If you’re considering adding a Schnoodle to your family it’s only natural to wonder how long they might live. Maybe this is because you need to know what kind of commitment you would be getting yourself into. Or maybe you just hope that your Schnoodle lives for as long as it can. Either way, you’re in the right place. So, what is the average life expectancy of a Schnoodle dog?
Schnoodles live, on average, between 10 and 16 years. Some of the smallest Schnoodles, known as Mini Schnoodles, can live to 18. The Giant Schnoodle has the shortest lifespan of them all and rarely reaches 15.
Let’s look at the genetics behind a Schnoodle’s life expectancy, as well as other things that may influence it, such as size. We’ll also mention some things that you should keep in mind to give your Schnoodle the highest quality, longest life that you can.
Related: Schnoodle Temperament Guide
Genetics of Schnoodle Life Expectancy
Poodle Life Expectancy
The Schnoodle is 50% Poodle in a lot of cases, and in some even more than that. So, looking at the average life expectancy of a Poodle will give us a good idea of how long your Schnoodle will live.
There are many different types of Poodles. Standard, Miniature, Toy, and some in between.
On average, they live between 12 to 15 years.
The Miniature Poodle trends on the higher end of the range, at about 15 years on average.
The Toy Poodle has the longest lifespan of all the Poodles. Some Toy Poodles have been known to live more than 16 years without any issues.
Schnauzer Life Expectancy
The Schnauzer makes up the remaining genetic background of the Schnoodle. Although it may not be as large a proportion as that of the Poodle, it is still important to take the average lifespan of the Schnauzer into account.
Standard Schnauzers live about 13 to 16 years on average. Giant Schnauzers live slightly less than this at around 12 to 15 years. Although it is rare, Miniature Schnauzers, the smallest size, may sometimes live to be as old as 18, although they have a lifespan similar to that of Standard Schnauzers in most conditions.
Schnoodle Life Expectancy
As we can see when comparing the life expectancy of both the Poodle and the Schnauzer, the parent breeds are relatively similar. This means that we can use the ages of the parent breeds to determine that of the Schnoodle.
Schnoodles live on average about 10 to 16 years. Toy and Miniature Schnoodles – the smallest sizes – can live up to 18 years. Standard Schnoodles rarely live more than 16 years. Giant Schnoodles – the largest – rarely get to 15.
This is very similar to the parent breeds in terms of the higher ends of the range. However, the bottom of the range is slightly younger. This can be attributed to later generations of Schnoodles where hybrid vigor is lost and issues from both the Poodle and the Schnauzer may be compounded.
Genetics of Schnoodle Life Expectancy Summarized: Toy, Mini, Standard, Giant
The genetics of Schnoodle life expectancy may be a little bit confusing. This is largely because the sizes of the Poodle and the Schnauzer do not follow the same naming principles. So let’s look at it in a summarized form.
| Type | Poodle Life Expectancy | Schnauzer Life Expectancy | Schnoodle Life Expectancy |
| Toy | 12-16 years | 10-18 years | |
| Mini | 12-15 years | 13-18 years | 10-18 years |
| Standard | 12-15 years | 13-16 years | 10-16 years |
| Giant | 12-15 years | 10-15 years |
How Size Influences The Life Expectancy of a Schnoodle Dog
There seems to be a clear correlation between the size of any dog, including Schnoodles, and how long they live.
The reason for this is that the larger dogs seem to age slightly faster than the smaller ones. Although the reason for this is not yet clear, we can observe this trend in the Schnoodle where Toy Schnoodles, which are the smallest, live the longest.
Some Toy Schnoodles have been known to live for nearly 20 years! Meanwhile, the Giant Schnoodle, which is the largest variety, averages at around 13 years.
Related: How Big Will a Schnoodle Get? (Size and Weight Guide)
How to Maximize your Schnoodle’s Lifespan
The lifespan of your Schnoodle is largely up to genetics. There are many things that you will have no control over, no matter how careful you are.
But, there are still some things that you can do which may contribute to a better quality and longer life.
Provide Enough Exercise
Schnoodles are a very active dog breed when they are young, but calm down a lot as they age. It is important that you make sure your Schnoodle has enough exercise every day in order for them to stay healthy, even if they do not seem to mind lazing around all day.
Not only do they enjoy the exercise itself, but it helps maintain their weight. It also improves the overall mood of your Schnoodle. This means it should be less prone to separation anxiety.
Mental Stimulation
Schnoodles are very clever dogs. This means that mental stimulation is very important. Keeping your Schnoodle’s mind busy will prevent it from getting bored.
Boredom may also lead to anxiety, especially if you leave the Schnoodle alone.
Like in people, stress in dogs can lead to a variety of physical issues. This includes making them more susceptible to upset stomachs.
The increase in stress may also make them more prone to reacting negatively around new stimuli or overwhelming environments.
Related: Do Schnoodles Bark a Lot? Answered!
High-Quality Diet
A good diet, filled with all the right vitamins and minerals, is as essential for your Schnoodle as it is for yourself. I’ve seen a lot of people spend a great deal of money on their own food, but get the cheapest food that they can for their dogs.
These foods are often filled with ingredients such as vegetable oils, which can be very harmful to your Schnoodle.
Giving them good food will ensure that they develop healthy bones and tissue, and will also guarantee that you aren’t putting anything harmful into them. In some cases, such as when your Schnoodle shows signs of dysplasia, you may even want to consider additional supplements.
Look out for Known Schnoodle Health Concerns
If you know what the Schnoodle is more prone to, as a breed, then you will be able to look for early indications in your own dog.
Sometimes, identifying the problem in its early stages means you can still reverse it, or prevent it from going further. In certain circumstances, that means chronic medication. But at least your Schnoodle will be mostly healthy and happy.
You can read more in our article: 10 Schnoodle Dog Health Problems To Know Before Buying
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