The Poodle is one of the common crossbred dogs due to its range of sizes and attractive qualities. No matter how great a breed is, however, it doesn’t automatically mean he’s the right companion for you.
Thankfully, the diversity in dogs enables you to find a Poodle-looking breed that might suit your preference and lifestyle.
There also come these silly moments wherein we mislabel a certain pooch and end up finding out it’s not a Poodle nor is it a purebred Poodle. To satisfy your curiosity concerning what breeds we are talking about, buckle up as we start off the list.
1. Portuguese Water Dog
The Portuguese Water Dog is covered with thick curly hair from face down to his paws– the same characteristic found in Poodles. The Portie comes in a much thicker size, however, unless the Poodle is intentionally groomed to be fluffed.
Also, just like the Poodle, his ears drop and the hair is kept long. The difference lies in their head shapes though as the Poodle features it to be lean and long whereas it’s the opposite for the Portie.
Such a dog is best suited for laid-back families yet moderate exercise remains essential. The most popular Porties we know are Bo and Sunny, the Obama dogs.
2. Bedlington Terrier
The Bedlington Terrier is another Poodle-looking dog with curly hair and a somewhat distinct head shape and appearance. He’s adorable, no doubt, just like many other pooches.
The way he stands tall with his straight legs and the long face all make him bear the hallmarks of the magnificent Poodle breed. Due to his dignified looks, the Bedlington Terrier would be a great fit for dog shows.
He’s a great watchdog too as you can heavily depend on him to act as your home alarm, especially when a stranger approaches the property. With proper socialization, this dog won’t end up becoming too wary of everyone unless the person exhibits suspicious movements.
3. Yorkipoo
The Yorkipoo dog is basically just a mix of the Yorkshire Terrier and the Toy or Miniature Poodle. Despite not being an official breed, this pooch is winning the hearts of many thanks to his good looks and charming personality.
Since it’s common for most mixed breeds to look like one of their parents or somewhere in between, a Yorkipoo may indeed look more similar to his Poodle parent than the Yorkie.
In such a case, it’s understandable if you’d end up confusing him for a purebred Poodle. As he’s tiny, the Yorkipoo would be a great cuddling buddy.
4. Irish Water Spaniel
Aside from looking so close in appearance to the Poodle, the Irish Water Spaniel also used to perform similar tasks. Furthermore, he sheds less making him a good choice for hypersensitive owners.
Descriptively, his most prominent characteristic would be his curly, shaggy coat with moderately wide drooping ears that rest gracefully on the side of his cheeks.
In all honesty, getting this Irish dog would feel like you’re also getting yourself a Poodle. He’s smart, trainable, active, inquisitive, and always up for new experiences.
5. Goldendoodle
Next up is another Poodle mix which is a result of crossbreeding the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. The Goldendoodle mostly looks like a Golden Retriever in a Poodle’s body. Without a doubt, this is one highly intelligent designer pooch.
If there’s one particular area this hybrid dog excels in that would be being an incredible family companion. He’s extremely into kids as he’s people-oriented and his temperament is almost always predictable, kind, gentle, and loving.
The Goldendoodle has a playful nature and might love being in the water. Make sure he gets groomed every once in a while to maintain his Poodle-type coat.
6. Lagotto Romagnolo
The name of this next breed may air out a bit of sophistication, but don’t worry. This dog isn’t very high maintenance nor is he hard to please. The Lagotto Romagnolo is also a Poodle-looking dog as he sports the same coat quality except that his face isn’t narrow and long.
In fact, from some angles, he may look similar to the Portuguese Water Dog too.
To make sure you don’t confuse him for a Poodle, the main thing you’d have to observe is the size. Poodles are generally large while the Lagotto dog tends to be on the smaller side.
The trait they share together is their low-shedding rate and less tendency to drool as well as bark or howl.
7. Maltipoo
The Poodle heritage is golden. Whatever dog he crosses with, it mostly ends in adorable puppies! Another mix we have to recognize is the Maltipoo. He’s a Maltese and a Poodle designer dog that comes in a compact size whilst retaining a curly Poodle coat.
