All The BEST Types Of Doodles (My Opinion)

Our family has a beautiful Goldendoodle named Daisy. She is nearly four years old and is a tremendously kind and loving dog with a strong zest for life. We are often asked what type of dog Daisy is, which brought me to develop this post on some of the different kinds of Doodles there are because as we all know, there are many types of Doodles.

A Doodle itself is a dog that has been crossed with a Poodle. There are a ton of various types of Doodles because Poodles can ultimately be crossed with most dogs (with some sometimes unusual consequences). Below, I will focus on a few of my favorite Doodle breeds, specifically the GoldenDoodle, LabraDoodle, BernaDoodle and ShepaDoodle. Typically, the different types of Doodles are hypoallergenic and do not shed as a result of their Poodle fur.

How Doodlelike Are They?

It is also important to note how much Poodle your dog has in its lineage as that will impact the type of temperament and physical appearance of your Doodle. Daisy, for example, is an F1B GoldenDoodle, this means that one parent was a Goldendoodle, and the other parent was a Poodle. She is therefore 75% Poodle and 25% Golden.  

Doodles, in general, vary in colours and sizes. It is essential to determine if you are looking for a teacup (mini), small, medium, or standard type of Doodle. This conversation should be had with your trusted breeder, and I also suggest that you meet the parents of the Doodle you are considering ensuring most importantly, that they are well cared for, and also that they are the size you are looking for. We have heard a variety of stories about the disparate breeds of Doodles who once they are brought home ended up being significantly bigger than expected.

When planning to get a Doodle I also strongly recommend thinking about what sort of mix you are looking for. We have close friends who have an F1 Goldendoodle, which means it is 50% Golden Retriever and 50% Poodle. Their dog’s temperament and appearance strongly favor the GoldenRetriever, so much so in fact that their dog sheds and does not look like there is any Poodle at all. That is why it is so crucial to understand the differences of Doodles and to pick the one best suited for you.

There is a beneficial book you can check out when thinking about the various breeds of Doodles and dogs in general: 

Now, let’s breakdown the different types of Doodle you can bring home.

Different Types Of Doodles

Goldendoodle

As mentioned above, a Goldendoodle is a Golden Retriever that has been crossed with a Poodle. 

There are variations in the type of crossing that can be done; however, the primary variations are F1 and F1B. 

An F1 Goldendoodle is 50% Poodle and 50% Golden Retriever. An F1B GoldenDoodle is 75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever.

Goldendoodle’s have a very kind temperament. They are gentle, fun-loving and intelligent. Due to their Golden Retriever and Poodle lineage, they do require a fair amount of exercise and love to run and play. 

Goldendoodles and most Doodles are relatively high maintenance from a grooming standpoint. 

This is because their fur is a cross between the straight Golden Retriever hair and the curly Poodle hair. 

Their fur can get matted quickly and requires either consistent at-home brushing or trips to the groomer every eight or so weeks. Our family makes ongoing groomer appointments, which while costly, Daisy loves, and there is a benefit because they also do hair, nail trim, eye trim etc. We have found that the vast majority of clients at our dog groomer are, in fact, doodles.

This is a fantastic guide to Goldendoodle’s that we leveraged in our home: 

Labradoodle

The Labradoodle is another type of Doodle. Similar to the GoldenDoodle, the LabraDoodle is a Poodle cross; however, in this case, it is a Poodle Crossed with a Labrador Retriever. As is consistent with Doodles, the percentage of Poodle vs Labrador Retriever mixed with the LabraDoodle will impact their appearance and temperament.

Labradoodles are energetic, social and fun-loving dogs. They typically love water and play well with children. The one call out of Labradoodles, and all Doods in general, is because of their excitable Poodle nature, while they are very loving to children, they can sometimes be so excited that they can accidentally knock over a child or frighten them with their excitedness. Typically, however, Poodle mixes (i.e. doodles) respond to the energy of those around them and will calm down if their behaviour is too much.

Here is a guide to Labradoodles to provide you with everything you need to understand the breed:  

Sheepadoodle

The SheepaDoodle is another type of Doodle that is growing in popularity. The SheepaDoodle is a mix between an old English sheepdog and a Poodle. 

Again, as is consistent with all doodles, the mix of each parent will impact the look and attitude of the SheepaDoodle.

A standard SheepaDoodle is tremendously playful, loyal and intelligent. They tend to be on the larger size (if you get a standard) which means they can actually be a bit lazier. Their coats requirement consistent grooming as is common with different types of Doodles but they are tremendously cuddly and cute dogs.

Here is a guide to SheepDoodles: 

Bernedoodle

A Bernedoodle is another excellent type of Doodle. They are are Bernese Mountain Dog mixed with a Poodle and therefore can be the largest of the of all the Doodles.

A Bernedoodle is kid-friendly, intelligent and playful. They do limited shedding as a result of their fur and love cold weather.

You can learn more about Bernedoodles here: 

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