Have you ever heard of the Cockapoo dog breed?If yes, you have surely heard about the Sheepadoodle dog breed!
This breed is quite similar to the Cockapoo as both are hybrid breeds that have gained popularity in the last few decades.
By the name, you have already guessed that poodles played a significant role in creating the Sheepadoodle breed, which comes under one of the most famous designer breeds on this planet!
So if you’re also planning to get a sheepadoodle or simply want to know more about this designer breed, keep reading.
Today in this article, we’ll tell you everything about the Sheepadoodle breed. We’ll cover the following:
- Overview of the breed
- History
- Size
- Temperament and personality
- Health
- Care
- Diet & feeding
- Coat colors & grooming requirements
Apart from this, we’ve also explained the advantages and disadvantages of having sheepadoodle puppies and some fun facts about this breed, which will help you make the final decision about getting this breed.
Let’s dive in.
Sheepadoodle: Overview
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What is a sheepadoodle?
Sheepadoodle is a hybrid breed resulting from a mix between an Old English Sheepdog and a standard-sized Poodle. This breed is friendly and playful while being protective and loyal towards their families. So, this breed has characteristics of both their parents. This is why this breed is a fantastic combination!
This breed is already pretty popular, but in the coming years, this dog breed will be seen so commonly like it will be present at every other house around the globe. In the future, breeders will also breed poodles with other breeds to create different types of breeds.
Sheepadoodles have minimal shedding, so they will also have fewer trigger allergies, so they’re a great pet option for people who have pet allergies. And they’re great indoor pets. Apart from these, there also are many other reasons why people love sheepadoodle as pets!
Here’s the basic summary of the Sheepadoodle Dog Breed:
Breed Name: | Sheepadoodle |
Breed Group: | Mixed |
Origin | United States |
Breed Size | Medium to Large |
Height: | 16 to 22 Inches Tall |
Weight: | 60-80 pounds |
Life Span: | 12 to 15 years |
Type of Coat: | Thick, long, and Curly. |
Coat Color: | Black, white, sable, apricot, cream, black and white, grey, and brown. |
Temperament: | Sociable; Obedient; Happy |
Other Names: | Sheepdog Poodle Mix; SheepPoo; Sheep-a-poo; Sheepdogpoo; Sheepdoodle |
Grooming Needs: | High |
Training Needs: | High |
Barking Level: | Infrequent |
Drool Amount: | Low |
Good with: | Children, families, and dogs |
Best suited to: | Families with children and elders. |
Sheepadoodle: History
Source: hellobark.com
The origins of the Sheepadoodle are murky at best! This is because people have been cross-breeding dogs for a long time and the sheepadoodle breed only came to light in the past decade or so. However, cross-breeding has been going on for a long time!
There is a lot of information available on the internet about the origins of this breed. Some articles and blogs say the “doodle” naming convention started in 1992, and from here on, the mixing of poodles started to create a line of low-shedding dogs.
Old English Sheepdog
Parents of this breed, Old English sheepdogs, originated in the west of England. This breed was developed as drovers, guards, or dogs that help and protect livestock move. Their tails were docked, which means they were, in fact, working dogs. This is why Old English sheepdogs are also known as “bobtails.”
Poodle
A poodle is counted as one of the oldest purebred dogs. This breed directly came from France via Germany. In this country, there was just a duck-hunting canine that has now become one of the most lovable breeds on this planet. Poodles have curly coats, which help these canines to protect from cold weather conditions. These canines are also pretty smart and intelligent.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) did not recognize the Sheepadoodle breed. However, this breed is registered with other dog clubs like the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA), and the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR).
Let’s learn more about this amazing dog breed.
