Irish Doodle (Poodle & Irish Setter Mix): Info, Pictures, Traits

The Irish Doodle is a result of breeding the ever-popular Poodle with the ever-impressive Irish Setter. The smarts of the Poodle mixed with the sporting instincts of the Setter makes for a fun and interactive companion in the Irish Doodle. Small in stature yet big in personality, the Irish Doodle loves a lot of outdoor exercise, but they enjoy spending time indoors with their human companions just as much.

The Irish Doodle is boisterous and seems to take joy in everything they do. They love getting attention and are eager to please, so they tend to take well to training efforts. While playful, Irish Doodles have a mischievous side that lends to some stubbornness. This dog isn’t territorial and doesn’t bark much, so it won’t make a good guard dog. But their quietness makes keeping neighbors happy an easy task.

Irish Doodles get along wonderfully with other dogs of all sizes as well as children of all ages. They can adapt to new situations easily, which makes them great adventure companions. They also make great service and therapy animals. While they shed less than other breeds, Irish Doodles need to be groomed regularly to keep their coats in good shape and your home from looking like a shedding station.

Irish Doodle Puppies – Before You Welcome One Into Your Family…

3 Little-Known Facts About Irish Doodles

1. They’re of an Unknown Origin

Although we do know which dog breeds were used to create the Irish Doodle, we don’t know much about where this designer breed originated. So, organizations such as the American Kennel Club don’t recognize the Irish Doodle as an official breed. But this doesn’t make the Irish Doodle any less of a dog that’s worthy of human companionship.

2. They’re a Bit Unpredictable

Because Irish Setters are bred from two totally different kinds of breeds, this designer dog can be a bit unpredictable. Your Irish Doodle pup may turn out to be even tempered and good-willed, or it might be a bit mischievous and unruly. Therefore, training should be a priority before your Irish Setter pup grows into an adult.

3. They Have Lots of Nicknames

Owners of this loving breed enjoy coming up with unique nick names for the Irish Doodle. You may also hear this breed referred to as the Irish Poo Setter, the Irish Setter Doodle, the Irish Doodle Setter, or even the Irish Setterpoo. New names are invented regularly, so expect this list of nicknames to grow as time goes on.

Temperament & Intelligence of Irish Doodles 🧠

The Irish Doodle inherited the intelligence of the Poodle, so they’re smart enough to take on everything from obedience and agility training to retrieving exercises and social engagements. Irish Poodles can sit and stay on command and learn how to retrieve your morning newspaper after some poignant training.

Because Irish Doodles love to learn, they require lots of stimulation throughout the day. Don’t expect this breed to lay around on the couch all day long while you’re at work. Irish Doodles need training toys to enjoy when they are alone but that won’t meet their learning needs altogether.

You will need to put aside some time for daily training and practice in addition to regular walks. If you can’t be there all the time, we suggest finding a doggy sitter or daycare center to keep your Irish Setter company while you’re away – at least some of the time.

The Irish Doodle is excellent with children and can put up with little ones climbing all over them. After plenty of exercise, an Irish Doodle will do well in a family setting between walls. Expect your Irish Doodle to snuggle up with the kids at bedtime but be ready for a long walk first thing in the morning.

This breed also gets along well with other dogs, so they do well at dog parks and in multi-dog homes. They need a yard to run and play in, which means that apartment living isn’t ideal unless the community is dog-centric and offers lots of outdoor space to freely utilize. And Irish Doodles aren’t territorial so house guests will be treated with love and respect.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Whether you have no kids or a dozen of them, you can count on an Irish Doodle to fit in with your family dynamic perfectly. The only exception is if you live alone and you don’t lead an active lifestyle. Irish Doodles thrive on the active nature of a busy family dynamic.      So, if you tend to watch a lot of television or host indoor dinner parties instead of adventure outside or hang out in the yard, an Irish Doodle will yearn for some action and may start to exhibit behaviors that are undesirable to you.

