11 Dog Breeds Most Similar to Poodles

#1: Portuguese Water Dog

They have similar curly coats to poodles, though their show cuts are a bit different in style. Their coats are black, brown, or white, meaning you won’t see some poodle colors such as apricot or red.

Portuguese water dogs are comparable to standard poodles in size, standing 17-23 inches tall and weighing 35-60 pounds. They’re also affectionate, friendly, and active.

#2: Irish Water Spaniel

Irish water spaniels are another great choice if you’re looking for that curly, non-shedding poodle fur. They’re only slightly larger than standard poodles, and their fur comes in one color: liver, which is a shade of dark brown.

These dogs are known for being affectionate, playful, and eager to please. 

#3: Bedlington Terrier

Bedlington terriers have a unique look and show cut, but their fur is very similar to a poodle. They tend to be more independent than poodles but are similar in that they’re active and protective.

#4: Lagotto Romagnolo

Lagotto Romangnolos stand around the same height as standard poodles but weigh considerably less. They’re sweet, friendly, and active dogs without strong guarding instincts.

Their coats are dense and curly like a poodle, and they shed only rarely. Coat colors accepted by the breed standard include orange, brown, white, and sable.

#5: Bichon Frise

Smaller poodle lovers will likely also love a bichon frise. These small, fluffy white dogs weigh just 12-18 pounds. They’re non-shedding, friendly, and easy to train.

Like poodles, they have high grooming needs, and most people choose to pay a professional for haircuts or shaves.

#6: Maltese

Maltese are tiny, like toy poodles, standing seven to nine inches tall and weighing seven pounds or less. They have long, straight white coats that do not shed. Maltese are affectionate and playful.

#7: Labrador Retriever

Did you know that poodles are retrievers? This means they’re similar in personality to other retrievers, such as labs!

Labrador retrievers don’t look similar to poodles, and they do shed year-round. But if you’re looking for the same working drive, intelligence, or even size of the dog, labradors fit all of these criteria!

Labradors are a bit bigger than standard poodles, weighing 55-80 pounds to poodles’ 40-70 pounds.

#8: Golden Retriever

Golden retrievers are similar in temperament and drive to poodles and labs. If you like your dogs to have a longer coat, you might prefer them to labs while finding them easier to manage than poodles.

Size-wise, they meet these breeds in the middle, weighing 55-75 pounds. Like poodles, goldens are loyal, affectionate, and smart.

#9: Cocker Spaniel

Cocker spaniels have long, wavy coats that do shed. Like poodles, they’re sporty, friendly, and eager to please.

They aren’t as protective as poodles and tend to bark less as a result, though this is no guarantee. Every dog is different, and dogs also tend to bark more if they have separation anxiety or if they don’t get enough exercise and mental stimulation throughout the day. Cocker spaniels have similar energy levels to poodles.

#10: Papillon

Poodles are one of the smartest dog breeds in the world–and so are papillons! If you’re looking for a long-haired pup that’s a bit bigger than your average toy poodle but smaller than a miniature, a papillon might be your perfect match.

Papillons shed moderately year-round. They’re affectionate, friendly, and easy to train.

#11: Poodle Mixes (Doodles)

Number eleven is an honorable mention since doodles are not purebred dogs. However, they are mixed breeds with poodle ancestry!

Unfortunately, these mixes also aren’t ethically bred, so we don’t recommend them unless you can find one at a rescue or shelter.

Poodle mixes are unpredictable and may look and act more like their other parent breed than like a poodle. For instance–did you know that many poodle mixes shed heavily despite breeders marketing them as hypoallergenic?

Most breeders don’t complete OFA health testing either, which puts doodles more at risk of health problems than ethically bred dogs.