The Schnoodle is one helluva designer dog breed. Over the years, this dog has gained so much popularity in the US. And many families continue to add the dog to their homes.
After all, they’re cute, intelligent, adorable, and affectionate. It, therefore, makes sense why you want to invest in one.
However, the Schnoodle isn’t a purebred dog – as you may be aware. It’s a mix between the Schnauzer and the Poodle.
This characteristic means you get to experience the best of both worlds. But, you’re likely to experience the worst too.
Suffice it to say, you cannot be too sure about your dog’s temperament because of his hybrid status. And it’s why you’re probably second-guessing adding the dog to your home. Especially with kids around.
Let’s, therefore, find out more about Schnoodle temperament problems – what you need to know.
A Brief History Of The Schnoodle
The development of the Schnoodle began in the 1980s. The creation of Poodle mixes back then had started gaining popularity. Generally, Poodles have great appeal because of their size, intelligence, easy trainability, and practically non-shedding furs.
The idea was therefore to combine these characteristics with the sturdiness of the Schnauzer.
The result has been the creation of a low-shedding, robust, intelligent, and loyal companion dog.
The Schnoodle may not be as popular as other Poodle mixes. But, it doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t well sought after.
Because the dog is a hybrid, it isn’t recognized by any kennel or breeding club. And there aren’t any breed standards to conform with.
As a result, the Schnoodle comes in a wide variety of sizes and colors – depending on the parents.
You may have a Schnoodle that’s as slender as a Poodle or with a compact structure like a Schnauzer. Coat texture may also vary among puppies of the same litter. Some may have curly, coarse coats like the Poodle. Others may also inherit the wiry and soft coat texture of the Schnauzer.
They Come In Different Sizes
The size of your Schnoodle will depend on the size of the parents. Depending on the size of the parent dogs, the Schnoodle can weigh from 6 lbs to 75 lbs.
Schnauzers come in three main sizes – Miniature, Standard, and Giant. Poodles could also be Toy, Miniature, or Standard.
A combination of any of these could give you a Schnoodle that’s Toy, Miniature, or Standard.
A Toy Schnoodle comes from a combination between a Miniature Schnauzer and a Toy Poodle. The Toy Schnoodle weighs about 6 to 10 pounds, growing to about 10 to 12 inches in height.
The Miniature Schnoodle is the offspring of the Standard Schnauzer and the Miniature Poodle. This dog weighs about 13 to 20 pounds, growing to a height of about 12 to 15 inches.
A combination of the Standard Poodle and Giant Schnauzer will give you the Standard Schnoodle. These usually grow to a height of 15 to 26 inches, weighing about 20 to 75 pounds.
Different sizes mean you can go in for the type you know ideally fits your living condition and arrangement!
Schnoodle Temperament Problems – What You Should Know
The Schnoodle is generally friendly and loyal. You’d expect that as the descendant of the Poodle, this dog would have little to no behavioral problems.
But, remember that the Schnoodle is a mixed breed. And the involvement of the Schnauzer means the dog can be a handful at times.
Of course, every dog is his own individual. And sometimes, temperament issues may not necessarily be because of the dog’s heritage.
It may be because of poor socialization or even mistreatment by the dog’s owner. Before we delve into some temperament problems of the Schnoodle, let’s first take a look at some of the characteristics that make this dog a personality well-suited for your home!
An Extremely Intelligent Dog
When you deep it that the Poodle is the second most intelligent dog in the world, you can understand where the Schnoodle gets his mental sharpness.
This dog is so smart, you can teach him the hardest of tricks with ease. And it’s not just his ability to understand the most difficult commands that make him endearing. It’s also the fact that this dog is a people-pleaser!
His undying love for you means he’s more than eager to do your bidding even when there’s no reward at stake.
An Amazing Family Pet
The personality of the Schnoodle makes him a great choice for your family, especially if you’ve got kids.
First, you can choose a specific Schnoodle size that ideally matches your living environment.
The Schnoodle isn’t by any means a dull dog. But, if you have a family with small kids, then the Scnoodle’s small size makes him more suited for your family.
Moreover, the Schnoodle is generally a bubbly dog – never a dull moment with this one. He loves activity and will be an excellent choice for active children. He always wants to be around his pack and is eager to please.
This dog also has a cuddly personality. And can be gentle and affectionate when he needs to be. Generally, he loves to be the focus of attention and thrives when giving and receiving love from the family.
A High-Energy Dog
The Schnoodle gets his bouncy nature from both sides of the family line. First, the Poodle is generally an intelligent and bouncy dog that thrives when afforded a lot of mental stimulation.
