Your Complete Guide To The Sheepadoodle
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They are pretty much the best ball of fluff you can ask for. The Sheepadoodle is a wonderful family dog. In fact, out of all the new crossbreeds, the Sheepadoodle is probably the best choice for the family.
So what is a Sheepadoodle? Great question. The Sheepadoodle is a mix of a female Standard Poodle and male Old English Sheepdog.
If you’re looking for a dog that bursting at the seams with friendliest, one you can run around with and is great with children at any age then keep reading.
Oh, and did we mention despite all the fluff they are hypoallergenic?!
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Article Overview:
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What is a Sheepadoodle?
A cross between a male English Sheepdog and a female Poodle, Sheepadoodles, not to be confused with Shepadoodles, are highly adaptable dogs. Like all doodle varieties, they rarely shed making them perfect for those with allergy concerns.
They have a have a bit of an interesting history as this crossbreed was first a military experiment by the US Army dating back to the ’60s. However, you couldn’t find a Sheepadoodle anywhere until 2007.
With most crossbreeds or designer dogs, you’ll want to familiar with the parents. It has taken generations after generations to whittle down the gene pool so that a Standard Poodle always acts and looks like a Standard Poodle. This goes for all purebreds, of course.
With a first generation crossbreed like the Sheepadoodle, you don’t have the advantage of easily predicting what your dog will end up looking like.
On the plus side, crossbreeding expands their gene pool potentially making them less susceptible to genetics diseases.
Sheepadoodle Varieties
Most Sheepadoodles are a mix between a male Sheep Dog and a female Standard Poodle, but this isn’t always the case. There are two other crosses that are sometimes seen.
Tiny Sheepadoodle - A cross between Toy Poodle and an Old English Sheepdog.
Mini Sheepadoodle - A cross between a Miniature Poodle and Old English Sheepdog.
In both cases, the crossbreed is usually obtained through artificial insemination due to size differences. As well, the father will be a Poodle while the mother a Sheepdog since a female poodle would be under too much stress carrying such large puppies.
The Sheepadoodle’s Coat
Despite all the fluff, thanks to the doodle side, the Sheepadoodle is hypoallergenic and does not technically shed. You do need to groom them, so their hair doesn’t get matted or tangled. You should expect to groom anywhere between 1-3 times a week depending on the season and weather.
Their coats are super soft and long with some curls. All that dirt can trap fur in so make sure you’re prepared with the proper bathing tools. And you’ll want to keep a close eye on their ears as they are prone to locking in dirt. An all-natural and safe ear cleaner is a great product to keep around the house.
Despite both parents coming in a range of colors, breeders focus on giving the Sheepadoodle either a black/white coat or a red/white coat.
What’s fun is how the black or red coloring develops within the white creating unique and wonderful patterns. The coat plays a big part into how much you’ll be spending when buying from a private breeder.
Summary Chart
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Breed |
Colors |
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Poodle |
White, Black, Apricot, Cream, Sable |
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Sheepdog |
Blue, Blue Merle, Grey, Grizzle, White, Black |
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Sheepadoodle |
Black, Black/White, Red/White, White |
The Sheepadoodle’s Weight
The Sheepadoodle is a medium to medium-large breed depending on how much they take from their Sheepdog fathers — who can get up to 100 lbs. A good portion of that is made up of all that fur. However, it’s easy for a growing waistline to hide so keep a close eye on their weight.
Actually, you may even want to keep a real close eye on them as they are prone to overeating and gorging themselves. A fully grown Sheepadoodle will typically require somewhere around 1,200 calories a day.
Summary Chart
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Breed |
Pounds |
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Poodle |
Male: 45 - 70 lbs Female: 45 - 60 lbs |
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Sheepdog |
Male: 70-100 lbs Female:60-80 lbs |
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Sheepadoodle |
Male: 60-75 lbs |
The Sheepadoodle’s Size
The Sheepadoodle isn’t a terribly tall dog. They hover around 20ish inches making them the perfect height for petting without bending over. If buying from a breeder, you’ll want to see how tall the Poodle parent is — including her siblings. Some breeder may breed their Poodles specifically for height.
Summary Chart
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Breed |
Height |
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Poodle |
Male: 18-24 in. Female: 18-24 in. |
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Sheepdog |
Male: 22-24 in. Female: 20-22 in. |
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Sheepadoodle |
Male: 21-22 in. |
Are Sheepadoodles Good Pets? - Maintenance
Oh yes, very much so! These are very low maintenance dogs, all things considered. The biggest thing that requires work is satisfying their exercise needs and energy level. This is one of the many reasons we recommend this breed to families.
