The Foodle breed is a crossbreed between a Poodle and a Toy Fox Terrier, making them a super adorable designer dog from the get-go. Weighing in at between 4-6 pounds, this breed will reach 11 inches in height at maximum. The Foodle is affectionate, feisty, fun, and energetic but has no problem curling up with her pet parents to watch a little TV.
This breed is suited for a family with older children and tends to do better when raised and trained by experienced dog owners who are considerate to the breed’s needs.
Breed Overview
Height:
9 – 11 inches
Weight:
4 – 6 pounds
Lifespan:
13 – 15 years color
Colors:
Tan, white, black, cream, apricot, brown
Suitable for:
Experienced dog owners, families who have older children, considerate pet parents, those living in an apartment
Temperament:
Affectionate, feisty, fun, active, energetic
It’s important to note that the Foodle is a toy dog, which means that, though he’ll try to run with the best of them, he could easily be sat on and injured.
It’s best if this breed goes to a family that understands his particular needs because even though he’s a small pup, his personality is huge and boisterous. As with any other pet, you need to ensure you’re ready for the responsibility of owning a Foodle. In this guide, we’ll go into everything you need to know to make the right decision on whether to give a Foodle puppy a forever home with your family.
Foodle Characteristics
Energy
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High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
Trainability
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Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
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Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
Lifespan
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Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Sociability
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Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.
While your Foodle puppy loves small children, he’s better off being adopted by a family where the children are older. He needs a calm family because if your family is constantly play fighting and being rough, he could easily get sandwiched in the middle and become injured or worse.
It’s important to note that while the Foodle will sit with you for a short time, he can’t sit in one spot for long and will be up and running before long. This breed also makes for an excellent guard dog as he’s going to bark at anything that comes along. While we said that he will do great living in an apartment, that’s because of his small size. It’s essential to check and see how your neighbors will react to the frequent barking before making a final decision.
Image Credit: Left – everydoghasastory, Shutterstock | Right – crizgabi, Pixabay
Temperament & Intelligence of the Foodle
The breed is very cuddly and just as loving. When it’s time to sit down and chill for the night, he’s willing. Just don’t do it too early in the night because he won’t be able to sit still for very long. The Foodle is also very intelligent but can be obstinate at the same time. He’s friendly, loving, and likes to play for as long as you’ll let him.
Are These Dogs Good for Families?
As mentioned, while this breed is great with families, he should live with a family that’s settled down and has older children. Since he is a very small breed, it’s easy for him to get hurt. While living with an active family is okay, it’s best not to rough house with him around for the same reason.
This breed suffers from separation anxiety if left alone too long or too often. If you’re the type of family who’s gone all the time, then you might want to consider another breed of dog. As previously stated, this breed also likes to bark at everything, so make sure your neighbors realize and are okay with your choice of pet if you live in an apartment.
We’ve already said that the Foodle has a high prey instinct, so expect him to get along with but still chase smaller animals. It’s not a good idea to have him live in the same house with rodents, however. As for other dogs and cats, as long as you socialize him early on as a puppy, you should have no problems with him living with and loving your other furry family members.
Things to Know When Owning a Foodle:
Since we’ve told you everything about the Foodle breed, you can start making your final decision on if you have what it takes to give one a forever home. First, however, if you need a little more information, read on below for some food and diet requirements, exercise and training tips, and other information you need to know.
Food & Diet Requirements
Since the Foodle is very small, it means his stomach is very small, too. This also means that he only needs one cup of food a day. He’s certainly much less expensive to feed than other breeds out there. It’s important to purchase small kibble that he won’t have a hard time eating, and always make sure it’s high-quality, protein-based food so that your pet will be as healthy and happy as he can be. However, it is best to divide that one cup of food up into at least a few meals.
The Foodle comes from high-energy parents, so it stands to reason that he’s going to need some exercise. It’s best to exercise your little canine friend for at least 45 to 60 minutes a day. In addition, your pup is going to need interactive exercise, which means tossing the ball with him or running around the backyard together. Even a walk to play in the park will make your pet happy and help to fulfill his exercise needs.
Make sure that your Foodle puppy has plenty of toys to play with as well for when you can’t be home to play with it.
Training
Since your puppy is going to inherit an obstinate streak from his parents, it’s best to start socializing and training him as a puppy if you expect him to be well-behaved and mannered when he’s an adult. Having him around other dogs when he’s a puppy will make it easier for you to handle him as he grows up.
It’s also easy for your dog to develop small dog syndrome, which is something that happens when small dogs are pampered. You’ll want to work on stopping that from happening with your Foodle puppy.
Grooming ✂️
Since you have adopted a tiny dog, it won’t take very long to groom him. However, since matted fur can be painful to brush, please brush your Foodle several times a week. Shampoo him only when needed, and always use a high-quality shampoo for the best results. You want your Foodle to look his best and have a healthy, shiny coat at all times.
There are a few health issues you need to watch out for with your Foodle. These issues are listed below.
Minor Conditions
Hypothyroidism
Mitral valve disease
Serious Conditions
Patellar luxation
Progressive retinal atrophy
Primary lens luxation
Male vs. Female
You’ll find very few differences between the male and females of this breed. Since they’re already so small, there are no discernable differences in size. The differences would have to come in when it comes to the family they live with and their training and socialization.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Foodle
1. The Foodle Tends to Bond to One Person
Expect your Foodle puppy to bond with one person. She’ll be friendly and loving to the entire family but will bond to one person that she follows around and claims as her person.
2. The Foodle Has Large Ears
Since your Foodle puppy has a Toy Fox Terrier for a parent, you can expect him to have large, adorable ears. But don’t worry, those ears just add to the charm of this adorable breed.
3. The Foodle Has a High Instinct for Prey
You wouldn’t expect a dog that is so tiny to have a prey instinct at all, much less a high one, but your Foodle pup does. So, it’s best to make sure he’s leashed and harnessed when going for walks, or he’ll be off in a flash to chase the small animals you might see.
Final Thoughts
This concludes our guide on the Foodle breed of dog. This dog is tiny, adorable, energetic, and loving. However, they do tend to bark, bond with one person, and need a lot of attention from that pet parent. If you feel that the Foodle is the right choice of family pet for you, then please, make sure to buy only from a very reputable breeder.
Nicole has loved animals of all sizes her whole life so it's no wonder she has dedicated her career to helping them through what she loves best: learning, writing, and sharing knowledge with others. She’s the proud mom of two dogs, a cat, and a human. With a degree in Education and 15+ years of writing experience, Nicole wants to help pet parents and pets around the planet to live happy, safe, and healthy lives.