Again, the Schnauzer is a high-spirited dog that was bred as an all-purpose farm dog – to hunt, guard, and drive livestock to the marketplace.
You’ll therefore find your Schnoodle to be very agile or moderately to highly energetic.
This is a dog that loves to be stimulated both mentally and physically. He isn’t a dog that wants to be left alone in the kennel. He wants to play fetch, wants to go swimming or go on walks with you.
He wants to play with some puzzle toys and loves to receive commands. So, you should do well to keep him constantly engaged.
Schnoodle Temperament Problems
Overall, the Schnoodle is an endearing dog that will fill most homes with joy and laughter.
He’s affectionate, cuddly, loyal, doesn’t shed a lot, goofy, quick to please, and an all-around family dog.
The thing with the Schnoodle, though, is this. Because he’s crossbred, you can never be too sure how your dog might end up acting.
Sometimes, a Schnoodle ends up inheriting certain not-so-pleasant traits from either parent breed. And this can cause him to be quite a handful sometimes.
To better understand some temperament problems a Schnoodle might have, a quick assessment of the parent breed will be informative.
The Schnauzer
The Schnauzer originated from Germany. And was bred primarily to hunt rats, herd livestock, and guard property.
The Schnauzer is, therefore, by no means a walkover. He’s strong-willed and high-spirited.
While he makes a good family pet, he can be quite stubborn and mischievous.
Behavioral problems like constant barking, digging, and chewing arise likely because of poor training. He is a dog that requires lots of mental and physical stimulation to be kept intact.
Otherwise, he may become too much to handle.
He’s also protective of the family. And will not hesitate to state his displeasure at the sight of a stranger.
Keeping a Schnauzer requires a sturdy and dominant owner that’s able to keep the dog in line. Training is, therefore, a MUST!
The Poodle
The Poodle is a generally lovable breed – intelligent and full of life! She makes the perfect family dog because of her peaceful personality.
The Poodle isn’t an aggressive breed. But, she can develop bad habits if not trained/socialized properly.
She also loves human company, not ever wanting to be left alone for long. Major behavioral problems occur when her mental and physical needs are neglected. Separation anxiety is a real possibility if left alone for long periods.
Schnoodle Temperament Problems – What You Should Know
It’s not possible to know how your Schnoodle might turn out.
The strong prey drive in the Schnauzer means your Schnoodle might love to chase little animals and even kids.
The Schnoodle might also be a little stubborn and may try to exert dominance over other pets and the kids at home.
The Schnoodle is also likely to be territorial and might exhibit strong guard dog instincts. He tends to be wary of strangers and is incited to react to the least of external stimuli with constant barking.
Also, the Schnoodle tends to be quite energetic. And you might want to consider another dog if you cannot keep up with his demands for stimulation.
Note that not every Schnoodle will show the above-listed problems. Because the dog is a hybrid, chances are that he may lean more towards the Poodle side than the Schnauzer side. Plus, the involvement of the Poodle genes may result in a more gentle and well-behaved dog.
Training Your Schnoodle
Whether or not your Schnoodle might have temperament problems, you have to train the dog.
Because of his parent breed, the Schnoodle is very intelligent. And he’ll learn new tasks and commands with much difficulty.
It’s therefore important that you take the dog through positive reinforcement training, teaching him the difference between wrong and right.
Also, socializing your Schnoodle right from his infancy is crucial. Teach your dog to be comfortable with other pets and children at home. Let your dog know it’s okay for visitors to be around. You may enroll your dog in a puppy class, getting him to be conversant with more people and dogs
A Lonely Dog Is An Unruly Dog
The Schnoodle is a companion dog and loves to have company. Temperament problems may not always be inherited. They may be created by you, the owner.
Because this dog thrives on human relationships, deserting him for long hours can be detrimental to the dog’s wellbeing.
Leaving the dog for long periods can lead to loneliness and separation anxiety. This can also cause him to develop a host of destructive behaviors like barking constantly, digging, chewing, and even aggression.
When these habits start, they may be difficult to break. So, you want to make sure you’re always on your toes, keeping the dog happy and stimulated – both mentally and physically.
Final Thoughts
No doubt adding the Schnoodle to your family is going to be a worthwhile investment.
The host of benefits he brings means everyone is going to fall in love with him.
But, the Schnoodle isn’t perfect. Being a designer dog breed, you may have to deal with problems that result from genes inherited from vastly different parent breeds.
Nonetheless, temperament problems are nothing that cannot be weeded out. Proper training and socializing mean you can nip any behavioral problems in the bud before they get out of hand.