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When you think of a Sheepadoodle, you might think of the standard black and white pooch. But these cuddly puppies actually come in thirteen different color coats! Their lovable appearance will melt your heart for sure.
And although breeders cannot promise what color their litter will be, it’s worth learning about the different Sheepadoodle colors so you know what your potential pup might look like.
But before we dive into all the various colors of the Sheepadoodle, let’s quickly look at the characteristics and breed history to know this dog better.
Sheepadoodle Characteristics
| Breed type | Crossbreed |
| Breeding group | Working |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 years |
| Weight | 15 to 80 lbs (varies based on the breed size) |
| Height | 13 to 24 inches |
| Coat type | Long, soft, wavy, or curly coat |
| Grooming needs | Moderate |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes |
| Colors | Black and white, brown, silver, red, blue gray, tricolor, and more. |
Sheepadoodle Dog Breed: A Brief History
Sheepadoodles are a designer breed. It’s a mix of Poodle and Old English Sheepdog. They are a part of the Poodle family, and like other dogs from the family, Sheepadoodles are also non-shedding and hypoallergenic breeds.
These cute fluffy Sheepadoodles come in all sizes: mini, medium, and a standard size. The height and weight will differ accordingly.
The Mini Sheepadoodle puppies weigh around 15 to 35 pounds, and the standard ones can weigh between 35 to 80 lbs.
Interestingly, this cross-breed dog is known by various names like Sheepapoo, Sheep-a-poo, Sheeppoo, and Sheepdoodle.
If you want an intelligent, fun, active dog that can mix well with your family, Sheepadoodles are the best.
Now that you have some idea about the breed let’s move ahead and talk about Sheepadoodle colors.
13 Different Colors Of Sheepadoodle
Following are the popular colors or color combinations you can find Sheepadoodles in.
1. Gray Sheepadoodle
Grey Sheepadoodles are one of the most popular coat colors for this dog. Sheepadoodles have inherited this color from their parent breed, the Old English Sheepdog, as they are mainly found in gray, white, blue-gray, and white combinations.
You can’t actually get a solid gray Sheepadoodle. You will find them mostly in a mixed coat color of blue, white, and gray.
2. Merle Sheepadoodle
Merle Sheepadoodles are rare, and breeders need to be careful that they aren’t breeding two dogs with the merle gene together as it can cause defects and health issues.
Another thing to note is merle Poodles aren’t purebred, and have some merle dog in their lineage, like the Australian Shepherd.
Nonetheless, merle is a beautiful trait that gets passed on when bred properly and ethically.
3. Black and white Sheepadoodle
You can easily find beautiful black and white Sheepadoodles from nearly every breeder. This color combo is most popular and will be the most likely color you’ll come across.
4. Brown Sheepadoodle
Brown is another popular Sheepadoodle color. These pups can either be entirely brown, or a mix or brown and white, like the photo below:
5. Cream Sheepadoodle
These playful puppies look super cute with a cream coat color. Cream Sheepadoodle is developed by breeding cream Poodles together with English Sheepdogs. Cream Sheepadoodles look quite the same as white and apricot Sheepadoodle puppies.
Keep in mind that with lighter colored dogs, you may need to wash their mouths often to prevent staining from dog food or tear stains around their eyes (as it will be more noticeable).
6. Red Sheepadoodle
Red Sheepadoodles are a rare find, but look how stunning that coat is!
7. Blue Sheepadoodle
Blue is another famous Sheepadoodle color, refering to an icy grey. However, this dog breed is not entirely blue. Instead, there are blue patches on the ears, the face and the back are blue, and the rest of the body is white.
8. Grizzle Sheepadoodle
Grizzle happens when you have a dog that has no discernable pattern with the colors throughout their coats. For Sheepadoodles, grizzle coats can appear in a mixture of white, tan, brown, grey, and black.
