Have You Met The Active and Intelligent Irish Doodle?

Last Updated on April 24, 2023

Have you ever seen a reddish fluffy dog walking down the street? You might have seen an Irish Doodle.

These pups are friendly, loyal, and active, affectionately known as Big Red, Setterdoodles, Irish Poo Setter, or Irish Setterpoo.

The Irish Setter Doodle is a delightful pup that any family would be lucky to have. Want to learn more about this mixed breed? Then keep reading.

Learn more about the Amazing Irish Doodle and Where It Came From

An Irish Doodle is a designer breed, which means that it was bred intentionally as a hybrid. This beloved pooch is a perfect mix of the Standard Poodle and Irish Setter. Even their name is a mixture between its purebred parents.

This crossbreed was bred for the hunting and retrieving skills of its parent breeds. Now, this designer dog is a companion pup. 

Fun fact: Some Irish Doodles help their humans in more ways than being just a companion. They can also be service dogs and therapy dogs.

Barney is a Setterdoodle that helps a US Judge maintain his blood sugar. He has diabetes, and the dog alerts him to check his levels and take insulin.

In addition, there’s Willow, who is specially trained to help a young boy with autism.

This hybrid is also growing in popularity. For instance, Fitz is a sensation on Instagram. Other well-known Irish Doodles on Instagram is a White Irish Doodle named Winston and a brown Irish Doodle named Cooper.

Despite their growing popularity, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has not recognized this pup as a standard breed because it’s not a purebred dog. 

Did you know there are five generationsof Doodles? There’s F1 (first generation), F1b (first generation backcross), F2 (second generation), F2b (second generation backcross), and F3 (multigenerational).

The first generation is the result of an Irish Setter being crossed with a Poodle. So, a first-generation backcross Irish Doodle is the same, but the traits of one of the parent breeds are intensified.

F1 Irish Doodles and F1b are the more popular Doodles. These pups usually have hybrid vigor, which is a decrease in health risks. However, F3 is most likely to be hypoallergenic.

While there’s a lot to love about these pups, it’s unknown where and when they were initially bred. So, let’s take a look at its parent breeds.

Parent 1: Irish Setter

The Irish Setter is a gun dog from Ireland. They were bred for their stamina and agility. However, they hunted prey by sniffing them out and wagging their tails to alert their owner.

These pups have silky red coats and can grow to weigh about 70 pounds. The AKC recognized this dog breed in 1878.

Parent 2: Poodle

Poodles can come in three different sizes: Toy Poodles, Miniature Poodles, and Standard Poodles.

These pups are athletic and intelligent. They were initially bred for water retrieval and duck hunting. The AKC first recognized the Poodle in 1887.

Read our guide to learn more about the different types of Poodles.

What Does an Irish Doodle Look Like?

Irish Doodle has a long muzzle that can be sturdy or fine, depending on which parent they take after. In addition, they can have almond or oval-shaped eyes that are a beautiful brown.

This doggo is considered a medium to large dog, though its size depends on the Poodle parent.

How big does an Irish Doodle get?

Since the Poodle can come in three different sizes, the height and weight of your Irish Doodle can vary.

For example, a Standard Irish Doodle Setter can grow 15 to 27 inches (38 to 67 cm) tall and weigh between 35 to 55 pounds (16 to 25 kg).

Meanwhile, a Mini Irish Doodles can be 15 to 25 inches (38 to 63 cm) tall and weigh 20 to 35 pounds (9 to 16 kg).

You can expect your Standard Big Red to be fully grown by 12.5 to 16 months of age. Your Mini Irish Setter Doodle may be fully grown between 11 and 13 months old. 

When it comes to males versus females, male Irish Doodles are typically a little bigger and possibly more rambunctious. However, every dog is different, and both genders will have the same traits as the parent breeds.

Given their size and personalities, Irish Doodles may be too much for apartment living. Instead, they’ll be happier in a house with a fenced-in backyard.

What type of coat hair do Irish Doodles have?

This pooch has a coat that’s wavy, dense, long, and shaggy. They typically take after the Poodle parent. However, Poodles have a single-layer coat while Irish Doodles usually have a double coat.

These hybrid dogs do have a moderately shedding coat. So, even though the Poodle is one of their parents, they are not considered hypoallergenic. Every dog is different, though. For example, you may find an Irish Setter that is low-shedding.

Despite their nickname, Big Red, this doggo can come in a few different coat colors.

For example, this pooch’s coat colors can be red, reddish blonde, cream, peach tone, white, black, blue, brown, gray, silver, or apricot.

They don’t have many coat patterns, though. They can come with white markings, but that’s about it.

Are Irish Doodles Good Family Dogs?

Irish Doodles are all-around friendly and light-hearted dogs. They will make an excellent family pet as they are good with kids.

However, they will do well in any family dynamic. But they will fit in better if you have an active lifestyle. They’ll enjoy cuddling on the couch with you, but they will also enjoy running around and going on adventures with you.

This doggo will even get along well with other dogs. They do have a strong prey drive due to their hunting background. So, they can get along with cats and other small animals, but they might go on a hunt if they get bored. When it comes to meeting strangers, they may be wary.

This pooch is never aggressive or dangerous, though. In fact, they’re quite sensitive. If left alone for too long, they may be prone to separation anxiety. Irish Doodles don’t bark much, but they may if they’re lonely, bored, or need to alert you for something.

