Are you looking to learn more about the Whoodle cross breed?
The Whoodle is a cross between a Poodle and a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, creating a low-shedding, family-friendly and playful canine companion.
Unlike some common Doodle varieties such as the Goldendoodle and the Labradoodle, you may not be familiar with the Whoodle hybrid dog.
These medium-sized dogs aren’t recognised by the American Kennel Club or the United Kennel Club, but they’ve been granted status by the American Canine Hybrid Club, Designer Dogs Kennel Club, Dog Registry of America, International Designer Canine Registry and Designer Breed Registry.
While they’re commonly known as the Whoodle, this particular mix can go by a variety of different names, including the Wheatendoodle, the Wheatenpoo, the Sweatendoodle, and the Sweatenpoo.
In this article, we’ll speak to Gracie (@gracie_the_whoodle), Chip (@chip_the_whoodle), Andy (@andy.the.whoodle) and Edison (@edison_the_whoodle).
Pros
Andy the Whoodle (Photo: @andy.the.whoodle / Instagram)
No shedding
Like all Doodle varieties, the Whoodle is a hybrid dog with hypoallergenic qualities. They don’t shed a lot and most won’t shed at all. Both the Poodle and Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier are recommended as hypoallergenic dogs by the American Kennel Club. Therefore, there’s a high chance a Whoodle will shed minimally. So you won’t have to deal with clusters of hair on the floor, in corners of your home, under the sofa or on your clothes. If you struggle with allergies to dogs then you should keep in mind that a Whoodle could still trigger your allergies considering their salvia and urine can act as allergens, while their coat could carry allergens into your home from outside.
Gracie’s mom Adriane emphasised this point in her interview with hellobark.com.
There’s zero shedding – neither the Wheaten nor Poodle breeds shed!
Extremely intelligent
If you’re looking for a smart dog that’ll be quick to learn new commands and tricks, the Whoodle could be the canine for you. The Poodle is considered the second-smartest dog in the world, with the French breed excelling with regards to obedience and training. The Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier makes the top 40 smartest dogs in The Intelligence Of Dogs, which means they can learn a new command in 25 to 40 repetitions and will obey a first command 50% of the time or better. While Stanley Coren’s book is a useful tool, let’s hear from our owners who have direct experience training their Whoodle.
John explained that Edison was a breeze to train.
They are very intelligent. Mine looks at you in the eyes which you say his name and his food motivated nature helps him pick up new skills with relative ease.
Jaclyn had no problems when it came to potty training her Whoodle.
I potty trained Gracie in two months and she has not made an accident in the house since. Whoodles are very smart and pick up on potty training very easily. I didn’t even use training pads – Gracie just whimpers when she has to go to the bathroom and that’s that! I’ve talked to Whoodle owners and they have all had similar experiences.
Adriene added that Whoodles tend to be much smarter than Soft-Coated Wheaton Terriers.
Since Whoodles are bred with Poodles, they are much smarter than pure bred Wheaten Terriers. Chip potty trained easily and learned his commands quickly – whether or not he chooses to listen to the command is another story.
Great family pet
So you’re thinking about getting a Whoodle but you’ve got younger family members in your home. You’re probably wondering whether your Whoodle will be loving and patient with children.
John shared that Edison loves meeting new people and makes an excellent family pet.
He makes a GREAT family pet. He loves all humans and all dogs, big and small. Gives lots of love to everyone he meets.
Andy has a lot of energy so this Whoodle has no problem keeping up with hyper kids but his owners did highlight one potential issue to keep in mind,
They’ve got lots of energy so they’ll keep up with the kids. They are also very friendly. Only thing to be concerned about is the “Wheaten greeting”. They tend to jump up on people quite a bit which can be problematic with small children.
Loving companion pets
Whoodles can make excellent companion pets if you’re looking for a dog that’ll be content to snuggle on the sofa or curl up in bed. While they’ve got a lot of energy, they do have an “off button”.
Jaclyn described the Whoodle as a sweet dog breed that love to give and receive affection.
Whoodles are one of the kindest dogs. Whoodles cuddles up to just about anyone and are genuinely sweet and warm animals. They are a warm light, extremely sincere, and extremely calm. Every night Gracie cuddles and sleeps with me and whether I’m on the couch or on the ground, Gracie cuddles in my arms.
Social dogs
If you’ve experienced life with a reactive dog, you’ll know how stressful it can be going on a walk and encountering another dog or perhaps one of your pup’s phobias such as a bike or jogger. In speaking to the Whoodle owners featured in this article, there was a common theme. Whoodles tend to be social dogs who are calm and relaxed around new people and new dogs.
Cons
Chip the Whoodle (Photo: @chip_the_whoodle / Instagram)
Expensive
Like most Doodle varities, Whoodles aren’t cheap. If you’re thinking about getting a Whoodle, you could contact your local rescue shelter to see if they’ve got a Whoodle who needs a new home or a Poodle or Soft-Coated Weaton Terrier mix that is in desperate need of some love. Otherwise, you’ll have to find a Whoodle breeder. Seeing as Whoodles are a desirable hybrid dog thanks to their hypoallergenic qualities, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1500 to $3000. Some Whoodles may cost more or less depending on the breeding stock. Aside from the initial cost of purchasing your Whoodle pup, you’ll need to keep in mind the monthly cost of owning a dog.
Grooming
Although the Whoodle is a low-shedding dog so you won’t have to spend time worrying about vacuuming dog hair, they do require regular grooming. It’s a good idea to brush your Whoodle a couple of times a week to ensure their hair doesn’t get tangled and remove any debris caught in their coat.
Jaclyn shed light on her grooming routine for Gracie.
There are a lot of different ways to groom a Whoodle. I sent Gracie to a groomer for about 5 months and liked the way they cut her. They used a buzzer and cut her body and then cut her face with scissors. However, I have started grooming her on my own and cut her face, legs, hair on her paws, and tail with scissors. I use a buzzer for her body too. It takes around 2 hours to groom her. Whoodles are very calm so they won’t fight you when being groomed.
Require lots of exercise
Whoodles are energetic dogs that require regular daily exercise. If you enjoy getting out for walks, going for a jog or hikes in the hills, Whoodles can slot into your life with relative ease. However, if you don’t have time to take your Whoodle for a daily walk or you’re not a fan of exercise and want a lapdog, this probably isn’t the hybrid dog for you.
John revealed that Edison requires more than just a couple of daily walks.
They are very energetic dogs, the Wheaten in them makes them a bit jumpy, but you can have them unlearn that behavior. A couple long walks a day typically won’t do – he needs a good run with his canine buds to tire him out.
Allergies
Whoodles can be prone to allergies so this is something you should be aware of if you’re preparing to adopt or bring home one of these Doodles. They could have an allergy to a particular protein or food source. It might be a good idea to get a dog allergy test to learn of any food allergies, reactions to plants or allergies to household items.
Ear infections
Whoodles have floppy ears with long, flowing hair that hangs by the side of their head in a relaxed position. While it adds to their adorable appearance, they can also be at risk of developing an infection because debris or dirt can become entangled in the hair. Whoodle owners should regularly check their pup’s ears to ensure there’s no infection and ask their vet for tips on how to clean their Whoodle’s ears.
We’ve featured Gracie (@gracie_the_whoodle), Chip (@chip_the_whoodle), Andy (@andy.the.whoodle) and Edison (@edison_the_whoodle) in this article and their pictures have been used with their permission.
