Mini Sheepadoodle Breed Information
Kind, cuddly, merry, and gentle, Mini Sheepadoodle puppies are truly sweethearts. They are generous in affection, attentive, obedient, and love to impress their human family by any means. With a delightful personality and a bit of a wild side, Mini Sheepadoodles are “live in the moment” types of dogs. They are brilliant and easy to train and they enjoy canine sports and games. They are always ready for an adventure.
Fluffy, cuddly, and gorgeous, the Mini Sheepadoodle is a small dog with an average weight between 25 and 45 pounds with an average height between 15 to 20 inches. The fabulous Mini Sheepadoodle puppies are a cross between an Old English Sheepdog and a Mini Poodle.
Characteristics
- The Mini Sheepadoodle breed is a mix of an Old English Sheepdog crossed with a Miniature or Toy Poodle. These designer dogs are also known as Mini Sheepapoo
- The Mini Sheepadoodle size is typically medium to small, but there can also be toy varieties that are called Micro Sheepadoodles
- Miniature Sheepadoodles are highly social, playful, and friendly dogs that make excellent family pets and loyal companions. They love to interact with other pets (including cats), children – toddlers and teens alike, and even strangers
- Receptive to human emotions and generous in affection, the Mini Sheepdoodle is an amazing therapy dog
- The Mini Sheepadoodle puppy is bright, happy, eager to learn, and easy to train
- Highly adaptable and easy-going, the Mini Sheepadoodle dog is comfortable in both small apartments and large homes
- Mini Sheepdoodles have well-balanced personalities and are wonderful companion pets that are best suited for families with or without children, singles, and first-time pet owners
- Mini Sheepadoodle dogs live longer, healthier lives due to hybrid vigor
- Hypoallergenic Mini Sheepadoodle with a non-shedding coat
- Excellent watchdogs – Mini Sheepadoodle dogs are not overly vocal as they only bark with a purpose
Appearance
The Mini Sheepadoodle is an athletic and stunning small dog that comes with a lot of the desirable features Mini Poodles and Old English Sheepdogs are known and loved for. Graceful in movement and teddy bear-like in appearance, the Mini Sheepdoodle has beautiful expressive eyes, cute floppy ears, and a sturdy-built body covered in a soft fluffy coat.
The coat is luxurious and dense with unique patterns and markings. Their coats can vary from wavy to slightly curly and they can come in a variety of colors and color combinations. The most common Mini Sheepadoodle colors are black and white, while some of the rarer ones are black, shades of red, red and white, shades of brown, silver, or chocolate and white. Merle Mini Sheepadoodle and blue merle Mini Sheepadoodle pups although exceedingly popular, are rare. They are generally an F1b mix that inherits most of its coat features from the Mini Poodle breed.
The Mini Sheepadoodle size is small to medium, as these dogs are a mix between a small-sized dog and a large one. Most often, a full grown Mini Sheepadoodle will weigh between 25 and 45 pounds and reach an average of 15 to 20 inches in height.
The size of these dogs is smaller in generations such as the F1b or F2 puppy. For an F1b Mini Sheepadoodle full grown, the size is generally smaller than the size of the F1 adult. This generation is commonly referred to as the Micro Mini Sheepadoodle. Another size of the breed is the Teacup Mini Sheepadoodle that can weigh as little as 10 pounds. The teacup variety is very rare.
These is also a larger variety of Sheepadoodles that are a cross between an Old English Sheepdog and a Standard Poodle.
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Temperament
Cheerful and entertaining with a sunny disposition, the Mini Sheepadoodle is a joy to be around. Mini Sheepadoodles are very bright, attentive, and eager to please. They very much enjoy the training process, are known to be fast learning students, and are overall obedient.
Exceptionally sweet and patient, the Mini Sheepdoodles’ greatest quality is their kindness towards children. A gentle playmate and an affectionate cuddle friend, the Mini Sheepadoodle is known to be very protective of children and watch over them. The Mini Sheepadoodle personality is very similar to that of the Poodle and Old English Sheepdog breeds. These dogs get along well with everyone they meet and are often unfamiliar with aggression.
Amusing, goofy, and fun, with a knack for tricks, the Mini Sheepadoodles are funny little guys famous for their herding stunts – they might, on occasion, gently nudge cats, dogs, people, and even cars in an effort to herd them all into place.
The Mini Sheepdoodles are wonderful companion pets for outdoorsy people. They are happy, energetic little dogs always ready for a run, a swim, or a hiking adventure. Playing a game of chase, fetch, or tag, doing agility training, going on a long walk or jog are all excellent ways to ensure that the Mini Sheepadoodle stays in great shape, healthy, and happy. Mental stimulation is also something this dog loves.
Mini Sheepadoodles and Mini Sheepadoodle puppies are as bouncy, playful, and energetic outdoors are they are calm, cuddly, and relaxed indoors and they are known to adapt well to both active and more laid-back lifestyles.
For more insights on training dogs effectively, check out our blog on Easiest Dogs to Train - Top 5 Pups for Effortless Training
Insights
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Care
Grooming
Mini Sheepadoodles do not require extensive grooming. One daily brush is enough to keep their coats shiny, tangle, and matt-free. You can opt to brush them as rarely as once every week during mid-seasons and more often during season changes. Although they shed very little, it is beneficial to brush them regularly. Brushing is not only great for aesthetic reasons, but it also helps spread natural oils throughout the coat as well as catch any debris or dust that gets stuck in the coat.
It is recommended to bathe the Mini Sheepadoodles only if they get their coats very dirty, otherwise, three or four times a year will suffice. Bathing them too often may lead to dry skin and irritation. Their nails should be clipped if they grow too long and start making noise at every step. Their ears and under paws should be checked and trimmed regularly to avoid any discomfort.
