Last Updated on February, 2025
The Poodle is a popular and beloved dog breed among dog lovers due to their:
- Distinctive curly coats
- Adorable look
- Charismatic personality
- Fun-loving, friendly nature
However, did you know there are many dog breeds that look like Poodles and share their temperament, too?
If you are a dog lover and curious to know about them, dive in.
Quick Summary
There are many dog breeds that look like Poodles and share their temperament, including the Cockapoo, Yorkiepoo, Lagotto Romagnolo, Bedlington Terrier, Afghan Hound, Portuguese Water Dog, Irish Water Spaniel, Labradoodle, Goldendoodle, Maltipoo, Shih-Poo, and Poochon.
Poodle breeds are a favorite among dog lovers due to their distinctive curly coats, adorable look, charismatic personality, and fun-loving and friendly nature.
Dogs that look like Poodles share physical features like curly or wavy single-coat, low shedding, long floppy ears, dark rounded eyes, black nose, long neck, an athletic physique with well-defined muscles, royal posture, and long docked tail.
Table of Contents
Most Popular Dog Breeds That Look Like Poodles
1. Cockapoo
Cockapoo dogs date back to the 1960s and were one of the first designer dogs. They are a hybrid dog mix of Cocker Spaniel and Poodle, known for their friendly and playful personalities.
They are curious, loyal, people-oriented, and affectionate. You’ll never feel lonely with a Cockapoo by your side. But these dogs are aloof to new people and animals that don’t belong to their pack. As they are intelligent, you can train them quickly.
Cockapoo coats are hypoallergenic and soft. The hair can be curly or wavy and comes in various colors.
Origin: | United States |
Lifespan: | 12-15 years |
Height: | 13-15 inches |
Weight: | 13-19 pounds |
Breed Recognition: | Designer Dog. Recognized by The American Kennel Club as a mixed dog breed |
2. Yorkiepoo
Yorkiepoo is a hybrid cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Miniature Poodle. They are one of the smallest and most intelligent dog breeds. Yorkiepoos coats can be curly, straight, or wavy.
These dogs look like cuddly toys. So, they are winning the hearts of many dog owners, even though they are not an official breed.
Yorkiepoos are social, loyal, and good with kids. You can train them quickly. Another notable feature is that Yorkiepoos are independent. So they don’t need a lot of affection like other dogs.
Origin: | United States |
Lifespan: | 10-15 years |
Height: | 7-15 inches |
Weight: | 5-15 pounds |
Breed Recognition: | Designer dog. Breed registries or significant kennel clubs do not recognize them. |
3. Lagotto Romagnolo
Lagotto Romagnolo is a medium-sized dog known for its truffle hunting skills. This is the only purebred dog breed recognized as a specialized truffle searcher.
Their size, curly coat, and coat colors are similar to those of Poodles. Their coats are dense, curly, and water-resistant.
They are intelligent, playful, and affectionate dogs but can be aggressive and territorial too. Training Lagottos can be a challenging task for you.
Origin: | NorthEastern Italy |
Lifespan: | 15-17 years |
Height: | 17-19 inches (male) 16-18 inches (female) |
Weight: | 28.5- 35 pounds (male) 24-31 pounds (female) |
Breed Recognition: | Recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club in 2015 |
4. Bedlington Terrier
Bedlington Terrier is a medium-sized breed known for its speed. They are formidable vermin hunters and ideal for dog shows.
These dogs have a unique appearance, resembling a lamb with a top knot of silky hair.
Bedlington Terriers are affectionate, intelligent, playful, and loyal companions. They are also less aggressive when compared with the other Terrier breeds. These characteristics make them excellent family pets.
Now, about their coat, the Bedlington Terrier has a thick, dense coat with short, curly, or wavy hair. Their face, standing posture, and hair resemble that of a Poodle.
Most people have Bedlington Terriers as service dogs due to their stamina and unwavering courage.
