The Poodle is a highly intelligent breed, considered by many to be among the most agile and obedient of canine companions. It’s also one of the most popular breeds due in part to its friendly and fun nature. This makes the Whippet Poodle mix and interesting cross breed.
In this post, I provide detailed information about the Whippet Poodle mix (or Poowhip and Whipoodle as it’s often commonly known) to help you decide if it’s the breed for you.
As a note, Poodles come in several sizes: Standard, Miniature or Toy. For the purposes of this article, I’m writing from the perspective of a Standard Poodle Whippet mix.
Table of Contents
- Whippet Poodle Mix Appearance
- Temperament
- Health
- Exercise & Care
- Whipoodle Images from Instagram
- Summary
Whippet Poodle Mix Appearance
The Whippet Poodle is generally classed as a medium-sized dog, though as I’ve mentioned in my other posts on Whippet mixes, size can vary according to parent dominant genes. Poodles are generally considered to be medium to large dogs and it’s possible for Whippet Poodle mix sizes to vary.
All genes being equal, it’s likely that adult Whipoodles will be slightly larger than purebred adult Whippets at around a height of 18″ to 20″ and a weight of 15lbs to 40lbs.
Since Whippets and Poodles both have long snouts, this is a feature that’s likely to feature in a mix of these two breeds.
As a curly haired breed, the Poodle may pass this characteristic fully on to the Whipoodle. However, more often than not Whippet Poodle mixes have a slightly curly or a wavy coat.
Commonly Whippet Poodle coats will have 2 to 3 colours, but the colouration can vary enormously depending upon the parents or recessive genes. It’s also possible for Whipoodles to have different colouration on their faces, chests and paws.
Whipoodle Temperament
At home Whippets are generally calm and gentle dogs and they have a reputation as lazy since a well exercised Whippet will be happy sleeping on the couch for most of the day. At play, Whippets have bundles of energy and love nothing more than sprinting with other dogs or chasing a ball. Their prey drive is strong
They’re great as family pets though they can be a little needy and love the company of others in the home. As such, it’s not a great idea to leave Whippets at home alone for long periods.
Poodles are considered alert, loyal and loving and they too make great family pets. Like Whippets, Poodles also have bags of energy and a strong prey drive
Whippets come in a wide variety of gorgeous cross breeds. Find out more about Whippet mixes in my super detailed guide!
Poodles are also an intelligent breed. In his book “The Intelligence of Dogs”, canine psychologist Professor Stanely Coren lists Poodles as the 2nd most intelligent breed after Border Collies. This makes for a highly trainable and instinctive dog, but at the same time they may also be stubborn.
A Whippet Poodle mix may then result in an intelligent, loving and playful dog that enjoys the outdoors and craves human companionship.
Since Whipoodle’s are likely to be smarter than the average Whippet, they’ll need an appropriate level of exercise and mental stimulation to keep them happy and avoid the negative behaviours associated with bored and lonely pets.
Health
Each dog breed has a genetic tendency towards specific health problems and so it’s possible for cross breeds to inherit the potential for certain diseases and physical conditions of both sets of purebred parents. This is as true for Whipoodles as it is for any other cross bred dog.
As such, the following is a list of some of the health problems associated with both Whippets and Poodles
Whippets
- Canine von Willebrand’s Disease
- Hemangiosarcoma
- Mitral Valve Degeneration
- Deafness
- Sinus problems
- Allergies
Poodles
- Bloat
- Hypoadrenocorticism
- Thyroid Issues
- Hip Dysplasia
- Epilepsy
The life expectancy for healthy Whipoodles that are fed a healthy diet and given the recommended daily exercise is 10 to 18 years.
If you’re thinking of buying a Whippet puppy, make sure to buy from a reputable breeder who can demonstrate proper breeding practices. Avoid puppy mills at all costs.
Exercise & Care for a Whippet Poodle Mix
Whippets and Poodles are high energy dogs with a strong prey drive. As a result, Whipoodles need solid exercise of up to an hour every day. If possible, unleashed exercise in an open area so they can sprint with other dogs or chase toys will sufficiently satisfy their need to run and chase.
Given the intelligence of Poodles, you’ll also need to remember to provide daily mental stimulation to Whipoodles through play and contact. Hide and seek, fetch or tug-of-war with a favoured toy will help to maintain a happy disposition.
Without sufficient exercise and stimulation, Whippet Poodle mixes might be restless at home and cause mischief. However, if exercised and entertained properly, Whipoodles will probably enjoy lots of snoozing throughout the day just like most Whippets!
Whippets are short-haired and low to moderate shedders. Poodles are famous for their curly locks and are known for shedding even less than Whippets. Whippet Poodle mixes then will possibly be low shedders, which is good news for allergy sufferers.
Whipoodles will likely have longer coats than Whippets and their fur will be either curly or have a wave. Looking after their coats should be relatively low-maintenance, though you’d probably want to groom them at least once or twice a week.
Whipoodle Images from Instagram
Time for some images! Here’s a selection of Whipoodle photos shared on Instagram by some happy owners. They show the variety of this lovely cross and how cute they truly are.
Note the difference in fur and colour variation.
Summary
Whippet Poodle mixes are obedient, smart and playful. The Whipoodle is loyal and affectionate cross breed, but like other Whippet mixes it requires a suitable amount of exercise and stimulation to avoid negative behaviours.
Given the Poodle’s intelligence, Whipoodles are likely easier to train than purebred Whippets and are ideally suited to loving homes where they’re not left alone for long periods.
Do you own a Whippet Poodle mix? Or perhaps you love Whipoodles? I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below to let me know your thoughts.
Leave a Reply