If you’re living in an apartment then exercising and training becomes more important, so messes don’t happen.
Speaking of training, they are quick learners and follow commands well. In the beginning, you’ll want to watch to make sure your Sheepadoodle didn’t inherit strong herding traits. Usually, breeders are good about breeding these traits out, but it’s still a good thing to watch out for.
So why do you have to watch herding traits? Well, it can make the dog want to herd small children around, which is fine, but they may want to nip at their heels to herd. Early training takes care of this problem easy-peasy.
Grooming is pretty low labor-intensive as you only need to groom 1-2 times a week to keep tangles out. The Sheepadoodle is pretty much hypoallergenic and doesn’t shed much at all.
You may want to take yours to a groomer on a regular basis, however. This will keep them smelling fresh, looking nicely trimmed, with nails done as well. Paying a groomer will ensure that your Sheepadoodle always looks his best.
Overall, you have a dog that’s great for families and can bless us with their presence for 12-15 years, which is quite long for dogs of this size.
Summary Chart
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Temperament |
Calm, playful and intelligent |
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Daily Exercise |
High |
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Activity Level |
High |
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Daily Food Consumption |
Medium-High |
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Desire For A Yard |
Medium-High |
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Lifespan |
12-15 years |
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Great For |
Families |
Health of The Sheepadoodle
Like with most crossbreeds you’re getting a dog that is healthier than their parent breed on average. This is due to the hybrid vigor or heterosis. There are simply more genes to choose from, making it more likely that your dog will be very healthy and having fewer genetic flaws and maladies.
Some breeds are prone to genetic traits that can cause severe health problems, such as retinal atrophy or hip dysplasia. You’ll want to know if the breeder has had the parents checked and cleared for these genetic issues. That also ensures that the chances of your puppy having these is slim to none.
The Sheepadoodle is prone to many of the same medical issues that all bigger dogs share like hip dysplasia. Ensuring that the parents have been checked reduces the risk.
Overall, they are very healthy dogs that live very long lives. You will likely deal with aging issues that are typical of large breed dogs, however. This may include arthritis and loss of hearing as the dog ages.
These are common things for any breed and are just a part of the aging process. Be advised that your dog, should he live beyond the age of twelve, is likely to have reduced hearing and vision in his senior years.
Common Health Issues The Sheepadoodle Faces:
- Addison’s Disease
- Bloat
- Diabetes
- Gastric Dilation-Volvulus
- Hip Dysplasia
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Sebaceous Adenitis
Keeping Your Sheepadoodle in Tip-Top Health
A wonderful thing about the Sheepadoodle is how relatively healthy these dogs are. In fact, by including a few tips and products into their health regime, you can expect to have a dog for 15 years that rarely goes to the vet.
This makes for a less costly dog to raise and have as a part of your family. That’s always a plus. Ensure that he gets his daily exercise needs met, is fed well, and you’ll likely only see the veterinarian for yearly check-ups and shots.
Ears
You’ll want to monitor their ears for dirt and consider keeping an ear cleaner around the house. Some dogs will fight you when it’s time to clean their ears. This is normal because they don’t really understand what you are doing.
You are spraying a cold solution in their ears and it is a shock to their system. We’ve created an all-natural ear cleaning solution called PurOtic that features a soft silicone tip that makes is more comfortable in the inner ear.
Don’t worry though, because of the way the dog’s ear canal is shaped, it’s actually impossible for you to damage their eardrum. It’s shaped a bit like an “L” and as long as you stick something straight inside the ear, like the soft tip of the PurOtic bottle, you won’t cause them any harm, even if they shake their head.
If you make sure to use the solution when it is room temperature, they’ll also be more tolerant. It’s the cold fluid that is the shock to them and they dislike.
Once you use the solution in their ear, you want to massage the base of the ear well and then it is perfectly acceptable for them to shake their head good. It will help to further dislodge and eject dirt and debris from the ear.
Hip Dysplasia and Other Joint Issues
The Sheepadoodle is a medium-large sized breed, and like all breeds of this size group they are prone to hip & joint issues, specifically hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Hip and joint issues typically occur when they are older, but can happen at any time, so it’s important to learn the signs.
When you see the first signs of mobility issues (stiffness, pain, dog avoids playing, etc.), it’s paramount that you do one of two things.
You can start them on a mobility support supplement like Advanced Mobility Support formulated with over 10 ingredients that reduces inflammation, pain, and helps rebuild vital cartilage.
