The Best Terrier Poodle Mix Breed Guide

Poodle crossbreeds are one of the most popular dogs to own. Often referred to as doodles or poos, these family friendly dogs can be found in homes around the world. The most popular of the doodle dogs are the Labradoodle and the Goldendoodle. Both are a cross between a poodle and a retriever type breed. But there are more, great poodle mix breeds to choose from. Some of which you may have not heard of like the Ratdoodle or the Woodle.  These dogs are a cross between a poodle and a breed from the terrier group. Join us as we take a look at the terrier poodle mix dog and all they have to offer.  

What is a Poodle Terrier Mix Breed?

A terrier poodle mix is a dog that has one parent that is a poodle and the other parent is a breed from the terrier group. The most popular of the terrier poodle crossbreds are; the Yorkiepoo, the Westiepoo, the Schoodle and the Whoodle. But you can find all types of terrier poodle mixes.

To understand what terrier poodle crossbreeds are like, you first need to learn about each of the parent breeds. Let’s start with the terrier group.

The Terrier Group

Purpose

Terriers originated in England, Scotland and Ireland. Their name comes from the Latin word “terra”, meaning earth or soil.  It’s fitting name since the original terriers were bred to hunt unwanted small animals on farms and in the fields. They did this by digging in the ground or squeezing into a burrowing animal’s tunnel. It was the terrier’s job to rid the lands of vermin and they took that job seriously.

Size

Most terriers are on the small to medium side with a few exceptions. One such exception is the Giant Schnauzer which is the largest terrier in the group. An average adult Giant Schnauzer can weigh between 60-110 pounds. However, most Terriers are less than 25 pounds and a few, like the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, are in the 30-40 pound range.

Small Terriers like the West Highland or Cairn have a compact build that allows them to fit into the tunnels of burrowing animals, thus, limiting the places their prey can hide.

Temperament

The exact temperament of a terrier depends on their breed, but they are all considered to be intelligent, brave, active, independent and playful. Many are also viewed as friendly, mischievous, and fearless.

Independent

You will often hear the word independent used to describe a terrier. This is due to their breeding. They were bred and trained to hunt rodents independently. That independence can cause a power struggle between a dog and its humans.

It also means that terriers prefer to be only dog in the house. Though, if they are raised with other dogs they will learn to accept living with them.

Hunters

Terriers are born hunters. They take their job to hunt small prey seriously and will chase small rodents whenever they can. Because of this, it is best not to let your Terrier off leash outside unless in a gated area. The instinct to hunt may be greater than their desire to listen to you.

Also unless they are raised with other animals, terriers are prone to aggressive behaviors towards other animals including cats.

Our Ratdoodle will hunt small insects and spiders that make their way into the house. She also keeps our yard free from squirrels.

Diggers

Since terriers are bred to dig out underground animals, some will want to dig in the yard even when there is no prey to find. This can be easily remedied by giving them a place where they can dig.

Energetic

Most terriers are energetic and want to be active but few live in an area with rodents to hunt. So it is important to have a way to channel that energy, otherwise they can become mischievous.

When is a Terrier Not a Terrier?

When they are a Boston Terrier or a Tibetan Terrier. Although both of these dogs have the word terrier in their name, neither breed is recognized by the American Kennel Club as a Terrier. Instead they are part of the non-sporting group.

The original Boston Terriers were bred from bull and terrier breeds, but over the years the breed was refined into the small Boston Terrier we know and love today. These dogs no longer hunt or fight; instead they are bred to be companion dogs.

According to the Tibetan Terrier Club the breed was developed in Tibet by the Lamas. They were used a companion dog, a good luck charm and a watch dog. It is believed that the Tibetan Terrier was given terrier name by European travelers that thought the breed looked like a terrier.

The Poodle

Purpose

Poodles were originally bred to retrieve waterfowl for German hunters. The original German name for the poodle was Pudelhund. This word loosely translates to puddle dog. Later on the French started to use these dogs for hunting too.

Size

Poodles officially come in three sizes; the standard poodle, the miniature poodle and the toy poodle. There is also a Moyen Poodle, which is a medium sized poodle, but Moyen Poodles are not recognized in the USA.

