How Big Do Schnoodles Get? [Average Size For This Breed]

If you are looking at getting a Schnoodle, then naturally you are going to want to know how big they will get. Size can be a decisive factor when it comes to choosing a breed and maybe something that you really need to consider depending on your home and circumstances. Interested in getting one ourselves, we recently researched and spoke to several breeders about this dog breeds growth rate and average maturity size. I’d like to share what I learned with you here today.

So, how big do Schnoodles get? Schnoodles can come in three different sizes – standard, miniature, and toy. Standard Schnoodles typically stand between 15-27 inches tall and are 30-75 pounds in weight. Mini Schnoodles can stand from 12-15 inches in height and weigh between 13-20 pounds. Toy Schnoodles are generally around 10-12 inches tall and 6-10 pounds in weight.

A Schnoodles size depends on the size of the parental dogs used in the breeding process.

For example, it depends on whether a giant/standard/mini schnauzer or a standard/mini/toy poodle are bred together.

So, as you can see, the schnoodle can vary quite dramatically in terms of height and weight. As they are a crossbreed; there can be quite a bit of variance.

Let us now take a closer look at the different schnoodle sizes and what this can mean for their temperament and lifespan.

How Schnoodles Are Bred

For us to be able to get an understanding of how big a schnoodle can get, first and foremost we need to take a look at how they are bred.

Schnoodles are a crossbreed, or in other words a hybrid dog. They are the result of breeding the Schnauzer and Poodle pedigree breeds together.

By doing so, the schnoodle has inherited a number of traits and characteristics from both the schnauzer and poodle breeds.

This has actually been the result of specialized breeding over generations – it is one of the reasons in why a schnoodle may be referred to as a ‘designer dog’.

This is of course, why we can see so much variation in between schnoodle dogs – its why they can look quite different from one another.

For this reason, with generational breeding, breeders will use specific acronyms to describe and differentiate each generation. You’ll likely see these as: F1, F1b, F2 etc.

Each number refers to the generation of the litter.

The F1 generation is typically the most expensive; whereas those generations that follow (F2, F3 etc) tend to inherit/display more variance in the traits/features from the schnauzer/poodle breeds.

Here is a brief overview of how the process works.

• F1: This schnoodle is the result of breeding a schnauzer and a poodle. So, this dog and their litter-mates, will be 50% schnauzer and 50% poodle.
• F1B: This schnoodle is the result of breeding an F1 schnauzer with a Poodle. It will have 75% Poodle and 25% schnauzer in them.
• F2: This schnoodle is the result of breeding two F1 schnoodles together. Again, this dog and their litter mates, will be 50% schnauzer and 50% poodle.

So as you can see, schnoodles can inherit more/less of one parent than the other depending on how they are bred.

Then, the other significant factor to consider is the size of the schnauzer and poodle used in the breeding process.

Schnauzer Sizes

Schnauzers are a pure breed, which means that their sizes are relatively predictable and do not differ too much from the average.

However, they do come in three different sizes, these are:

	Height (Inches)	Weight (Pounds)
Giant	27.5″	75-95 lbs
Standard	17.5″	31-44 lbs
Mini	12-14″	12-20 lbs

Each of these schnauzer sizes can be used in the breeding process for a schnoodle.

Regardless of their size, each is known to have relatively similar behaviors and temperament styles. Intelligent and loyal yet quite stubborn.

Poodle Sizes

Poodles equally come in three different sizes. They are commonly used in crossbreeding and there are many doodle breeds of dogs that have been created through this process.

Here are the different sizes of a poodle dog breed:

	Height (Inches)	Weight (Pounds)
Standard	22-27″	45-70 lbs
Mini	10-15″	15-17 lbs
Toy	5-9″	6-9 lbs

One thing to consider in poodles is that males are usually slightly larger than females.

Poodles are also a little bit smaller than schnauzers, especially the toy breed!

With this in mind, for most doodle crossbreeds, the male is likely to be the poodle parent. As poodles are smaller they would not likely be able to carry and give birth to the puppies.

A Toy Poodle mother for example, is just not a good idea.  

Average Schnoodle Sizes

With the above information in mind, and know that we have a better understanding of the breeding process and differences in the parental breeds, we can now look at the schnoodle.

