A Whoodle is a Poodle crossed with a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier or a mix that combines those two breeds in any ratio. They are smart, active family dogs who are happiest when they are with their people. There are three sizes: standard, medium and miniature, depending on which size Poodle the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier was crossed with.

Basic Whoodle Information

Are Whoodles Hypoallergenic?

The Whoodle is a surprisingly quiet, happy-go-lucky dog. They are well behaved and tidy, good with children, and incredibly smart.

These dogs have been marketed by some Whoodle breeders as hypoallergenic. This is not necessarily true. This cross has a much higher chance of being gentle on allergies as both the Poodle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are low-shedding and both seem to be good with people with allergies. This gives it a higher chance of being hypoallergenic, but just as two people with dark hair can have a child with red hair if they both carry that recessive gene, as these dogs are not purebred they have not been bred for any standard and hidden genes may show up without warning. For more information please see this link.

Whoodle Temperament and Training

The Whoodle is known for being fairly calm and is very much a people dog. They do not do well when they are left alone for long periods of time, nor are they dogs that do well outside. This is a dog that needs to be where you are and as such may come across as needy.

As this breed comes from two very intelligent breeds, Whoodle puppies are incredibly intelligent, learn quickly, and want to please. This does not mean that they should not be trained. Little dogs, terriers in particular, need firm yet gentle and consistent training. With patience and time a Whoodle puppy has the potential to be a nice little dog that will eagerly greet any visitors to your house and amuse you with their playful antics. If neglected, this dog is prone to becoming stubborn and may suffer from Small Dog Syndrome.

Caring for Your Whoodle Puppy

Considering the breeds, there is unsurprisingly a lot of grooming, brushing, and trimming required to keep a Whoodle’s soft coat clean and looking its best. Make sure that the ears and nails are trimmed while at the groomers as they can occasionally be forgotten and this would cause your dog discomfort.

Whoodle dogs require fairly basic care after their grooming requirements are met. They require regular care from a vet to keep them healthy. They also require plenty of toys to play with to keep their minds stimulated or your slipper may be confused as a suitable substitute. These dogs must not be allowed to overheat as they do not handle heat well at all. If you live in a warm climate, air conditioning is recommended.

These dogs do extremely well in apartments and would prefer two short walks a day for about 10-15 minutes each versus one longer walk even though they will happily accompany you on your longer weekend hike or morning jog.

Should I Choose A Whoodle Breeder or a Rescue?

As Whoodles are not purebred dogs, it is possible to find breeders but there are very few, if any, designated Whoodle Rescue organizations. When looking for a Whoodle puppy you must remember to do your research. Never be afraid to ask questions of the breeder. Some questions you may want to ask are:

• May I meet the parents?
  Meeting the puppy’s parents is very important. These dogs will show you the probable temperament of the puppy. You can also look for any imperfections such as an over/underbite, eye issues, etc. There is also a much clearer idea as to what the size of the puppy will become.
• Could I meet any of their older siblings?
  This is another way of getting a closer look into your puppy’s future. It will show you a close look at what the puppy will look like, their height and overall hair length/texture.
• What are they being fed?
  This is incredibly important, not only for the puppies but the parents as well. You do not want a puppy whose parents were fed foods lacking in vitamins and nutrients because the mother’s body needs those extra nutrients to help grow a healthy puppy. Knowing what the puppy is being fed will also help you as a new owner know what to feed them so their transition into your house goes as smoothly as possible.
• Have the puppies been to the vet and are they up to date with shots and deworming?
  It is very important that your new puppy has had their first checkups and that they have been dewormed. Worms are spread from the mother while they are still pregnant with the puppies. All puppies should be dewormed at least twice before going to their new home and should have their first shots.
• What exposure have the puppies had to children and other animals?
  • Socialization is extremely important when it comes to all dogs. The Whoodle puppy is no exception: he must learn how to behave appropriately around people, other dogs, and other animals. This can be started as soon as they are old enough to walk and will continue for the rest of their life.
  • Your Whoodle puppy needs to know that humans are to be listened to regardless of their age and need to know that teeth are a big no-no.
  • Dogs will teach the puppy important lessons as well and while these occasionally seem harsh at times, there is little better than a well-behaved older dog teaching a valuable lesson to that over-eager puppy who jumps on them constantly. It will usually end loudly and with the puppy submitting to the older dog without challenge.

• What training has been done with the puppies?
  This is important to know as you do not want to take one step forward and then three steps back. If the puppy is accustomed to sleeping in their crate at night, you do not want to give them a huge room with a little pillow at home as this could cause them to feel insecure and may encourage nighttime accidents. You will also want to know if the puppy is used to collars and/or leashes. Some Whoodle breeders will also train their puppies to either use a bell to ask to go outside or to use a litter box. Both of these, while perfectly acceptable, may confuse your puppy if they are looking for the bell to go outside and you do not have one.

While rescues will not know the answers to a puppy’s background, they should be able to give you a full picture on the care they have received since entering the rescue system. Remember to ask them the same questions.

* All attributes of the Whoodle are approximations only as the Whoodle is a mixed-breed dog and can take on any combination of their ancestral breeds, in this case the Poodle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and any combination thereof. For more information please see Poodle and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.