Schnoodle – Everything About The Amazing Schnauzer Poodle Mix

When it comes to Poodle mix breed names, this might just be our favorite. Adoring, alert, intelligent, and extremely loyal, the Schnoodle is a fun-loving dog that’s becoming a very popular mixed breed.

The Schnauzer Poodle hybrid dog is a great family pup that has inherited some of the best traits of both parent breeds. They can be many different colors and are adorable to look at! They’re active but, as companion dogs, are also happy to curl up and watch a movie with you.

Are you thinking of adding a Schnoodle to your pack? Here’s everything you need to know from temperament and grooming to appearance and health.

But First, What Is A Schnoodle?

A Schnoodle is a Poodle and Schnauzer mix breed dog. But, anyone who has ever owned either a Poodle or a Schnauzer knows that both dog breeds come in 3 different sizes. That means that a Schnoodle can weigh anywhere between 6 and 75 pounds! That’s quite a difference!

Parent Breeds of The Schnoodle Dog

Purebred Schnauzer

There are three different types of Schnauzers.

• Giant Schnauzer
• Standard Schnauzer
• Miniature Schnauzer

All three are loyal, alert, and playful working dogs. Miniature and Standard Schnauzers were first bred in Germany as ratters. Their dedicated work ethic plus fun-loving nature meant they quickly became a favorite breed on farms and for families.

Giant Schnauzers were also bred in Germany but as loyal and alert guard dogs. All three Schnauzer varieties need lots of exercise (a Miniature slightly less) as they’re very active dogs. They’re funny, intelligent, and can sometimes be a little stubborn.

Of course, Schnauzers are well-known for their black or salt and pepper coats and their very cute beards and eyebrows! Their faces are so human-like, which is another reason Schnauzers are always in the top 20 of the AKC’s list of most popular dogs in the US.

Purebred Poodle

There are three AKC-recognized types of Poodle.

• Standard Poodle
• Miniature Poodle
• Toy Poodle

There’s also the Moyen Poodle, but the AKC does not recognize this pup.

Just like Schnauzers, Poodles were also first bred in Germany. Poodles are athletic, agile, and very proud pups that are popular dogs thanks to their hypoallergenic coat. Because of their allergy-friendly coat, Poodles are often chosen as a parent breed for mixed breed dogs, such as the Mini Goldendoodle and the Poochon.

Standard Poodles were bred to retrieve waterfowl so, as you can imagine, they love splashing in pools and the sea. Miniature Poodles were bred to search for truffles, and Toy Poodles were the beloved breed of French aristocrats.

This dog breed also needs a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. They’re active and definitely need to be part of an active family that spends lots of time outdoors.

Another similarity between Schnauzers and Poodles is the iconic coats. Poodles have curly coats that come in many different colors. They’re often groomed into an iconic Poodle style which is easy to identify across the dog park!

History of The Schnoodle Breed

Schnoodles were first bred in the 1980s. During this decade, there was a huge interest in mix breeding Poodles with many other breeds to create more hypoallergenic dogs. They haven’t quite become as famous as other -oodle breeds (such as the Labradoodle) but they are very much loved by their owners!

Schnoodles are mostly small dogs and the result of mixing Miniature or Toy Poodles with Standard or Miniature Schnauzers. It’s only been in recent years that Giant Schnauzers or standard Poodles have also been used as parent breeds for Schnoodle puppies, creating the Giant Schnoodle.

Temperament of A Schnoodle

Before adopting a Schnoodle puppy, it’s important to know whether or not they’d fit into your family. Schnoodles are affectionate dogs that are very loyal and intelligent. In general, they tend to be slightly less active than a Poodle and slightly less stubborn than a Schnauzer. But of course, this will depend on your unique Schnoodle puppy.

Schnoodles make great watchdogs because they’re so alert. If you manage to adopt a Schnoodle with Giant and Standard parents, they may also make good guard dogs thanks to their size. Schnoodles can also be protective of the ones they love – adding to their watchdog name.

