Are poodles easier to train than doodles?

[Nancy Dubs]

I've gotten such helpful information here - thanks so much! So in our continuing quest to figure out which way to go, I'm wondering if in general, poodles easier to train than doodles? I'm sure it varies from dog to dog, but what's your experience out there, poodle owners and doodle owners? I've just read a recent discussion on training doodles and now I'm wondering if it might be more challenging than I originally thought...thanks again!!!

[Adina P]

I have NO experience with poodles but I can only guess they'd be closely tied in trainability. This is a tough question as there aren't that many members who have had both only vicarious experience with the other. Poodles from a good breeder would probably be very similar. But doodles, being a random assortment of genetics from the poodle or a retriever, are going to vary.

Joanne wrote a blog on here asking the question "Are Doodles Difficult to Train?" You'll find my thoughts and the thoughts of others on here: http://www.doodlekisses.com/profiles/blogs/are-doodles-real-difficu...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I've had a lot experience training poodles, and doodles only a little bit; Jack was 14 months when I got him and basically trained. But judging by what I read here about the various problems DK members have with their doodles, I would have to say that poodles are easier, at least as puppies. My poodles took less than a week to completely housebreak, could be left alone uncrated in the house by 4 months, and learned commands very easily. Retriever puppies are known for being hell on wheels, and I think that may have something to do with it.
Of course, a lot of it has to do with the dog's experiences before you get him; a dog that was born in a cage and lived in a cage until you bought him is going to be unfamiliar with living in a home, walking on a leash, and using the outdoors to do his business. Ditto a dog that has been living outdoors in a kennel since he was born. My breeders started the puppies on crate-training and housebreaking before they came to me. And of course, a well-bred dam teaches the pups a great deal about keeping their living areas clean and gives corrections for rough play, nipping, etc.

[Steve Drury]

As you were describing your experience with poodles, I'm thinking that sounds just like my experience with our goldendoodles. I was just commenting to a co-worker yesterday that labradoodles and goldendoodles are very different dogs. I've never met a labradoodle that wasn't a high-strung ball of barely controllable energy. However my experience with labradoodles is limited to the ones I run into at the dog park.
My observation from reading the posts is that there are MANY firstime dog owners asking for advice. I think many of the issues raised are related to inexperience on the part of the owners and not issues with the dogs.
As an owner with decades of experience with dogs (but not poodles), I have to say these dogs are a breeze to train. The only challenge we have had is barking at the fence line. We are adjacent to a school and there is a lot of foot traffic----and dogs in the school yard in off-hours. I've read poodles are barkers. Daisy---our 13 month old---is the first dog that won't stop barking on command. I'm not sure how much of the problem is poodle proclivity for barking and how much is her young age. We've been working on it daily for months with limited success.

[Adina P]

I tend to agree with you steve...except for the labradoodle - goldendoodle difference :)

I do think it is owner inexperience that is making it look like doodles are tough to train.

All doodle parts are in the TOP 5 for intelligence...Just the fact that retrievers are commonly used as service dogs shows they are quite trainable to a high degree.

But to really give an objective answer we'd need several experienced dog owners to relay their working experience with MANY poodles compared to their
working experience with MANY doodles (of all kinds) over years. I don't think we have those members here with such vast quantifiable experience. We are all just guessing and really to me the diff can't be that big.

Poodles vs. Bulldogs...probably BIG diff.

Poodles vs. Doodles...I just don't believe trainability is so vastly diff that it would make one very undesireble.

ALL dogs can be trained. I met a lady who put a CD title on her afghans. If you are committed to training your dog to a high level of dependability and you pick from generally trainable breeds and you find a breeder with good parent stock...you'll do fine whichever you choose. At that point it's preference and shedding that matter.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

