Sheepadoodle Dog Breed

Below are the details and specs for the Sheepadoodle dog breed.

Sheepadoodles are usually 24-30 inches in height. As pups, they are deceptively small; as adults, they can be rather large if the Sheepdog genes predominate. They are on the large size, maturing to about 70 pounds. They will appear far larger than their actual size due to their thick, shaggy coat. There are, however, specially bred miniature Sheepadoodles that are no larger than about 15 inches high.

There are fewer even-tempered dogs than the Sheepadoodle. They get along great with kids and they love to play or just hang out with their owners. Other pets and the friends that may come over unannounced should pose no problem for this breed. Train them early, however, or they may misdirect their energy later in life, and their size can make for a frustration if they are not trained to behave.

Sheepadoodles are somewhat high maintenance and require daily long walks (or even better: jogs) as to keep them from being too playful in the home. There is also the hair, which needs to be often and carefully brushed. Clipping by a professional every eight or so months is also advised. Training should be enjoyable with these quick and easy learners. They do tend to have bone and hip problems that they inherit from both the Sheepdog and Poodle sides as well as a number of eye problems.

The Sheepadoodle is often regarded as a "designer breed." There is not much current history about the Sheepadoodle mix; it is a very current hybrid said to have originated in the very early 1990s. The crossing of an Old English Sheepdog with a standard Poodle may seem a bizarre experiment, but the result has produced a lovely, fluffy, smart and remarkably resilient hybrid that is becoming popular. The Sheepdogs have a history that dates to the start of the 19th century in the southern part of England. They are recognized by the Kennel Club of London in 1873. The Poodle has been a mainstay since the 15th century and was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1887.

Most notably, the sheepadoodle has thick, wavy with hair that is especially prominent on the face and ears. Due to this abundance the breed has a prominently large nose that seems to "pop out" and it can appear the long legs have no paws. They tend to take much more from the general Sheepdog appearance than Poodles, but they don't have the double coat of the former and do not portray the poise of the latter. However, their big heads and long muzzles make their friendly personality all the more noticeable.

Hybrid dogs display a much higher degree of variation in traits than their purebred predecessors. One example for Sheepadoodles is their size. Second generation Sheepadoodle puppies tend to be smaller than first generation. It is also possible to have Mini Sheepadoodles if a Miniature Poodle is used somewhere along the breeding process. Typically, smaller Sheepadoodles are achieved when the Miniature Poodle is used as a mating partner during a first generation cross and then the resulting Sheepadoodles are also mated with the Mini Poodle.

Another variation is in the coat length and texture. Most Sheepadoodle will have abundant, hypoallergenic coats but some will be slightly shorter and straight while others will be longer and wavy.

Sheepadoodles are extremely friendly and usually are not reported to take their temperament from the Poodle side. They are early and quick learners. Hospitable to both friends and strangers, they may be overly enthusiastic; if not trained well they may tend to jump up — which can be a slight concern if they are on the larger side. They are extremely easy to train and eager to please.

Due to the Sheepadoodle being a cross between two pure breeds, genetic variation allows for a better quality of health. Many potential eye diseases from the Poodle side, as well as skin irritations from the Olde English Sheepdog genes, are far less a problem for Sheepadoodles. Nevertheless, keeping the eyes clean under all that hair helps greatly. They usually live to about 12 to 15 years.