Flandoodle

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 12-15 years
The Flandoodle is a hybrid breed of the Poodle and the Bouvier des Flandres. This breed has some heath concerns that you need to be aware of, but working with the right breeder can help weed these problems out and your puppy will live a healthy and happy life.

Some of the medical and health conditions you need to know about include bloat, Addison’s Disease, cancer, Cushing’s Disease, heart problems, joint dysplasia, skin problems, patellar luxation, and eye problems.

Bloat is a serious condition that can be fatal if it is not handled in a timely manner. This condition occurs when too much air enters into your pup’s stomach and cannot get out. This additional air causes the stomach to expand, which then places pressure on the other organs. This extra pressure can lead to blood circulation problems and problems with the functioning of the organs.

Addison’s Disease affects the adrenal gland in your Flandoodle’s body. The body is unable to function correctly as there is a lack of corticosteroids within the bloodstream.

Cancer can develop inside of your pup and you may not know that it is present until you attend one of your regularly scheduled checkups with the vet. Cancer can be present anywhere in the body, so it is vital that you have regular screenings performed and that you alert your vet to any odd behavior or health concerns.

Cushing’s Disease is often seen in senior dogs, but it is possible for any age dog to have the disease and exhibit systems. This disease occurs when there is a benign tumor located on the pituitary gland in your pup.

Heart problems are another concern in your Flandoodle and can exhibit themselves in a variety of different ways to include heart disease, heart murmurs, and even congestive heart failure. Careful monitoring of your pup’s health will alert you to any possible problems and you can report them to your veterinarian.

Joint dysplasia is a common worry in many dog breeds. Your Flandoodle may have this condition and it can appear in either the elbow or the hip. If your pup has hip dysplasia, he or she will experience lameness in the hind legs. If elbow dysplasia is present, lameness will be in the front legs.

Skin problems including allergies are common in the Flandoodle and you may notice that he or she itches a lot or has a rash. These conditions are considered minor and may or may not require an allergy medication.

Knee dislocations or patellar luxation can cause pain for your pup and can happen at any time. When the knee is displaced, your pup may hold his or her affected leg up in the air and not rely on it to move around.

Lastly, eye problems can show up in your pup and they can range from an eye infection to cataracts, retinal atrophy, or even blindness.

The Flandoodle’s life expectancy is 10 to 12 years.

Temperament & Train-ability

The Flandoodle is considered to be a pup that is faithful, well-mannered, loving, and also loyal to those he or she loves. You will find that this breed is very protective of his or her owner and will alert you to danger when necessary.

Your Flandoodle craves attention and you should not be surprised when he or she tries to jump into your lap or provide you with attention. This breed likes to be the center of attention and suffers from separation anxiety when left alone at home for long periods of time.

It is important to socialize your pup early on because the Flandoodle has hunting instincts and small pets in the home may cause their prey drive to flare up. In general, your pup will be good with other pets in the home, especially if they are relative in size.

Your Flandoodle is good with children and likes to play outside, so a home with a fenced-in yard is best. You should walk your pup at least twice a day for about 30 minutes each time.

You will notice that your Flandoodle trains at a normal rate just like other breeds. Your pup will listen to you and strive to please you, but you want to make sure that you do not use harsh methods to train him or her as this will prove to be quite ineffective.

Grooming

Your Flandoodle will have easy to moderate grooming requirements depending on the type of coat that is inherited from the parent breeds. You want to make sure that you brush your pup’s coat once per day to remove any tangles. If your pup has more of the Poodle coat, you will need to take him or her to the groomer to have the coat brushed and trimmed.

You only need to bathe your pup when he or she is dirty, but make sure that you choose a shampoo that does not strip the oils from your Flandoodle’s skin.

You need to make sure that you clean out your pup’s ears once per week to remove any buildup of wax and dirt that may accumulate. Also, you will need to trim your pup’s nails usually once every 4 weeks to ensure that they do not grow too long.

Diet

Your Flandoodle will eat between three and four cups of food per day. You want to make sure that you choose a high quality brand of dog food. A good brand will contain wholesome ingredients and will not have chemicals and fillers.
 

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Flandoodle Puppies For Sale

Adopt A Flandoodle

Cost

A Flandoodle puppy will cost you anywhere between $350 and $750 depending on the breeder. You will also need to factor in costs for medical supplies, vet checkups, food, and similar.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. The Flandoodle will make a great choice for your home and you will find that he or she is well-mannered and intelligent. This breed is easy to train and you will not have trouble raising him or her. You want to make sure you socialize your pup early on to prevent their prey drive from trying to hunt small animals in the home. This breed ranks a 1.

 

Poodle

Bouvier Des Flandres

Briard

Collie