The Bridoodle is a large-sized Doodle breed that is a cross between a Poodle and a Briard.
Mixed breeds, especially Doodle breeds, are gaining in popularity across the United States. According to statistics by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), mixed-breed dogs account for about 53% of all household dogs in the USA [1]ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5319786.
In this article, we will explore the Bridoodle breed. Check it out!
What is a Bridoodle?
The Bridoodle is a hybrid combination of two highly family-oriented dogs-the intelligent, fun-loving Poodle and the independent and loyal Briard. The sweet-natured Bridoodle is an excellent potential watchdog. The breed is highly cautious of strangers and does well with kids and other pets.
The Briard is an ancient French breed with a fluffy face. Many refer to the breed as “a heart wrapped in fur.” The species is a highly formidable and dedicated guard and herding dog.
Despite their strong and unique work ethic, Briards only function well when having a companion. As a result, dogs need to spend more time with their families.
The Briard dog does well as a house dog. Although it doesn’t require frequent, vigorous exercise, the dog is happy to recline and participate in normal family activities.
The Poodle, on the other hand, is a delicate and brilliant dog. The dog is squarely built, playful, and loves to show off. Additionally, the Poodle is a strong dog that makes an excellent hunter. Finally, the breed can make a perfect animal companion due to its even-tempered personality and intelligence.
History of the Parent Breeds
The Bridoodle is a relatively modern breed with minimal history. However, to analyze the long history, we can look at the histories of the two parent breeds: the Briard and the Poodle.
Briard
The Briard is an ancient French dog that was bred for herding [2]images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Briard.pdf. The dog is named and originated from Brie, a historical region of north-central France.
The shepherd dogs of Brie were first written about in 1783 in the “Cours complet d’agriculture.” The breed was first displayed in the Paris dog show in 1863 and was first registered in the national studbook in 1885. It was in the past referred to as “Chien de Berger français de Plaine.”
Regardless of its origin, the Briard can be traced to Emperor Charlemagne because of early tapestries that feature his likeness. The Briard is a skilled sheep herder with a high degree of independence and was regarded as the dog of the French Army.
During the World Wars, the French Army employed Briards as watchdogs and search-and-rescue dogs. Unfortunately, several Briards died in both wars.
The first Briards are thought to have been brought to the United States in the 19th century by Thomas Jefferson, and the American Kennel Club honored the breed in 1928. But shockingly, it was in the late 1960s that the Briard was made available in the United Kingdom.
The Briard’s modern-day roles include search and rescue work, military, police, and as companion dogs.
Poodle
The Poodle is a popular and far more well-known breed with a long history. The Poodle was initially bred in Germany for waterfowl hunting. The Miniature and Toy Poodles were developed from the standard Poodle.
The breed’s name originates from the German wording “pudel,” which means “splashing water.” The Poodles were initially intended to be water retrievers.
They got the name from splashing in the water because they were responsible for returning ducks and other birds from the water to their owners. Over the years, the breeds have not lost their skills. Some waterfowl hunters today use Poodles in the field.
They eventually arrived in the United States. American hunters utilized Poodles for retrieving duties, but their even-tempered personality and intelligence also gained popularity as companion animals.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) registered the first Poodle in 1887. Poodles are currently in the top five of the most popular breed species listed with the AKC [3]akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/most-popular-dog-breeds-of-2021. However, their primary role is as household pets and companion animals. They are frequently seen in dog competitions, where their intellect, agility, and beauty are continually praised.
Appearance
The Bridoodle, a hybrid cross between the Poodle and the Briard, often possesses distinguishing traits from both breeds.
The dominant breed has a significant impact on the Bridoodle’s physical attributes. It will have a lean and muscular body that best suits its height. In addition, the head will resemble both parent breeds with small muzzles and expressive, deep, ovular, dark-colored eyes.
Coat Type
Poodles have single, long, and dense coats of curled hair [4]images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Poodle.pdf. Although they do shed their hair, when hair falls out, they often fall back into the coat. Additionally, Poodles have hypoallergenic hair, which makes them a perfect option for people suffering from allergies.
Briards have long, flowing, and slightly shaggy coats. The Briard has a double coat that needs extensive maintenance even if it doesn’t shed. In addition, their locks are prone to matting and gathering dirt and debris.
The breed is available in a variety of colors which include gray, black, tan, or a combination of these colors. The Briard has a double coat that needs extensive maintenance even if it doesn’t shed. In addition, their locks are prone to matting and gathering dirt and debris.
