Mixed-breed dogs are canines whose appearance, traits, and personality derive from two or more parent breeds. They aren't hard to find. You can head to your local animal shelter to find a myriad of mutts ready to join a loving home.
But some people want specific mixed-breed dogs, hybrids or "designer" dogs. The "doodle" dog breeds can—but not always—make lives easier for allergy sufferers because of their poodle ancestry. If you're looking for other mixed-breed dogs, you can find combinations of working or herding breeds with enough energy to match your active lifestyle.
Learn more about these 10 mixed-breed dogs.
Breed Characteristics
This is where things can get iffy. Mixed-breed dogs are usually bred to get the best of both parent breeds, but it doesn't always work out that way. Goldendoodles can still have straight fur. Bernedoodles can still shed. Each dog is an individual, so while breeders might try to breed for certain personalities and attributes, they only have limited control.
- 01 of 10
Bernedoodle
The Bernedoodle is a hybrid of Bernese Mountain Dogs and Poodles. Getty Images/mariakbell
Bernedoodles are hybrid dogs with poodle and Bernese mountain dog parents. The Berners are usually bred with standard poodles, resulting in a large, friendly dog who, ideally, doesn't shed much. Breeders can introduce more poodle into the bloodline to create Bernedoodles who shed even less. They can be trainable, but that depends how much of the stubborn Berner is in your Bernedoodle.
Breed Overview
Height: 23–29 inches
Weight: 50–90 pounds
Temperament: Smart, active, affectionate
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Shaggy, wavy coat; black, black and white, black and brown, or tri-colorÂ
Life Span: 12–17 years
02 of 10Cavapoo
Parisa Shademan / Getty Images
Another doodle hybrid, this one crossing a poodle with a Cavalier King Charles spaniel to create a small, friendly dog who's easy on their owner's allergies. You don't want the sniffles because cavapoos want to spend all the time they can with their owners, whether that's rambunctious playtime or evening snuggles.
Breed Overview
Height: 9–14 inches
Weight: 9–20 pounds
Temperament: Playful, calm, affectionate, gentle
Energy Level: MediumÂ
Coat and Color: Curly or wavy; cream, fawn, chocolate, gold, chestnut, tri-colorÂ
Life Span: 12–15 years
03 of 10Chiweenie
The Chiweenie is a mix of the Chihuahua and dachshund, bred to eliminate the back problems dachshunds sometimes experience. They're fun, alert dogs, but they might need an obedience class or two. They're also prone to bonding strongly to one person—so much so they'll even become a little jealous or protective.
Breed Overview
Height: 6–10 inches
Weight: 5–12 pounds
Temperament: Active, alert, loud
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Short, long, or wiry; fawn, chocolate, black, white, blue, or dapple
Life Span: 12–16 years
04 of 10Chug
Chugs are a cross between a Chihuahua and a Pug. Getty Images/Hillary Kladke
This cross between a pug and a Chihuahua is a popular choice for anyone looking for a small best friend. With the Chihuahua ancestry, they sport longer snouts than purebred pugs, making it easier for them to breathe. Because they're so small, they don't need much exercise.
Breed Overview
Height: 10–14 inches
Weight: 10–20 pounds
Temperament: Alert, active, playful, friendly
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Short; brown, black, fawn, cream, and white
Life Span: 10–13 years
Continue to 5 of 10 below05 of 10Czechoslovakian Vlca
The ideal Czechoslovakian Wolfdog should resemble a wolf in looks and movement. Getty ImagesÂ
Here's an ultra-rare breed; the Czechoslovakian Vlca originated as a mix between German shepherds and actual wolves. (These days, wolves are no longer included in the breeding.) This primitive breed is not for most dog owners because they need so much exercise and socialization. That requires an experienced dog owner—if you can even find one of these scarce, expensive dogs.
Breed Overview
Height: Up to 25.5 inches
Weight: Around 57 pounds
Temperament: Fearless, active, smart, friendly
Energy Level: MediumÂ
Coat and Color: Short double coat; yellowish-gray, silver-gray
Life Span: 10–15 years
06 of 10Goldendoodle
The cost of a Goldendoodle puppy can vary wildly. Getty Images/Deanna Kelly
This hybrid is a favorite among allergy sufferers, combining the smarts and low-shedding of the poodle with the lovable antics of the golden retriever. Goldendoodles are typically sweet, happy family dogs who vary in size depending on their parents. The lack of shedding might keep you from sneezing, but you'll need to invest in a good pair of clippers or find a local groomer.
Breed Overview
Height: 13–26 inches
Weight: 35–100 pounds
Temperament: Trainable, smart, playful
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Curly or shaggy coat; gold, cream, red, brown, or white coloring
Life Span: 10–15 years
07 of 10King Shepherd
Pixabay
A German shepherd crossed with a Shiloh shepherd, a king shepherd is a gigantic dog weighing up to 150 pounds. They're as trainable as they are big, but they'll still need plenty of room to roam. They even get along well with kids, but you'll want your kids to grow up a little bit just so your king shepherd won't knock them over.
Breed Overview
Height: 25–31 inches
Weight: 75–150 pounds
Temperament: Protective, smart, loyal, friendlyÂ
Energy Level: HighÂ
Coat and Color: Long, wavy; black, white, tan, brown, or gray
Life Span: 10–11 years
08 of 10Poochon
Laurentiu Dima / 500px / Getty Images
The poochon is a mix of the bichon frise and poodle, another breed designed to shed minimally. The bichons are bred with toy and miniature poodles, so they're usually pretty small and lively. That's why they can make excellent apartment dogs who will love spending time with you.
Breed Overview
Height: 9–15 inches
Weight: 6–20 pounds
Temperament: Trainable, intelligent, outgoing, affectionate
Energy Level: MediumÂ
Coat and Color: Curly, dense; white, black, cream, apricot, red, brown, or silverÂ
Life Span: 10–18 years
Continue to 9 of 10 below09 of 10Shih Tzu-Poodle
Wirestock / Getty Images
The shih tzu-poodle, more commonly called the shih-poo, is another dog designed for people who suffer from allergies and live in apartments because they're small dogs who don't shed much. They can be frequent barkers, however, so you want to put in the work to keep your pup busy (and your neighbors happy). When looking for a shih-poo puppy, make sure you visit a reputable breeder rather than a puppy mill.
Breed Overview
Height: 8–15 inches
Weight: 7–20 pounds
Temperament: Sweet, playful, friendly
Energy Level: MediumÂ
Coat and Color: Curly or straight; white, black, cream, apricot, red, blue, or goldÂ
Life Span: 10–17 years
10 of 10Texas Heeler
Pimmimemom / Adobe Stock
The Texas heeler is actually a mix of two Australian dog breeds: the Australian cattle dog and the Australian shepherd. With two uber-active parent breeds, this dog has a ton of energy and needs a daily job, whether that's herding on a Texas ranch or competing in canine sports. Just make sure you can keep up.
Breed Overview
Height: 17–22 inches
Weight: 25–50 pounds
Temperament: Energetic, athletic, brave, affectionateÂ
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Short coat; black, blue merle, or blue ticked coloring
Life Span: 12–15 years
Each of these breeds—OK, maybe not the Czech wolfdog—can make great pets. But remember, so can the mutts at your local shelter. Many of them might possess pit bull terrier or Labrador retriever DNA, but they'll love you just as much as any other dog.
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