The sheepadoodle is a cuddly , fluffy cross between an Old English sheepdog and a poodle dog . Learn more about living with sheepadoodles .
Nope , that ’s not a stuffed animal — it ’s an ultra - downy , goofy sheepadoodle , amixed breedthat results from intersect anOld English sheepdogand a poodle . They ’ve become more popular in recent years because of their super - friendly personality , low-pitched - shedding coats , and teddy bear - like appearing .
Because the sheepadoodle is not a pure strain , there are no hard and fast rules about the Canis familiaris ’s size , coloring , and show . However , the most rough-cut pelage is a fateful - and - white patchwork quilt pattern . The sheepadoodle ’s size of it varies depending on whether the Old English shepherd dog was crossed with astandard poodle , miniature poodle , ortoy poodle dog .
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We spoke with a veterinary surgeon for everything you demand to know about the sheepadoodle ’s temperament , living needs , care , and health concerns .
Appearance
The sheepadoodle can tend toward one parent or the other in appearance — some will have more of the hearty expression of an Old English sheep dog and others will have a more poodle - like domed head teacher . But nearly all sheepadoodles share the patchwork of black and white markings that sometimes give them the appearance of a panda . These black and whitened markings can sometimes fade into gray ( similar to an Old English sheep dog ’s coloring ) as the sheepadoodle ages . On rare occasion , a sheepadoodle will be red and lily-white .
In general , a sheepadoodle cover from a received poodle will weigh 65–85 lbf. and place upright 18–27 inches grandiloquent . Sheepadoodles cover from mini poodles and plaything poodles will be small .
As with mostpoodle mixes(affectionately termed " doodles " ) , the coating of a sheepadoodle can tend more to be square or more curly — and it ’s generally backbreaking to tell until the pup bewilder a little older .
Sheepadoodles are often compared toBernedoodles , which are a mix between a poodle and aBernese mountain dog . Bernedoodles have a like giant teddy bear vibe : big downlike paws ; shaggy faces ; and furry , floppy ears . However , Bernedoodles come in a greater variety of coloration and partake more of the Bernese mountain dog ’s personality traits .
Temperament
The sheepadoodle owes a lot of her easy disposition to the Old English sheepdog , a good - natured , shaggy breed that was developed to help contribute kine and sheep to market .
" Sheepadoodles have been described as a playful and energetic breed , " say Stacy Choczynski Johnson , DVM , veterinary expert forPumpkin Pet Insurance . " Something that ’s interesting about them is that they ’re a mixed room decorator breed dog , mean that there ’s a skilful chance they ’ll inherit different traits from either side of their DNA . Because of this cross breeding , there can be a fairly encompassing variety of personality traits depending on the item-by-item dog . "
Typically , sheepadoodles arewonderful family dogsthat love attention andchildren even more . They ’re exceptionally playful and gratifying , and they enjoy the ship’s company of other cad . While they might alert you to a passing strangerwith a barque , they ’re typically a picayune more mellowed than breeds developed specifically for guarding the home .
civilise a sheepadoodlewill depend on which traits the dog inherit from her parents . While Old English sheepdogs can be independent - minded at times , poodles are typically very eager to please their parent bysitting on cueand learning trick . Sheepadoodles alsoinherit a great deal of intelligencefrom their poodle forebears and have a work wienerwurst ’s herding instincts from the Old English sheepdog side .
Living Needs
Unless you opt for a mini or a toy dog mix , sheepadoodles are typicallylarge dogsthat will do well in a home with afenced G . If youlive in an apartment , you should be ready to provide your sheepadoodle withregular physical exercise .
" Sheepadoodles are active frank and exercise is vital for their overall health and upbeat , " Choczynski Johnson says . She recommendss finding shipway to integrate your bounder into your steady activity : bring them on your runs , neighborhood walk , andhikes through the wood .
" Using a ball catapult for agood plot of fetchis a great way to burn off DOE , " she say . " If your sheepadoodle savor the fellowship of other dogs , a playdate in a fenced yard would be a great way for them to socialize and stretch their legs . "
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And while your sheepadoodle mightlike to splash through some waterlike her poodle parent , Choczynski Johnson recommend stick to " country - based play " because post - swimming cleanup can be time - consuming .
