Poodle crosses: Why so popular?

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Anglebracket

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I've noticed that poodle crosses seem to be very popular (i.e. many different variants of "doodle" and "poo"). Why is that? What makes them so popular?

I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on this.
 
Because they're bright and amenable, but mostly because they are supposed not to shed hair. I'm not a fan of designer crossbreeds that cost a fortune, but I do rather like every cockerpoo that I meet.

Not sure the no shedding thing always works - just like anything corssed with anything else - you can never really be sure what you're going to get.
 
I thought many of them shed less because of the poodle influence which might be a factor?

Or maybe people are just taken in by a 'fun' name...:rolleyes:
 
Thanks for the replies.

I thought it might be their temperament and / or intelligence. I've only ever had terriers or mongrels though so no direct experience of poodles.
 
There's no guarantee the mix will take the coat of the poodle.

I dunno why people don't just get poodles - they come in three sizes and they are fab dogs, super smart, agile and capable of a day's work - I love the standards.
 
OH's parents have a "labradoodle" and she's a fabby dog, a solid big girl she's got the lab sweetness (and fondness of food), a curly coat from the poodle side (although it's short from the lab side), she's a very very clever girl (but does occasionally switch over to the lab brain and do daft things) and even though I'm not a fan of designer crosses I'm a huge fan of this dog, she's just lovely in so many ways :)
 
I genuinely think for the majority it is the attraction of a fun name, I personally have yet to meet a labradoodle that doesn't shed hair in a similar way to the labrador and I haven't seen any that look half as attractive as a solid pedigree.

We are contemplating getting a golden retreiver and have been looking around recently, I was absolutely shocked the amount of "F1 Goldipoos" or "Goldendoodles". Not for me.
 
I met a 'Goldendoodle' at the forest last Friday, it was black and looked like a clipped out Schnauzer or Kerry Blue, I genuinely had no idea what it was :o nice enough dog if not my cup of tea.
 
CaveCanem said:
There's no guarantee the mix will take the coat of the poodle.

I dunno why people don't just get poodles - they come in three sizes and they are fab dogs, super smart, agile and capable of a day's work - I love the standards.
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^^^ I said almost exactly this to my husband this morning, when we saw a gorgeous miniature poodle in the park. I have known standards and toys too - all are super dogs and very bright, trainable and willing. I'd happily have a poodle. But I guess they are seen as old-fashioned and non-trendy.

I see and meet so many cockerpoos around where I live and they invariably seem super-high energy and not very well-mannered. (Which may say more about the owners than the dogs). I have also been in training classes with 2 labradoodles - to put it politely, they were not the brightest dogs in the class - far from it! :rolleyes: (And looked odd as their eyes were so close together!) But obviously I don't want to tar all doodles with the same brush! ;)
 
Short answer is its a trend. Hopefully it will pass soon and people will either start buying pedigrees again or giving homes to the thousands of cross breeds without silly names that are languishing in rescue centres right now.
 
I can't see why people don't get a poodle or a PWD, I think perhaps the poodle has an (entirely unfair) reputation for being a bit 'poncy', and some don't like the curly nature of the coat (which you might well still get on a Labradoodle). But I have said before and will say again, why don't people go for Portuguese Water Dogs?! The wavy coated ones look just how people imagine a labradoodle would be and have the same temperament people are trying to create by crossing the lab and poodle.... Yes they are expensive but so are labradoodles!! And yes you have to wait for one - but at least that suggests they aren't ring bred by every BYB in the country!
 
CaveCanem said:
There's no guarantee the mix will take the coat of the poodle.

I dunno why people don't just get poodles - they come in three sizes and they are fab dogs, super smart, agile and capable of a day's work - I love the standards.
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I am with you on that , poodles are fab I would love a standard but my OH has vetoed it.
And if you get a poodle you know it won't cast with crosses its a gamble it may it may not.
 
I have a Labradoodle.
I did not buy him for the "name" and neither did is even occur to me that he wouldn't shed his coat. I just saw a picture of the puppies and thought they looked gorgeous.

Stig is without a doubt the most intelligent, loving, fun, well behaved and gentle soul I have ever had. I have three dogs - love them all tremendously, but Stig is who I would have over and over again. For the record - he doesn't shed his coat at all. I have to have him clipped 3 times a year as he looks like a walking carpet otherwise.

This is him:

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Bedlam said:
Because they're bright and amenable, but mostly because they are supposed not to shed hair. I'm not a fan of designer crossbreeds that cost a fortune, but I do rather like every cockerpoo that I meet.

