Designer MINI-DOODLES The ‘Mini-Doodle’ is a highly desired designer dog that has gained tremendous popularity in the last several years and has become one of the most popular ones of all the designer breeds in the United States. The Mini-Doodle is one of the designer breeds that are being developed in the United States.  Breeders are seeking to create an intelligent, friendly and good-looking lapdog that is kids-friendly, energetic, and loving to the whole family. A crossbreed between a Golden-Doodle (Golden Retriever and mini Poodle), which has Maltese, Bichon and Shih Tzu in their DNA, which explains the strong color variety and their thick curly or wavy coat.  Our designer Mini-Doodles will stay in the 15 to 25 lbs. range, whereas most Doodles can reach 70 to 80 lbs.  Those beautiful combinations assure a thick, soft and fluffy, silky coat.  Their adorable and cute faces and shorter legs just add an extra appealing appearance.  Their parents and ancestors play a big role on the outcome of their looks, temperament, size, hair structure, and color of coat, as well as over-bite, under- bite, length of mouth, spacing of eyes, length of body, and length of legs.  So, do your research from what breeder you buy, consider this knowledge as you choose your puppy. Character: The Mini-Doodle is known to be affectionate, mellow, playful and sweet natured and has become one of the most desired family pets in the United States. The Mini-Doodle is a quick learner, very intelligent and typically trains very well and easy with persistence and tiny ¼” soft rawhide treats that one keeps readily available during training.  It is also recommended to use a clicker in combination with the training, which is widely available at pet stores.  Our Mini-Doodles are an affectionate breed that loves cuddling, their tummy rubbed, and loves nothing more than to cuddle in your bed on a lazy Sunday morning.  They also love nothing more than getting their one-on-one attention with his/her family members.  The Mini-Doodle does great with other breeds, but it is very important to socializing your Mini-Doodle and introduces smaller dogs at first in the dog park and gradually introduced to taller dogs as time permits. Due to their small size, especially as puppies, it is recommended to supervise play between children and your Mini-Doodle, since the Mini-Doodle can be inadvertently hurt by play that is too rough.  Mini-Doodles should not be left alone for long periods of time, as they miss their human companionship.  They do wonderful being your companion at work, if it is permitted, or shopping in your bag.  Be careful and have a short leach attached to the collar, in case of an unexpected jump or fall from your shoulder bag.  They love the attention and action of going shopping, cradled in a save and snug bag, with their little heads looking out into the world.  Some Mini-Doodles will bark when a visitor is at the door and make great watch dogs. As with many dogs, but even more so with Mini-Doodles, they become very attached to its owners and become therefore very protective.  They are not the perfect guard dog, because of their kind and friendly nature. They do best if their owners are consistent, gentle, and caring. Ideal Environment: A Mini-Doodle will do excellent in a house or apartment with/without yards due to their small size.  They will make wonderful companions for any family with or without children, as well as singles and seniors. They can be the perfect dog, if the owner(s) are typically allergic against fur.  The Mini-Doodle has no fur, they have hair, and therefore, they do NOT shed or have hair-loss.  Our Mini-Doodle has a distant relative as a Golden Retriever, a Mini-Poodle, a Bichon, a Maltese and a Shih-Tzu in their DNA.  All but the Golden Retriever have coats that are hypoallergenic and no hair loss.  Since the Golden Retriever does, but is a distant relative, the shedding does not effect this generation, and if, only very very minimal.   Therefore, this breed makes a perfect choice for dog-loving owners with allergy problems. Coat: Mini-Doodles have a soft, silky and thick curly/wavy coat.  In general, the coat is medium to double thick.  Any color or combination of color is possible due to its crossbreed.  No standards dictate the coat type or color at this time. Daily brushing of 5-10 minutes of every angle, behind ears, neck, under their legs, under their tail is necessary to keep their coat tangle and mat- free.  Professional grooming and trimming every six weeks is recommended. Bathing is recommended every other month or when needed. During hot climate, it is recommended to give your Mini-Doodle a shorter haircut, and during colder climate it is best to put on a sweater over their coat, especially if the coat is being kept short year-around. Mini-Doodles are also free of dandruff as well. Grooming: Daily brushing of about 5-10 minutes, and a bath once a month or every other month is a must to keep them clean and free of mats. What you need to groom your Mini-Doodle:
  • Bathtub with shower-handle (ideal)
  • Fresh towel
  • Small children scissors (rounded corners a must!) to avoid injury
  • Dog clippers (NOT human clippers!)