9. Silver Sheepadoodle
Silver Sheepadoodle is another popular pick among doodle lovers. But silver Sheepadoodles are usually a mix of colors (like black and white) rather than full silver.
Generally, a black and white Sheepadoodle can turn silver as they age.
10. Blue Merle Sheepadoodle
If you have got doodle fever, you can’t help admiring the blue merle Sheepadoodle. These pups have a diluted pigment of blue patches throughout their coats.
11. White Sheepadoodle
White Sheepadoodles have an entirely white body or have white patches around their eyes, paws, ears, nose, back, and chest.
12. Solid Black Sheepadoodle
Sheepadoodles come in a solid black coat color, too, but it’s one of the rarest finds. Sheepadoodles mainly inherit this color from their poodle parent.
Because black Sheepadoodles are extremely rare, they are also one of the most expensive ones.
13. Tri-Colored Sheepadoodle
The tri-color Sheepadoodle is another popular Sheepadoodle color to find. These dogs have a mix of black, white, and brown color coats. The brown coat color is not very visible, and you may only notice the black and white coats from afar.
Do genetics determine Sheepadoodle colors?
Yes, genetics determine Sheepadoodle colors. Your Sheepadoodle puppy will carry the mixed genes of its parents: the Poodle and the Old English Sheepdog. These genes determine the pup’s color, coat, and level of shedding (along with temperament and more).
It’s quite tricky to determine which parent’s genes will be more reflected in the new pup. But coat colors are usually inherited either by the mix of two dominant genes or a recessive and a dominant gene.
What is the original color of Sheepadoodle puppies?
The original color of this mixed dog breed is black and white, which they mostly get from the English Sheepdog. Black and white Sheepadoodles usually have a white face and white paws on the front, and the rest of the body is black.
But this may vary for each dog.
What are the rarest colors for a Sheepadoodle?
Solid colors like gray, black, or white Sheepadoodles are very rare. Other than that, the brindle, parti, and merle gene is very difficult to find.
The Sheepadoodle’s hair color will primarily depend on the genetics of their parents.
Caring for a Sheepadoodle
Sheepadoodles tend to be high-maintenance dogs due to their non-shedding coat and high energy levels.
Here are some tips to ensure your Sheepadoodle lives a happy, healthy, and long life.
Exercise
Sheepadoodles are energetic, playful, and super active, and need a lot of exercise to keep healthy. These pups require anywhere from 1 to 2 hours of daily exercise.
High-quality diet
The purebred Old English Sheepdog and the Poodle (Standard, Miniature, and Toy varieties) have slight gastric sensitivity, and the Sheepadoodle can inherit the same from its parents. Feeding them good-quality dog food is essential.
Grooming
Sheepadoodles have long, soft, wavy/curly coats and don’t shed much but require lots of at-home grooming to keep their coats in tip-top shape.
Where to find Sheepadoodle puppies
If you want to add a Sheepadoodle to your family, you can either adopt one or buy a puppy from a reputable breeder.
Browse through our list of Doodle rescue agencies or look through our directory of Sheepadoodle breeders to find some in your area.
Wrapping up
Sheepadoodle puppies are extremely cute no matter which color they come in.
It’s important to remember that while coat color is certainly a fun aspect to consider when selecting a Sheepadoodle, it’s also important to focus on the dog’s overall temperament, health, and compatibility with your lifestyle.
What color is your favorite? Leave a comment below!
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About the Author:
Dana owns a Sheepadoodle and a rescue merle Labradoodle. Her first dog growing up was a white Toy Poodle and she’s loved dogs ever since. She has years of experience fostering dogs and has helped find homes for a variety of different breeds, both large and small! After seeing so many dogs end up unwanted and in shelters, she began blogging about different dog breeds (specifically Doodle dogs, since that’s what she knows best) to help people make informed choices when adding a new member to their family.
When Dana’s not brushing her Doodles’ hair (it takes a lot of time for two!) you can find her playing nose work games and fetch with her two amazing pups.
Learn more about her here.