Schnauzer vs doodle temperament
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
Our last pet was a mini schnauzer from years ago. He was extremely smart, cuddly, energetic, and trained quick. HOWEVER, the spontaneous and incessant barking at every little sound drove all of us crazy.
We're now ready to look for a new family pet. Our friends recommend a mini goldendoodle or a labradoodle instead as a companion pet since we have an elderly at home, but we're still partial to the schnauzers. We know that mini schnauzers are more vocal than other breeds; has anyone successfully trained their schnauzers to not bark as much? Are standard schnauzers better than minis in that? Any recommendations on reputable, local breeders in MD or nearby? How about doodles? We know they're like a grab bag but we're looking at a breeder that has excellent reviews and claims that they breed specifically for temperament, among other things. How long are they in their puppy stage (ex. biting, potty training, etc.)? Do they bark less? Thank you in advance! |
Anonymous
| Schnauzers bark like crazy—I grew up with a mini that I loved, but I don’t think he was actually that great a dog now that I have experience with other breeds. So many other breeds bark less. Doodles can be crazy but are much smarter and less barky. But they are more like having a hyperactive human toddler. They have much more extensive needs. |
Anonymous
| So if you get a mellow doodle you should be fine but there's no guarantee of that. Some doodles are INSANE. I know I had one. They bark too. |
Anonymous
|
I have no comments on the schnauzers (except that they are really cute) but wanted to comment on doodles, since we have 2.
You can get almost any kind of doodle nowdays - labradoodle, sheepadoodle, even a schnoodle. We were specifically looking for a low-energy breed/gentle-giant (that was also hypo-allergenic) so we ended up with a newfypoo, which has all the cuteness of a "doodle" but the mellow temperament of a newfoundland, so a perfect fit for our family. IME, you should look beyond the "mini goldendoodle" to find a good fit temperamentally if you decide on a doodle. And then, of course, fins a breeder with years of experience with that particular breed. I agree with the above poster that some doodles can be crazy. Our second dog (an impulsive Covid decision) is a goldendoodle and a lot of work - barking, neurotic. I wish we had put as much time/research into the second as we did the first dog. The schnoodles do look really cute though https://feathersandfleece.com/schnoodle/ |
Anonymous
| I think there is just no way to be sure. We have a doodle that almost never barks, even when other dogs bark like crazy at her on walks. And she's energetic enough when playing but lazily lays around 90% of the time, which is great since we work at home. So she's perfect to us, but I know not all doodles are like her. |
Anonymous
| Get a schnoodle. We have one and he is close to perfect. Very good temperament, smart, cuddly, and only barks when someone's at the door or we're rough housing. |
Anonymous
| My retired parents had a yappy miniature schnauzer who wrapped my Mom around her paw. But my Dad had farm dogs all his life. While he indulged her also and would get down on the ground to play with her, he wasn’t putting up with incessant barking. He’d pull out the Gentle Leader muzzle and bring it to her nose as she backed away, growling “Hey, smella that! No barking. No. Barking.” She’d harrumph but usually backed down, though though occasionally she needed a squirt from the water bottle for emphasis. |
Anonymous
My family had miniature schnauzers and they barked like mad, but were amazing family dogs (and also ok for my sibling with extreme dander allergies). I’m shocked at how many mellow ones I meet these days! I had no idea they could be easygoing dogs. I live in a dense, highly walkable neighborhood, so perhaps the socialization and stimulation are helpful vs being a suburban family dog that’s always on high alert? One of my siblings had an amazing mini golden doodle that was super chill. After he died, she got another. The dog is batsh!t crazy. From the same breeder. My mother has a scnhoodle. It’s sweet but lacks personality and hates most other dogs. It’s heartbreaking because she’s a great dog owner and loves the social aspect of having a dog in an urban environment. My dogs have all been rescues. I wouldn’t get anything else! But: I don’t have any allergies. |
Anonymous
| Our neighbor’s doodle barks all the time and is not friendly. |
Anonymous
|
Growing up we had a schnauzer mix that was very yappy. Over the years, we’ve had several labs, poodles and poodle mixes, and like all dogs, they bark, but IME they are less indiscriminate than schnauzers.
Our current two doodles will go nuts barking at someone new at the door, or dogs that walk too close to the house, but they can be taught not to bark. They’ve been trained, for example, not to bark at people and dogs in our neighbor’s yard. When we were having construction, it took about two days for them to stop barking at the construction guys when they showed up in the morning, and they don’t bark at the pool guy. Once we’ve told them “hush, that person is ok” they’re pretty smart about knowing who belongs and who doesn’t. I’ve heard some doodles are crazy and neurotic, but that hasn’t been the case in our experience. |
Anonymous
| Our bernedoodle is cuddly, smart , learns fast but is stubborn and barks at trucks. |
Anonymous
is it also gigantic? |
Anonymous
|
You can train schnauzers not to bark.
Bonus they are super intelligent not crazy needy like doodles. |
Anonymous
| School pickup always means a bunch of doodles. They’re cute dogs but they all look like a dang handful - straining on the leash, barking, generally really young dog behavior and I know that several of these dogs should be past that. Maybe find a trainer before you get the new Schnauzer? |
Anonymous
+1 A lot of this can be trained out. I got reactive Malinois, but through training and having him focus on me when bikes/other dogs are around, he almost never barks now. |