There’s no doubt about it: Poodle crossbreeds (aka Oodle dogs or Doodles) are stealing the spotlight in Australia.
What makes them the most popular breed type across the country?
Playful and friendly with a low-shedding coat, they’re the ultimate companion for so many dog lovers.
Oodles are irresistibly cute; jumping straight into adoption would be very tempting. First, there are some important factors to consider, like finding the best-fit breed to suit your lifestyle, common health concerns, and how you can optimise your Oodle’s lifespan and healthspan.
Before we dig into the key considerations, let’s start by taking a closer look at 10 of the best and most popular poodle cross breeds: from tiny toy Moodles to goofy Bernedoodles, there’s an Oodle for everyone.
10 most popular poodle cross breeds in Australia
1. Cavoodle (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel + Poodle)
AKA: Cavapoo
Lifespan: 10-14 years
Common size: Toy-small
Temperament: Cute and fluffy with a zest for life, it’s no surprise Cavoodles are Australia’s most popular breed. Most commonly found in Toy and Miniature sizes, they're highly adaptable making them a great choice for individuals in apartments or families with plenty of garden space.
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🐕🦺 Read more: Cavoodle breed insights: care, personality & expert tips →
2. Groodle (Golden Retriever + Poodle)
AKA: Goldendoodle
Common size: Small-medium
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Temperament: Golden Retrievers are known for their gentle and affectionate personalities and their high-shedding coat! Add a Poodle into the mix and you get the gorgeous Groodle; the same bright mind and eager-to-please attitude as the Golden but with a low-shedding coat. This crossbreed thrives on human interaction and enjoys outdoor activities, making them perfect for active households.
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🐕🦺 Read more: Groodle breed insights: care, personality & expert tips →
3. Labradoodle (Labrador + Poodle)
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Common size: Medium
Temperament: Known for their friendly and outgoing personalities, Labradoodles make excellent hypoallergenic therapy and assistance dogs. They’re highly intelligent, energetic, and great with kids, so they’re also a popular choice for families. Labradoodles are moderately active, but always keen to go on an adventure with their pack. Feed them a custom-portioned diet, like Lyka, to keep them in good shape and prevent the excess weight gain associated with Labradors.
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4. Spoodle (Cocker Spaniel + Poodle)
AKA: Cockapoo
Common size: Small-medium
Lifespan: 12-16 years
Temperament: Spoodles have a cheerful and affectionate temperament. They’re highly social dogs with gregarious personalities and love family activities. Their intelligence and trainability make them excellent pets for first-time owners. Spoodles can inherit the sensitive soul of the Cocker Spaniel and can develop separation anxiety if left alone for long periods, so they’re best suited for those who can give them ample companionship and attention.
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🐕🦺 Read more: Spoodle breed insights: care, personality & expert tips →
5. Moodle (Maltese + Poodle)
AKA: Maltipoo
Common size: Toy-small
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Temperament: Moodles may be small in size but they’re big in personality. They’re sweet-natured, lively, and love to cuddle, making them wonderful lap dogs. Give them plenty of opportunities for controlled socialisation from an early age, and you’ll have a social butterfly who loves making new friends at the park.
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🐕🦺 Read more: Moodle breed insights: care, personality & expert tips →
6. Aussiedoodle (Australian Shepherd + Poodle)
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Common size: Medium
Temperament: Highly energetic and intelligent, Aussiedoodles are best suited to active homes. They’re quick learners and love mental stimulation like dog sports and training activities. Their affectionate nature ensures they’re a hit with families. Some Aussiedoodles inherit the Shepherd’s merle colouring, giving your doodle a very distinctive appearance.
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7. Schnoodles (Schnauzer + Poodle)
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Common size: Small
Temperament: Despite their petite size, Schnoodles are bold and alert, and can be protective of their pack. They’re an adaptable breed, suitable for families or individuals, apartments or houses. Regular grooming helps keep their curly coats in top condition.
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8. Bernedoodle (Bernese Mountain Dog + Poodle)
Lifespan: 10-18 years
Common size: Medium-large
Temperament: Goofy and gentle, Bernedoodles are endearing companions for families with kids. They’re a loyal breed and love spending time outdoors with their pack, but they’re also happy to relax at home.
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9. Sheepadoodle (Old English Sheepdog + Poodle)
AKA: Sheepoo, Sheepdoodle
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Common size: Medium-large
Temperament: Sheepadoodles are known for their gentle nature and fluffy coats – think shaggy sheepdog with curly, low-shedding hair. Although they’re playful and clever, these pups can inherit stubborn Sheepdog traits. Consistent training using positive reinforcement helps to nurture obedient behaviour. Sheepadoodles are great with children and develop strong and loyal bonds with their families.
