Breeds / Medium
Schnoodle puppies
The Schnoodle is described as a smart, level headed and social companion that thrives on company and does well in families. It needs daily walks and playtime, and can become destructive without them.
The facts
- Size class Medium
- A cross of Schnauzer and Poodle
- Adult weight 9.1 to 27.2 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 20 to 60 lb
- Adult height 33 to 66 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming High
- Typical lifespan 10 to 16 years
A cross, not a breed. The Schnoodle is a cross rather than a standardised breed, so size, coat and temperament vary and can favour either parent, and a first cross of two purebred parents is less predictable in coat than a later generation bred back to a Poodle. The size spread is unusually large because all three Schnauzer and Poodle varieties are used: miniature Schnoodles can be as light as 4.5 kg and giants reach about 36 kg.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Schnoodle puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and it will need a job to do long before it needs long walks. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow scoring radiographs
- Hyperlipidaemia and pancreatitis from the Schnauzer side, diagnosed on blood tests
- Progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts, detectable by DNA test and eye examination
- Idiopathic epilepsy, diagnosed from witnessed seizures with other causes excluded
- Diabetes mellitus, which is more common in the miniature type, diagnosed by blood glucose testing and urinalysis
- Gastric dilatation volvulus in the giant type, an emergency recognised by retching and a distended abdomen
From Schnoodle breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/schnoodle. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Schnoodle puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Schnoodle.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 9.1 to 27.2 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other medium breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.