Origin: | England |
Lifespan: | 11-16 years |
Height: | 15-17.5 inches |
Weight: | 17-23 pounds |
Breed Recognition: | Recognized as a terrier breed by AKC |
5. Barbet
The Barbet breed is one of the dogs that earned the American Kennel Club recognition in 2020.
Barbets are known as “poodles in the head,” as their broadhead structure strongly resembles the Poodle. In addition, the curly coat, lengthy tail, large nose, and agile frame are also similar to Poodles.
The coat of a Barbet dog can vary in color. But black, brown, and fawn are the most common. The curly hair is more ruffled than a Poodle, requiring regular grooming.
Barbets are affectionate and loyal dogs. They are intelligent with outstanding, curious personalities.
Origin: | France |
Lifespan: | 12-14 years |
Height: | 19-24.5 inches |
Weight: | 35-65 pounds |
Breed Recognition: | Recognized by the Kennel Club (UK) and the International Canine Federation (FCI) |
6. Afghan Hound
Afghan Hounds are one of the oldest dog breeds and display an air of royalty. They have an iconic appearance with an extra long, straight coat that requires daily brushing.
Their personality and coats look different from Poodles. But their defined facial features and long legs make them similar to that of Poodles and set them apart from other dog breeds.
Afghan Hounds are intelligent, affectionate, and low-energy dogs. They can be mischievous to family members.
Origin: | Afghanistan |
Lifespan: | 12-18 years |
Height: | 25-27 inches |
Weight: | 50-60 pounds |
Breed Recognition: | Recognized as a breed by the AKC |
7. Portuguese Water Dog
Portuguese Water Dogs is another dog breed that looks like a Poodle but is smaller.
They were originally bred in Portugal to assist fishermen in herding fish into the nets and to serve as a courier.
The Portuguese Water Dog is intelligent, independent, affectionate, and friendly. You can train them quickly to do tricks. They are the perfect companion for young kids.
Portuguese Water Dog has a long, wavy coat with a soft, dense undercoat. Their hair will look like a lion’s mane when cut short, just like the Poodle’s hair when cut.
Origin: | Portugal |
Lifespan: | 11-13 years |
Height: | 20-23 inches (male) 17-21 inches (female) |
Weight: | 42-60 pounds (male) 35-50 pounds (female) |
Breed Recognition: | Recognized as a breed by the AKC in 1983 |
8. Irish Water Spaniel
Irish Water Spaniels are one of the giant breeds of dogs that look like Poodles. They have a curly, water-resistant, shaggy coat.
Like a Poodle, an Irish Water Spaniel is water-loving and a natural swimmer. Their webbed feet make them suited to water-related activities.
Initially, Irish Water Spaniels were bred for hunting. So, they excel at hunting waterfowl and retrieving objects from water.
They are intelligent, loyal, and adventurous. Their coats are similar to Poodles and come in four colors: gray, white, black, and brown.
Origin: | Ireland |
Lifespan: | 12-13 years |
Height: | 22-24 inches (male) 21-23 inches (female) |
Weight: | 55-68 pounds (male) 45-58 pounds (female) |
Breed Recognition: | Recognized by the AKC |
9. Labradoodle
A Labradoodle is one of the most popular dogs, like Poodles. They are a Poodle cross with a Labrador Retriever.
Labradoodles are intelligent, loyal, friendly, and easily trainable. So, they make excellent pets. The best thing about Labradoodles is that they are non-shedding. If you are looking for a dog that does not shed, this is your choice.
They inherit the iconic curly coat of the Poodle parent, but the skin is shorter and more rounded than that of Poodles. They are in high demand in the dog world.
Origin: | Australia |
Lifespan: | 12-14 years |
Height: | 21-24 inches |
Weight: | 50-65 pounds |
Breed Recognition: | Designer dog. Not AKC-recognized |
10. Goldendoodle
A Goldendoodle is a hybrid mix between a Poodle and a Golden Retriever. They grow medium to large and inherit a mix of the features of both parents.
Goldendoodles are independent, confident, and obedient. They are friendly, lovable dogs that make fantastic family pets. They can also be your hunting companion if you train correctly.
