Old English Sheep Dog - California Magnificent

#1 So, What Are Sheepadoodles Exactly?

A Sheepadoodle is a cross between an Old English Sheepdog and a Standard Poodle. There’s no doubt that Sheepadoodles are utterly gorgeous and will quickly get under your skin and into your heart.

The mix will vary from pup to pup depending on which of their parents they take after. So you’re never quite sure what to expect, but cute is one thing that’s a certainty.

They’re also extremely friendly and will love you and your family unconditionally. Sheepadoodles are designer dogs that breeders breed especially for dog lovers that are looking for an obedient dog that’s energetic, loving and kind.

They also tend to shed very little, which means they’re great for those of you that want indoor dogs without all the hair!

Sheepadoodles enjoyed a massive boost in popularity when Meryl Davis and her partner Fedor Andreev, both figure skaters, showed off their pet Sheepadoodle, Bilbo Tootie-Rose Baggins on social media.

Even though Sheepadoodles aren’t purebred dogs, they’re still extremely valuable.

They inherit the best of both parents, making for a remarkable pooch! The gorgeous suffix of ‘doodle’ came about in 1992, and wherever you find a Poodle crossbreed, you’ll come across the cute ‘doodle,’ in its name.

More about the Poodle

Poodles were extremely popular as pets in the past, especially for upper-class ladies. This was due to the small Poodle size which meant that carrying them around was incredibly easy.

Interestingly, they were first bred in Germany to help hunt waterfowl. Their popularity has led many dog breeders to conduct experimental crossbreeding, and one of those successful breeding programs was with the Old English Sheepdog a.k.a. Sheepadoodle.

More about the Old English Sheepdog

Just like the name suggests, Old English Sheepdogs became popular in the 1800s with farmers who used them to herd sheep and to help control other animals on the farm. For centuries training was for rather heavy tasks around the farm.

Sheepadoodles have a fascinating history, as do their parents!

But why this combination? Breeders are after the intelligence and activeness of the sheepdog, combined with the family-friendly and low shedding characteristics of the Poodle which when crossbred create something special – the Sheepadoodle that we just can’t help falling in love with.

#3 What can I Expect from my Sheepadoodle Temperament?

As mentioned above, first generation Sheepadoodles inherit the intelligence and active nature of sheepdogs, and the low shedding and friendly nature of the Poodle. All in all, they’re brilliantly well rounded as pets and would be a superb addition to your home.

They’re also super calm, sociable and obedient, which is why they’re often a favorite for families that have young children. They can be very gentle and also tend to be quiet around little ones, which is an excellent trait, especially if your baby needs a nap!

Sheepadoodles also get on well with other dogs and pets too, as they’re not overbearing or domineering.

Sheepadoodles are incredibly expressive, especially when they see you – so you know you’ll always have a happy buddy for life who will always look forward to you coming home!

One thing to remember is that it’s not a good idea to leave them home alone for a couple of days at a time, get them to a pet hotel or foster them out to a friend or family member if you go out of town.

The perfect pooch indeed!

#4 Am I going to have to move out of my home for my Sheepadoodle?

Thankfully not.

Even though they are large, you can make it work. If you live in an apartment, you might be pushing it, but if you commit to some serious exercise every day your new furry friend will be just fine!

However, if you’re in a house with a relatively large yard, you’ll be good to go, but they’ll still need exercise and stimulation, so get those sneakers on!

Standard Sheepadoodles are usually medium to large. The standard sized Sheepadoodle grows to about 45 to 80 pounds (18 to 30 Kg) and a maximum of 13 to 27 inches (56 to 66 cm) in height.

Sometimes, if the Sheepdog parent is huge, then the Sheepadoodle pup can grow quite a bit larger than other pups.

One example is Zammy the therapy dog, which you can watch in this video:

Also thrown into the mix are Mini Sheepadoodles that are a mix of Mini Poodles and Standard Sheepdogs. They measure under 20 inches (51 cm) in height and weigh between 24 to 44 pounds (11 to 20 kg). Miniature Sheepadoodles are also sometimes called a Micro Sheepadoodle.

Mini Sheepadoodles are in demand far and wide due to their utterly adorable good looks and charismatic charm. It might not be as small as a toy poodle, but they are lovable and kind-hearted, and you’ll want to cuddle them all day.

#5 Hey Good Looking!

Sheepadoodles have sturdy and solid builds, with square or rounded faces and elongation at the snout. The skull has a broad look and appears dome shaped.

They also have signature gorgeous low hanging ears, and their eyes are small and set between medium length hair.

Coats can be anywhere between straight and curly. Sometimes, their fur can cover their eyes, so you might need to get those scissors out and do a bit of a trim occasionally to make sure they don’t go bumping into your furniture!

Their different colors also make them a hit with potential owners.

Sheepadoodles are born black, white or both. Their colors are separated in well-defined spots that can appear randomly on any part of the body. This makes for some adorable looking puppies, some of whom almost look like Panda bears, which make them even more endearing than they already are.

Some Sheepadoodles come in white and red, but these usually cost more. There are also Sheepadoodles that are entirely brown or grey, but these are relatively rare. The parents normally determine the color of the pups.

