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View 8 More +If you love the look and joyful demeanor of an English Bulldog but worry about their many health concerns, why not consider an English Boodle instead? This mix of English Bulldog and (usually) Miniature Poodle is a newer designer dog that’s growing in popularity thanks to their fabulous personalities.
Breed Overview
Height:
12–16 inches
Weight:
15–50 pounds
Lifespan:
10–12 years
Colors:
Red, tan, gray, black, and combinations of these colors
Suitable for:
Families
Temperament:
Friendly, gentle, affectionate, gets along with other pets, occasionally stubborn
As a bonus, mixing in the overall healthier Poodle genes usually helps to decrease some of the admittedly concerning health problems of the Bulldog. English Boodles also boast a low-shedding coat, thanks to their Poodle parentage. Boodles are loving friends to all they meet, human or animal. Gentle and affectionate, they are wonderful family dogs. Read on to learn more about the amazing English Boodle.
English Boodle Characteristics
English Boodle Puppies
English Boodle Puppies can be friendly, playful, and affectionate, like both parent breeds. They may also be intelligent and trainable, due to the Poodle’s reputation as a highly trainable breed. However, it is important to remember that every dog is unique, and the personality of an English Bulldog and Poodle mix may vary based on individual temperament and upbringing.
In terms of physical appearance, English Bulldog and Poodle mixes may have a short, stocky build like the Bulldog, with a curly, low-shedding coat like the Poodle. They may also have wrinkled skin, a wide head, and a muscular physique, similar to the Bulldog.
Temperament & Intelligence of the English Boodle
English Boodles are known for their generally wonderful temperaments. Again, because Boodles are a mix of two breeds, there will be some variation between individual dogs. However, both English Bulldogs and Poodles are generally very friendly, loving, and affectionate dogs. Your English Boodle will most likely display these same traits.
English Boodles are very social dogs who crave lots of attention. They want to be with their people as much as possible and might develop anxiety if left alone frequently.
English Boodles are usually smart and eager to please. Because Bulldogs have a notorious stubborn streak, it’s possible that your English Boodle could inherit this tendency as well.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
Gentle and always ready to play or snuggle, English Boodles make great family dogs. They do well with children of all ages. If your English Boodle is on the smaller side, supervise them with rowdy kids and make sure your kids know how to play correctly with a dog to prevent any injury.
Properly socializing your Boodle puppy with kids and other people will help them grow into a calm, accepting family pet. Of course, it’s always a wise move to monitor interactions between kids and any dog to ensure everyone is getting along.
English Boodles are a very social, attention-seeking breed. They are a good choice for families who can spend plenty of quality time with their dog. Boodles very much want to be included in family life and may develop separation anxiety if they are left to themselves too often.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽
Good-natured English Boodles generally get along quite well with other pets. You can help ensure this is the case by taking care to socialize Boodle puppies with dogs, cats, and other pets as soon as it is safe to do so. If you bring an adult English Boodle into your existing fur family, make sure to properly introduce your new Boodle to the other dogs and supervise interactions with cats and other pets as everyone gets used to each other.
- Related Read: Social Aggression in Dogs & How To Stop It
Things to Know When Owning an English Boodle:
Now that you’ve gotten to know the English Boodle a little bit, maybe you think they’d be a good fit for your family and lifestyle and you’d like to learn more about them. Here is some more detailed information about the health and general care of English Boodles to help you make an informed decision.
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
English Boodles usually don’t require any special diets and will do well on any high-quality dog food. Bulldogs are sometimes troubled with food allergies, and it’s possible your English Boodle may be as well. In that case, your veterinarian can help you figure out the best food to feed.
Make sure to feed your English Boodle the right food for their stage of life whether a puppy, adult, or senior dog. This is especially important for Boodles because their activity levels change a lot between puppy and adulthood.
Keep an eye on your dog’s weight and adjust how much food you are feeding as needed. Bulldogs are prone to being overweight and can have a lot of health problems as a result. If your Boodle takes after their Bulldog parent, weight could become a problem for them as well.
Exercise 🐕
The English Boodle’s exercise needs will change as they get older. English Boodle puppies are very energetic and will need lots of play and walks on their daily schedule. As they move into adulthood, Boodles will become more mellow. Adult Boodles will still need daily exercise to stay fit but not to the same level they did as puppies.
One thing to keep in mind, especially if your Boodle has a more Bulldog-like body type, is that Bulldogs don’t tolerate heat at all because of their flattened noses. They can quickly become overheated and can suffer from heatstroke. Be careful exercising your Boodle in the heat if they take after their Bulldog parent more than the Poodle.