Sheepadoodle: Size & Weight
Source: hellobark.com
Here is the size and weight of the sheepadoodle dog:
Height (Male): | 13 inches to 24 inches |
Height (Female): | 13 inches to 24 inches |
Weight (Male): | 60 pounds to 80 pounds |
Weight (Female): | 45 pounds to 65 pounds |
However, the size of the Sheepadoodle has variations because one of its parent’s breed poodles is available in different sizes: Standard, Miniature, and Toy. So, the sheepadoodle is also available in three sizes:
- Standard Sheepadoodle
- Mini/Medium Sheepadoodle
- Toy Sheepadoodles Sheepadoodle
As a pet parent, you are curious to know how big does a sheepadoodle get or how much a full grown sheepadoodle weighs.
Here’s how each one differs in size and weight from the others:
Toy Sheepadoodle | Mini/Medium Sheepadoodle | Standard Sheepadoodle | |
Weight | 10-25 pounds | 25-55 pounds | 55–85 pounds |
Height | 15 inches or less | 15-22 inches | 22-27 inches |
Age at Full-Grown | 7.5-11 Months | 11-13 months | 12.5-16 Months |
Sheepadoodle: Personality
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Now let’s talk about the temperament and personality of these canines.
Sheepadoodle is also known as Sheepdoodle, Sheepapoo, Sheep-A-Poo, Sheepdogdoodle, Sheepdogpoo, and many more names. As we already told you before, this breed has the characteristics and traits of both of its parents. So, it has the easygoing and friendly temperament of the Old English sheepdog, which is well known for its good nature and friendly behavior.
Sheepadoodle dogs are a playful and energetic breed that is protective of their humans. These canines love attention, play with children, and even enjoy the company of other pets. And if they see any stranger or sense any danger, they will bark to alert you.
Sheepadoodle: Common Health Problems
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It is extremely important to know about the potential health problems of a sheepadoodle. Yes, just like other doodle breeds, this one also has many health problems. However, it is not necessary that every sheepadoodle will have these medical issues, but it’s always best to be aware of these things so that your puppy will get the right treatment if they suffer any of these problems.
Sheepadoodle puppies may inherit a few medical problems from their parents, Old English Sheepdogs and Poodles.
Here are a few common health problems that a Sheepadoodle can suffer:
- Joint issues
- Bloat
- Anxiety
- Asthma
- Addison’s disease
- Hip Dysplasia
- Diabetes
- Gastric Dilation-Volvulus
- Sebaceous adenitis/skin disorders
These canines may also suffer from the following illness and diseases:
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Red Mange
- Obesity
- Deafness
- Ectropion
- Digestive disorders
Try to visit the vet on a daily basis for regular checkups so that if your pup is facing any health issues; you will get to know at the initial stage and give your beloved puppy the right treatment. Whether you have sheepadoodle puppies or a senior sheepadoodle dog, it’s important to take care of and maintain a proper lifestyle so that these canines live healthy and happy lives.
Sheepadoodle: Care
Source: hellobark.com
Now you know about the health conditions of a sheepadoodle dog, so you might be wondering how to care for a sheepadoodle.
Due to the cross-breeding of the Old English sheepdog and the Poodle, the Sheepadoodle has a low-shedding coat, including the first generation. This is why these dogs are ideal for people suffering from any dog allergy.
Apart from taking your pup to the vet for regular health checkups, you also have to take care of their diet. This is because these puppies are prone to weight gain.
So, what to do in this condition?
These dogs are active and love to go on long walks and do regular exercises, but still, they can gain weight if not fed properly. So, what you can really do: try to help your pup maintain a healthy weight, as this will protect your dog’s joints from damage.
Mini sheepadoodle requires at least 60 minutes of playtime for mental stimulation. These activities will prevent destructive and extreme chewing behavior in your fluffy friend, which they can do due to boredom.
As part of the grooming, you must check your pup’s ears regularly to avoid ear infections. Also, remember to trim the nails at least once per month. Let’s see amazing grooming tips for you.
So, what about the oral health of a Sheepadoodle?
Even sheepadoodles don’t have any oral health problems, but it’s important to take care of your puppy’s teeth and maintain good dental hygiene. You can consult your vet about this or take your sheepdogdoodle puppy to a professional groomer.
