Doxiepoo

The Doxiepoo, sometimes spelled Doxipoo, is a crossbreed. Opening your heart and home to a crossbreed is like opening a beautifully wrapped package on your birthday: you never know what’s going to be inside. It’s often assumed that a crossbreed will combine the best of two or more breeds, but genetics doesn’t always work that way. The way genes combine and express themselves is not always subject to a breeder’s control, even less so when two different breeds are crossed. That’s something to keep in mind before you lay down good money for a dog that you have been assured will be hypoallergenic or healthier than a purebred.

A Doxiepoo is a mix of a Dachshund and a Poodle, or, rarely, the offspring of two Doxie/Poodle mixes bred with each other. Although their looks vary a great deal, the Doxiepoo as advertised should combine the long, low-slung body of the Dachshund and the curly coat of the Poodle, but even more than most "designer dogs," the Doxiepoo's looks are unpredictable. Even littermates can vary a great deal in size, color and coat type. Doxiepoos are also very diverse in temperament, activity level and health risks, depending on which traits are inherited from his parents. The words “crap shoot” come to mind in describing this mix.

Both Dachshunds and Poodles come in a variety of sizes, and the Doxiepoo can weigh anywhere from under 10 pounds to 30 or more. His coat might be the curly Poodle coat, or it might be fluffy, scruffy, long, short, or pretty much anything you can imagine other than hairless, thanks to the influence of a variety of coat types from the Dachshund side. 

At his best, he should be friendly, people-oriented and easy to train. Ideally, the sense of humor and trainability of the Poodle will temper the Dachshund's stubborn streak, without compromising his boldness.

Of course, Doxiepoos can also be a combination of the worst traits – and health issues – of both the Poodle and the Dachshund. Considering that this mix seems to have developed from the idea that the name was cute and marketable by puppy-mills and pet stores, there’s a good chance that this dog will be a mess of the combined genetic problems of his ancestors, without the benefit of the kind of health and temperament testing done by good breeders. And don't take that lightly: both Poodles and the Dachshunds suffer from a number of serious genetic problems, and the Doxiepoo could be at risk for all of them. Whether that risk may be slightly less in a mixed breed dog than in a purebred is a matter for discussion and conjecture.

It can be extremely difficult to find an ethical breeder who is dedicated to producing healthy, temperamentally sound pets from genetically tested backgrounds. There are a number of reasons for this, but the main one is that almost no ethical Dachshund or Poodle breeders will allow their dogs to be used in breeding Doxie/Poodle mixes, and it can be quite difficult for Doxiepoo breeders to continue to find nice Poodles and Dachshunds to use to produce new generations of Doxiepoos.

If you are interested in a Doxiepoo, start your search at your local shelter or on Petfinder.com. This type of cross-breed is sometimes available for adoption. If you choose to buy one, however, select a breeder who has done the health testing to ensure that her puppies won’t carry the genetic diseases common to both breeds. If you are going to pay anywhere from several hundred dollars to upwards of $1,000 for a dog, you should get your money’s worth. Buying from a breeder who is smart and caring enough to do health certifications, even for a cross-breed, is the best way to do that. And while there are no guarantees in life, it’s also a good way to minimize the possibility of big veterinary bills in the future.

Other Quick Facts

• The Doxiepoo is an even more unpredictable mix than most “designer dogs,” with the possibility of littermates exhibiting different coats and colors, body types, and temperaments.
• Different organizations have varied names for this crossbreed, including Doodle and Doxie Poo.
• Because both Poodles and Dachshunds come in various sizes, the Doxiepoo can be very small or a mid-size dog.

Learn More About the Doxiepoo on Vetstreet.com:

• History of the Breed
• Personality & Temperament
• Grooming