As you may have guessed – the schnoodle can come in three different sizes! These are:

	Breeding	Height (Inches)	Weight (Pounds)
Standard	Giant/Standard Schnauzer with a Standard Poodle	15-27″	30-75 lbs
Mini	Mini Schnauzer with a Mini Poodle	12-15″	13-20 lbs
Toy	Mini Schnauzer and a Toy Poodle	10-12″	6-10 lbs

As you can imagine, the sizes mentioned above are challenging to predict due to the variables and genetics involved.

Some schnoodle puppies may inherit more of the the larger schnauzer than they do from the poodle. In this example, the schnoodle would be bigger than what their intended size.

Like all hybrids, there are no guarantees!

For this reason, it is always best to talk to various breeders about the dogs being used. In many ways, if you are looking for a particular size it actually makes sense to also inquire before a litter has been born.

Also find out about the parental dog sizes; it is safe to assume that your schnoodle will not be any bigger than the schnauzer, and equally, no smaller than the size of the poodle.

So, if you are satisfied with either size, then you’ll be satisfied of the schnoodle that they will create/have recently created.

Another useful approach is to ask a breeder about the lineage of the dogs. Find out about past breeds. Good breeders will keep such information as it is good practice and commonly requested information.

With all this being said, most schnoodles are small. This is because most breeders will use a miniature schnauzer and a toy or miniature Poodle.

At What Age Is A Schnoodle Full Grown?

One other thing to consider is what time will a schnoodle reach maturity and their adult size.

With dogs, while there is not a single age that all reach their full size, there are some general guidelines to follow. The main one is based on the breed size.

So again, it will depend on the size of the schnoodle and parents used:

• A standard schnoodle is likely to reach their full-sized framework by 12-15 months of age.
• A mini schnoodle is expected to reach their full sized framework between 8-12 months of age.
• A toy schnoodle will typically reach their full sized framework around the 6-8 month range.

You can also expect, just like in other dog breeds, that a schnoodle (regardless of final size) will reach 60% of their adult height by the time that they are four months old.

Puppies have the fasted growth rate from the moment they are born through to around six months of age.

For weight, its a little bit more challenging with variables involved such as the diet you feed. For a mixed breed like a schnoodle, you will also need to compare with parental breeds used.

Does Schnoodle Size Effect Temperament?

There is generally a divide in opinion as to whether the size of the schnoodle dictates their resulting personalities, temperaments and behavior.

In other words, people are of the opinion that a smaller schnoodle will act differently to a larger schnoodle. A large Schnoodle has been reported to be more feisty and requiring more discipline; although this is anecdotal.

For the most part, there is not too much variance in temperament between the different size schnoodles.

Instead, schnoodles are known to be joyful and intelligent. They love socializing with members of the family and are known for their loyalty (inherited from the schnauzer), companionship and loving nature (inherited from the poodle). They’re also quite energetic, and enjoy getting plenty of exercise and activity.

They are equally quite a protective dog, and will bark when you get visitors. For this reason they may a good watch dog. Barking can become an issue in this breed so it is important they are trained from a young age.

Other traits that a schnoodle is likely to have include being quite stubborn and an eagerness to please.

Schnoodles tend to enjoy energetic activities like fetch and times of play. It is not a surprise to see a schnoodle running around in what may appear to be aimless in nature. For this reason, you may experience a dog that enjoys to do a lot of digging.

There are two fundamental elements that will impact the personality of a schnoodle. These are: how they are raised and how they were bred.

If you raise your schnoodle without discipline and with too much spoiling, then you are likely to have a dog that is badly behaved. This is likely to result in a stubbornness that is acquired through getting their own way – it is a learned behavior that you may have inadvertently enabled.

Therefore obedience training from a young age is thoroughly recommended.

Secondly, as with any hybrid of dog – there is a big difference in temperaments of schnoodles depending on whether the parents were carefully selected or irresponsibly used.

You should always seek to get your dog from a reputable breeder; one that is responsible, notable and well-respected.

Unfortunately, backyard breeders and puppy-mills are known to use highly unethical breeding practices which result in dire consequences for the health and temperaments of the dogs they breed.

If you want to get a schnoodle with a temperament that this hybrid is supposed to provide, ensure you are getting them from a reputable breeder. Poor parent selection and ineffective raising in the early stages of life can lead to the worst traits and behaviors being bred into your dog.

Schnoodle Health Concerns

Each hybrid dog has the risk of developing health complications that the parental dog breeds are prone to.

