Whipoodle (Whippet Poodle Mix): Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts
Updated on
Whipoodles are a relatively new and unique dog breed. As with most modern-age designer breeds, there isn’t a clearly documented history. They may have been created by accident or deliberately by a breeder. What we do know for sure is that Whipoodles combine some of the best traits of their parent breeds. They’re highly affectionate, gentle, and amiable, not to mention intelligent and relatively easy to train.
If you want to learn more about this interesting dog breed, you’re in the right place. Read on to learn more about the temperament, care requirements, and traits of this Whippet Poodle hybrid.
| Height: | 18–24 inches |
| Weight: | 25–45 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 12–15 years |
| Colors: | Black, gray, fawn, red, orange, tan, cream, white, blue, silver, brown, apricot |
| Suitable for: | Active families with children, people who spend a lot of time at home |
| Temperament: | Energetic, loyal, devoted, playful, fun, friendly |
Whipoodles are the pups that result from breeding Whippets and Poodles. While most breeders choose the Standard Poodle in this pairing, you may find some creating smaller size Whipoodles by mixing male Toy Poodles with a smaller female Whippet. These pups will fall in the 15- to 25-pound range with a height of 12 to 18 inches. However, these aren’t nearly as common as the Whippet/Standard Poodle pairing.
Whipoodle Breed Characteristics
Whipoodle Puppies
Whipoodles are a relatively rare hybrid breed, which may make finding a breeder quite a challenge. We were unable to find any breeders in our research for this blog, leading us to believe it might be easier for folks wanting to adopt a Whipoodle to find one in their local animal shelter or humane society. If you do happen across a breeder, you can expect to pay a similar price for a puppy as you would any other designer dog breed, typically between $800 and $2,000.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Whipoodle 🧠
The Whipoodle is a smart, calm, playful, and obedient dog that is very easygoing and affectionate. They’re very family-oriented and not typically aggressive. The high intelligence of the Whipoodle means it needs plenty of mental stimulation and physical activity to prevent boredom and destructive behaviors like chewing.
These sweet-natured pups enjoy playing with and cuddling their humans but can be needy as they don’t enjoy being alone for too long. Some dogs will develop separation anxiety if you’re away often, which may lead to destructive behaviors around the house.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
The Whipoodle is a sweet-natured hybrid who loves being with his owners. They are not aggressive, so they can make fantastic family pets for households with children. This medium-sized breed is not fragile, so he can do well in homes with younger children. However, it’s always best to supervise young children around dogs as they can both be unpredictable.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?
The easygoing nature of the Whipoodle can make it a great pick for households with other pets. They can get along well with other dogs in most cases and can even be a great companion for dog-friendly cats. However, it’s important to do slow and deliberate introductory periods regardless of what other animals you have in your home. Your Whipoodle should have some training and socialization before introducing him to the other household pets.
Things to Know When Owning a Whipoodle
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
Whipoodles are athletic dogs requiring a nutritionally complete diet designed for medium-sized breeds. You must match your dog’s caloric intake to his lifestyle and energy level. Additionally, it is important not to overfeed your pup as he may already be predisposed to arthritis caused by hip dysplasia.
Because both parent breeds are at risk of developing bloat or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), never free-feed your Whipodle or give them one big meal per day. It’s best to offer two meals per day, and if you notice him eating his meals too quickly, use a slow feeder bowl to help reduce the risk of GDV.
Exercise 🐕
Since the Whipoodle’s parent breeds were historically hunting dogs, you can expect your pup to be very energetic and predacious. He’ll require at least one hour of exercise daily, though more may be necessary to burn off his excess energy. A pup with too much pent-up energy and no outlet can become destructive. You can break up this hour of exercise into two 30-minute sessions if that fits your schedule better.
In addition, Whipoodles are intelligent dogs that need plenty of mental stimulation to stay enriched and happy. Provide opportunities for brain games daily.