Unsurprisingly, this dog is highly smart, you should expect him to start talking back once he warms up with you and the family. Unlike the common stereotype of small dogs having the personality of a big dog, the Maltipoo, in contrast, loves to cling to his family members and ask for cuddles and affection.
He’s not antisocial at all and would usually exhibit a welcoming and playful nature. Being with kids, his patience is to be admired. He won’t snap nor intimidate them with his non-existent aggression.
8. Labradoodle
Another popular Doodle breed we have is the Labradoodle. This dog has the gentle and meek expression of the Labrador Retriever and the intelligence, build, and coat type of the Poodle. To be fair, he’s a perfect balance of both well-known dogs.
The good news for hypersensitive owners is that this pooch is hypoallergenic. He still sheds though, but not as heavy as most other breeds. A well-trained dog of this kind finds it easy to interact with kids and other dogs. Family time is one of the essential routines for him, therefore, giving him attention must never be off the list.
As advised by everyone, it’s still necessary to monitor your dog’s interaction with kids. Nonetheless, among hundreds of dog breeds, the Goldendoodle is one of the gentlest and most trusted dogs you’ll ever come across with.
9. Barbet
The Barbet breed is one of the newest dogs that got into recognition with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and this happened last 2020. There are several reasons why he and the Poodle are more alike than different.
Listing at least three, the Barbet dog originates from France, has the same purpose which was to hunt down game birds, and has an unmatched intelligence and affection toward his family.
The add-on would be his beautiful coiled coat that may come in black, brown, gray, white, and fawn with various coat markings. In contrast to the Poodle though, the Barbet is bulkier in build.
10. Cockapoo
It shouldn’t even be shocking to see the Cockapoo on the list. After all, he’s got the Poodle lineage and that gives him a fair chance to look more like the mentioned breed. The Cockapoo is a pooch that resulted from crossbreeding a Poodle and a Cocker Spaniel.
Typically, he’s deemed to be a gentle fellow with an inviting expression and protruding adorable black nose. As long as his parents have favorable dispositions, this Poodle mix is highly unlikely to show bad behaviors and manners.
Since the Cockapoo is often the offspring of a Toy or Miniature Poodle, his size will vary a lot. Also, Cocker Spaniels are heavy shedders and it’s the total opposite for the Poodle. That means the amount of fur he sheds will depend on the coat type he gets.
11. Poochon
Another member of the Doodle family is the Poochon– a Bichon Frise and Poodle Mix. Being a hybrid dog, it is to be expected that he’ll take after different characteristics from his parents, especially when it comes to appearance and temperament.
Both his parents are low-shedding dogs, however, so you’re most likely not going to have much of a problem with a Poochon’s shedding if you’re hypersensitive.
Looks-wise, a Poochon may inherit the same curly coat like the Poodle that may come in white, black, or apricot colors. If you are aiming to have a Poochon that’s more Poodle-looking, you have to see the litter in person.
12. Cavapoo
Crossing the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Toy or Miniature Poodle will result in a Cavapoo! Such a hybrid dog will have loads of potential quirks and temperaments so be ready for a lot of surprises.
Of course, he’ll probably look like a Poodle, a Spaniel, or somewhere in between, it’s no question. Behavior-wise, he may have a high prey drive and chase after smaller animals and exhibit extreme guarding tendencies. Both can be remedied by early socialization.
As with the size, the Cavapoo can be around 10 to 18 pounds, but don’t think he’s not a robust dog. The best environment for him is one that’s moderately active and loaded with fun activities with the people he loves.
13. Afghan Hound
You may have known the Afghan Hound for his incredibly long and beautiful coat. Wondering why he’s on the list? Well, it’s mainly due to his long face which is similar to that of the Poodle. It’s just the coat that makes a huge difference.
Despite looking like beauties in the dog world, the Afghan Hound breed is one accomplished hunter that requires minimal guidance from his hunters. It can be a challenge though, as this independence may make them set their own rules.
At home, this dog tends to be quiet and well-mannered. He may show his goofy side with his household members which is a treat for his family, especially if you’re having a hard day. His relationship with people he knows shouldn’t mean he’ll show the same treatment to strangers. When rehomed, the dog will find it difficult to adjust.