Training 🎾
In general, English Boodles are smart and willing to please dogs that usually take to training well. Poodles are one of the most intelligent breeds of dogs and are very eager to learn, a trait often passed on to English Boodles as well. Positive training methods with plenty of rewards usually work very well for Boodles.
Training may present a bit more of a challenge if your Boodle’s Bulldog parent passes along their notorious stubborn streak. When a Bulldog decides not to do something, it can take a lot of persuasion to change their mind!
No matter how stubborn your English Boodle might be behaving, it’s never a good idea to resort to punishment or harsh training methods. Continue patiently but firmly teaching with positive reinforcement.
If you are having trouble, your veterinarian can suggest training resources to help you and may also be able to recommend good local dog training classes.
Grooming ✂️
An English Boodle’s coat can look different from dog to dog. Some Boodles have short fur like a Bulldog while others have a longer wavy or curly coat. They usually don’t shed very much and will just need quick regular brushing sessions to keep their fur from becoming tangled or matted.
If your Boodle takes after their Poodle parent more, you may need to plan on regular trips to the groomer for a trim as well.
You will need to check and clean your English Boodle’s ears routinely to help prevent infections. Also, make sure to keep their nails clipped and brush their teeth regularly.
Health and Conditions 🏥
As a hybrid dog breed, English Boodles generally tend to be healthy dogs. However, because there is no way to predict exactly how the Poodle and Bulldog genetics are going to mix, Boodles could be prone to any inherited health conditions that impact either breed.
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Entropion
- Sebaceous adenitis
- Allergies
- Brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome
- Hip dysplasia
- Luxating patellas
- Epilepsy
- Autoimmune disease
- von Willebrand’s disease
- Heart disease
Serious Conditions:
Bulldogs can suffer from several issues with their breathing, including a condition called brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome. These airway problems are one reason that Bulldogs are so prone to overheating. Bulldogs are also prone to two inherited bone conditions: hip dysplasia and luxating patellas. Miniature Poodles can also get luxating patellas, giving your Boodle a double shot at inheriting this problem.
Poodles can get epilepsy, an inherited seizure disorder. Poodles are also known to suffer from autoimmune diseases and sometimes von Willebrand’s disease, a blood disorder.
It is recommended that Bulldogs have their hearts evaluated before breeding, as they can be prone to heart disease.
Minor Conditions:
Poodles are prone to some inherited eye conditions, such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which eventually causes vision loss. Bulldogs can suffer from an eye condition called entropion, where their eyelids roll inward causing the lashes to irritate the eyeball.
Both Bulldogs and Poodles can develop trouble with their skin. Poodles are prone to a condition called sebaceous adenitis. Bulldogs often suffer allergies that cause skin and ear issues.
Male vs. Female
Many dog owners already know whether they prefer to get a male or female dog. If you aren’t one of them, maybe you’re wondering if there are any differences between male and female English Boodles to help you make up your mind.
Unfortunately, you’ll probably need to make this decision on your own. Male and female English Boodles are pretty similar in temperament. Sometimes male Boodles are a bit bigger than females but because there’s so much variation in the breed’s size overall, this won’t always be the case.
There are a few things to consider when deciding on a male or female dog of any breed. Female dogs will go through a heat cycle about twice per year usually. If you don’t intend on breeding a female dog, the best choice is to get her spayed. If not, you will need to deal with the mess and hassle of keeping your female away from male dogs during her heat to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
Male dogs will often mark excessively and can be more rambunctious than female dogs. Getting a male dog neutered typically helps decrease these behaviors.
3 Little-Known Facts About the English Boodle
1. They Have Several Other Names
The specific mix of English Bulldog and Poodle is known by several other names besides English Boodle. You may find them listed as Boddle, Boodle, Bullypoo, Bullydoodle, Bulldogpoo, and Bulldogdoodle.
2. You Never Know What Size They Will Be
Because hybrid dogs are a mix of two different breeds, there is often a lot of variation in how puppies look even in the same litter. The two breeds that usually make up an English Boodle, English Bulldog and Miniature Poodle, are already very different sizes. This is why your English Boodle could be either a small or medium-sized dog, depending on which parent they take after.
3. They Get More Relaxed as They Age
Puppies, like kids, generally have a lot more energy than their grown-up counterparts. Some dog breeds maintain that energy for many years, even as they age. English Boodles are not one of those breeds. They tend to be energetic puppies but quickly become more laid-back as they enter adulthood.
Final Thoughts
Mixing two breeds isn’t always going to bring consistent results as far as look and personality go. However, the English Boodle tends to be a consistently great dog no matter how varied they are in size and coat type. They might be tough to find but Boodle owners believe the long search yields a great reward. Take your time and be picky about the health of your puppy’s parents then enjoy life with your new bundle of Boodle joy!
