Sheepadoodle

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 12-15 years
The Sheepadoodle is a popular hybrid cross breed of the Old English Sheepdog and the Poodle. It is important that you look for a reputable breeder when you select your puppy, otherwise, you may end up with a sick dog on your hands. There are some health concerns with the Sheepadoodle and both parent breeds were studied to find out potential issues that a Sheepadoodle pup may inherit.

Some of the major medical conditions to be aware of include bloat, patellar luxation, Legg-Perthe’s Disease, Von Willebrand’s Disease, Addison’s Disease, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and Cushing’s Disease. As you can see, there are several conditions to be on the lookout for. If you do work with a breeder, find out what tests they perform on their pups to ensure their health.

Bloat is a condition that can quickly turn fatal for your pup. This condition is often referred to as gastric torsion and it occurs when too much air enters into your dog’s stomach. This additional air causes the stomach to enlarge and expand, which causes surrounding organs to malfunction.

Patellar luxation is better known as a knee dislocation and may affect your Sheepadoodle. Sometimes this breed can have a low pain threshold, so they will alert you if their limb is not functioning properly. You may notice that the knee does not sit correctly or that your pup walks with his or her knee elevated from the ground.

Legg-Perthe’s Disease is an inherited disease that can be passed down from your pup’s parents. This disease causes the head of the femur bone to degenerate, which in return causes bone and joint inflammation in your pup.

Von Willebrand’s Disease is another inherited disease. This blood disorder occurs when the platelets in your pup’s body do not contain enough proteins and they do not clot correctly.

Your Sheepadoodle may have Addison’s Disease, which can be passed down to them. This disease occurs when your pup’s adrenal gland does not operate correctly and impairs other functions of the body. This disease is marked by a lack of corticosteroids in your pup’s body.

Hip dysplasia is a joint condition that occurs when the hip joint is either deformed or does not fit into the socket correctly. This causes pain for your pup and you may notice that your pup has trouble standing, sitting, or going from an up to down position or vice versa.

Hypothyroidism is a condition that affects the thyroid. When this condition is present, the thyroid does not function the way it needs to and can lead to your pup either becoming obese or not being able to gain weight.

Lastly, your Sheepadoodle may inherit Cushing’s Disease. This disease also partly affects the adrenal gland, but it is characterized by a benign tumor located on the pituitary gland.

The Sheepadoodle has a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.

Temperament & Train-ability

The Sheepadoodle is an all-around wonderful family dog that gets along great with children and other pets. This pup will provide you with a lot of love and cuddles, even when you do not want the sometimes.

You will find that this breed is loyal to his or her family and your pup will tag along with you wherever you go. Because he or she is loyal and thrives on human touch, he or she will not do well alone all of the time or for long periods of time.

The Sheepadoodle is intelligent and is considered easy to train. You do need to make sure that you are consistent and you work at it each day, but with a gentle hand and approach, your pup will follow your commands and perform tricks in no time.

Your Sheepadoodle does need some outside time and a yard is the best bet for him or her. While your pup will not be very active, he or she will need moderate exercise and will require at least a walk per day.

Grooming

The Sheepadoodle is easy to take care of and does not have a lot of grooming needs. You will find that this breed does not shed a lot, which makes him or her a wonderful choice for those who suffer with allergies.

You will need to make sure that you brush your pup’s coat at least once per day to remove any hairs that may come loose and to free any tangles that may have formed. In addition to regular brushing, you will need to take your pup to the groomer every couple of months to be clipped.

You only need to bathe your Sheepadoodle when it is truly needed. This breed does not generally have an odor, so unless your pup has gotten into something stinky or very dirty, you do not have to worry too much about bathing.

You will need to clean your pup’s ears at least once a week to remove any buildup and to prevent ear infections. You will also need to trim his or her nails monthly to ensure they remain at a healthy length.

Diet

You can expect your Sheepadoodle to consume anywhere between three and four cups of food per day. You should feed your pup a high-quality dry kibble that does not contain any chemicals or by-products in it.
 

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Sheepadoodle Puppies For Sale

Adopt A Sheepadoodle

Cost

A Sheepadoodle puppy will cost you about $1,000 on average. This price will fluctuate, and you should also take into consideration some of the additional yearly fees associated with dogs such as vet appointments, vaccines, food, and similar.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. If you are thinking about a Sheepadoodle for your home, you are thinking along the right lines. This is a great choice for any family and you will fall in love time and time again with this breed. This pup will get along great with kids and other pets in your home and you never have to worry about an aggressive bone in his or her body. Grooming is easy and training this breed is even easier. This breed ranks a 1.

 

Old English Sheepdog

Poodle

Goldendoodle

Labradoodle