Luckily, both the Irish Setter and the Poodle are intelligent dogs. Therefore, Irish Doodles will be quite smart as well. This doggo is easy to train and eager to learn. In addition, they’ll want to please their owners.

When it comes to training this crossbreed, you’ll need to keep it interesting. They’ll thrive on learning new things and from praise from you.

You’ll want to begin training and socializing your new puppy right away. Then, if needed, this hybrid can help as a great service dog or therapy dog. 

How to Take Care of Your Irish Doodle

An Irish Doodle, compared to its parent breeds, require some unique needs. Therefore, this crossbreed isn’t necessarily recommended for novice dog owners.

This pooch, thanks to both of its parents, loves to swim. So, they can tolerate a little bit of warm weather as they’ll enjoy hopping in the pool to cool off.

Exercising your Irish Doodle

This doggo has high energy levels. They can become hyper, especially if they don’t get the adequate exercise they need.

Irish Doodles need at least 90 minutes of exercise and activity per day. This includes walks or jogs, obedience classes, agility training, or swimming.

They should go for a daily walk that’s a couple of miles long. If you’re not home often, it’s recommended to bring your pooch to daycare or get a dog walker. Otherwise, you might be coming home to an extremely bored pup.

Do Irish Doodles shed?

Some Irish Doodles are considered hypoallergenic, but it will all depend on the coat they inherit from their parent breeds.

For example, if they inherit a single-layer coat, then there will most likely be minimal shedding. However, you’ll still need to brush it frequently to keep any tangles and mats at bay.

Alternatively, if your pooch has a double coat, they may shed a bit and need daily brushing.

Luckily, Irish Doodles don’t smell. Bathing will be as needed or every few months. You should regularly clean your pup’s ears, brush their teeth, and trim their nails.

It’s a good idea to bring your Irish Doodle to a professional groomer once every month or two. This will help keep their coat and skin healthy and clean.

Feeding your Irish Doodle

Every dog is different, so your dog’s diet will be a discussion for you and your veterinarian.

However, Irish Doodles typically need about three cups of high-quality kibble each day. A diet that’s high in protein, given their energy levels, will do them well.

Never give your pooch table scraps of people’s food without talking to your vet about it first. Some human food is okay for dogs in moderation, but 90% of their diet should be their commercial dog food.

What Health Problems Do Irish Doodles Have?

Like with all dogs, Irish Doodles do have some health problems. Hybrids may have fewer issues than purebreds, but they can still inherit health conditions from their parents. 

Some common health issues may include hip dysplasia, bloat, and eye diseases and disorders.

Luckily, you can get health screenings and occasional tests for your pooch, such as x-rays, eye examinations, trichogram, and cutaneous cytology.

These can test for hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, autoimmune thyroiditis, cardiac exams, and skin tests.

With regular visits to the vet at least once a year, your Irish Doodle has an average lifespan of10 to 13 years.

How Much Does an Irish Doodle Puppy Cost?

Irish Doodle is growing in popularity, so you’ll be able to find it in a few different places.

However, you’ll want to be aware of puppy mills, backyard breeders, and pet stores. These places are more interested in making a profit rather than giving the puppies a good home.

Depending on where you get your Irish Doodle puppy, you can expect to pay anywhere between $1,500 and $5,000.

The first year will be the most expensive after buying the dog, all the supplies you need, and vaccinations at the vet. Aside from the cost of the puppy, expect to pay about $1,500 for the first year.

Each year after that, for the cost of food, vet appointments, new toys, and more, you may spend anywhere between $500 and $1,000.

How to find an Irish Doodle breeder?

If you decide to go through a breeder, you’ll want to research to find a reputable breeder.

A good breeder will have a vast knowledge of the crossbreed and the purebred parents. They’ll be able to tell you the family tree of the litter and the health history.

In addition, the breeder will want to meet with you in person. They care about the puppies going to a good home, so they’ll let you meet the litter and the parents. Plus, they’ll get to know you.

You can look into some reputable breeders for Irish Doodle are Crockett Doodles in PA, SC, GA, CA, NC, and MI. There’s also Poodles 2 Doodles in Iowa and Eagle Valley Puppies in Wisconsin.

You can rescue an Irish Doodle

On the other hand, many pups don’t already have good homes or were surrendered. You can contact your local animal shelter or rescue organization for Irish Doodles.

Some great rescues include the following:

• Oodles of Doodles in New Jersey
• Doodle Rock Rescue in Texas
• Doodle Aid in the UK.

Goldendoodle vs. Irish Doodle

Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles, believe it or not, are similar in many ways. Goldendoodles come from a mixture of Poodles and Golden Retrievers.

Goldens and Irish Setters have a lot in common, from being gun dogs, having high energy, and being athletic.

So, if you’re looking for a Poodle mix, both of these hybrids are a good choice.

Should You Get an Irish Doodle?

There are many Doodles out there, from Poodles mixed with Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and, of course, Irish Setters.

Irish Doodles make wonderful companion dogs and are good family pets, but they aren’t for novice owners. These pups have high energy needs and require some grooming.

If you lead an active lifestyle, this doggo is easy to train, loyal, and affectionate.

Do you think you’ll get an Irish Doodle? Let us know in the comments below.

Further reading: Similar Breeds to the Irish Doodle

• Labradoodle
• Sheepadoodle
• Bordodoodle
• Whoodle