One sure sign that your puppy may not have good joints that is detectable early-on is when they run and they use both back legs to push off the ground at the same time.
Typically, one foot should be off the ground while the other is a stride behind. When both legs are used to push together, it is sometimes referred to as ‘bunny-hopping’ as it looks like the way a rabbit moves. You should consult your veterinarian to rule-out hip issues right away.
We also advise consulting them if you see their mobility support not providing enough relief. Joint issues can sometimes be rectified with surgical intervention in young dogs.
There are also pain medications designed specifically for dogs with joint pain. If your puppy has issues already, these will only get worse as they grow.
Your veterinarian may advise for surgical intervention and supplements as soon as possible. Your dog will have a very good prognosis for a normal life if joint issues are dealt with properly and early in their start.
As well, you can consult your Veterinarian. We also advise consulting them if you see their mobility support not providing enough relief.
General Health For Age & Wellness
The last thing you’ll want to consider including into your dog’s health regime is Hemp CBD. Pet owners are loving the all-natural oil, and giving it to their dogs for everything from anxiety to protecting their immune system.
CBD can help the Sheepadoodle with many of the issues their breed faces like hip & joints issues, bloat, and Addison’s disease.
At Innovet Pet we offer human grade CBD in a variety of fun and highly effective forms from tasty treats to soothing topicals. This lets you cater CBD therapeutic power to your sheepadoodle specific needs.
Which CBD Product is Right for Your Sheepadoodle:
- Hemp Dog Treats - Reward your big dog with better health.
- Soft Hemp Dog Chews - Tasty and soft for senior dogs with chewing issues
- Heal.protect.wag Balm - Apply CBD only to the area that needs help.
- PurCBD+ - The original and still the favorite for its unlimited uses.
How much does a Sheepadoodle Cost?
If you’re not sitting down, you may want to now. When buying from a breeder, you should expect to spend anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 dollars on a Sheepadoodle pup.
Add almost $1,000 more if you’re looking for a Mini Sheepadoodle. It can be difficult finding one to rescue, but doing so will only cost you between $75-$300. Check out Petfinder for rescuing a Sheepadoodle mix.
You can also check out rescues specific to Standard Poodles and Old English Sheepdogs as they will often carry mixes.
There are breed-specific rescues and these will sometimes have dogs that had health issues or in cases where an owner began having health issues and could no longer care for their dogs. Things sometimes happen, even with very expensive dogs, that land them in foster care and rescue.
Sheepadoodle Breeders
When looking to get your Sheepadoodle from a private breeder, it’s import to follow a few tips. There are many great breeders out there that are looking out for the best interest of their dogs, but then there are those that aren’t. Use these tips for spying a bad breeder.
- Visit the breeder's home/kennel. You should expect to meet at least one of the puppy’s parents, if not both. Make sure the place is clean, there isn’t an odor, and that all the dog’s look like they are in good shape.
- Watch how both the puppies and parents are reacting to everyone in the room, including you and the breeder. Look for signs of shyness and aggression. Remember that some puppies are shyer than others.
- Make sure you have contact information with the breeder so you can reach them if something goes wrong.
- Don’t buy online!
- Last, ask about the parent's medical history, if the puppies are updated on their vet needs, etc. The parents should have had their eyes checked, their hips and certain genetic markers checked through blood tests. These specialized tests will help to determine that there is no risk of severe genetic issues being passed to potential puppies. Ideally, those tests will have been done before breeding happens.
Final Thoughts on the Sheepadoodle
If you’re looking for a dog that will pair perfectly with your family and wear out the kiddos, then the Sheepadoodle is for you. They are a great low-maintenance medium-sized breed that only requires basic training to be exceptional.
They do require grooming so their fur doesn’t get matted, but besides that, they are low shedders and hypoallergenic. This makes for a great dog that can spend time indoors with your family but is also ready and willing to go outside with you when your family is outdoors.
If you enjoy camping or hiking, this is the dog that can go with you and be very well-behaved.
You’ll also be stopped frequently by those admirers of your dog. They’ll want a photo of him sometimes, to steal a cuddle and head scratches with him. If you get jealous of the attention your dog receives, then you may be upset when he’s with you.
Since we suspect you won’t mind at all, you should take him with you everywhere you go. If you’re single, it may be the way to meet the person of your dreams? They’re bound to come right up to this adorable dog breed.
This breed faces little health issues and can live a long life of 15 years. During that time you’re going to have an obedient, intelligent, and playful dog that’s beyond affectionate and cares for each member of the family with every fiber in their body.