Part of the benefit of crossbreeding is that health complications and issues can be carefully bred out with each new generation.

However, this does not mean a schnoodle or any hybrid dog is immune.

And if both parental breeds carry the same genetic marker for cancer, your schnoodle will have a higher risk factor too.

Even though both parental dog breeds are not susceptible to the same health issues, a schnoodle can still get them because these issues are not always breed-specific. 

With this being said, its a good idea to investigate the parents being used in the breeding process. Try to find out from the breeder what health issues they may have or are prone to.

From there make sure you taker your puppy to a pet for an examination and to pass a health screen. This is usually provided with documentation from a reputable breeder but its an important thing to do nonetheless.

Even with these safeguards, a schnoodle may develop certain health issues with age.

Schnoodles are generally healthy, but like all dog breeds, they are prone to specific health conditions.

Not all Schnoodles may develop the following issues and diseases, but it’s important to be aware of them if you’re considering this breed.

• Cataracts and other eye diseases like Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Knee issues (more common in smaller schnoodles)
• Hip and elbow dysplasia (more common in larger schnoodles)
• Addison’s disease
• Epilepsy
• Diabetes
• Gastric Torsion

Some of these health complications are more likely to develop in different sized schnoodles, however, any size can develop then.

Being aware of these potential health complications will help you in several ways. Firstly, you can check with the breeder if the parental dogs are suffering from any of them.

You’ll also be able to look out for potential issues in your dog later in their life. You should be able to respond quicker and get them the medical attention they need from a vet sooner.

The faster you can identify a potential health issue, the better chance of success a treatment is likely to have.

Average Schnoodle Lifespan

The average schnoodle lifespan is between 10-16 years.

However, the size and how they were bred are also contributing factors.

Larger schnoodles typically live for 10-14 years (shorter lifespan) than their smaller counterparts.

A smaller schnoodle is expected to live for longer, reaching 12-16 years of age.

This is true of most dog breeds; large dogs tend to live less because they age at a faster rate.

Of course, as an owner there are many things you can do to ensure your schnoodle lives a long, happy and healthy life.

Daily exercise is very important, along with keeping them mentally stimulated. Ensuring they have a nutritious diet will also play a considerable role in the health of your dog too.

Ensuring that they do not become either underweight or overweight is equally important.

You should also look to regularly inspect your dog, and make sure that they are getting regular checkups with a veterinarian. This will ensure that any potential health complications can get identified early and before they begin to have more disastrous effects.

Schnoodle Size Advantages & Disadvatanges

The size of the schnoodle you are looking to get may be very important to you or it may not make any difference at all.

It could be a determining factor in your decision and something that you must consider and plan ahead for, or it may be something that has no real signficance for you.

That being said, there are some pros and cons in respect to the different sizes.

Here are the main advantages of owning a smaller schnoodle:

• Longer life expectancy,
• Do better in smaller homes, like apartments,
• Better for younger families, children,
• Size is more predictable.

However, there are equally some disadvantages to a smaller schnoodle:

• Can be very energetic,
• More commonly bred by backyard breeders and puppy mills,
• Can be more easily injured,
• May accidentally trip over them/sit on them.

The main benefits to owning a larger, standard schnoodle include:

• Better guard dogs,
• More ideal for outdoor families (walking/hiking),
• More likely to be bred from reputable breeders.

The main disadvantages to owning a larger, standard schnoodle include:

• Need for more space,
• More likely to be stubborn,
• Take more time to groom (and more expensive)

You’ll likely find when looking for breeders that the mini and toy schnoodles are easier to come by. With a little bit more research you should be able to find breeders who are offering larger standard schnoodles if this is what you are after.

For this reason larger, standard schnoodles tend to be a little bit more expensive.

Finally

Schnoodles are available in several different sizes which may or may not suit you and your families own needs and preferences.

Either way, this dog breed is known for a their intelligent, fun-loving and loyal nature. They make a great family dog and a wonderful companion.

I hope the information provided here today was as useful as it was for me. Hopefully you will now be in a better position to set your expectations and know what to look for when contacting breeders.

Lastly, do your research, be willing to speak to multiple breeders and be ready to pay up for your dog.

Ensuring they are bred properly and ethically will not only provide you with a better insight into your dogs lineage, but should ensure that your dog lives a healthier, longer life.

Related guides you may want to read:

• How Big Do Dogs Get?