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Mini Irish Doodle Breed Information
Adventurous, fun-loving, and sweet, the Mini Irish Doodle puppies are one of the best designer breeds to have by your side. These sunny pups exude joy with every paw step and are sure to fill your life with love and friendship. They are a mix between an Irish Setter and a Miniature Poodle, which means they are intelligent, hypoallergenic, and perfectly perfect. Their looks are cuddly and glamorous, and their disposition is caring and happy.
BREED TYPE / MIX
Doodle Hybrid / Poodle crossed with an Irish Setter
ENERGY
Moderate
SHEDDING
Minimum
TRAINING
Responsive
TEMPERAMENT
Intelligent, Loving, Friendly, Energetic
ADULT WEIGHT
20-35 lbs
ADULT HEIGHT
12-17 in
LIFE SPAN
12-15 yrs
Characteristics
- Mini Irish Doodle puppies are a mix between two purebred dogs – an Irish Setter and a Miniature Poodle
- These mini dogs originated in the United States between the 80s and the 90s. They are currently one of the most popular designer breeds in America
- The designer breed is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club and the Designer Breed Registry
- Hypoallergenic Mini Irish Doodles are a great fit for those that suffer from pet-related allergies. F1b Mini Irish Doodles in particular are best suited for allergy-sufferers as they inherit the Poodle’s hypoallergenic coat qualities
- Mini Irish Doodle hybrid vigor – these puppies benefit from superior health due to crossbreeding
- The Mini Irish Doodle puppy is very smart and easy to train – an excellent choice for novice owners
- Mini Irish Doodles are bred into two or more generations such as F1, F1b, and F2
- Incredibly friendly and sweet, this dog will get along well with everyone he meets. He is fond of children, dogs, household pets, and even cats
- Mini Irish Doodles were originally created for companionship, service work, and therapy jobs. They can be trained for several jobs
- Their energy levels can be high, often needing up to an hour of daily exercise
- With their sweet, loving nature and sunny personality, the Mini Irish Doodle puppies make fantastic little pets for families with children, active seniors, and single owners
Appearance
Mini Irish Doodles are beautiful small dogs that impress with a bouncy walk, a cute expression, and a feel-good disposition. They are petite, compact, and built like little athletes. Inheriting their strength and speed from both parents, these adorable pooches are made for sporting competitions. They are well-proportioned, muscular, and quite resilient.
Their size is usually small to medium, depending on which generation they belong to. F1 adults are likely to be a bit taller than F1b adults. Their average weight is between 20 and 35 pounds, and they typically reach a height of 12 to 17 inches.
Some of their most adorable features that are inherited from both their parents include beautiful dark eyes, cute hanging ears, a medium-length muzzle, and a fluffy tail that is carried curled towards the back. They may come in various colors and color combinations that include white, black, red, apricot, cream, intense brown, chestnut, gray, and chocolate. Their coats are usually shaggy, wavy, or curly.
Temperament
Mini Irish Doodles have an ideal temperament to make the best companions for any type of lifestyle. They are more energetic than other similar small dog breeds and have enough joy to last forever. These dogs are incredibly kind, which means you won’t have to worry about aggression or territorial behavior. They like meeting new people and are quick to make friends in the animal world.
They do get quite attached to their owners, and this can mean they may be prone to separation anxiety if they are left alone too often. Because of this, they may fit better with an owner or family that has someone home most of the time.
Children are their favorite little people, and the two make quite the pair. Since all they want to do is play and go on adventures, Mini Irish Doodles will find kids to be their best friends. Smaller kids are safe around these dogs too. Although small and energetic, Mini Irishdoodles are not likely to knock anyone over.
The long list of hobbies Mini Irish Doodles have, includes going on hikes, playing any dog game there is, swimming, chasing their toys, and interacting with everyone in their path. They are lovers of nature and will want to participate in fun outdoor activities with their pet parents.
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Care
Grooming
As a mix between an Irish Setter and a Miniature Poodle, the Mini Irish Doodle inherits a gorgeous, rich, and luxurious coat that needs frequent grooming. Non-shedding or low-shedding breeds typically require regular grooming to avoid the formation of knots and tangles on their coat.
Ideally, you should brush your Mini Irish Doodle’s coat once every other day with a bristle brush and bathe him once every few months. Bathing should not be more frequent than 4 to 6 weeks as it can dry out your dog’s skin. Mild shampoo that is specifically designed for dogs is recommended.
Brushing your Mini Irish Doodle’s teeth is as important as brushing his coat. Like all dogs, he can be prone to tartar build-up, periodontal disease, and other tooth-related problems. Brushing your dog’s teeth at least 3 times per week will work best.
Dogs that have drop, floppy ears are more susceptible to ear infections and dirt build-up in their ear canals. To avoid any ear problems, it’s best to clean their ears at least once a week with a damp cloth.
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Exercise Needs
Energetic and always ready to have a good time, the Mini Irish Doodle is a dog made for a fun lifestyle. Adventures and games are what they love most, and long walks are on their to-do list every day. These cute and spunky dogs will need an average of 40 to 60 minutes of exercise per day. They love walking, hiking, and swimming, and are very fond of playdates at the dog park.
To keep them happy, healthy, and fit, it is best to provide plenty of opportunities for them to burn off any excess energy. Indoor games and daily walks will do the trick.
Mental stimulation is also recommended for these little Einstein dogs. Exercising their minds is just as important as exercising their bodies. They thrive with puzzle games and agility training and will love the opportunity to participate in treat hunts.