Training a Schnoodle

These dogs are very intelligent and enjoy learning new tricks. As well as physical exercise, they need lots of ways to keep their brains active too. Canine classes such as obedience and agility are a really good idea. Try using healthy treats such as raspberries or a chunk of cucumber to keep them entertained.

The best puzzle toys are another great way for dogs to learn new things and not get bored.

Because of their intelligence and willingness to learn, it should be relatively easy to train a Schnoodle. They respond really well to positive reinforcement and are very eager to please.

Do Schnoodles Need To Be Socialized?

Yes! Absolutely. All Schnoodle puppies need to be socialized from a young age so that they don’t grow up to be overly nervous. Schnoodles can naturally be a little skittish when meeting new people and this can get worse if they’re not well-socialized from the beginning.

Do Schnoodles Get On Well With Children?

When socialized early on, Schnoodles can get on amazingly with children. They’re friendly dogs that like to be the center of attention and love to play!

It may be a little more difficult to introduce an adult Schnoodle to younger kids (this is often the case with most breeds). Take it slow and reward your pup with lots of yummy treats and strokes!

Your Schnoodle should definitely get along with children they’ve grown up with. As always, make sure you teach young children to respect dogs – even the friendly Schnoodle won’t like having its tail pulled and will need some rest!

Do Schnoodles Get On Well With Other Pets?

Generally, Schnoodles get on well with other furry friends in their homes. They’ll love playing with other dogs (and it will give you a bit of a break too)! It’s a good way for them to socialize, develop skills, and burn up some energy.

Dominant cats or smaller pets might be a little problem – especially for Miniature Schnoodles (who have a Miniature Schnauzer as a parent). This is because Mini Schnauzers have some Terrier in them, meaning they might have more of a prey drive.

Again, if they’re introduced early on, you should be able to train this behavior out of them.

Appearance of A Schnoodle

Height and Weight of an Adult Schnoodle

A Schnoodle is a mixed breed dog which means there’s no standard when it comes to appearance. It also really depends on what kind of Schnoodle you adopt.

• A Toy Schnoodle full grown (Miniature Schnauzer and Toy Poodle mix) will weigh between 6 and 10 pounds. They will be 10 to 12 inches tall.
• A Miniature Schnoodle (can be a mix of Standard Poodle with Standard Schnauzer or Miniature Schnauzer) will weigh 13 to 20 pounds. They will be 12 to 15 inches tall.
• A Standard Schnoodle (Standard Poodle and Standard Schnauzer or Giant Schnauzer mix) will weigh between 20 and 75 pounds. They will be 15 to 26 inches tall.

As you can see, there’s a lot of variety. Furthermore, the exact size depends on the size of the parents. Two Standard dogs may have larger or smaller Schnoodles based on their unique genetics.

But it’s not just the size that could vary with your Schnoodle puppy. These pups are usually bred from one Poodle and one Schnauzer dog (although some are now being bred from two Schnoodles). This means their appearance can vary quite a lot too.

Schnoodle Color

Poodles can have many different colored coats and 11 standard ones according to the AKC. Schnauzers can be black, salt and pepper, and silver and black. So you can expect your Schnoodle puppy to be one of these or a mixture.

Colors include brown, black, sable, apricot, gray, black and white, white, black and tan, and particolored. So there are lots to choose from!

Schnoodle Coat Type

Most first-generation Schnoodles have soft and wavy coats. It’s neither tightly cured like a Poodle’s nor wiry like a Schnauzer’s. Actually, it’s quite like the texture of a Schnauzer puppy’s coat.

Schnoodles born to two Schnoodle parents (second-generation dogs) are more likely to inherit either the Poodle’s curly coat or the Schnauzer’s wiry one.

Are Schnoodles Hypoallergenic?

Poodles are considered one of the ultimate hypoallergenic dog breeds. They barely shed any hair meaning there’s less dander (dry skin cells which actually cause allergies) around your home.

