Weighing in at an average of between 10-20 lbs., and with a lifespan of 13-17 years, the Schnoodle or Schnauzer Poodle cross-breed, might be the best dog for you.
This is because the Schnoodle temperament makes him fun for the whole family!
Because both the Schnauzer and Poodle range in size, you could end up with a small, medium or large Schnoodle. Every dog is different!
If you are interested in a particular size, talk to the breeder. She can help you find a dog that is the best fit (literally!) for your home and family.
Schnoodle Temperament and Personality
An Intelligent Charmer
The Schnoodle's charm comes from his blend of intelligence and humor. HIs fun-loving nature makes him attractive to everyone, and he gets this from his Poodle parent in particular.
The Schnauzer is a bold and brainy dog, while the Mini Poodle is quite the friendly little dog. Combine the two, and you get a happy little dog who will fill your life with love and laughter.
A Superior Family Dog
Because of the happy-go-lucky Schnoodle temperament, these dogs make fantastic family pets and are great with kids.
If you have young children and other pets, early socialization will go a long way toward establishing a harmonious group.
One thing I need to mention here is that he can become territorial when it comes to his toys. Supervising him can help alleviate this.
Something important to note, though, is that the Schnoodle is a welcome change from the Schnauzer when it comes to stubbornness, as he is much more easygoing.
He’s also an upgrade on the Poodle in that he is less high-energy. So a Schnoodle is the best of both worlds without the troublesome downsides.
He Will Get You Off the Couch
While your Schnoodle won’t demand a 5K run every day like a Husky might, he still loves to be outside, playing with his family, as he makes for a great companion dog.
When he’s really happy and showing off that Schnoodle temperament of his, he will sometimes tuck his butt under and run fast in a circle. That’s his happy dance!
In fact, some refer to the Schnoodle as the “forever happy” dog because he really is.
Nothing seems to rain on this dog’s parade! He even loves car rides – especially if you tell him you’re on your way to a place he particularly loves.
This hybrid dog‘s intelligence and activity level make him a great choice for agility training and trials..
On the flip side, the Schnoodle is an excellent therapy dog, with his propensity to snuggle and comfort the members of his pack.
A Great Dog for Those with Allergies
Part of the attraction of a Schnoodle is its low shedding level. You won’t see clumps of fur lying around the house with the Schnoodle like you would with other breeds.
Because of their predominantly curly coats, the Schnoodle is one of the best hypoallergenic dogs of the various poodle mixes out there.
Grooming Needs
You will want to brush your Schnoodle’s coat every couple of days so he doesn’t develop mats. Have him professionally groomed every 4 to6 weeks.
Don't forget to check his ears for dirt and wax, and wipe them out once a week.
Tear stains under the eyes are a common Schnoodle trait, but wiping his face each day will help prevent them from setting in.
This may sound weird, but it’s important to keep your Schnoodle’s genital area clipped close.
This is to prevent feces from sticking to his coat. Trust me – you'll thank me later.
Santa dog! This is a dog who looks great with a beard. Give his beard a quick trim and brush periodically to keep food crumbs from ruining his good looks.
As for colors, the Schnoodle comes in a rainbow of them, including:
- black, black and white, black and tan,
- brown, white, gray, silver, apricot
- sable, and even multi-color.
Schnoodle Health Issues
The Schnoodle mix is generally healthy. However, he can succumb to any health concern that plagues either the Schnauzer or the Poodle.
A good rule for prolonged health is to get a Schnoodle from a reputable breeder. Also, get the proper health clearances from that breeder.
Any breeder who doesn’t offer health clearances for the parents is a breeder you should avoid.
If you find that your Schnoodle is a multi-generation puppy – i.e. a pup born of two Schnoodles – you may encounter more health issues than if the pup had come from a straight-up Schnauzer and Poodle breeding.
The Schnoodle is susceptible to certain health conditions, including hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and eye issues.