For a comprehensive guide on how often and the best methods to bathe your dog, explore our How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog Guide
Learn about the ins and outs of Grooming Your Dog at Home.
Exercise Needs
Mini Sheepadoodles are energetic dogs. Although they are known to adapt well to both active and relaxed lifestyles, they much prefer being active and spending their energy running, hiking, playing games, and exploring as opposed to lazing around indoors all day. They need between 30 to 60 minutes of walks and active playtime each day to be satisfied, healthy, and fit. They should also be provided with games that challenge their minds to keep them from falling into boredom.
An adult Mini Sheepadoodle needs much more exercise than a young puppy. As puppies, these dogs need to be walked 5 or 6 times every day, each walk lasting no more than 5 minutes. Adult Mini Sheepadoodle dogs need at least 2 daily walks of 20 minutes each.
Health
Full grown Mini Sheepadoodles, particularly F1’s, benefit from hybrid vigor, which is a result of crossbreeding. They are healthy, happy dogs that aren’t known to be sickly neither as puppies nor as adults. Some of the health issues they may encounter are the same ailments that may affect the breeds of their parents. These include some joint problems, allergies, excessive weight gain issues, and bloating. It is recommended to schedule regular vet checkups that will allow you to identify any of these potential issues early on.
Lifespan
Mini Sheepadoodles can live up to 16 years without encountering any health problems. They are a healthy, long-lived breed much like their Poodle and English Sheepdog parents. The average lifespan of these dogs is 12 to 15 years, but like their parents, they can live longer. Poodles, especially small-sized ones like the Toy and Mini Poodle, are known to reach as much as 20 years of age.
Training
Mini Sheepadoodles are very bright dogs, but they can sometimes be stubborn when it comes to training. Keeping training sessions short and fun and combining them with playtime and delicious treats is the best way to ensure the Mini Sheepadoodle will be an obedient, fast learning student. Mini Sheepadoodle puppies respond well to reward-based motivation and positive reinforcement.
They are friendly dogs that get along great with everyone they meet, but they still require socialization training. Socialization training will provide these puppies with excellent social skills. Although they are naturally friendly, they can become reserved or even shy around strangers if not socialized during puppyhood.
Mini Sheepadoodles are independent dogs. They can be left alone for longer periods of time without any issues. They are known to nap and play with interactive canine toys and treat puzzles when they are home alone. They are also generally quiet dogs and are not prone to destructive behavior.
For early training insights and understanding key puppy behaviors, delve into our Early Training Key Cavapoo Puppy Behaviors article
RELATED: New Puppy Owner Guide
History
The Mini Sheepadoodle, also known as the “Mini Sheepapoo” or the “Mini Sheepdoodle,” is a fairly new and rare designer Doodle Breed that originated a little over 30 years ago in the United States.
A cross between a purebred Old English Sheepdog and a purebred Miniature Poodle, the modern Mini Sheepdoodle breed has seen a steady rise in popularity in the last decade. The breed is currently one of the 5 most popular Mini Doodles in the world.
A smaller version of the famous Standard Sheepadoodle breed, the Mini Sheepadoodle has been carefully developed into three generations:
- A first-generation Mini Sheepadoodle, known as an F1 Mini Sheepadoodle, is when a puppy has a purebred Old English Sheepdog parent and a purebred Mini Poodle parent
- A second-generation Mini Sheepadoodle, known as an F1B Mini Sheepadoodle, is when a puppy has an F1 Mini Sheepadoodle parent and a purebred Mini Poodle parent
- A third-generation Mini Sheepadoodle, known as an F2 Mini Sheepadoodle, is when a puppy has two Mini Sheepadoodle parents
Read more about Doodle Breed Generations.
To learn more about the new Mini Sheepadoodle breed, we can look at the history of the Old English Sheepdog and the Poodle parent breeds.
The Old English Sheepdog is believed to have originated during the 1700s in England, contrary to what the breed's name suggests, it is not quite an old breed. Agile and resilient, the Old English Sheepdog, a remarkable herder, was used to herd and protect sheep from predators through difficult terrain and long roads on their way to markets. The Old English Sheepdog’s fortune changed for the better when wealthy families from the United States took notice of their astounding beauty and presented them to the dog show rings (where they were instantly adored and praised).
Never nervous, nor showing any signs of aggression, and a winner of canine beauty contests, the Old English Sheepdog moved on to the competing fields of canine sports where it once again proved its worth by excelling at agility, obedience, tracking, rally, flyball and well, most dog sports. Popular overnight, and for good reason, the Old English Sheepdog went on to become a famous star in multiple television series, movies, and cartoons around the world.
The elegant and unique Poodle puppies are an old and versatile breed with centuries of achievements in their portfolio. Gorgeous, agile, and intelligent, from hunter to circus performer and from battlefields to show rings, the Poodles have made their presence known around the world. The Poodle breed has been represented in French poetry, British literature, and Italian paintings, and has enjoyed a life of luxury among kings and queens at royal courts throughout history. Ranked as the second most intelligent breed, the Poodle is now one of the most popular breeds in the world.
RELATED: 7 Things you Didn’t Know About Poodles
By crossing the Old English Sheepdog with a Miniature Poodle, Mini Sheepadoodle breeders captured the best personality traits and physical features of both breeds in one small-sized and adorable-looking puppy. The magnificent Mini Sheepadoodle comes with the same intelligence as the brilliant Poodle and with the same cuddly nature as the Sheepdog. It also has great hypoallergenic qualities that are inherited from the Poodle parent.
Compare the Mini Sheepadoodle with similar breeds: