Fun Irish Doodle Facts For Kids

If you are on the hunt for a pet dog that is lively and loyal at the same time, then you might want to give a thought about adopting an Irish doodle. This relatively new crossbreed dog is thought to have come into existence around 30 years ago in the '90s.

They were created as a designer breed by mixing two highly lovable and energetic canines: the Irish setter and the poodle.

Irish doodles are canines that love to have fun all the time. They are very loyal to their owners and act as the perfect dog for any family.

Add to that the fact that they are hypoallergic and hardly shed any hair from their coat and the fact that children and strangers get along well with this breed, and its the perfect dog! With proper training and socialization from an early age, you will have the best dog ever in the form of this Irish setter-poodle mix.

Read on to learn about more interesting characteristics and features of this dog. For more relatable content, check out these Boxerdoodle facts and Sheepadoodle facts for kids.

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Irish Doodle Interesting Facts

What type of animal is an Irish doodle?

The Irish doodle is a mixed breed designer dog that is a cross between the poodle and the Irish setter. This designer breed dog is also known by a variety of names like the Irish setter poodle, the Irish poo setter, the Irish doodle setter, the Irish setterpoo, and others.

As this designer dog breed is a combination of two purebred dog breeds, the American Kennel Club (AKC) does not recognize it.

What class of animal does an Irish doodle belong to?

The Irish doodle or the Irish setter poodle is a dog breed of mixed origin that belongs to the class Mammalia. Like all dogs, the Irish doodle also has the scientific name Canis lupus familiaris.

How many Irish doodles are there in the world?

Due to Irish doodles being a new crossbreed between Irish setters and poodle dogs, it can be very difficult to estimate the total number of dogs belonging to this breed.

What we do know is that the Irish doodle's parents are quite popular. Its poodle parent breed ranks at position seven out of 197 dog breeds in the American Kennel Club's popularity list.

Its Irish setter parents may not be as popular as the poodle, yet they rank a respectable 77 out of 197 in that same list by the AKC.

Where does an Irish doodle live?

Owing to the fact that they are mixed breeds, Irish doodles usually live in the house of their owners or with their breeders. Sometimes, they might also be left behind in shelters.

Irish doodles are mostly found in North America, in the United States of America and Canada. Irish doodle puppies are also adopted by people living all across Europe, especially in the United Kingdom and France. Interestingly, the poodle is actually the national dog of France.

What is an Irish doodle's habitat?

The habitat of the Irish doodle is the home of the owners or the with their breeders. While Irish setters are more typical country dogs, poodles are well-known to adapt to apartment living.

As a result of the combination of these two breeds of parents, Irish doodles have the capability to adapt to both urban and country settings. These dogs are easy to train and have a lot of energy and need regular exercise.

They love to be with a family that cares. Dogs of this breed are always eager to please and are a perfect example of a family dog.

However, owing to their poodle heritage, they can easily go from being high-energy dogs to adorable couch potatoes. Yet, that will not hinder the intelligence of the Irish doodle.

The Irish doodle's smartness, intelligence, and willingness to learn makes it unique. Although their parents have been used as guard dogs, Irish doodles are not suitable for that role even though they are very inquisitive and alert by nature.

Who does an Irish doodle live with?

The Irish doodle is a happy-go-lucky dog that loves to spend time with its family. Both Irish setters and poodles are great with children and this is true for the Irish doodle as well.

These dogs simply adore children and can become their best friends in no time at all. If you want a dog that is good with children, then this could easily be the one.

On the other hand, poodles are actually quite proud dogs and they can take some time adapting to other pets in the house. The opposite is said to be true for the Irish setter as they easily mix with other dogs.

With regards to compatibility with other dogs, Irish doodles are more on the side of their Irish setter heritage.

They mix quite well with other pets. However, small animals and birds may be dangerous to keep near Irish doodles as they might chase after them due to their hunting instincts.

How long does an Irish doodle live?

Generally, the Irish setter lives for around 11 to 15 years while the poodle has a lifespan that ranges anywhere between 10 to 18 years. The Irish setter poodle, which is a mix of these two dogs, has a lifespan of 10 to 13 years.

Generally, dogs of mixed heritage are healthier in nature, and as a result, common health problems are less prevalent in them, extending their longevity.

How do they reproduce?

As these dogs are designer breeds, their reproduction processes are not that well known.

However, we can assume that the female Irish doodle has a gestation period of 65 days as that is common with other breeds like the poodle and the Irish setter. According to some sources, the litter size of Irish doodles can vary from five to eight Irish doodle puppies.

An Irish doodle puppy can come in both miniature and toy variants, depending on the type of poodle used (standard or miniature poodle) for breeding that particular puppy.

What is their conservation status?