These health conditions are among those which you should receive health clearances for if you buy him from a breeder.
Note: Our Health is #1 Priority. It should be no different or your Affenpinscher. But you need to help him. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is the answer. This handy guide will help you recognize the symptoms of the health problems above. Get the knowledge to stay ahead of these terrible issues that can rob your lovely Affe from vigor and life. Help your friend make it to 14 yrs+ without pain and suffering.
Caring for Your Schnoodle
If you have a smaller Schnoodle, he can live comfortably in an apartment setting. A larger dog, however, will need a house with a yard – or at least a park nearby for play and exercise.
You may find that the Schnoodle temperament lends itself to occasional separation anxiety, but you can diminish this by not leaving him alone for long periods of time. If you’re going to be gone all day, perhaps find a dog walker to help out.
Training
One thing that's great about the Schnoodle is that his smarts makes him a sponge when it comes to training him. I can't stress this enough: begin training him the day you bring him home, and continue that training for the rest of his life!
Puppy classes are a great idea, and the Schnoodle temperament will for sure make him the kindergarten star!
Helpful Dog Training Resource:
For help with training your Schnoodle dog, you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.
Types of Schnoodles
There are three sizes of Schnoodles you can get: giant, toy, and standard.
GiantSchnoodle
The Giant Schnoodle is a mix of a standard-size Poodle and a Giant Schnauzer. The Giant Schnoodle can weigh anywhere from 65 to 80 lbs., and his lifespan is between 10 to 13 years.
He needs an active owner who can take him for at least one long walk every day. Running or hiking is even better!
He has a low maintenance coat, so grooming is headache-free. He has floppy ears, though, so you must make sure you inspect and clean them weekly.
ToySchnoodle
The Toy Schnoodle is everything you love about the Schnoodle – in bite-size form! Toy Schnoodles reach a maximum weight of between 6 and 13 lbs., and a maximum height of between 8 and 12 inches.
Something to note in particular about the Toy Schnoodle’s temperament is that, more than the other sizes, he can be a barker.
StandardSchnoodle
The Standard Schnoodle is everything you’ve been reading about here thus far. Keep on reading to find out how you can bring one of these cuties home to your family!
Finding the Perfect Schnoodle
Does a Schnoodle puppy sound like an ideal new family member? That’s great! Now, you’re probably wondering where you can find one.
There are breeders who specialize in Schnoodles whom you can buy one from. Else, you can always adopt one through your local rescue agency or adoption center.
Schnoodle Puppies for Sale
On average, the price of a Schnoodle will run you about $600.
However, a Schnoodle with top-of-the-line parents, insofar as pedigree, can run you anywhere from $1,500 to $4,100 or even possibly more.
It’s good to know the average price that’s out there when it comes to buying a dog. Then you can tell when it’s too low, and you’re getting a dog with problems, or it’s too high, and you’re getting ripped off.
Schnoodle Adoption and Rescue
Once you know that adding a Schnoodle to your household is in your imminent future, then it may be time for you to delve into the world of Schnoodle adoption!
It’s essentially a crapshoot when it comes to your local shelter – you never know what kind of dogs are going to be available when.
For this reason, if you’re looking for a Schnoodle, you should let the staff know. This way, when one comes in, you’re at the top of the list!
Ask to fill out an application and leave your phone number so they already have all your information on file when a Schnoodle ends up on their doorstep.
You may have more luck finding Schnoodle rescue dogs through a Schnoodle rescue group.
You can also check national adoption websites who may have more dogs to choose from simply because of their larger size.
A lot of people have a negative opinion of shelters, or “the pound,” however the dogs who end up in these places often end up there through no fault of their own.
Sometimes their owners move and can’t take them with them. Other times, their owners fall upon hard times and can no longer afford to take care of their pets.
This means that an adult dog with prior training essentially ends up homeless.
This is very sad for the dog and can take a serious toll on his emotions and personality the longer he’s in there.