This is one of the main reasons why Poodles are such popular dogs to cross with. Although not 100% hypoallergenic (there’s no such thing), a Schnoodle sheds way less than other breeds. They’re a good choice for allergy sufferers who still want a fun furry friend!

Overall Appearance

Schnoodles are very cute dogs. They tend to have floppy ears, button noses, and big endearing eyes. Many owners say they look a lot like teddy bears.

Some may inherit the iconic mustache and eyebrows associated with the Schnauzer breed, whilst others may look a little more like a Poodle.

One thing is for sure though. They’ll be beautiful!

Grooming A Schnoodle

If your dog has a soft and wavy coat, it’ll need weekly brushing to keep its coat smooth and mat-free. If it has a curlier Poodle coat, it may also need trimming at a groomer.

Because Schnoodles are high-energy dogs that love swimming and playing in bushes, you can expect to wash them every so often to keep them smelling nice. Don’t wash them too often as this can dry out their skin.

To keep them fresh in between washes, try using a dry shampoo for dogs. It doesn’t replace washing them but can reduce doggy odors!

We also recommend drying a Schnoodles coat with a doggy hair dryer to stop mats from forming.

Because Schnoodles have floppy ears and love water, it’s important you clean their ears weekly. Just as important is making sure the ears are dry to prevent infection.

It’s also a good idea to regularly clean your Schnoodle’s teeth and keep their claws clipped. Ask a groomer if you’re not sure how to do this.

Health of An Adult Schnoodle

Snoodles are normally healthy pups. It’s important to take them to the vet regularly for check-ups, feed them a nutritious diet, and take them for fun exercise. Of course, they also need lots of love and cuddles too.

Even with all of that, they can suffer from a few health conditions. These include:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Patellar Luxation
• Epilepsy
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Cataracts
• Addison’s Disease

If your pup shows any sign of illness or change in behavior, take them to the vet to be sure.

Where To Adopt a Schnoodle

Schnoodles are popular dogs, so it’s unlikely you’ll find one in your local shelter. But it’s always worth looking there first! You never know and you might be able to give a pup a new home.

When adopting a Schnoodle from a breeder you really need to do your research. As designer dogs, unethical breeders may breed them based on their popularity rather than the health and temperament of the dog.

A respectable breeder should be able to provide you with all the health certificates necessary and ensure the health and happiness of the parent dogs too.

Living Needs of A Schnoodle

Smaller Schnoodles make great little lapdogs. They’re caring, relaxed, and love being around people. They still need a good amount of exercise a day and will love going for walks. Because they’re calm-natured and small dogs, Miniature Schnoodles can adapt well to living in apartments.

Standard and larger Schnoodles will need a bit more exercise and space. They’ll benefit from having a fenced-in yard to play in and entertain themselves.

Although no dog should be left alone for long periods of time, Schnoodles don’t easily develop separation anxiety. If you need to leave the house for a bit, they’ll be happy snuggling on the couch or keeping themselves busy with an indestructible dog toy.

Schnoodle Price

The price of a Schnoodle can really vary depending on the reputation of breeders and the demand in your area. The lineage of the Poodle and Schnauzer parents will also impact the price.

Generally speaking, you can expect to pay between $600 and $2500.

Of course, it’s always worth checking in your local shelter or Schnoodle rescue as this will make the Schnoodle price much cheaper!

So, Is A Schnoodle for You?

The great thing about a Schnoodle is that there are 3 different types to choose from. Those who live in apartments can adopt a Miniature or Toy Schnoodle and those looking for a more active dog to take on jogs can opt for a bigger version.

Schnoodles are fun-loving pups that are highly intelligent and enjoy socializing. They have a great work ethic and can be wonderful companion- and therapy dogs. As with all pups, research a Schnoodle breeder carefully so you know you’re getting a happy and healthy addition to your family.