Flandoodle (Bouvier des Flandres & Poodle Mix): Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts

A Flandoodle is a cross between the Bouvier des Flandres and the Poodle. Since both are large non-shedding dogs, naturally, the Flandoodle is too. This dog can be an excellent fit for your family, but it is best to have the full story before you go and purchase one. Read on for the scoop on this interesting breed.

Flandoodle Puppies

Temperament & Intelligence of the Flandoodle 🧠

You will be hard-pressed to find a dog that has a better personality than the Flandoodle. These are genuinely lovely dogs that want to be a part of all that goes on in your household. You can bet that your Flandoodle will be following you around and in the middle of any family conversations or game nights. They are a loyal animal that wants to please and take care of their people.

Your Flandoodle also desires and seeks attention. This is not a dog that is going to be overly independent and do their own thing. They will want to be the center of attention at all times.

Flandoodles are generally well-behaved animals as long as they get the proper amount of exercise. They tend to act out when they have too much energy and no outlet for it.

They are not a brilliant dog but they are not unintelligent either. The Flandoodle has a high enough intelligence level to be trained; it will just be a bit of a long process.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

The Flandoodle is an excellent dog for families as long as a few conditions can be met. The first point of concern is the separation anxiety that they are prone to. If you are a busy young family and the Flandoodle will be left alone most of the day, you may see some separation anxiety issues start to arise.

Flandoodles thrive when they are around people. If left alone for extended periods, they will become withdrawn or even act out because they are upset. The issue with their separation anxiety is actually what makes them an excellent fit for a family with lots of people. If people are coming and going all day and the Flandoodle is not left alone for extended periods, it will be ideal for this breed.

When it comes to a family dog, another point of concern is the time needed to care for the animal. In busy families with young kids, the dog and their exercise and grooming needs can sometimes end up at the bottom of the list. If your family is already busier than you could ever imagine, you may want to consider a lower-maintenance dog.

The Flandoodle will need your attention for several hours each day, both for exercise and grooming. However, this does not always need to be undivided attention. It is quite easy to figure out a game in the yard that keeps both the kids and the dog entertained. However, this dog will need some of your time and care.

As long as those conditions can be met, the Flandoodle is an excellent addition to any family.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Flandoodle is a friendly dog by nature. You should have no problems with aggressive behavior when it comes to other large pets. If you have another dog, introduce your Flandoodle at a young age and teach them how to get along. The earlier you socialize the Flandoodle, the easier it will be when it comes to getting along with other dogs.

The only thing that you need to watch out for in the case of the Flandoodle are small pets. If you should have a smaller animal in the house, something like a guinea pig or similar, there is a chance that your Flandoodle will try to go after it. They have hunting skills in their genetics, and it is hard for them to give this up completely. You will likely notice if you let your dog lose in the yard, they will chase squirrels and rabbits, often unsuccessfully. We wouldn’t recommend having small pets and a Flandoodle, but things should be fine if you have another dog.

Things to Know When Owning a Flandoodle

Now that you have a pretty good idea as to whether or not the Flandoodle would be a good fit for your family, you may want to understand what goes into taking care of them. Flandoodles are not any more difficult than other dogs, but there are some specifics about their care that you should know.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

A Flandoodle is a large breed. You will need to feed them several cups of dry food a few times a day. It is best to check with your vet to get the exact amounts that your dog will need. When your Flandoodle ages from a puppy to an adult dog, their food requirements will change.

Dog food is not cheap, and you should calculate how much it will cost to feed your dog before purchasing them. Depending on what type of food works best for them, you could be looking at spending $100 a month or more on food.

Exercise 🐕

A Flandoodle needs a lot of exercise. This is a high-energy dog that likes to run, chase, and play. If you are an outdoorsy type who likes to swim, hunt, and hike, a Flandoodle is an excellent choice for you. They even maintain some of their original hunting skills and can be quite good at catching small animals.

