Choosing the right Doodle breed can be an overwhelming experience.
There are a lot of Doodle hybrids available in the United States and worldwide, such as the Labradoodle, Cavapoo, Yorkiepoo and Cockerpoo.
They were first thought to have originated in the late 1980s or early 1990s as designer breeds started to become more common and more popular.
Naturally, the Goldendoodle continues to be a big hit with dog lovers given their half Golden Retriever and half Poodle.
A hybrid dog that often has it’s appearance confused for a Goldendoodle is the Irish Doodle.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the difference and similarities between the Golden Doodle and the Irish Doodle.
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What is a Goldendoodle?
A Goldendoodle is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. The mixing of two of the world’s most popular dogs first started in the late 1960s.
A lady called Monica Dickens bred the first Goldendoodle in 1969. However, their popularity started to increase in the late 1980s and in the early 1990s.
Goldendoodles were first created to work as service or therapy dogs for those with an allergy to dogs, mixing the faithful Golden Retriever with the intelligent and low shedding Poodle.
By crossing these two iconic dog breeds, the Goldendoodle was created encompassing some of the personality and physical traits of both the Golden Retriever and the Poodle.
Goldendoodles are sometimes called Golden Poos.
What is an Irish Doodle?
Irish Doodle running in the snow (Photo: Adobe Stock)
An Irish Doodle is a cross breed between an Irish Setter and a Poodle. They also go by the names Irish Doodle Setters, Irish Poo Setters, Irish Setterdoodles and Irish Setterpoos.
The Irish Setter are beautiful dogs with a trademark red, flashy color and a shiny, flowing coat. Used as gun dogs, the Irish Setter have a reputation for being kind and patient dogs.
The Poodle were used in France and Germany during duck hunts as they’re adept in water. They’re the second smartest dog breed in the world behind the Border Collie.
The Irish Doodle make great family pets due to their playful temperament but balanced and graceful personalities.
What size are Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles?
The Goldendoodle is bigger than the Irish Doodle.
Goldendoodles can grow to a height of 61 – 66 cm (24 – 26 inches), while Irish Doodles are slightly smaller at 33 – 38 cm (12 – 15 inches).
Surprisingly, Goldendoodles are usually lighter than Irish Doodles. The former can weigh between 14 – 20 kg (30 – 45 pounds), while Irish Doodles range from 18 – 31 kg (40 – 70 pounds).
What colors are Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles?
Goldendoodles have golden coats which are a result of breeding between a Golden Retriever and Poodle. However, not all Goldendoodles are golden.
These designer dogs can come in a variety of different colors, including golden, cream, black, red and yellow. The black color is sometimes called phantom.
Irish Doodles can be red, apricot, black and brown, while some coats with have a splash of white. The rare colors tend to be more expensive.
Are Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles hypoallergenic?
If you’ve got an allergy to dogs, you’ll be eager to find a type of pooch that doesn’t aggravate your allergies.
However, the American Kennel Club makes it clear that there’s no such thing as a 100 per cent hypoallergenic dog.
As we mentioned above, Goldendoodles were first bred to act as blind and guide dogs for people who needed support but were allergic to dogs.
For that reason, they’re often described as hypoallergenic dogs. While Poodle are widely considered hypoallergenic, Golden Retrievers are not.
So if a Goldendoodle’s coat is reflective of Golden Retriever rather than a Poodle, it’s likely they won’t be very hypoallergenic.
Irish Doodles were bred for the same purpose, particularly given Irish Setters are such great family and people dogs, while Poodles are low shedders.
Again, if your dog has a coat that reflects the Poodle more than the Irish Setter, they won’t shed a lot.
Furthermore, if you breed an Irish Doodle with a Poodle, there’s an even greater chance their offspring will be hypoallergenic given their 75% Poodle.
What are the similarities between Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles?
Goldendoodle puppy (Photo: Adobe Stock)
Given both dogs are part Poodle, there are some similarities between Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles.
Both types are friendly and sociable around new people and new dogs. These dogs have upbeat personalities that can put smiles on faces.
They’ve got a playful nature and will love nothing more than a game of fetch with a tennis ball in your garden.
Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles are both considered intelligent dogs.
What are the differences between Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles?
Of course, each individual dog within a breed can be very different. Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles are different hybrid breeds so there are some differences.
The biggest is grooming. MyDogBreeds write that Goldendoodles require more grooming than Irish Doodles, although both types of doodles will need to be regularly brushed and trimmed.
Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles price
Goldendoodles usually cost between $1,500-$2,500 depending on each individual breeder. Their price could vary depending on the coat color.
Irish Doodles start at around $1400 but can cost more. It all depends on the breeder and the color of the Irish Doodle.
Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles to follow on Instagram
If you want to learn more about Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles, you can find lots of these great dogs on Instagram.
You can follow their adventures and learn more about the individual hybrid breed.
1) Bubba Mo (@bubba.thedood) – 1,283 followers
2) Barry Allen (@thatdoodbarryallen) – 7,250 followers
3) Leo (@leo_the_irishdood) – 1,079 followers
4) Rocky (@rockydoodledoo__) – 1,955 followers
5) Hunter (@hunterdoodle530) – 4,440 followers
6) Lambeau (@Lambeau) – 1,000 followers
Anything else to consider?
If you’re interested in a Goldendoodle or an Irish Doodle but you’ll still unsure what’s the right designer dog for you, reach out to different breeders.
Usually breeders will ask you to fill out a detailed questionnaire to make sure a Goldendoodle or Irish Doodle is a good fit for you.
Remember: always ask to see a puppy with his or her mother when you go to a breeder to collect your puppy.
While Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles are considered to be hypoallergenic, it may not always be the case.
You should speak to your local health expert before adopting a dog if you’re allergic to pooches.
Breeders can also give an indication whether the pup is likely to be a shedder. Usually, you won’t be able to tell until their much older.
It’s worth pointing out that you can get Mini Goldendoodles and Mini Irish Doodles.
In conclusion
So there you have it, we’ve detailed the similarities and differences between Goldendoodles and Irish Doodles.
Both make great family pets due to their affectionate and outgoing personalities.
They can have hypoallergenic coats if they take after their Poodle parent, which means they may be a good fit for those with an allergy to dogs.
However, these designer dogs are quite expensive so be prepared for a big bill – and that’s before their food, vet bills, pet insurance and grooming costs.