Irish Doodles like being spoken to, pet, cuddled, and played with consistently. An Irish Doodle needs at least 90 minutes of exercise daily, which is something kids can be a big part of. Helping to train and care for an Irish Doodle can teach kids some compassion and responsibility too.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The Irish Doodle exhibits some characteristics of retrieving just like their Poodle parents do. They also inhibit hunting characteristics as their Irish Setter parents. So, while Irish Doodles are good with other dogs, they should be supervised when interacting with other pets and animals. If an Irish Doodle becomes anxious or bored due to inactivity, they could turn that energy into aggression and revert to their hunting and retrieving instincts. This could mean bad news for pets that might be considered prey such as birds, mice, and cats.

Things to Know When Owning an Irish Doodle:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Irish Doodles require high-quality food that will fuel their active lifestyle and keep them healthy as they age. Dry and wet food is acceptable, as is a combination of the two. Look for a food that’s made of whole, natural ingredients and that is free of by-products when possible. Once a quality dog food has been chosen, it’s a good idea to continue feeding that same type of food to minimize the risk of digestion upset.

Just because Irish Doodles are continually active doesn’t mean that they should be offered a never-ending bowl of chow throughout the day. An open feeding plan could lead to obesity and all the healthy problems that come along with it as age progresses and activity levels decline. It’s recommended that an adult Irish Doodle is fed anywhere from 2 to 3 cups of dry food each day depending on their particular activity level.

But this amount should be separated into two or three different meals each day. Otherwise, a growling belly and a penchant for begging may become a daily occurrence. Multiple daily feedings will also help ensure that an Irish Doodle is properly fueled as they release their energy throughout the day.

• Consider: Best Food for Poodles

Exercise 🐕

Irish Doodles come from a line of working dogs and as previously noted, they tend to have a lot of energy to burn each and every day. Daily walks and training sessions are a must to keep this breed content when they’re hanging out inside. Plenty of toys and stimulating activities should be taking place inside the home.

Owners of this unique breed should expect to spend a couple hours a day indulging in their dog’s active healthy.

Training 🦮

While Irish Doodles are easily trainable, it does take some commitment to properly train them. Owners can expect to spend time daily on training tasks, even after their Irish Doodles have learned specific tricks and commands. If an Irish Doodle doesn’t practice their training, they will forget it in time and could become hard to manage – especially in social settings.

We recommend working with a professional dog trainer that has experience with Irish Doodles when bringing one home. The trainer will establish basic training measures and then prescribe training techniques that can be used at home to maintain and enhance the obedience and skills the dog learns.

Grooming ✂️

Irish Doodles have long, thick hair that’s naturally wavy if not downright curly. They’re thought not to shed much, but owners should expect to vacuum regularly to keep hair from building up inside of the home. This dog breed requires daily brushing or combing to maintain a soft and tangle-free coat. Ear hair tends to get long quickly, so the ear hair should be washed and trimmed regularly to prevent dirt buildup within the ear canal. Daily activity should take care of an Irish Doodle’s nails, but the nails should be clipped occasionally if they start to get long and pointy.

Health and Conditions ❤️

The Irish Doodle is generally healthy, but there are some health conditions that prospective owners should be aware of before bringing a new pup home for the first time.

Combat these issues with: 

• Tear Stain Remover 
• Best Dog Eye Drops 
• Ear Drops & Solutions 

Male vs Female

While male Irish Doodles may be a bit bigger and more rambunctious than females, the truth is that both genders carry the same traits as their parents and ancestors. Some of these traits are built into their DNA, while others are learned or adopted through lineage. Every Irish Doodle is different whether male or female.

Of course, prospective names could come into play when deciding whether to adopt a male or female Irish Doodle. No matter what gender is adopted, owners should always consider spaying or neutering their Irish Doodles to prevent aggressive behavior as they age.

Final Thoughts:

Irish Doodles are for anyone who enjoys an active lifestyle and who wants a loyal companion to spend their time with. This breed can teach humans a thing or two about maintaining a fun-loving attitude. While lots of love, attention, and training is required, owners of this breed are sure to reap many rewards along the way.

If you’re considering adopting an Irish Doodle, spend some serious time thinking about your lifestyle and the needs of such a breed. Are you compatible? If so, it’s worth a trip to a breeder or adoption agency. If not, consider looking for another breed to adopt that can better accommodate your personal lifestyle.

Featured Image Credit: Joca de Jong, Shutterstock