Sheepadoodle: Feeding Routine
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Sheepadoodles dogs need a healthy and balanced diet. You can give them high-quality dog food that has an appropriate amount of proteins and nutrients. Sheepadoodle puppies should be fed 3-4 times a day. This is important as they require more energy while growing.
So, the regular diet of a Sheepdogpoo should include the following:
- Dry Food
- Wet Food
- Fats
- Protein
- Carbohydrate
You should NEVER give these Ingredients to a Sheepadoodle:
- Avocado
- Macadamia nuts
- Chocolate
- Onions
- Garlic
- Grapes
- Raisins
Apart from the food in good amounts, make sure to provide clean water to keep your pup. All these things are important to keep your pup’s coat healthy and shiny. Keep in mind that the feeding routine and diet can be different for each puppy. You can also consult the vet, who will tell you more about the feeding guidelines and prepare a specific diet plan for your puppy.
Sheepadoodle: Coat Color And Grooming
Source: hellobark.com
The color and type of a Sheepadoodle will majorly depend on the genes it inherits from its parents. Usually, these canines have curly, wavy, or flat coat types. These dogs don’t shed much and also don’t need regular brushing. Two to three times brushing per week is enough. And every two to three months, these canines also require professional grooming to trim and maintain their coats.
Here are the common coat colors of Sheepadoodle dogs:
- Black Sheepadoodle
- Merle Sheepadoodle
- Black and White Sheepadoodle
- Gray Sheepadoodle
- Grizzle Sheepadoodle
- Silver Sheepadoodle
- Blue Sheepadoodle
- Blue Merle Sheepadoodle
- Brown Sheepadoodle
- Red Sheepadoodle
- Fawn Sheepadoodle
- Cream Sheepadoodle
- Sable Sheepadoodle
Pros and Cons of Owning Sheepadoodle
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Are you still confused about whether you should get a Sheepadoodle or not? No worries, below are the advantages and disadvantages of having a sheepadoodle as a pet:
PROS
- Sheep-A-Poo is a highly active and energetic dog, and thanks to their parents, they’re also pretty easy to train. They’re quick learners and easy to train.
- These canines have a good temperament and behave well with small kids and other animals.
- They are loyal, loving, and obedient. Hence they’re great family pets.
- These dogs are also well-known as therapy dogs. Sheppadoodles can be easily trained to give people affection, comfort, and love. This is why you can see many sheepadoodles at nursing homes or rehabilitation centers.
- These dogs don’t bark much and are also good watchdogs.
CONS
- Sheepadoodle might show a few characteristics of Old English sheepdogs, like herding and nipping.
- These cute canines can have separation anxiety when left alone for a long time. During this period, they can act a little destructively and bark excessively.
- Even though these canines have low shedding, you still have to pay attention to their grooming. These pups have curly and medium-thick coats, which get tangled and dirty.
Also Read: Fluffy Frenchie Bulldog Breed: Everything You Need to Know
Fun Facts About Sheepadoodle
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- It is believed that the first Sheepadoodles were bred in the 1960s. This was an experiment where breeders wanted a military dog. However, these canines gained popularity only after 2007.
- People from all over the world love the Sheepadoodle breed. There are many sheepadoodle ambassadors on various social media platforms, such as Otis with Sully, Zammy, who is a therapy dog, and many more!
- The Olympic figure skaters Meryl Davis and Fedor Andreev also announced that they had adopted a cute mini sheepadoodle and named it Bilbo.
Conclusion: Are Sheepadoodle Good Pets?
Source: purina.co.uk
Sheepadoodles are highly energetic, playful, and loving dogs. They have a calm personality and behave well with kids and other animals. They’re also quite easy to train. So, there is no doubt that these adorable canines are good family pets.
Sheepdogpoo has low shedding and is also less expensive to care for and maintain. However, you have to give them plenty of play and exercise time to maintain their energy level. Many breeders offer sheepadoodle for sale but get them from a reputable and legit breeder.
So, this is all about the Sheepadoodle dog breed. I hope this in-depth guide to Sheepadoodle has provided you with all the required information. If you find this blog informative and helpful, share this blog with your family and friends.
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