With their thick coats , sheepadoodles areexcellent dogs for moth-eaten - conditions climate . In warmer climates , Choczynski Johnson allege , their owner can trim their fur a bit shorter and make certain they can relax in cool indoor spaces with plenty of water .
Sheepadoodles typically delight the company of other dogs and take part inplaytime at click parks . However , given the sheepadoodles ' herd background , they occasionally have a tendency to try rounding up belittled animals and children , so keep an eye on them at dog parks that allowsmall dogsand gravid dogs to mingle .
Care
Whileno dog are in full hypoallergenic , the combination of the Old English shepherd dog and the poodle results in a very low - shedding coat , even in the first coevals . Because of this , sheepadoodles can be agood fit for people who are sensitized to dogs .
For sheepadoodle grooming , you ’ll want to keep her coat in great experimental condition , sweep her ofttimes during the workweek , andhave her bathedand trimmed every 8–12 week . You ’ll require toclean her ears on a regular basis of wax and debrisandtrim her nail , as you would for any dog-iron .
Because they become so attached to their families , some sheepadoodles can grow separation anxiety if they ’re left alone for too long .
" All of the doodles are very connected to their citizenry and have a disposition to be a small minute on the queasy side when give alone , " says Irith Bloom , acertified dog trainerand board appendage at theCertification Council for Professional Dog Trainers .
Bloom suggests usingpositive reinforcement trainingfrom the bit your sheepadoodle pup make home .
" protrude training them right away [ so ] that small-scale periods of time away from you are OK , " she says . you may step by step increase from 30 - second increments until the puppy start to realize it ’s not a vainglorious deal . If you have to impart your heel at home alone for long hours , expect into alternative likedoggy day careor adedicated Zimmer .
As with all breeds that go from tiny puppy to large hot dog , it ’s important to start sheepadoodle training with the adult dog in mind : Do n’t allow or encourage your puppy to do anything you would n’t desire a 90 - British pound sheepadoodle doing a year from now .
Health
One possible advantage to a motley stock dog-iron is hybrid vigor , the idea of comparatively lower occurrence of hereditary diseases cropping up in progeny from two immensely different transmitted lines . " So a lot of fourth dimension , if there ’s a genetic predisposition to a disease in the one breed and you breed to another strain , sometimes you may get across that up so that the problem does n’t happen , " Bloom sound out .
Some scientist , however , disputethat hybrid dogs are inherently sizable than their purebred brethren . Whether you ’re look for a sheepadoodle or purebred puppy , consider a stock breeder with an excellent track record who does health sieve for both parents .
That being read , sheepadoodles by all accounts arerelatively healthy dogsthat live from 12–15 year .
As with all big hotdog , it ’s of import to bed thesymptoms of bloat , a condition in which a dog ’s stomach sate with gas and expands or gimmick to cut off line of descent flow to organs .
" For all frankfurter , but especially deep - chested dog , I further feeding one-half of the food in a food for thought puzzle or maze , " Choczynski Johnson pronounce . " This helps slow up down feeding , which can forestall abdomen bloat in orotund dogs . This also help your pup see how to have some independent time and get genial stimulation while eating . "
And because both Old English shepherd dog and poodles can be prone to conditions likehip dysplasiaandhypothyroidism , it ’s authoritative to talk about your puppy ’s wellness with your sheepadoodle stock breeder and your vet .
History
The origination are the sheepadoodle are murky at well : While humans have been thwartwise - breeding domestic dog as long as there have been breed , the popularity of sheepadoodles as a particular hybrid of their own really only took off in the past decade or so . Some article point that the " doodle " naming convention bug out in 1992 , which is perchance when the mixing of poodles to create a channel of low - shedding dogs embark on to take off .
The sheepadoodle ’s ascendant , however , have long historical rootage . Old English sheepdogs were developed in the west of England as herdsman , or dogs that helped livestock move along the dusty roads to marketplace . Their bottom were docked to indicate that they were run frank ( this also keep their tooshie away from perverse hoof ) , give this breed the sobriquet " bobtail . "
On the other side of the sheepadoodle family is an even former breed : The poodle is one of the oldest purebred frump , come from France via Germany , where they were aduck - hunting hot dog . The curly coat that protected them from chilly pee and their brilliant intelligence information made them splendid retriever .
