What is a Sheepadoodle?

If you are looking for a new puppy and you are not sure what type of dog you want, why not check out the miniature Sheepadoodle? Since it’s not a familiar breed, you’re probably wondering, “What is a Sheepadoodle?”

In 2004 a California groomer felt very strongly that she should breed her Old English Sheepdog with a Standard Poodle to create a new designer breed. With the support of her veterinarian, she pursued the purchase of a Standard Poodle and bred the two.

The result of this cross breeding of an Old English Sheepdog and the standard Poodle was called a Sheepadoodle. At the time there were no other Sheepadoodle breeders in the country. Today you can find a handful of breeders online with prices that are inconsistent from one breeder to another.

There is also a second type of crossbreeding between either a Miniature Poodle and an Old English Sheepdog, or between standard Poodles and small Old English Sheepdogs. The cross between the OES and the miniature Poodle is called an F1 mini-Sheepadoodle.

In the past decade the Poodle hybrid has become very popular among those involved with designer breeds. This is because the Poodle does not shed and, as a result, it and its offspring are hypoallergenic. These designer breeds are not recognized by the American Kennel Club or the Canadian Kennel Club. However, with crossbreeding resulting in hybrid vigor, you often have a healthier dog than the purebreds you started with. This is because the purebreds often have to deal with a genetic disorder or two.

Basic Information

There is Sheepadoodle information that you will want to know before making any decision to purchase one. Both types of crosses are bred to be low shedding and hypoallergenic. The Poodle is hypoallergenic to begin with, and crossing it with the OES produces a very low shedding, low allergy dog. The crossbreed has a soft, long coat that can be curly, straight, or anything in between. It is believed to be very hypoallergenic.

This designer breed is growing in popularity at a very rapid rate and there are very good reasons for that. In addition to being hypoallergenic, Sheepadoodles have many other qualities that endear them to their human companions. Adults usually weigh between 50 to 85 pounds while the miniature as an adult weighs about 20-30 pounds. The average life span is 10-12 years for the standard and 12-16 years for the miniature.

The most important quality that they seem to have is the calm, gentle Sheepadoodle temperament. They are said to be terrific dogs for families. Intelligent and easy to train, they love children and get along well with other dogs. Because the Sheepadoodle temperament is so calm, they are incredibly gentle with children.

Sheepadoodle puppies are as cute as or cuter than most purebred puppies. The puppies are very intelligent and trainable. They are also excellent dogs for use as either service dogs or therapy dogs. They make great guide dogs for the blind. Most of all they love to be with a family, go for walks, play fetch, or just sit with you. They are intensely motivated to please their people. They do require regular brushing and professional grooming in order to keep their coats looking beautiful.

Sheepadoodle Puppies for Sale

If all of the information provided has caused you to want to add one of these fun and loving dogs to your family, the question is now what do they cost? In reality the Sheepadoodle breeder can charge whatever they want as it is a new breed and there are no guidelines for them.

Here are the charges from a few online breeders to give you an idea of what your Sheepadoodle might cost.

Breeder 1’s costs:

• All black puppy $1200 +$495 for shipping.
• Black and white puppy $1400 + $495 for shipping
• Miniature Sheepadoodle $1800 + $495 for shipping

If the buyer wants the pick of the litter (POL) of your preferred gender it will cost an additional $150.00.

Breeder 2’s costs:

All puppies are $1200 with a deposit of $200 just to get on the waiting list. Shipping is $495 and available only in the United States.

Breeder 3’s costs:

All puppies are $1500 with a deposit of $315.

Breeder 4’s costs:

All puppies are $1200 with a deposit of $400.

Breeder 5’s costs:

• Black and white miniature puppy $1995
• Blue merle miniature puppy with brown eyes $2250
• Blue merle miniature puppy with either both blue eyes or just one blue eye $2500

Shipping cost on all puppies is $395

Breeder 6’s costs:

This breeder offers puppies at much cheaper rates than any other breeder offering their puppies for between $250 and $1000 depending on the age and color of the dog.

The Sheepadoodle as a Designer Breed

Sheepadoodle breeders see themselves as pioneers in developing a new breed. Many people outside the dog lover and breeder circles think that these types of “designer” dogs are just ordinary mixed breeds or mutts and that the breeders are just in it for the money. Technically the hybrid or designer dogs are mixed breeds, but the difference is that these dogs have two purebred parents. Another difference is that these purebred parents were intentionally bred to produce the hybrid.

Many times the breeding of hybrids leads to a new pure breed that is then recognized by AKC and CKC as such. This is in effect how most purebreds came into being. However, the hybrid dog is popular now in a way they never were before. Add to that the genius of marketing them as designer breeds and charge extremely high prices for them and suddenly you have a dog that everyone wants.

This, however, is not the real reason for the development of the hybrid or designer dog. The real reason is to bring out the positive traits of both breeds and eliminate the negative traits. The Sheepadoodle breeders are breeding to improve the health, the temperament and the allergen level of the dog. Even the AKC recognizes the benefit of the hybrid with their American Canine Hybrid Club.

Unlike the case with many other mixed breeds and pure breeds, there is no Sheepadoodle rescue. The breed is very young and so far the breeders are usually not only willing to take back any dog that does not work out, they insist on it. It is a condition of the purchase that if the buyer ever intends to give the dog away they must give it back to the breeder.

Raising Your Sheepadoodle

Now that you know all there is to know before purchasing a Sheepadoodle puppy, it’s time to bring your new little one home. It is time for you to raise your puppy as an integral member of your household. In this respect it is suggested that you plan for and schedule training classes for your new puppy.

You will need to housebreak your puppy, but you might be better off taking him/her to a puppy obedience class. Socialize him/her early to humans, other dogs, and other animals. Remember you have a very family-oriented dog. Do not leave him alone for hours at a time. If everyone in your home is gone all day then purchase a second dog as a companion for your first; they will keep each other company.

These gentle and calm dogs are easy to raise. They need excellent dog food, a place to run and a lot of time with you and the family. No matter how many dogs you have, your Sheepadoodle or miniature Sheepadoodle is going to want to be with you. Make sure you meet this need or you will find yourself with a depressed dog instead of a happy one. Raise them with love, gentle and positive training, and lots of fun together and you will have an amazing companion for years to come.