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10. Shih-poo (Shih Tzu + Poodle)
Lifespan: 10-18 years
Common size: Small
Temperament: Shih-poos are little pups with low energy, so they’re a great choice for apartment living. They don’t need lots of daily exercise, but they do enjoy playtime and plenty of cuddles. Their friendly and affectionate nature makes them perfect companions for individuals or families wanting an easy-going dog.
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🐕🦺 Read more: Maltese Shih Tzu breed insights: care, personality & expert tips →
What to consider before buying a poodle crossbreed
Every dog inherits genetic characteristics from their parents, including coat type, size, temperament, trainability, and health. If you’re considering an Oodle, take the time to research both breeds and speak to reputable breeders for more insight into their breeding pairs.
Size
There are three recognised sizes of Poodle: Toy, Miniature, and Standard. The mature size of your crossbreed depends on the size of the breeding Poodle and the other parent. If you’re looking for a small poodle cross breed, the Poodle is likely to be toy or miniature. But if a large poodle crossbreed is what you want, the Poodle is likely to be standard size. Always check with your breeder so there are no surprises.
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Coat type
Poodles have a dense, low-shedding, wool coat widely regarded as hypoallergenic. It’s one of the main reasons why oodles were bred in the first place and remains one of their most attractive features. However, it’s a common misconception that all Poodle crossbreeds have a low-shedding coat, like some Groodles who may have dominant Golden Retriever genes and a high-shedding coat of wavy hair. It’s always worth speaking to your breeder before you commit to adopting a pup.
Common health concerns for Poodle crossbreeds
Poodle crossbreeds are generally healthy, but common health concerns may include skin conditions and allergies, joint-related problems, and sensitive stomachs:
1. Skin conditions and allergies
Itchy skin conditions or skin allergies are common concerns for Poodle crossbreeds, often triggered by food sensitivities or environmental allergens. Dogs who experience these issues will often have red, irritated and inflamed skin, and hives and may suffer from recurring ear infections.
🐕🦺 Read more: 9 common dog skin conditions: how to spot and treat them →
2. Joint conditions
Some Poodle crossbreeds can experience joint concerns like hip dysplasia or patellar luxation: inherited conditions that affect the correct development of the hip and knee joints. Arthritis can also be a common joint problem amongst Oodle breeds, impacting their mobility and quality of life.
It’s worth speaking to your preferred breeders about how they’ve mitigated the risks of these developmental disorders. Reputable breeders may also provide scoring to identify the chance of dysplasia.
🐕🦺 Read more: Hip dysplasia: how can your dog's diet help? →
3. Sensitive stomachs
Oodles can be known for their fussiness and sensitive stomachs, including diseases like chronic enteropathy (long-term gut problems with no known cause).
A balanced and diverse gut microbiome is vital for a resilient digestive system. The key to this is feeding your pup a wide variety of high-quality ingredients including plenty of prebiotic dietary fibre to nourish good gut microorganisms.
🐕🦺 Read more: Sensitive stomachs in dogs: how to relieve your pup's discomfort →
Why healthspan matters as much as lifespan
Poodle crossbreeds have an expected lifespan of approximately 10-15 years. But it’s not just the length of life that matters; healthspan (how long a dog is healthy) is equally important.
We want our dogs to be full of vitality, greeting us at the door with an energetic bounce, or ready to go on the next adventure, even into their senior years. By focusing on your dog’s healthspan through a holistic approach to care, you can help extend your dog’s quality of life and their number of years.
Regular exercise, mental stimulation, proactive veterinary checks, dental care and grooming all contribute to your pup’s health and wellbeing. A simple and easy place to start is to ensure your dog is given a nourishing, complete and balanced diet made from real food ingredients for optimal nutrition, like Lyka.
🐕🦺 Read more: The real cost of chronic illness in dogs and how you can prevent it →
New to Lyka? Let’s rethink dog food together.
Designed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists, Lyka meals are made with real, human-grade ingredients to help dogs thrive (not just survive!). Say goodbye to itchy skin, dull coats, and digestive troubles, and hello to a happier, healthier pup. Our meals are backed by science and custom-portioned to meet your dog’s needs for complete peace of mind.
Learn more about how Lyka is transforming mealtimes for dogs across Australia.