#6 How Long Will we be Friends for?

Sheepadoodles have an average lifespan of about 12 years, but some can live up to 15 years. So you’ll have plenty of time with your new furry friend.

How healthy are they?

In general, the Sheepadoodle is a robust dog since it comes from two different purebred dogs. They don’t tend to have many problems and have something called ‘hybrid vigor’ – which means they tend to have fewer health issues than their parents due to the crossbreeding.

However, they may inherit some tendencies from their parents genetically. These include bloating, joint swelling and pain, Cushings or Addison’s disease as well as certain types of cancer.

#7 You won’t be Living out your Days Taking Care of Them

Sheepadoodles are mostly hypoallergenic, which means that they don’t set off your sniffles and other allergy symptoms. However, not all Sheepadoodles are hypoallergenic as it depends on the genes they inherit from their parents.

You’ll have to verify the hypoallergenic status of your dog from the Sheepadoodle breeders that you buy your dog from.

They tend to have a short and curly coat like their Poodle parent and as we said before shed very minimally.

This means that you won’t have hair all over your home, but that doesn’t get you off brushing, sorry! You’ll still have to brush your Sheepadoodle at least once or twice a week to get rid of any matted fur.

In addition to brushing, you’ll have to check those gorgeous floppy ears out for any buildup of wax and dirt, which you will have to clean from time to time.

Cleaning out your dog’s ears will help prevent infection which can be costly for you and painful for your pooch. Trimming the hairs around their ears is also another thing you can do if you want to help prevent ear infections.

#8 Will they be Running Circles around me if I want to Train them?

Luckily not, as they’re very confident animals that always want the approval of Mom and Dad. They’re fast learners and obedient too. Watch how training takes place in the above video.

They can also be taught to be watchdogs as they can recognize strangers and be trained to bark at them. However, there’s nothing to be alarmed about as they’re exceptionally gentle and will never hurt any family member. Training is pretty simple and easy to carry out.

One thing that’s important to remember is that you should do early socialization as well as training that includes positive reinforcement – this way you’ll get your Sheepadoodle on track to be a well-behaved member of your family.

#9 What’s for Dinner?

Sheepadoodles should have a diet that consists of high-quality kibbles. As they’re so active, they should be fed at least 2-3 times daily. Give them small portions and adjust the amount of food you’re giving them if you see they’re putting on or losing weight.

Don’t under any circumstances have a free flow of food in the home as they tend to lose all self-control and overeat, just like kids that have been let loose in a candy factory.

Once in a blue moon, some wet food is a great idea but take it easy on this one as it may lead to your Sheepadoodle becoming overweight.

#10 Are they recognized by any organizations?

As mentioned previously, Sheepadoodles are not purebred dogs and therefore aren’t eligible to be registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) that only allows purebred dogs in.

However, being a designer dog, they are allowed into the following organizations:

• Dog Registry of America (DRA)

• American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC)

• International Designer Canine Registry ( IDCR)

#11 Where can I find Sheepadoodle puppies and what does a Sheepadoodle cost?

Sheepadoodle breeders can be found quite easily online, just like these: Best Sheepadoodles, Sheepadoodles By Design or Debs Doodles. Sheepadoodle puppies can cost anywhere between $1000 to $3000 depending on the color.

You’ll have to pay even more if you want specific traits like eye color.

The Micro Sheepadoodle we spoke about earlier, will set you back an extra $500 to $800 more than the Sheepadoodle.

You can always choose to adopt a Sheepadoodle instead of buying one. There aren’t any rescue organizations dedicated to this breed, but if you scour Petfinder, you may find one by chance and the price you can get your very own Sheepadoodle will be significantly lower than buying from a breeder.

Also, there are many Old English Sheepdog rescue organizations all over the world, Here are some of them:

• New England Old English Sheepdog Rescue

• Old English Sheepdog Rescue Network of the South East

• The Old English Sheepdog Club of America

• Midwest OES Rescue

Some may have Sheepdog crossbreeds. If you’re going to adopt, you can expect to pay anywhere between $75 and $200 as well as a dog license fee which is about $10. Whether you buy or adopt, make sure you do it with a responsible and legal organization.

Always be careful about where you get your Sheepadoodle from and make sure you visit breeders premises, meet the parents of the puppy and make sure the breeders know what they’re talking about. See how they interact with the puppies and if everything is clean and well looked after.

Also, ensure that the Sheepadoodle breeders you buy from have some certification or license and avoid buying from backyard breeders at all costs.

Sheepadoodles are Oodles of Goodness, so Should I Buy One?

Sheepadoodles are happy, outgoing and will love you wholeheartedly. They’re also exceptionally smart and make excellent pets whether you’re a family, a couple or flying solo.

Once you have a Sheepadoodle, you’ll never look back.

They’re practical, dutiful and friendly and in my opinion, they’re probably one of the best breeds to have as companions, as long as you give them a forever home and lots and lots of love as well as plenty of cuddles!

Credit: Animalso.com By Alexandra Animalso