10/11/2026
Were you told your doodle would be healthier because it's a crossbreed?
Most people were. It's usually the first thing a breeder mentions.
So we went looking for the evidence. A 2024 Royal Veterinary College study compared 9,402 dogs, putting Poodle crosses against their purebred parents across 342 health comparisons. 86.6% came back with no significant difference.
Not worse. Just not better.
But here's the bit nobody mentions. The thing these dogs actually get more of isn't bad hips. It's ear infections, and every Poodle cross in the study came out higher than at least one parent breed. The coat grows hair down into the ear canal, the drop ear covers it, and it stays warm and damp.
Were you told the hybrid vigour thing when you got yours? Genuinely curious how common it is.
Full piece here:
https://www.nulifenaturalpethealth.com/blogs/news/goldendoodle-health-problems