All About Irishdoodles
In order to learn about the Irishdoodle, you have to first learn about its parents, the Irish Setter and the Poodle.
About the Irish Setter
The Irish Setter is a stunning breed that originated from Ireland in the 1700s, and was popularized in America in the 1800s. It was historically used for the purpose of hunting as pointing dogs, but is now most commonly used for loyal companionship as pets.
The Irish Setter's coat is long and silky, with a beautiful mahogany colour. They are moderate shedders and require brushing every 2-3 days. They have gorgeous, flowing "feathers" that grow from their chest, ears, tail, legs, and body. They have deep chests and lean waists, and their average lifespan is 11-12 years.
Irish Setters are energetic and athletic dogs, requiring 2 hours of exercise every day. They often retain their puppy-like playfulness well into adulthood. Irish Setters thrive best in active, outdoorsy families who can provide lots of space to run and play. They especially enjoy activities like frisbee, fetch, jogging, and water sports, as well as cuddles on the couch. Irish Setters are extremely emotionally intelligent and show deep affection and unwavering loyalty to their families. They are like mirrors, reflecting your moods and behaviours. They have a high prey drive and are not recommended for families with other small pets such as rabbits, birds, or hamsters. Cats are safe. Irish Setters are a soft-jaw breed. This means that they are very gentle and have excellent bite control, making them well suited for families with young children.
About the Poodle
The Poodle, named after the German word "pudel" meaning "to splash", was historically used as a water fowl hunting dog, military dog, gun dog, and circus dog. It is believed that the Poodle originated in Germany in the middle ages from a dog similar to today's Standard Poodle. Poodles have been recognized in paintings as early as the 17th century. Today, Poodles are most often used as service dogs, show dogs, gun dogs, and pets.
Poodles have thick, curly, non shedding coats. This coat is what makes the Poodle so allergy friendly and soft. They require grooming every 4-8 weeks, as well as brushing every other day to maintain the quality of their coat. Poodles have a lifespan of 10-18 years, depending on their size. Smaller Poodles tend to outlive larger ones. No matter the size, Poodles tend to be tall, lean, leggy dogs, and can come in every colour and pattern.
Poodles are athletic, active and sociable dogs who are deeply loyal to their families. Their high intelligence allows them to be easily trained in a variety of activities. This also means that Poodles require more mental stimulation than the average dog, such as daily walks, enrichment feeding and toys, continual training, etc. Thanks to their hunt origins, Poodles are a soft-jaw breed. This means that they are very gentle and have excellent bite control, making them perfect for service and guide work, as well as families with young children.
About the Irishdoodle
Irishdoodles are a designer dog, similar to the Goldendoodle. While they are rarer and their history is less well known, it is believed that the first Irishdoodle was bred in the 1980s or 1990s during the rise in popularity of other Doodle breeds. The intent of this pairing was to combine the deeply affectionate and loyal nature of the Irish Setter with the high trainability and allergy friendly coat of the Poodle. Today, Irishdoodles are used as hunting dogs and pets.
Irishdoodles can come in a variety of different sizes, coat qualities, and colours, depending on the parents. In our breeding program, we focus on deep red colouring, as well as white tuxedo markings. Irishdoodles can vary from very low shedding to non shedding, depending on the generation. Irishdoodles typically require grooming every 2-4 months, as well as brushing every other day to maintain the quality of their Poodle-like coats.
Irishdoodles typically retain the loving, emotionally intelligent personality of the Irish Setter, as well as the sociability and trainability of the Poodle. As both of its ancestors are soft-jaw breeds, the Irishdoodle is also very gentle, perfect for families with children. Because both the Irish Setter and the Poodle are hunting breeds, the temperament of the Irishdoodle is guaranteed, as the dog will not have conflicting instincts. Crossing two purebreds also allows you to get the best health from both lines, and encourages genetic diversity. Because the Irish Setter is a less shedding dog than the Golden Retriever, an Irishdoodle may be a better option for someone looking for a very allergy friendly dog. Irishdoodles are highly active, silly, and fun loving dogs who require about 2 hours of daily exercise, as well as mental stimulation. Their striking appearance and beautiful temperaments make them stand out among other types of Doodles.