6 Important Facts To Know Before Owning Sheepadoodle Puppies

If you want a dog who…

• Is conveniently-sized and powerful, with a thick furry coat
• Usually even-tempered, Good-natured and sociable, enthusiastic with everyone
• Animated, light-hearted and entertaining
• Receptive to training in a slow, good-natured way
• Peaceful with other dogs and pets

A Sheepadoodle may be right for you.

If you don’t want to deal with…

• A streak of Stubbornness and shaggy dog syndrome
• Boisterousness and enthusiastic jumping when young
• Separation anxiety when left alone too much and destructiveness when bored
• Shyness or Skittishness in some lineage, or when not socialized enough
• Emotional sensitivity to tension, stress and loud voices

It may not be right for you.

It is a new hybrid which came into existence somewhere in the last two decades.

The name “doodle” was coined in 1992 in reference to the Labradoodle, the crossbreed of Poodle and a Labrador Retriever.

These smart dogs are sometimes confused with “Shepadoodles” which is a mix of a standard Poodle and a German shepherd.

Old English Sheepdog:

The name itself tells that its origin is ”England”. In the 1800s, farmers in England used these dogs for shepherding sheep. These dogs are active, adaptable, sensible, smart, and playful.

Standard Poodle:

Poodles were popular in the olden days due to their small size. They were initially developed in Germany for hunting fowls in water.

Some of the popular mix dogs of Poodle are gaining fame in recent times. Australian Labradoodle and Cockapoo are cute balls that are getting more recognized in recent times.

A standard adult Sheepadoodle is smaller in size than an Old English sheepdog, which can get up to 90 pounds. They are working group dogs and have solid builds.

However, there are other types of Sheepadoodles which are smaller than the standard ones.

This includes:

• Small Standard Sheepadoodle – Toy poodle + Old English sheepdog; Height: 15-20.5 inches tall; Weight: around 60 pounds.
• Mini Sheepadoodle: Miniature Poodle + Old English sheepdog; Height: 16-19 inches tall; Weight: 25-49 lbs or less.
• Micro Sheepadoodle: Height: 13-16 inches tall; Weight: 10-24 pounds or less.

Sheepadoodle can either be a first generation (F1), a second-generation (F2) or an F1B back cross dog.

F1 Sheepadoodle

The F1 Sheepadoodles result from breeding directly a purebred Old English sheepdog and a purebred Poodle. This breed costs high as you combine the purebreds.

Also, this is the best combination. F1 hybrid coat can either be extremely wavy and curly like a Poodle or it can be smooth and slightly wavy like an Old English sheepdog.

The shedding character of F1 hybrids may vary; some shed and some may not; pups in the same litter can vary. This may not be the best cross for people with severe allergies.

F2 Sheepadoodle

On the other hand, Second generation F2 Sheepadoodle is a byproduct of two Sheepadoodles.

Due to genetics, F2 hybrids can be with a higher percentage of Old English sheepdog or Poodle characteristics and may lose some of their hybrid vigors. Shedding trait may vary.

Such dogs are bred to inherit an individual useful gene in the parent minus all the shortcomings found in its other ancestral genes.

F1 b is usually non-shedding and hypoallergenic than any of the other same breed dogs and will have the easiest coat to take care of.

There is another scenario:

F2B = second generation backcross puppy (hybrid backcross) = F1 bred to an F1b (First generation backcross puppy) preferably, 75% Poodle and 25% Old English sheepdog.

With this breeding, you have a better chance for a non-shedding and hypoallergenic dog.

When we spoke with doodle breeders they state that the F2B Hybrids tend to have more of the purebred “A” (Old English sheepdog) looks and Poodle’s personality (purebred “B”).

Sheepadoodle Adults

If you want to have a hypoallergenic dog, then go for an adult dog. In general, they shed a minimum. But, the coat of this dog changes when it grows.

You should feed an adult three to four cups of dry dog foods daily. Ensure that you are feeding a high-quality food to your pet.

Sheepadoodle Mini

They are crossbreeds of Standard Sheepdogs and Miniature Poodles. Their height is below 20 inches and weight ranges from 24 to 44 pounds.

These doodles are the charm, adorable and lovable.

Tiny dogs of this breed are developed by crossbreeding an Old English sheepdog with a Toy Poodle. They weigh around 10 to 24 lbs.

• Those looking for a low-shedding, hypoallergenic dog
• Family with kids
• Active household
• Singles and seniors
• Apartments, condos, houses with/without yards

Adaptability:

• Apartment living – Yes
• Good for first-time owners – Yes
• Sensitivity level – High
• Loneliness – Not suited to be alone
• Cold weather – Good
• Hot weather – Good

Friendliness:

• With Family – High
• Kids – High
• Other dogs – High
• Cats – Good, if raised together
• Other pets – Good, if raised together
• Strangers – Suspicious

General Behavior:

• Independence – Poorly independent
• Dominance – Low
• Combativeness – Low
• Indoors – Active
• Outdoor – Highly active
• Territorial – Average
• Easy of transportation – High

• Trainability – Easy
• Intelligence – High
• Memory – High
• Mouthiness – Low
• Prey drive – Low
• Wanderlust potential – Low

They are a great choice for first-time dog owners because they are so loving and even-tempered (and their lack of stubbornness) makes them a reasonably easy breed to train.

With that said, these little guys are rather intelligent (Thanks to the poodle gene pool) which means that they need the rules and regulations that should be given in a gentler fashion.

Otherwise, they do not respond well to assertion and authority due to their sparkling personality.

Below are a few tips that you should consider when you begin your Sheeppoo training

For a first-time dog owner, it’s better to consider signing up dog obedience classes. They are so smart that most of them don’t even require professional training.

However, you still need to implant a strong training regimen from an early age to get the best out of them. These dogs are eager to learn and are intelligent.

Always make sure to be consistent with your training as sometimes the poodle part of her may reveal a bit.

Make sure her socialization and obedience training begin at an early age to trim down her interface with other people and pets.

Socialization (i.e. exposure to people and objects) and obedience training at a young age is recommended. Reward your dog with treats and praise him. Do not punish him as it may lead to aggressive behaviors.

Ensure that you are providing more exposure to other dogs and people. If trained they will be sweet with cats also. This will make your dog sweet, affectionate and sociable.

• Exercise needs – Medium
• Intensity – Medium
• Activity level – Medium
• Exercise requirements – 45 minutes/day
• Rec. walk mileage/week – 6 miles
• Playfulness – High
• Grooming needs – Average
• Tendency to Drool – Average
• Snore – Low
• To Bark – When needed
• To Dig – Low
• Social/Attention Needs – High

It is a very good alternative to the Goldendoodle. They are smaller and need less grooming and exercise than the popular Goldendoodle breed.

• Coat density – Normal or thick
• Length – Medium or long
• Texture – Curly, soft coats or a combination of curly, rough, and smooth.
• Brushing frequency – Daily
• Trimming/stripping – No
• Hypoallergenic – No
• Shedding – Average

They have soft, long, curly coats which they have inherited from the Poodle. Curly hair tends to tangle with time, which can be averted with regular brushing.

Regular wash can also help with excessive shedding and remove any tangles. As with any pet dog, you’ll also need to clean her teeth, ears should be checked regularly for dirt, wax buildup and ear infection. Trim her nails when needed.