, a mixed breed; subsequent breeding of the Schnoodle means that the ‘pureness’ of the Schnoodle is lost. A hybrid inherits the best, the worst, or some combination of good and bad. Because the Schnoodle is derived from two primarily non-shedding breeds, they are considered hypo allergenic.
Schnoodles are delightfully smart dog. Their activity level is fairly high and they may not be the best “lap dog” if that is your preference. Schnoodle owners commonly report a phenomenon known as the “Schnoodle 500″; this is where the dogs tuck their backend under and race as fast as they can.
Schnoodles require a certain amount of grooming, altghough not as extensive as a Cockapoo or other long-haired hybrids. Particular care should be taken to remove the excess hair that will likely grow inside their ears in order to prevent recurrent ear-infections. Other than that, Schnoodles seem have have few health issues. Yearly visits to the vet should take care of everything else.
The Schnoodle is a cool companion and very trendy pet. Many celebrities are buying these hybrid breeds because they are expensive, trendy and very cute. This increases the general popularity of the hybrid, but it can also lead to poor breeding practices as the almighty dollar comes into play. Be careful to check out the parentage of any hybrid dog you adopt or purchase. As a general rule, Schnoodle breeders should be to cross Schnauzers and Poodles of roughly the same size and build to produce Schnoodles with proper proportions and geometry.
Because of their relative “newness”, many people don’t know what a Schnoodle is, much less a MiniSchnoodle. A Miniature Schnoodle, a cross between a Toy Poodle and a Miniature Schnauzer, is the most popular being of average build and weight. The much larger Giant Schnoodle, a cross between a Standard Poodle and a Giant Schnauzer, is popular because of their wonderful temperament. The La Schnoodle is a cross between an Labradoodle (a Labrador Retriever/Poodle hybrid) and a Giant Schnauzer.
For the moment, the Schnoodle is not yet recognised by the international organisations. However, the American Canine Hybrid Club recognizes 400 varieties of hybrid dogs, and included among them is the Schnoodle.
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