Training 🎾
The Whipoodle should be a fairly easy-to-train breed thanks to the high intelligence of its parent breeds. Poodles are among the smartest dog breeds, so training should be a breeze if your pup takes after his Poodle side. They learn quickly, often picking up new commands in fewer than five repetitions. That’s not to say that Whippets aren’t intelligent, however. Whippets are smart dogs, though it can take between 25 and 40 repetitions before they understand new commands.
It’s important to begin training and socialization with your Whipoodle as soon as you can.
Grooming ✂️
Grooming requirements for a Whipoodle will depend on which parent the pup takes after. The good news is that both Poodles and Whippets are low-shedding breeds, so you won’t have to deal with much fur around your home.
Their fur can be wavy or tightly curled like their Poodle parent, requiring daily brushing to keep hair mats away. Poodles require haircuts often, so that may be something you’ll need to budget for if your pup is more Poodle than Whippet.
If their coat is short and smooth like their Whippet parent, you’ll only need one thorough brushing weekly (unless your pup loves to be brushed, in which case you can do it as often as he likes).
Bathing should be done on an as-needed basis.
Health and Conditions ❤️
The Whipoodle is a relatively healthy hybrid with a long lifespan. However, it may be at risk of developing health conditions common to its parent breeds.
Whippets may be prone to mitral valve disease, gastric dilation-volvulus, lacerations due to their short and thin coats, and inherited deafness.
Standard Poodles may develop hip dysplasia, idiopathic epilepsy, skin conditions, and Von Willebrand’s disease.
- Skin conditions
- Lacerations
- Inherited deafness
- Mitral valve disease
- Gastric dilation and volvulus (GDV)
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- Idiopathic epilepsy
- Hip dysplasia
Male vs Female
Male Whipoodles are taller and heavier than their female counterparts. They’re often more playful and energetic, which may make them more suitable as playmates for households with children. Males are eager to please their humans and are often more affectionate than females.
Female Whipoodles may be more independent and can even be manipulative at times. If they want something, they’ll charm you until you give in and do their bidding. They are often more intelligent than their male counterparts but are generally less attention-seeking.
It’s important to note that if you already have a male dog, you may want to consider adopting a female Whipoodle. Having two male dogs may result in territorial issues and aggression.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Whipoodle
1. Whippets and Poodles both originated in Europe.
Whippets originated in Victorian England in the 1700s. The breed was born out of necessity as the people at the time needed a fast-working dog. Early breeders bred Greyhounds with long-legged terriers, resulting in a dog with the speed and agility of both its parent breeds.
Poodles are believed to have originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. They were bred to be water retrievers, accompanying hunters to retrieve shot-down ducks and waterfowl.
2. Whipoodles are very sensitive dogs.
Poodles and Whippets are hypersensitive breeds, so it only makes sense that the offspring resulting from their pairing will also be sensitive. They may be startled easily by touch or sound and can be prone to anxiety as a result.
3. Whipoodles can thrive in heat.
Both Poodles and Whippets can thrive in climates with warmer temperatures. However, the same cannot be said about their cold tolerance. While Standard Poodles are generally more cold-tolerant than their Miniature and Toy counterparts, they’re still sensitive to the cold.
On the other hand, Whippets do not handle cold temperatures well. Their extremely short coats and thin skin make them susceptible to cool and wet weather. Depending on which parent your Whipoodle takes after most, you may need to invest in jackets or sweaters for your pup to keep him comfortable in cooler weather.
Final Thoughts
The Whipoodle is a rare and unique hybrid breed with many fantastic traits. They’re fairly easy to train and can make great companions for families with children. They are highly intelligent, active, and playful, furthering our claim that the Whipoodle is a great family pet. They thrive in homes with active humans that can take them outside to burn off some energy and give them mental stimulation daily. However, Whipoodles don’t care for being left alone for too long, so they’re best for households that aren’t gone for the entire day or those that can afford to take them to doggy daycare.
See Also:
- Whippet Border Collie Mix: Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts
- Jackawhip (Whippet Jack Russell Terrier Mix): Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts
Featured Image Credit to: Left – S J, Unsplash | Right – chili71, Pixabay
