Here’s What Sheepadoodle Owners Wish They Knew Before Getting a Sheepadoodle

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It’s no secret that I love my Sheepadoodle.

But Sheepadoodles aren’t for everybody and it’s important to do as much research as possible before you decide to add this big low-shedding dog to your family.

Whether you are considering a Sheepadoodles (or Mini Sheepadoodles), or you’re waiting to take your pup home, you’re probably wondering what life will be like with a Sheepadoodle dog.

I decided to ask Sheepadoodle owners one thing they wish they knew before getting a Sheepadoodle.

Here’s what they had to say!

On training…

Standard Sheepadoodles are big and strong, and Jiji J. agrees by saying, “standards are POWERFUL and they get big fast! Start [with] a trainer from the beginning to train obedience and good leash habits.”

Emily C. agrees with how fast Sheepadoodles grow and mentions, “I was not prepared for the growth rate of Sheepadoodles. Having a 4-year-old, who is passive in nature, large puppies are rough, because they can nip/scratch at the face. When we brought home [our Sheepadoodle] he was tiny… now at 4 months he is longer than her and he is POWERFUL.“

And even with training, these dogs have a mind of their own. Deidre M. said one word about the Sheepadoodles: “Stubbornness ?!” she said, and I think we can all relate!

But beyond being stubborn, Sheepadoodles are highly intelligent and can adapt to new situations (if properly trained). Debra B. mentions, “I have found that my two Sheepadoodles, now 10 weeks old, are very alert, smart, eager to please. The one thing that surprised me, not in a bad way, is how adaptable they are. I expose them to all types of changes to their environment. They are curious, however, adapt so easily,” but Debra adds that “[s]ocialization is the very most important aspect of their lives.“

In other words, if you want a Sheepadoodle, training is a must.

And lastly, even though Sheepadoodles are smart, they are still, well, puppies! Samantha H. writes, “the first weeks are very hard…the days are long but the weeks will fly by,” and she is right. Even though those first few weeks are tough with a new pup, before you know it, your puppy will be big and you might just miss those early days!

On grooming…

Roger Y. wishes he knew about “the high maintenance of their coat” and Cathy W. agrees and says she wishes she knew “[h]ow badly they mat, otherwise they’re pretty great.”

You can avoid matting with regular trips to the groomer (usually every 6-8 weeks, which costs anywhere from $80-$150 depending on where you live). Otherwise, you can expect to put in about 30 minutes of brushing and combing.

To make grooming easier, Virginia M. suggests “Kong toys, good shampoo and conditioner.” (Kong are also one of the best toys for Sheepadoodles because it keeps them busy, entertained, and working for their food).

Grooming a Doodle dog requires lots of work—whether it’s a Sheepadoodle or a Bernedoodle, you can expect to spend lots of money at the groomers or lots of time on at home grooming (or both)!

On nipping…

This particular Doodle breed is quite nippy as a puppy! Sheepadoodles are part Old English Sheepdog, and they are born to herd. As puppies, they have earned the nickname “land-shark” as they nip whatever they can with their razor-sharp teeth.

Cindy L. knew this, but she still wasn’t prepared for how much nipping there was for her pup, “As much as I prepared I really was not prepared for the sharkadoodle stage and herding. She’s almost 6 months now. And we love each other! But there were nights I wasn’t sure. ???“

Gwendolyn M. agrees: “[the] nipping is so hard“.

As a prospective Sheepadoodle owner, it’s important to be prepared for the herding and nipping. We had to call in a professional trainer to help us, and in the end, it was worth it. Our dog no longer nips or herds and is fantastic, but those puppy days were certainly testing!

On energy levels…

Kara L says, “I know it’s not true of all Sheepadoodles, but I wish I’d known that ours would be a wild bundle of energy. I also would have liked to been aware that some are barkers. But we love ours and know it is worth all the work it takes to manage her puppiness!“

Stacey H. agrees: “[t]hey are ruled by their play drive. They need a buddy – canine or human – to keep them busy all day or they get very bored and mischievous.“

On loyalty

Sheepadoodles love their family. They become very attached and Robin A. mentions that “[t]hey pick their person to follow around and they will never be able to have anymore privacy in the bathroom.Very watchful of their people!“

I think we can all relate that once you get a Sheepadoodle, you’ll have a little shadow everywhere you go.

In conclusion

Sheepadoodles are a wonderful family dog when trained properly, groomed frequently and kept busy through daily mental and physical activity.

If you want to learn more about the Sheepadoodle breed, read our other resources:

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