Temperament

Poodles are believed to be the second smartest dog breed in the world, surpassed only by the Border Collie.  Poodles are energetic, easily trained, enjoy being outside and of course, they love the water.

Terrier Poodle Mix Breed FAQ

1.What is a terrier poodle mix called?

Terrier poodle mix breeds get their name by mashing doodle, oodle or poo with beginning of the terrier breed’s name.  Examples of this is the Airedoodle which is an Airedale Terrier and a poodle or the Schnoodle which is a Schnauzer and poodle crossbreed. When poo is mashed with the terrier name a vowel is also added. An example is the Jack-a-poo which is Jack Russell Terrier and poodle or the Westiepoo, which is a West Highland Terrier and a poodle. Here is a list of all the common terrier poodle mix dog breeds.

Terrier Poodle Cross Breeds

Terrier Poodle Mix Names	Breeds that are mixed
Airedoodle	Airedale Terrier / Poodle Mix
Bossi-poo	Boston Terrier / Poodle Mix
Cairnoodle	Cairn Terrier / Poodle Mix
Jack-a-Poo	Jack Russell Terrier / Poodle Mix
Rattle, Roodle or RatDoodle	Rat Terrier / Poodle Mix
Schnoodle	Schnauzer / Poodle Mix
Scoodle	Scottish Terrier / Poodle Mix
Skypoo	Skye Terrier/ Poodle Mix
Terri-poo	Australian Terrier / Mini Poodle Mix
Ttoodle	Tibetan Terrier / Poodle Mix
Westiepoo	West Highland Terrier / Poodle Mix
Wire-Poo	Wire Fox Terrier / Poodle Mix
Whoodle	Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier / Poodle Mix
Woodle	Welsh Terrier / Poodle Mix
Yorkipoo	Yorkshire Terrier / Poodle Mix

2. Are Terrier Poodle Mixes Hypoallergenic?

Most are but it will depend on the terrier breed the poodle is crossed with. Since most terrier breeds are considered to be hypoallergenic on their own crossing them with a poodle will result in a puppy that is hypoallergenic. But there are some terrier breeds like the Jack Russell Terrier that are not hypoallergenic. Crossing a Jack Russell Terrier with a poodle may not result in a hypoallergenic dog. See the below list of hypoallergenic Terriers

Remember even dogs that are considered to be hypoallergenic can still cause an allergic reaction in some people. If you have allergies make sure you spend time with the breed or crossbreed you are interested in before making a lifetime commitment.

3. Does a Poodle Terrier Crossbreed Shed?

Although all dogs shed to a certain extent, poodles and some terriers are considered to be non shedders. Meaning they shed minimally. Therefore, many poodle terrier mixes will also be low shed dogs. But being low shed does not mean they are low maintenance. In fact poodles and doodles with long wavy or curly hair are very high maintenance dogs that need to be brushed more often than non-hypoallergenic breeds. Plus they need to be groomed regularly to keep their fur from becoming matted.

Hypoallergenic/Low Shed Terriers breeds:
Australian Terrier
Airedale Terrier
Cairn Terrier
Lakeland Terrier
Schnauzer
Scottish Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Tibetan Terrier
Welsh Terrier
West Highland Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier

To learn more about the grooming needs of these dogs check out our post Oodle Dog Guide – What You Need to know

4. How Big Does a Poodle Terrier Mix Get?

How big a terrier poodle mix will get all depends on the parents. But since most terriers are small, weighting under 25 pounds, breeding them with a miniature poodle should result in a small dog.

The exceptions to this are the Standard Schnauzer and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. Both of these dog breeds fall in the medium sized range and weight between 35 -45 pounds. Depending on if they are crossed with a miniature poodle or a standard poodle they can be a bit smaller or larger.

For a large sized poodle terrier mix the Ariedoodle can be a large dog if an Airedale Terrier is crossbred with a Standard Poodle.

5. What is a Terrier Poodle Mix’s Temperament?

Whenever you take two purebred dogs and crossbreed them you never really know what you will get. In general terrier poodle mixes will be highly intelligent, independent, energetic, fearless, alert and playful. But they can also be stubborn and dominant. These dogs are generally not for first time dog owners.