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Health
Crossing two purebred dogs that have excellent health records will always result in healthy puppies. And this improved health is one of the reasons Mini Irish Doodles are so popular today. They benefit from hybrid vigor and are very unlikely to inherit ailments that are generally passed down through purebred generations. Because they are hybrids of two purebreds, their gene pool is more complex, and this protects them from inheriting some of the problems that are common in the breeds of their parents. Although not entirely immune to health problems, the issues that can arise in this breed are generally mild and non-life-threatening.
Some of the health conditions that may affect Mini Irish Doodles include patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, cataracts, allergies to food, skin allergies, hypothyroidism, progressive retinal atrophy, and in some rare cases, epilepsy. These conditions are rare for the Mini Irish Doodles, but it is always best to know what they are and how to identify them if they do occur.
Regular vet checks are recommended to ensure your Mini Irish Doodle dog lives a long, healthy, and happy life.
Lifespan
A dog’s lifespan is determined by many factors such as diet, exercise, and general lifestyle. For Mini Irish Doodles, their average lifespan is between 12 and 15 years, but with proper care, they can exceed this mark just as their purebred parents do. It is recommended to exercise them daily and provide them with a rich and nutritious diet. Their living environment should be loving and safe.
The parent breeds of the Mini Irish Doodles are also long-lived. Like their offspring, they can reach an age of 18 + years when cared for properly. The Mini Poodle has been known to live as much as 20 years, while the Irish Setter has reached up to 18 years.
Training
Mini Irish Doodle puppies are incredibly smart like both their parent breeds and training them is as easy as loving them. They are people-pleasers and will do what it takes to make you happy. And given that Poodles are the second most intelligent dog breed in the world, you can expect your little Mini Irish Doodle to show the same level of intelligence and agility as their parent.
Mini Irish Doodles can be a bit too enthusiastic, especially if there are distractions around. They might prefer to play with their favorite toy or engage in different activities than sit still for training classes. To keep this from happening, it’s best that you combine fun games with training. Make sure they have fun while they learn and don’t try to force them into obeying. They learn best through positive reinforcement.
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Using the treats they love to munch on and providing plenty of praise and affection during training will also work great for these puppies. They will learn quickly once they discover the rewards of doing so.
Neither Poodles nor Irish Setters are known to be stubborn, so this is not a trait that your Mini Irish Doodle will display. They are more concerned with making you happy than anything else, and this will shine through in training.
Mini Irish Doodles attach like magnets to their owners and want to be a part of everything that is going on around them. They don’t like to be on their own and can only handle an hour or two of being home alone. Leaving them alone for extended periods of time can cause them to suffer from separation anxiety. It can also lead them to display destructive behavior like excessive barking and chewing. This is best avoided through early training.
Socialization training is also necessary for these puppies even though they are incredibly friendly with every living thing. They get along great with other dogs and even cats, but the recommendation is to always socialize them as puppies. Bird pets might not be as safe when it comes to Mini Irish Doodles, as these pups can still have a strong prey drive.
History
The Mini Irish Doodle is an amazing little designer breed that inherits the best qualities of two purebred breeds. These cute puppies are a cross between an Irish Setter and a Miniature Poodle.
Mini Irish Doodles originated between the 80s and 90s in the United States when their larger counterparts, the Standard Irish Doodles reached their peak in popularity. Standard Irish Doodles are a cross between an Irish Setter and a Standard Poodle. The biggest difference between the Standard and the Mini is their size, one being large, and one being miniature. Their coat qualities, physical characteristics, and personality traits are the same. They share the same intelligence and sweet, loving nature.
The history of these cute doodle puppies is quite short and not as well documented as the history of their parent breeds. We can get a better insight into these pups by learning more about their parent breeds and why they were chosen for the mix.
Irish Setters are large, energetic dogs that have been bred as gundogs during the 18th century. They are originally from Ireland, as their name suggests, and it is believed they were created by crossing various breeds from the area such as the spaniel, English and Gordon Setters, and pointers. These beautiful Irish dogs are renowned for both their intelligence and their loyalty. They are incredibly sociable and well-behaved and make quite the adventurous companions for active owners.
Poodles are one of the oldest breeds in Dogdom, and one of the most intelligent too. They are currently ranked as the second most intelligent dogs on earth, second only to the Border Collies. Poodles have been impressing humans with their skills for centuries. They are versatile and can be trained for a myriad of tasks. Their personalities are also quite remarkable. They are very friendly, affectionate, and calm-tempered dogs that get along well with humans, dogs, and everyone else. The miniature version of Poodles is a bit more relaxed compared to the large Standard, but they are still energetic and quite the adventurers.
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The remarkable traits of their parents along with their superb looks make the Mini Irish Doodles a jewel of Dogdom. These cute pooches are also bred through two or more generations for better control over some of their desirable qualities.
For example, F1 Mini Irish Doodles are a half and half mix of an Irish Setter and a Miniature Poodle. The F1 puppy has excellent health and inherits equal traits from both parents. The F1b Mini Irish Doodles are a mix of a Mini Irish Doodle backcrossed with a non-related Miniature Poodle. This mix inherits the Poodle’s hypoallergenic coat qualities and curly hair, and the Irish Setter’s amazing personality. The F1b puppy is 25% Irish Setter and 75% Miniature Poodle.
The breed is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club as it is a hybrid. However, it is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club and the Designer Breed Registry.