The Sociable Schnoodle

Schnauzers come in 3 sizes — miniature, standard, and giant — and there the 3 types of poodles: toy, miniature, and standard. These variations in the parent breeds result in three sizes of schnoodle: Toy schnoodles are 10 to 12 inches at the shoulder and weight 10 pounds or less, while miniature schnoodles are 12 to 15 inches and weigh 11 to 20 points, and standard schnoodles are 15 to 26 inches and can weigh as much as 75 pounds.

Well-bred schnoodles are happy, intelligent, and loyal. They make great watchdogs because they're protective of their family, but they also love to play. Schnoodles that inherit the schnauzer's strong temperament may be a little standoffish around other dogs or people, but they are still warm and friendly with their family.

Schnoodles are a generally healthy breed and can live as long as 15 years. There are some conditions that the breed is prone to developing. These include diseases of the hip joint, dislocated knee caps, epilepsy, diabetes, Addison's disease, and eye problems such as progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts. Bloat is also a concern for schnoodles that are on the large side.

No matter what size they are, schnoodles need daily exercise. How much depends on their size and energy level. Expect to spend about 30 to 60 minutes exercising your dog every day. Toy and miniature schnoodles can thrive in an apartment, but standard schnoodles are best-suited for a home with a fenced-in yard.

Schnoodles do not like to be left alone for long periods. Generally, they are not a noisy breed, but they can develop a barking habit if they are bored or on their own for too long. This habit can be hard to break. Schnoodles may also engage in destructive behaviors when left on their own and anxious or bored.

All schnoodles are low-shedding and require regular grooming. Their coat should be soft and wavy like a schnauzer, but this isn't always what you get. First-generation schnoodles — those with poodle and schnauzer parents — often have this type of coat. Second-generation schnoodles are more likely to have a coat like one of their grandparents, either wiry like a schnauzer or curly like a poodle.

Schnoodles come in black, silver, brown, gray, white, sable, apricot, and can be mixes of multiple colors. Grooming needs depend on the type of coat the schnoodle gets. Those with a soft, wavy coat only require brushing a few times a week. Those with a wiry, schnauzer-like coat only need to be brushed once a week, but those with curly hair like a poodle need multiple weekly brushings and should be clipped every six weeks.

This hybrid makes an amazing family pet. Both poodles and schnauzers are good with kids, so it's no surprise schnoodles are, too. When introduced to children as puppies, they grow up with them and get along fabulously. Introducing an older schnoodle to the family takes a little more care, but it definitely possible.

Some schnoodles may not get along well with other family pets, but this really boils down to personality. They may not mesh well with cats, especially demanding ones. Schnoodles love to play and can be a bit much for some other dogs, and they do not like to share their toys. Schnauzers are bred to chase small game, so there's a chance your schnoodle may see a pet hamster or rabbit as prey.

Schnoodles are a relatively new breed. They've only been around since the 1980s when breeders became interested in cross-breeding poodles to create low-shedding, allergy-friendly dogs. Schnoodles are usually the result of breeding a poodle and a schnauzer, though some are multi-generational, the result of two schnoodles. No breed standards or schnoodle clubs exist yet, but due to the popularity of this hybrid, efforts are underway to establish them.