The most common Doodle is a Goldendoodle. But, there are so many different other types of Doodles out there that you might have never heard of. For example, the Irish Doodle is getting more popular by the day. They can make great pets for the right family, and become apart of the family quickly. But how do they differ from Goldendoodles? Let’s take a closer look at the Irish Doodle vs Goldendoodle.
Origins
The most significant way the Irish Doodle differs from the Goldendoodle is how they came to be. Everyone knows that the part that makes a Doodle is the Poodle. These dogs are the unlikely hunter turned lap dog at the turn of the century. But what makes each Doodle unique is the other half of them.
The Goldendoodle is half Golden Retriever that is using in hunter waterfowl and gun hunting. These dogs are intelligent and known for their loyalty to their families. The first Goldendoodle cross was for a hypoallergenic guide dog. But soon, they gained popularity and started the Doodle trend that we have today.
Irish Doodles are half Irish Setter and sometimes referred to as Irish Doodle Setter. The Irish Setter is primarily a hunting dog. They are known for the iconic pointing toward game for their owners. The Irish Doodle Setter is a new crossbreed to enter the designer world within the last 30 years. Now that we know where these breeds come from, we can see how their history forms them as pets.
Temperament Differences
Goldendoodles are known for their goofy yet loveable disposition. They live to make us happy in any way possible. This eagerness to please makes them trainable for almost anything. Goldendoodles do their best when they have family and friends around. They enjoy your company and don’t do well alone.
Irish Doodles are also very charming and adore their families. Their loyalty makes them great for training. Irish Doodles are gentle dogs that are affectionate towards everyone. They are an all-around family dog with the energy for all your antics.
Trainability
Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles are a highly trainable breed. This trait is what draws owners to the Doodle breed. Both of these dogs love to please their owners. They work best with positive reinforcement style training and enjoy the sessions. Both the Irish and Goldendoodle come from long lines of working breeds, so training is crucial for their health. They are very treat-motivated and will do anything if they knew it would make you proud.
Exercise Needs
When looking at the Irish Doodle vs Goldendoodle, energy requirements are one of the biggest differences. Irish Doodles are a very active breed. They need an hour and a half of exercise per day, and sometimes more for an Irishdoodle puppy. This means walks around the block and high-endurance playtime like fetch and tug of war. If your Irish Doodle doesn’t get the exercise, they need they will resort to bad behaviors to relieve stress. They commonly try to escape the yard, dig, or run out the front door if they aren’t getting enough exercise.
Goldendoodles only need an average level of exercise. Going on one 45-minute to an hour walk a day is plenty for a Goldendoodle. They prefer to spend most of their days at your side and doing the activities you like to do. But if you are an active person, you won’t have to do much to convince a Goldendoodle to go along for the ride.
Coat Types
We praise Goldendoodles for their hypoallergenic coats. The typical Goldendoodle will have wavy to curly hair, though straight is sometimes possible. Curly and wavy coats are hypoallergenic because they do not shed as much as a Golden Retriever. And despite the name, Goldendoodles can come in a variety of colors ranging from creams to reds.
Irish Doodles are also hypoallergenic. In fact, some might be more hypoallergenic than Goldendoodles. This is because Irish Setters don’t shed as much as Golden Retrievers. So the Irish Doodle gets a double dose of a non-shedding coat. Irish Doodles typically have fine wavy hair that comes in any variety of colors you can think of. Blue, silver, and cream colors are not as common but are possible.
Grooming A Doodle
Grooming Doodles is the same across the board. You will spend a lot of time and money on any breed of Doodle’s hair. First, you will have to buy all the brushes and special shampoos for them. You will spend about 15-20 minutes daily brushing your Doodle to make sure that they don’t develop mats. Brushing daily is a crucial step because since Doodles can’t shed, their hair becomes matted quickly. When mats form too close to the skin, it can be very painful to your dog’s skin. It will be uncomfortable to walk and move about normally. Brushing daily with a brush that reaches down to the skin will prevent this.
The other part of grooming includes taking your dog to the groomer. Doodle hair grows continuously like people’s hair. So they will need a trim every 6-8 weeks to keep it manageable. Depending on your area, these grooming appointments can cost anywhere from $45-$100. And sometimes they can cost more if a lot of work needs to be done.
Size And Lifespan
Many people are aware of the different sizes of Goldendoodles, which come in toy, mini, and standard. Toy sizes are anything that weighs under 35 pounds. Mini Goldendoodles weigh from 35-50 pounds, and standards weigh 55-70. These three sizes make them perfect for adjusting to your lifestyle. If you live in a smaller home, a toy size might be more fitting for you. You might even choose a size because of preference other than necessity.
Irish Doodles currently only come in two sizes. There is a mini and standard version only. The Irish Doodle mini weighs 25-35 pounds while the standard weighs 40-70. In either case, an Irish Doodle full grown will need plenty of space and exercise. But the smaller minis are great for people who have little kids in the house that could get knocked over easily. Since Irish Doodles are so new, it is hard to find breeders that stick to the same measurements. Maybe in the future, they will come out with an Irish Doodle size toy.
And when it comes to lifespan, the Goldendoodle has it beat. The average lifespan for a Goldendoodle can be from 10-15 years, with smaller versions living longer. And the Irish Doodle’s average lifespan is just 10-13 years no matter what size you get. So when it comes to Irish Doodle vs Goldendoodle, the Goldendoodle has a slight advantage in size and lifespan.
Health Concerns
When looking at the Irish Doodle vs Goldendoodle medical conditions, you will see a lot of similarities. That is because all mixed breeds are prone to getting the conditions of each parent. And since all Doodles are half Poodle, they all share common ailments that run in the Poodle lines. Things like:
- Eye disease
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Skin conditions
- Addisons disease
- And allergies
These are all common in most Doodle breeds. But other diseases can come from both the Golden Retriever and Irish Setter to add to this mix.
Goldendoodles are also prone to:
- Heart disease
- Von Willebrand disease
- And chest abnormalities
Irish Doodles are prone to:
- Cushing’s disease
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes
- And pancreatic diseases
All breeds are susceptible to medical conditions. But knowing these common aliments can help you choose the right breeder and the right puppy.
Price
Both of these dogs are a designer dog, so you will be paying for the designer dog price. The average Irish Doodle will cost $1,300-$2,500, while the Goldendoodle will cost $1,500-$2,500. These prices can vary on location and if you are getting a specific color and gender. Goldendoodle breeders can be found everywhere, but Irish Doodle breeders are harder to come by. So you will want to factor that into the cost of the puppy as well for travel and shipping. Many people might think that this price is overrated, but we believe it is essential.
These Doodle puppies are prone to backyard breeding and puppy mills. But they generally charge a few hundred for an ill-bred dog that might have a lot of medical issues. When you pay over $1k on a dog, you should be getting a plethora of things. You should get medical reports from both parents, medical records for the puppy, shot records performed by a vet, and dewormed. Some breeders go above and beyond and give you more. Like some food and extra paperwork along with an in-depth contract with them. If your puppy comes with none of these, it’s likely a backyard breeder.
If adoption is more your speed, Irish Doodle rescue work might take longer, but possible. You would want to look into rescues for all Doodles or for Irish Setters themselves to find a Doodle mix. And there are Goldendoodles everywhere in shelters currently.
Who Are You Going To Choose?
When it comes to the Irish Doodle vs Goldendoodle debate, both have their strengths. Both breeds make fabulous additions to any home, and they are the most loyal pets. Having a Doodle of any kind makes a house a home.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Doodle Board!!