No poodle experience but, I have owned English Springer Spaniels, Samoyeds, mixes of ????, a lab/ Australian Shepherd mix and a small medium labradoodle. All were easy enough to housebreak with the 2nd Springer and Ned (doodle) being unbelievably quick to get it. Ned has a "big dog" bladder and holds his potty needs as long as needed. He is smarter than my other dogs and actually quite sensitive to correction. Ned is fun-loving and active but not hyper; he does not need miles of walking to calm him down. If I worked at it more he would be absolutely perfectly trained. He is very pushy so I don't know if he would be service dog material. My Springers have been the most hyper and the most loving and forgiving. My current lab mix is the most eager to please and always tries to figure out how to please us. My experience is with individual dogs and except for the smarter part may be due to the dogs individual personalities. It is very obvious to us that Ned is way smarter than any other dogs we have ever had.
I have met quite a few goldendoodles and their owners since getting Ned and haven't seen much difference between labradoodles and goldendoodles. I have met wonderfully trained, calm, hyper, and even one who has quite a few behavior issues. I have met friendly and overly shy doodles. So...... I am a person who likes to have her ducks all in a row, pre-plan, organize etc. so I do get your need to research. I think you are NOT going to get perfect whatever you choose and I think whatever you choose will be the most wonderful dog that you will wonder why you waited or agonized so long over your choice. I think you should go visit some puppies of whatever you are interested and let your heart guide you. Ned is the best impulse buy we ever made and except for the overabundance of dogs in our and our children's families when we are spend summers in our RV, I wouldn't change a thing - just wish I could get a bigger RV.

[Lynda Kamrath]

We had 30 years of poodles before we started with doodles 6 years ago, and I would say that poodles are easier to train because they are just so smart. One of our poodles could do anything, if you could just express to him what you wanted him to do. He sang, tried to water ski, rode in a poodle box on the motorcycle, etc. But...doodles are pleasers. That is why they make good therapy dogs, which poodles do not. A poodle pleases himself, whereas doodles please others. Poodles love to solve problems (if they are interested) but they are not nearly as gregarious as doodles. Doodles may be a little more difficult to train, but it is well worth the effort. They really do want to please you.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Now we have the facts from one who would know. Thanks for enlightening lots of us, Lynda.

[Debbie and Thomas]

That is such a nice comment. I have always loved the standard poodle breed- they are soo smart and easy to train, but they are rather "regal" dogs. We opted for an Golden Doodle and he is exactly what you said-eager to please. Mind you- there were several mths. where he would bite at us constantly. We know now that he wasn't trying to hurt us-he just played with his mouth. He potty trained within 1 week and learned commands almost immediately. He is large now at 10 1/2 mths. and is so gentle!! He almost never jumps up on us unless we want him to and is growing into the lovliest natured dog I have ever known. Having said that-let me explain that I grew up with terriors which did not always have the best temperament. So to me this dog is a dream come true. But he is high energy and needs tons of love, training and RUNNING to burn off this energy.

[Nancy Dubs]

This is great info - you captured it really well - sort of what my gut was telling me. I really appreciate everyone's comments!!!

[Carol Brand]

I have to disagree with what Lynda said. A well bred Poodle should be a major people pleaser. I like to think that when I say jump, my poodles say, "How high and is that centimeters or inches?"

Doodles are very popular where we live so although I don't one one, I sure do see them a lot. They strike me as being very impulsive. Rather than being people pleasers, they seem to get an idea in their head and act on it regardless if it is what their owners want.

Also, Poodles make exceptionally great therapy dogs and people were using them as therapy dog long before Doodles became the popular dog of the day.

[Nancy Dubs]

Gosh, this is good to hear too. I know a lot can depend on the individual dog. Unfortunately I haven't had much personal experience with either. Looking into poodles and poodle mixes because of allergies/asthma. We had already put a nonrefundable deposit down on a goldendoodle before my husband found out from allergy testing that he's allergic to dogs. I've only had shepherd mixes from shelters - one of which was the most extraordinary dog I've ever known. Smart as whip - seemed to understand english - I would just explain to him what needed to happen and he'd do it - truly remarkable. When he died, our vet wrote me a two-page letter about this dog and how he'd never met a dog like him. Still debating which way to go - probably should go with the standard poodle, but hate to lose that security deposit. Plus we both fell in love with a goldendoodle we met at the park awhile back...hate living without a dog, really want to give it our best shot. Plus 3 kids who are waiting to add a dog to our family...

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Talk to your breeder and once the pups are born, have your husband handle the specific puppy you would get. Perhaps he won't be allergic.