Will you be that friendly face he’s longing to see, the family who will give him a loving home?
Adoption Price
The price of a Schnoodle adoption will vary, depending on whether you adopt him through a public shelter (“the pound”) or a private rescue group.
Typically, your adoption fee will run anywhere from $75 to $200. In some cases, when you adopt from a private group, it can be even higher because of the work they put into rehabilitating their animals.
In almost all instances, your rescue Schnoodle will have a vet visit and neutering prior to your bringing him home. While most places require you to bring the dog to your own vet within days after adoption, at least you won’t have to worry about neutering him on your own, since that’s included in the adoption cost.
Schnoodle Breeders
Some people decide to work with a Schnoodle breeder when they’re in the market for a Schnoodle.
If you decide to explore Schnoodle breeders, you will need to take extra precautions to ensure you are working with an ethical breeder and not a representative for a puppy mill.
This stuff is important normally when you purchase any dog, but it goes doubly so for a mixed breed. That’s because mixed breeds who are not First Generation (i.e. mixed breeds who are on their second or third mix) can be a literal crapshoot. You have no idea the personality traits you’re getting, nor the present and future health of the animal.
How to Spot an Irresponsible Breeder or, Perhaps Worse, a Puppy Mill
Pet overpopulation is and always has been a problem in the U.S. Animal shelters are constantly taking in more animals than they can care for – to the point where they’re forced to euthanize dogs and cats due to being unable to find homes for them. The last thing anyone should be doing is adding to that problem – which is exactly what irresponsible breeders and puppy mills do.
These kinds of places and people are out for one thing, and one thing only: profit. They produce puppies with no regard to those puppies’ health and temperament. They do not think about or care, that these flawed puppies will either make more flawed puppies that will end up in shelters – or will end up in shelters themselves.
On the other hand, responsible breeders – and they are out there – do all they can to create happy and healthy puppies. They understand that a happy and healthy dog makes for a happy customer – and a “furever home” for that dog.
These kinds of breeders do not overbreed their dogs, and they make sure they find good homes for every one of their pups. For one thing, many of them require their customers to sign a spay/neuter contract to hopefully prevent further contribution to the pet overpopulation problem.
It can be difficult and time-consuming to find a breeder who is above-board – especially when dealing with mixed breeds – but, trust me, it is well worth the effort.
Never order a Schnoodle puppy over the internet, or buy one from a pet store like the ones you may see at the mall. It may seem more convenient, sure – for only $1,500 you can bring home a dog today! But think of the downside: you are surely supporting a puppy mill with your money.
Finding a Schnoodle Dog for Sale from a Reputable Breeder
To find a good breeder, you can always look online and evaluate online reviews – just be careful. For a surer bet, visit a dog show or canine sports competition and ask around for recommendations of higher quality breeders.
Once you’ve found one or two that you like, make your appointments to meet with them in person. Ask to meet the Schnoodles on the breeder’s premises to ensure they are healthy, friendly dogs. Ask to see their medical records and ask about the breeder’s process for vetting before they send their Schnoodle puppies off to their new homes.
Ready for a Schnoodle?
The Schnoodle temperament makes this dog the life of the party. If you’re looking for an all-around great Poodle mix, this cross-bred dog may just fit the bill.
He comes in three sizes: toy, standard, and giant, and while he is privy to certain health conditions, he is, for the most part, a very healthy dog. He is easy to train and, depending on his size, he can be perfect for either apartment living or a larger yard.
He’s an active dog, though not overly demanding, and he has a high intelligence level. He’s also a great dog for people with allergies, since he doesn’t shed much.
Kailyn has worked as a professional freelance writer since 2012, and during that time she has written about nearly every dog breed imaginable. Her mother loved Collies, and so Kailyn grew up with three of them throughout her childhood – including a blonde one who was half-blind! Now her home belongs to her first official dog, Macho, a Dogo Argentino rescue.