Like their parents and all other breeds of dogs, Irish doodles are not listed in the conservation Red List maintained by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature. We can assume that due to the recent emergence of the Irish setter poodle mix, they are not in any danger of going extinct.

Irish Doodle Fun Facts

What does the Irish doodle look like?

The Irish setter poodle mix dog is a medium-sized dog that has a non-shedding coat. The coat of this dog is usually patterned, after the poodle, but some Irish setter traits may also appear on the coat.

An Irish doodle coat usually has a plethora of variations. Even though Irish setters are red, poodles often have different coat colors and this is reflected in the coloration of the Irish doodle's coat.

Their fur coat comes in red, brown, gray, cream, and blue colors. However, the primary coat color is generally reddish with some white markings.

Irish doodles are strong and athletic dogs whose parents were once used as gun dogs. In the shape of the Irish doodle, the Irish setter's square build is seen more often.

The narrow body structure of poodles has also been observed at times. Their overall appearance has often been compared with that of a teddy bear, with drooping ears and brown-colored eyes.

*Please note that this is a picture of the poodle, one of the parent breeds of the Irish doodle. If you have an image of an Irish doodle please let us know at hello@kidadl.com.

How cute are they?

Irish doodles are very cute and adorable. They are often fun to be around and, on top of that, you may find their training shenanigans to be very cute. Many will often find their teddy bear-like appearance, which is very similar to that of the Goldendoodle, to be extremely worthy of endless cuddles!

How do they communicate?

Any dog will communicate with its owners and other dogs with the help of barks and physical actions. These setter doodles, however, are not known to bark too much and instead convey most of their emotions with the help of actions.

You also don't need to worry about the dog getting too aggressive, as the setter doodle is a very even-tempered and calm dog.

How big is an Irish doodle?

Irish doodles get quite big in size unless they have been bred using mini poodles. Standard Irish setter poodles usually grow to between 22-28 in (55.9-71.1 cm) with males growing bigger than females.

If this doodle dog comes from a miniature poodle dog parent, then the mini setter doodle will have its height hover around the range of 15 in (38.1 cm). In comparison, the Irish water spaniel is almost the same size as the Irish setter doodle.

How fast can an Irish doodle run?

Poodles are considered to be one of the fastest dogs with an average speed of 30 mph (48.3 kph). Irish setters are also not too far away from that figure.

With both parent breeds of canines being fast and agile, it is safe to say that this high-energy dog can run at a quite good speed. Unfortunately, we cannot tell you the exact speed of this dog as it still a relatively new breed.

How much does an Irish doodle weigh?

The weight of this dog usually varies between the range of 40-70 lb (18.1-31.8 kg). Again, sexual dimorphism is seen, with males weighing more on average than females. The weight of purebred setters from Ireland is around  40-70 lb (18.1-31.8 kg), while the poodle weight range is the same as the setter doodle's.

What are their male and female names of the species?

Female and male dogs of this dog breed can be simply be called by the common terminology of 'bitch' and 'dog' respectively.

What would you call a baby Irish doodle?

A baby Irish doodle could be referred to as a 'puppy'.

What do they eat?

A diet consisting of protein and high-quality food is recommended for these canines.  You may also include some cooked vegetables and raw meat as food occasionally. However, it is important not to give your pet too many food treats during training and exercise as this may lead to different health issues for the dog.

Are they slobbery?

Since neither of their parents has a high potential to drool, we can conclude that setter doodles do not slobber and do not drool too much. Of course, all canines will drool when they are panting or thirsty.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, of course. With the proper training and lots of love, they make a great dog for the family.

However, since this dog has bundles of energy, get ready for frequent walks, training sessions, and lots of exercise. Also, since they do not shed much, they will not require a lot of grooming. We still recommend daily brushing and frequent visits to the vet to keep the overall health of the dog in fine condition.

This dog also gets along well with kids and strangers. Proper and early socialization will help the dog when you have smaller animals in the house.

Did you know...

The average cost of this Irish setter poodle mix is well above $1000. A miniature Irish setterpoo puppy will cost upwards of $2500.

Despite being generally healthier than its parents, this breed does suffer from health issues like Addison's disease and bloating.

What is the difference between an Irish doodle and a Goldendoodle?

One of the most noticeable differences is the coat color between these two mixed breeds, with Goldendoodles having a yellow coat and Irish doodles having a mainly reddish coat. Goldendoodles are thought to be lighter than the setterpoo too.

Can Irish doodles be left alone?

This dog will easily get bored when left alone for a long time. This may lead to separation anxiety and this, in turn, can cause the dog to become violent and restless. As this dog thrives on love and care, it shouldn't be left alone for long durations of time.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our pine marten facts and tamandua facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Labradoodle coloring pages.