Also remember that a dog’s breed is only one part of the equation when it comes to their temperament. The temperaments of the breeding pair and how the puppies are handled in the first 8 weeks of their life will all have an effect on the puppy’s temperament. This is why getting your dog from a quality breeder is so important.

6. Where Can I Get a Terrier Poodle mix?

Unfortunately Poodle Terrier mixes are most commonly sold by Puppy Mills either on line or through pet stores. Please do not buy a Puppy Mill puppy. Instead look for a quality breeder. Though it may be hard to find one, if you take the time to look, you will be rewarded with a health, trainable puppy.

To learn the secrets of easy puppy training check out our post 10 Secrets to Easy Puppy Training

You can also find Terrier Poodle Mixes for adoption on Petfinder.com. This is how we found our Ratdoodle when she was just 9 weeks old. You can find a list of rescue groups that specialize in terrier or poodle breeds under resources.

A word on puppy mills

Puppy mills are the worst possible place you can get a puppy from. The puppies tend to be sick from the start or come with long term health issues. Puppies from puppy mills are born under terrible, inhumane conditions. They are harder to train and can have aggression issues. They are not socialized or even cared for at the mills.

If you check out our post “5 Puppy Potty Training Mistakes to Avoid” you will see that buying from a Puppy Mill is the number 1 reason why people have a hard time potty training their puppy.

A word of caution

Be careful when looking for a breeder, puppy mills often disguise themselves to look like a small quality breeder. Make sure to do an extensive background check on any breeder before buying. Also check out the Humane Society’s “The Horrible Hundred”. It lists that top 100 worst puppy mills in the U.S.

7. How Much Do Poodle Terrier Mixes Cost?

The cost of a poodle terrier mix depends on the demand and who you buy the puppy from. Terrier poodle cross breeds from a quality breeder can easily cost $3,000 or more. Puppy’s from puppy mills cost anywhere from $800 to $2,850.

A quality breeder is a breeder who carefully selects mating pairs to provide the best possible outcome. They care for their dogs. These dogs either live with them in their home or live with a family under a guardian arrangement. A quality breeder always does health testing on their breeding dogs. This ensures that avoidable health conditions are not passed to the puppies.

Puppy Mills on the other hand mass produce puppies in horrible conditions.

Of course you can always choose to adopt a dog. Adoption fees depend on the breed, age and location of the dog. To learn more about the cost of dog adoption check out our post How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Dog?

8. How Long Does a Poodle Terrier Mix Live?

Both the poodle and terrier breeds enjoy fairly long lives so combining them should also result in a long life. On average a small sized poodle terrier mix like the Westiepoo will live between 13 and 16 years. A larger sized poodle terrier mix like the Airedoodle, will live between 12 and 15 years.

Could an Terrier Poodle Mix Dog be Right for You?

If you are looking for a fun, energetic dog with an independent personality then an Terrier Poodle Mix dog is right for you. However if you don’t have the time to train them or the financial means to pay for regular grooming you should look for another breed.

Once you decide which Terrier Poodle mix dog is rigth for you, it important to make sure you find a reputable breeder. In our post How to Find a Reputable Dog Breeder we show you what to look for in a dog breeder. Also look for our post on How to Pick a Puppy from a Litter

To learn more about poodle mix breeds check out our post Oodle Dog Guide – What You Need to know for a firsthand look on what it is really like to have a doodle.

Poodle and Terrier Rescues

Here is a list of Rescue organizations that deal with Terrier and Terrier mix breeds

• S’Wheaten Rescues and Adoptions
• WIN – Wheaten’s in Need
• Carolina Poodle Rescue
• Poodle Club of America Rescue Foundation, Inc.
• Westie Rescue of New England Inc
• Westie Rescue Network

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Other Posts You May Like:

• How to Pick a Puppy from a Litter
• What is the Right Dog for Me?
• How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Dog?
• Dog Adoption – Finding Your Perfect Pup
• Rescue Dogs: Tips on How to Get One