A Flandoodle needs several hours of exercise each day. If you live in a small apartment, this is not the right dog for you. With the size and exercise requirements, your dog won’t have enough room to thrive.

Keep in mind that this breed will start to misbehave if they do not get enough physical exercise in a day. You may hear Flandoodle owners talking about how they have to tire their dogs out. This is absolutely true. If you don’t spend the time to tire out your Flandoodle, they will have too much energy and start getting into trouble.

We also mentioned that this breed struggles with separation anxiety. If you are someone who is not home enough to spend time with and run your Flandoodle, this is not the right breed for you. Ideally, they should be walked twice a day. If this is not possible, make sure they have plenty of time to run and play in the yard. If your children need something to do, have them take the dog outside and give them all some exercise.

Training 🦮

Training your Flandoodle is going to be a challenge, but no more challenging than it would be with other breeds. You need to stay consistent when training this breed. They are smart dogs but not highly intelligent. It will take several tries and failed attempts for them to start picking up on behaviors that they should or shouldn’t be doing.

Since your Flandoodle is a happy and playful dog, you should always be using positive reinforcement. You will, however, need to be firm and consistent with your dog for them to understand what it is you want from them.

You can start training your dog when they are a young puppy. If your Flandoodle is a family dog, you may want to make sure everyone is on the same page as far as training is concerned. It can be very confusing for a Flandoodle when they are getting information from several sources and can’t quite keep them all straight.

Grooming ✂️

Some dog owners have the misconception that just because a dog does not shed, they will be easy to care for from a grooming perspective. However, this is not the case, particularly for the Flandoodle. This breed needs to be brushed every day. If you have to push it to every other day, that is usually fine. But If they are not brushed highly frequently, their coat will be in terrible shape, and you will end up spending more time and money on grooming.

The length of the hair on your Flandoodle can vary depending on what traits they inherited from their parent breeds. Your dog will not need baths all that frequently, however, if they’ve gotten dirty or rolled in something they shouldn’t have, it is time to bathe them.

It is best to start grooming practices with your Flandoodle from a very young age. They may come to like getting brushed, and it can be a daily thing for you and your dog.

In addition to the brushing, you will also have to clean your dog’s ears and teeth. Both the teeth and the ears should be cleaned weekly, if possible. Since a Flandoodle is part Poodle, they can be prone to some ear infections and other ear-related issues. Keeping the ears clean is the best way to avoid this.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Since the Flandoodle is a mixed breed, they can suffer from any of the things that affect Poodles or Bouvier des Flandres. Overall, these are very healthy dogs, even though their lifespan is only 10 to 12 years on average.

Male vs. Female

The male and female Flandoodle are going to have very similar personalities, but you will notice that the females are slightly smaller. If you want a large dog in your home but don’t mind if they are just a few inches shorter, the female is very likely the way to go.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Flandoodle

1. They Love a Good Chase

Until your Flandoodle is well trained, it is not a great idea to let them off their leash. These dogs love a great chase. If there is a bird, squirrel, or another small animal that you come across on your daily walks, your dog may make a run for it.

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2. They’re Great for Those With Dog Allergies

If you have mild dog allergies, you will likely do very well with the Flandoodle. Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Poodle are considered to be hypoallergenic dogs. You should always meet a potential new dog before bringing them home, though, because sometimes, even if a dog is deemed to be hypoallergenic, they could still cause some problems.

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3. They Come From Popular Dogs

The Poodle is the fifth most popular dog breed in the United States, and the Bouvier des Flandres is the 98th most popular. The Flandoodle is a nice mix of popularity and a lesser-known breed.

Conclusion

Flandoodles are great dogs that will instantly become a member of your family. You need to make sure that you have the time to exercise and groom them. It’s also important to consider the safety of your smaller pets when purchasing this dog. If you are serious about getting this breed, you should have a yard with ample space and some time set aside to help train them.

With the proper training and care, the Flandoodle is a magnificent animal that will bring your family love and affection for years to come.

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Featured Image Credit: Felicia Lee, Shutterstock