  • Rounded bristle brush
  • Small comb
  • Conditioning dog shampoo or even Pantene
  • No-tears dog shampoo or even no-tears Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo
  • Leave-in conditioner or one that is sensitive enough for a baby
  • Dog dryer or your own dryer with a diffuser or on lower setting, to avoid burning
  • No-tangle spray coat conditioner, for after you padded the coat dry
  • No-tangle fur bands
  • Tiny rubber bands for dogs or babies
  • Colorful bows/ties
  • Nail clippers
  • Q-tips for ears
  • Eye wipes (hypoallergenic)
  • Ear mite cleanser
  • Ear mite medication
Temperament: Very loyal, loving, playful, energetic, dedicated, and want to please their owners. Mini-Doodles make wonderful watchdogs, due to the particular breeds in them.  Although the Mini-Doodle will never be a guard dog due to their size, they will surely make an excellent watchdog and will always warn or alert his owner, when strangers approach the house/yard. Size: 10-16 inches tall, depending on the size and weight of both, mom and dad. Weight: Our Mini Doodles reach between 8-10 lbs. in general, but maximum 13 lbs. Take the total weight of the parents and divide it by two.  This gives you the average weight. The smallest puppy will always run approximately 8 lbs., whereas the largest puppy about 10-13 lb. Health and Life Expectancy: As with many other dogs, the Mini-Doodle breed can have health issues like hip dysplasia problems.  It is recommended to investigate and ask the breeder for any health issues pertaining the parents of the puppies.  In general, a healthy diet in conjunction with dog vitamins and Brewer’s Yeast, Flex Seed Oil, or Coconut Oil (to insure a shiny coat), good vet care, and a clean cut around their eyes and ears, will provide usually a long life expectancy between 14 and 16 years.  Keep in mind, that leaner dogs live a longer life! Maintenance: The Mini-Doodle or any Doodle breed will require maintenance to keep its coat in beautiful condition. If the coat is kept long, the coat needs a daily bushing of about 5-10 minutes, depending on the length.  It is recommended to bathe your Mini-Doodle once every two weeks with small amounts of gentle (tear-free) baby or puppy shampoo.  A conditioner it a necessity, as this will untangle the coat so much easier after your Mini-Doodle was padded dry.  Blow-drying is fine, as long as it is not too hot and not in his eyes/face. Assure a save location for the bathing, grooming, brushing, and blow-drying, in order to avoid your puppy to fall off the counter.  You might want to tie him on a leach and secure him safely to avoid this danger.  A leach attached to each side of the sink and his collar could provide a save and convenient spot for your puppy and you.  Many owners have their Mini-Doodles visit a professional groomer every 6-8 weeks.  Short haircuts reduce the maintenance needs and are recommended for regions with warmer climates. Your Mini-Doodle needs daily exercise in order to maintain their health and muscles.  Insure a save and well fenced off grassy area with plenty of shade on hot days and the availability of fresh water at all times.  Food and Diet: Mini-Doodles need a well-balanced, high-quality diet of dry kibble, designed for small, active dogs. Dry kibble (wheat free) is an excellent dog food choice and will assist in their well being.  It also is essential to their oral health, coat and behavior. Recognized Clubs Because Mini-Doodles are not purebred dogs, major registries, such as the American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club, do not recognize Mini-Doodles on their registry. The Mini-Doodle is recognized by the following organizations:
  • DBR – Designer Breed Registry.
  • DRA – Dog Registry of America, Inc.
  • ACHC – American Canine Hybrid Club
  • DDKC – Designer Dogs Kennel Club
  • IDCR – International Designer Canine Registry
Thank you, California Mini Doodles