Bridoodle’s coat will have traits from both parents. It will have medium to long curls. The coat is naturally curly-textured and dense throughout. Some Bridoodles can inherit the Border Collie coat because Briards have a double coat.
Coat Colors
Bridoodles’ coat color can be a uniform color or a combination of colors from the parent breeds. For example, the Briards are usually black, gray, tan, or a mix of these colors.
On the other hand, the Poodle has varying colors, ranging from apricot, white, blue, brown, red, silver, and gray. The Poodle can also feature a combination of these colors.
Based on the parent breeds, Bridoodles have a large range of colors their coats can be:
- Gray
- Black
- Fawn
- White
- Tawny
- Blue
- Red
- Silver
- Beige
- Chocolate
- Cafe au lait
They can be one solid color or a mix of colors. Bridoodles can also have unique coat patterns such as merle, phantom, parti, and tuxedo.
Size
Breeds with large body sizes can seem intimidating and overpowering, but some are genuinely sweet.
Females are often more petite in build than males. On the other hand, well-built dogs with large body sizes appear muscular, very coherent, and exceedingly supple.
Briards belong to medium to large dog body size. Adult dogs have a large body size, while growing dogs have a medium size.
The Poodles vary in body size depending on their ages. A standard Poodle has a large body, a miniature is medium-bodied, and a toy Poodle is small-bodied.
Height
The average height of the Bridoodle is between 21 to 27 inches for males and between 20 to 26 inches for females. This range is based on the heights of the parent breeds.
Briards have varying heights depending on gender. Male Briards measure between 23 to 27 inches tall. Females measure between 22 to 25 inches tall on the shoulders.
A standard Poodle measures approximately 15 inches tall, a Miniature measures 15 inches tall, and a Toy Poodle measures 10 inches or shorter.
Weight
The average size of a male Bridoodle breed is between 70 and 80 pounds. A female ranges between 70 and 80 pounds. The weight is based on both parent breeds.
In terms of size, most Briards weigh between 70 and 90 pounds. However, some males can reach up to 100 pounds.
Standard Poodles weigh up to 70 pounds, Miniatures weigh between 12 and 20 pounds, and Toy Poodles weigh between 6 and 9 pounds.
Traits & Characteristics
Personality of the Bridoodle
The Bridoodle makes a beautiful family dog because its parent breeds are known for their intelligence, sweetness, and love.
Due to its herding history, the Briard is excellent with kids but is a little suspicious of strangers. The Poodle breed is more accommodating than the Briard.
Bridoodle’s attitude toward strangers greatly depends on the parent breed he most closely resembles and how much socialization he receives. The Briard’s independence can make the Bridoodle more independent-minded, which makes it possible to leave him alone for a while, but this makes training significantly more challenging.
With its desire to please, the Poodle parent balances off this trait, although the Poodle may also be slightly naughty.
Both parent breeds need moderate to vigorous exercise that is of an average level. Though exceedingly playful, the Poodle gets worn out quicker than the Briard. Therefore, everyday practice is essential for your Bridoodle to be healthy and content.
Common Health Issues
Being a mix of two purebreds, the Bridoodle will have to deal with many health issues passed down from the parent breeds [5]scientificamerican.com/article. Fortunately, the risk remains low given that Bridoodle’s parent breeds are generally healthy.
Some common health issues experienced include:
- Ear infections
- Lymphoma
- Hip/elbow dysplasia
- Bloat
- Cataracts
- Atopic dermatitis
The issues often come into play as the dog ages. As a remedy, keep in touch with your veterinarian and provide your pup with full-body scans, blood counts, X-rays, and any other tests the vet advises.
The most challenging step is identifying the issue. Regular and timely checkups will have your Bridoodle in tip-top shape.
Lifespan
The Bridoodle breed can live between 11 and 13 years on average. This range is based on the parent breeds.
The Briard has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years. On the other hand, the Poodle has an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years [6]akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-long-do-dogs-live.
Bridoodles may be able to live longer depending on genes, diet, lifestyle, and exercise.
Final Thoughts
The Briard-Poodle mix breed is a one-of-a-kind, large-sized Doodle breed. In this article, we took a deep dive on the Bridoodle:
- What is a Bridoodle
- History of the Parent Breeds
- Traits and Characteristics
- Appearance
- Health Issues
With the excellent characteristics of the Bridoodle, it might just be your next pup!
References