Schnoodle Coat Types And How To Care For Them

If you have a Schnoodle or are thinking about getting one of these darling dogs, this article is for you! I’ll be discussing the different coat types that a Schnoodle can have, as well as going over how to care for them with the best grooming techniques.

Schnoodle playing on the field — *Schnoodle playing outside.*

What Type of Coat Does a Schnoodle Have?

Schnoodles generally come in a range of three different coats; wavy, curly and straight. Though Schnoodles lack the consistency that purebred dogs have because they’re a mixed breed. So there’s no guarantee about what kind of coat your puppy will grow up to have.

Sometimes a Schnoodle will have one of the coats listed, or he could even have a mix of different coat textures! Let’s find out about each coat type and how you can best care for them.

Schnoodle Loose and Wavy Coat

Schnoodle with lose hair — *Schnoodle sitting on the ground.*

This is the most popular and desired type of Schnoodle coat. It’s a mixture of the Poodle and Schnauzer coats; dogs with this coat won’t have a wiry texture or tight curls and are soft to the touch. Schnoodles with this coat type have that teddy-bear look that Doodles are known for and are lower maintenance when it comes to their grooming needs.

While any Schnoodle can inherit this coat it seems to occur most often in first-generation puppies.

Schnoodle with wavy hair — *Schnoodle looking out of the window.*

Schnoodle Tight and Curly Coat

Schnoodles with higher poodle content are likely to have this kind of coat. Dogs with this coat will require frequent grooming, but like the Poodle, their hair can be styled in a variety of different ways and lengths.

The Poodle coat is always growing, and the length of the coat will dictate how much grooming your pooch will need. If you like the long-haired look you should expect to spend more time brushing, along with keeping your Schnoodle on a regular schedule with a groomer.

Some dogs with this coat texture will have an undercoat, but not always.

Schnoodle Coarse and Wiry

Schnoodle with coarse and wiry hair — *Schnoodle biting a stick outside the house*.

This is the least common type of coat you can get with a Schnoodle but not impossible. It can happen with any generation, but you’re likely to find that dogs with more Schnauzer content could inherit this texture.

How Do You Take Care of a Schnoodle Coat?

Poodles and Schnauzers are both low-shedding, hypoallergenic breeds, so their puppies will be too. Some breeders will try to market them as completely non-shedding but this is false because any dog with fur or hair will shed to some degree, even if you never see the fur!

A home grooming routine is extremely important to help prevent any tangles, which can turn into matting very quickly. Before we get into the details of caring for each coat type, here are some basics to remember when it comes to grooming your Schnoodle;

Begin a brushing and grooming routine early on! This will make the process less scary and results in a dog that’s comfortable with being handled.
Schnoodle puppies should go to a professional groomer as soon as safely possible. It can be a scary experience at first, but groomers know how to work with puppies to help them grow accustomed to the process.
Poodle mixes should never be left to air dry after a bath or a swim as this results in matting. I advise investing in a force dryer like this on, they’re amazing and have helped me a lot with grooming with my own dog.
Most Schnoodles only need to be bathed once or twice a month, less if they’re on a regular schedule with a groomer.
Brushing with a boar hair bristle brush is a great way to keep the coat healthy, as it stimulates the hair follicles and spreads their natural oils through the coat.

How to Care for a Schnoodle with a Wavy Coat

This type of coat is pretty similar to the Schnauzer coat. From my experience grooming a Schnoodle with this texture is easier, but it still requires weekly upkeep.

Brush at least every other day; use a slicker brush for the body, and a pin brush for the face, behind the ears, and legs. Work in sections, rather than brushing from head to toe.
Brush thoroughly once a week. Begin by brushing the entire body with a slicker brush, and then follow that up with a go-over with a metal comb. It’s important to comb down to the skin, this will remove any dead undercoat that could be tangled otherwise.
Schnoodles with this type of coat require regular trimming, with focus given around the eyes, beard, paws, and sanitary areas.
Schnoodles with this type of coat should see a professional groomer every 6 to 8 weeks.

How to Care for a Schnoodle with a Curly Coat

The Poodle’s curls seem to be pretty dominant, so much so that a lot of their doodle offspring inherit it. When mixed with a breed that has an undercoat their puppies will almost always have one too. This won’t mean they shed, but it does make grooming a little more tedious.

Poodle coats should be given a thorough daily brushing. Most recommend using a slicker brush on the body, and a pin brush on the face, ears, and legs. Follow this with a metal comb to make sure you can get down to the skin.
Add a brushing spray like this one, to your grooming routine to give your Schnoodle’s curly coat a nice, soft bounce.
Schnoodles with this coat should see a professional groomer every 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how long the coat is and the dog’s activity levels.
Longer coats require more work and even still have the tendency to develop tangles and matts despite thorough brushing.

How to Care for a Schnoodle with a Wiry Coat

Schnauzers, and many terriers, are known for this type of wiry coat wiry. Though they may not have that ideal teddy bear look, grooming tends to be a little easier compared to the other Schnoodle coat textures.

Brushing with a slicker or a boar bristle brush 3 to 4 times a week will prevent tangling and spread your Schnoodle’s natural oils through his fur.
The undercoat is likely to get caught in the top coat so be sure to brush down to the skin to remove any dead fur.
Many dogs with this kind of coat texture only need to be bathed once a month! If bathing at home, dry off using your force air dryer and brush afterward.
While that scruffy look is cute, you might find it more comfortable for your pup to have him clipped down during the warmer months.

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