Not sure the no shedding thing always works - just like anything corssed with anything else - you can never really be sure what you're going to get.
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Well an acquaintance of mine shelled out £1K for a labradoodle because her husband is horrifically allergic to dogs . . . got the puppy home and, yup, husband allergic to pup. Pup now lives with a mutual friend and acquaintance has extensive visitation rights.

So, no, the non-allergenic thing isn't always true.

P
 
CaveCanem said:
There's no guarantee the mix will take the coat of the poodle.

I dunno why people don't just get poodles - they come in three sizes and they are fab dogs, super smart, agile and capable of a day's work - I love the standards.
Click to expand...

I'm with you. I LOVE poodles.

P
 
The main reason is marketing - the doodle breeders only put the positives up unlike breeders who truthfully describe their breeds.
How often do we see "this is the best breed for our family" - how can it be ? People come across a website listing all positives and want one.
People do get defensive when told they have been scammed - and many people are.

Poodles are brighter than labradors and everyone with a cross that I have asked why didn't they get a poodle has said they don't like the way they cut them!

How stupid do you have to be if you don't realise hair can be cut in any style?

Actually one thing coming out of the crossing is poodle owners that for years have asked for simple, not fluffy or frou frou trims are now asking for a proper poodle style so people don't think they are stupid doodle buyers.
 
Thanks again for all the replies. I've only ever owned terriers and mongrels and have little knowledge of poodles. A friend of mine has a labradoodle. He is a very friendly and well behaved boy. Meeting him is what made me consider poodle crosses.
 
ecrozier said:
I can't see why people don't get a poodle or a PWD, I think perhaps the poodle has an (entirely unfair) reputation for being a bit 'poncy', and some don't like the curly nature of the coat (which you might well still get on a Labradoodle). But I have said before and will say again, why don't people go for Portuguese Water Dogs?! The wavy coated ones look just how people imagine a labradoodle would be and have the same temperament people are trying to create by crossing the lab and poodle.... Yes they are expensive but so are labradoodles!! And yes you have to wait for one - but at least that suggests they aren't ring bred by every BYB in the country!
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You said it all! PWD are not common, you have to wait, they're expensive. People want a puppy NOW and they don't want to pay over the odds and whilst lab x poodles aren't cheap, they're probably cheaper than PWDs.

People are still under the impression that all poodle crosses are allergenic non shedding crazily amazing examples of 'hybrid vigour' (snort, snort :D)
 
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According to the price quoted above by someone, my PWD who is exceptionally well bred wasn't more expensive ;) Not saying he was cheap mind you!!
I did have to look for him and wait a bit, but only took me about a month to find a litter that were due any day and then the standard 8 week wait. But maybe that's too long for some people.
It's a shame tho - I am sure ther are some lovely labradoodles out there, but the whole hybrid vigour thing and the myth about them all being hypoallergenic winds me up no end!!! Having said that - I wouldn't want a lovely old breed like the PWD to be overbred and suffer the problems of the likes of the more common and now the 'designer' breeds where people have just figured out they can breed for easy cash :(
Can you believe, my puppy's breeder has been contacted by someone who has crossed a PWD and a poodle!? Pointless or what?!
 
We have an accidental mini schnauzer x mini poodle that was priveately rehomed to us for free. She is a smashing dog. The most intelligent and loving dog we have ever had and she doesn't shed hair!
 
My inlaws have a labradoodle and he's great! Needs a bit of training mind (bit of a coiled spring) but very quick to learn and so so amazingly bright. Does tend to have the waryness of a giant poodle sometimes but I love him.

TBH I don't have a problem with cross breeds - can help to stop all the ridiculous inbreeding :rolleyes: contraversial ;):D

ETS - every labradoodle I've known has been barmy....inlaws thought they'd made a terrible mistake for the first year....
 
I'm just waiting to see a Shih tzu/Poodle cross advertised as a Shihtpoo :eek::D

I love standard poodles but never met a labradoodle who wasn't adorable.
 
I have met quite a few labradoodles, some have been lovely but one or two have been a nightmare for their owners. One started at training class the same time as Evie, she was doing her Silver and the poor girl with the doodle hadn't managed to get him to Bronze level. He was a lovely dog but just didn't listen:(
If I wanted to go non moulting I would definitely consider a poodle, treated properly all sizes are lovely dogs, many are very successful in agility. Years ago a friend of mine had a Standard who I think was the first to compete in agility and she was great, I was on a team with her at Crufts.:)
 
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