Goldendoodles have curly, wavy, or straight shedding coats. They have oval-shaped black eyes, floppy ears, and button noses. They don’t have a signature Poodle snout and the crest of fur on the top like Poodles.
Origin: | United States and Australia |
Lifespan: | 10-15 years |
Height: | 20-24 inches |
Weight: | 50-90 pounds |
Breed Recognition: | Designer dog. Not AKC registered |
11. Maltipoo
Maltipoos are miniature dogs resembling poodles known for their adorable looks. They are a hybrid of Maltese and Poodle.
Maltipoos have the same physical characteristics and intelligence as standard Poodles. But they are not strong, independent, or large like the Poodle. Their coats are wavy or curly, with soft and silky hair.
Origin: | United States |
Lifespan: | 10-15 years (Read complete Maltipoo lifespan guide here.) |
Height: | 8-14 inches |
Weight: | 5-20 pounds |
Breed Recognition: | Designer dogs. Not AKC-recognized |
12. Shih-Poo
The Shih-Poo is a hybrid cross between a Shih Tzu and a Toy Poodle. They are also called Shoodle or Pooshi.
They are cuddly, playful and friendly. They love to be doted on and pampered. So they’ll nap on your lap for hours if you like it. Their friendly, playful nature makes them good companions for anyone.
Shih-Poos have curly coats, straight coats, or a combination of both. Their coats are hypoallergenic and come in a variety of colors.
Origin: | North America |
Lifespan: | 13-17+ years (Read complete Shi-poo lifespan guide here.) |
Height: | 8-18 inches |
Weight: | 8-18 pounds |
Breed Recognition: | Not recognized by AKC. Registered under some designer breed registration clubs: American Canine Hybrid Club and the International Designer Canine Registry |
13. Poochon
Poochon is a dog breed designed by crossing a Bichon Frise and a Poodle.
They are small, intelligent dogs with a playful, charming nature. Poochons don’t like to be isolated. So they are ideal companions for large families with many people.
Their adorable look will make passersby pet your dog.
Origin: | Australia |
Lifespan: | 12-15 years |
Height: | 9-15 inches |
Weight: | 6-17 pounds |
Breed Recognition: | Mixed breed, not recognized by AKC |
About Poodles
Poodles are one of the most popular dog breeds. They are gentle dogs with an energetic and intelligent personality. Their cute, adorable look has made them famous among pet owners like you. So, let’s take a deeper look into Poodles.
Size
Based on size, Poodles are categorized into four: toy, miniature, medium, and standard. I have listed down the weight and height of each size.
Poodle category | Average weight (pounds) | Average height (inches) |
Toy | 4.5-6.5 | 9.5-11 |
Miniature | 10-15 | 11-14 |
Medium | 20-30 | 14-18 |
Standard | 45-70 | 18-24 |
Appearance
The most significant feature of Poodles is their thick, curly coat. It can be clipped or corded. Some of the standard clips include modern clips: continental clip, teddy bear clip, and puppy cut.
Poodles are low shedding. Their coats keep growing if you don’t groom them, and it can smell bad, too. So, Poodles are pretty high-maintenance.
Other physical features of Poodles are:
Characteristics
What Makes a Dog Look Like a Poodle?
Poodle-like dogs are born by the cross between a purebred Poodle and other purebreds like Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, and Labrador Retrievers.
Here are some features that will make a dog look like a Poodle:
A dog doesn’t need to tick all the above points to look like a Poodle. Only some will suffice.
Which is Your Favorite Poodle Mix?
There are several breeds that look like Poodles. Some are hybrid crosses between two breeds: a Poodle and another purebred dog. Goldendoodle, Labradoodle, and Maltipoo are examples of Poodle mixes.
Some other dogs, such as the Irish Water Spaniel, Portuguese Water Dog, Bedlington Terrier, and Afghan Hound, are pure breeds that share similar physical characteristics with Poodles.
Other guides and tools you might need when training your dog:
- How to train poodle not to bark?
- Do female dogs calm down after being spayed?
- How to keep dog from peeing on rug?
FAQs
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