Dog Care

So, you’ve heard about the fluffy and joyful Sheepadoodle that has melted hearts everywhere! An incredible cross between the Old English Sheepdog and a Poodle, these puppies look like little white clouds of happiness bounding across the room. They are typically on the larger side of the poodle cross because of the size of the Old English Sheepdog but can vary depending on the Poodle parent. 

Sheepadoodles are incredibly athletic, if not a bit goofy in their temperament and movement. They provide plenty of humor as they navigate the world and interact with their family. When thinking about whether this breed is right for you a few considerations are in order.  Do you have an appropriate size indoor and outdoor space for your pup? How much training time can you set aside? Are they the right energy level for you? Sheepadoodles vary between medium to high levels of energy and need either daily walks or a yard big enough to allow for a couple of big bursts of energy to be released. 

If you are considering the Sheepadoodle for your family, it’s important to know if they are the correct fit as far as their size, temperament, training needs, and maintenance. Old English Sheepdogs are a herding breed meant for moving cattle and sheep over long distances for their owners. This requires both physical and mental stamina and the bravery to take on predators to keep their livestock safe along the way. The Poodles job, as a game fowl retriever, also requires mental and physical fortitude in all types of weather conditions and the ability to work closely with humans. 

No matter which personality characteristics the Sheepadoodle takes on from its parents, it will need consistent and predictable training to reach its full potential. There a couple of basic qualities in the Sheepadoodle that can make it more difficult for your family to train. 

I Herd you 

When a working dog uses its natural instincts, to do the job they were bred to do, we sit in awe of its beauty and intelligence. To see an Old English Sheepdog drive livestock and use its herding instinct, it’s magical, until you realize that your children, cats, cars, scooters, and just about anything else is also fair game! Even though you have taken half of the herding gene pool out, a Sheepadoodle will still retain at least some of that drive to contain and manage movement in their environment. This can be especially difficult for young children and other pets that do not understand what’s happening to them. All they see is a big fuzzy ball of energy running towards them and cutting them off every time they try to play soccer or a game of tag. 

Recognizing the herding behavior is the first step to gaining control over your pup. Consistent training from a very early age is imperative. Creating an outlet for your pup’s energy will help dampen some of this instinct but won’t eliminate it completely. You need to be watchful of your Sheepadoodle around movement that excites them. Long walks around the neighborhood, games of retrieving, hide and seek, and agility, will facilitate a better connection with your pup and help prevent excessive herding. On leash and off leash obedience 

I Didn’t Mean To

An extension of the herding behavior that a Sheepadoodle may exhibit is nipping as they work. Nipping is encouraged when the Sheepdog goes out in the field of work and is an acceptable tool when herding livestock, but not with people. As much as we know and understand this is not meant to be an aggressive act, it will lower the trust of the human that has been nipped and make the Sheepadoodle a less reliable choice, especially around small children. 

Much of this nipping can be tempered by proper training and early socialization. Teaching bite inhibition, where a puppy learns to use its mouth softly during play, is the first and most important step. Some of this is learned from littermates but it must be transferred to its new playmates, you, and your family, when your pup comes home. Sheepadoodles will carry this nipping behavior with them as they mature but will be softer in its application if  trained correctly early on. 

Like Velcro

Before investing your heart into a Sheepadoodle, consider how much you like your privacy or your ability to pick up and head out of the house on a whim. Is having one shadow enough or would you like a second dog shaped shadow too? It can prove difficult to live even a semi-independent life with a Sheepadoodle. Both the poodle and the Old English Sheepdog are naturally dependent and thrive on proximity to humans. This breed is a great fit for families that work from home or have someone that is in the home the majority of the day. 

Being in the same room with you is probably not close enough for this pup. They will want to be under your feet while you eat, outside the shower, in your lap while you watch tv, and probably under the covers if you let them. There is no such thing as too close or too much! 

  If your lifestyle includes work in the office full time and going away for the weekend on fun trips, your Sheepadoodle will feel unfulfilled and frustrated by your absence, and in return will look for ways to self-entertain. Unfortunately, this boredom and frustration are usually worked out in less than desirable ways. This separation anxiety can lead to destructive behaviors around the house. Crate training your pup early on and draining energy can be helpful but is not a fix for their emotional needs. They naturally need to be close.

Who is That?

Sheepadoodles are a natural watchdog, keeping you up to the minute on who is coming and going. They have a deep bellowing bark to announce the presence of strangers and friends alike. The good news is that there is little intent behind that bark other than to communicate. With training their bark can be quieted quickly.  What they are looking for from you is acknowledgement that they have done their job well and that you approve of the visitor. Once the stranger comes inside most pups will forgo the barking and attempt to be the lap dog they were born to be. 

Where this could vocalization be a concern is dependent on where you live. Country living with a dog that barks is probably not going to bother anyone. If you are a city dweller with shared walls you may find yourself getting some complaints on the noise. Boredom contributes to how much your Sheepadoodle will bark. A pup who has been well drained of its energy through walks, mental stimulation, and play will be less likely to nuisance bark and easier to settle if they do alert to a noise. 

I’m So Sorry

Most of the reasons a Sheepadoodle can be difficult to train have to do with their drive to work. Herding people and animals when we don’t want them to can be frustrating. Nipping and biting while they herd can be uncomfortable and a bit scary for the younger children. The barking can be a bit annoying depending on where you live. 

The WORST part about training a Sheepadoodle is that no matter what they do, how upset you might be, it is impossible to be mad at them! The expression in their eyes is one of absolute love and adoration for their owner. You know they would do anything for you and all they ask of you is to let them be your shadow and your friend. It melts your heart every time and keeps you from following through on the training they need, because how can you say no to those eyes? Stay vigilant. Follow through. Be firm but fair. Remember that a Sheepadoodle will love you always. 

What makes a Sheepadoodle so much fun to have around? It’s their playful and goofy outlook on life. It’s the way they get along so well with young children and other pets. They are a cross between the mellow and gentle Old English Sheepdog and the intelligent and energetic Poodle. Both parents come from working breeds which makes them able to process information, problem solve, adapt, and work well with people. Training a working breed is necessary to mold them to the tasks they are required to do.

The Old English Sheepdog, originally used for herding livestock to market, had to be gentle enough to not hurt their keep but strong enough to keep them safe. This took both physical and mental concentration over long periods of time. They needed the ability to think and react on a second’s notice while also being able to respond to what their owner was asking them to do. 

The Poodle, standard in size, originally bred as a retriever of game fowl, had a tough job outside in the elements. Poodles swam through water and marsh areas to bring back waterfowl. The conditions they worked in were less than ideal as the water could be cold and the hours long. Their willingness to please under these conditions made them an ideal dog for their job.

As with any cross breed, the Sheepadoodle will gain a mixture of characteristics from each parent. As puppy ages it will become clearer how much Sheepdog and how much Poodle it has received. Either way, we know training is an essential part of its development and manageability to be a part of the family. Let’s take a look at the reasons the Sheepadoodle is easy to train.

I Can Do It Just Show Me How

When we are looking for a breed to work for us, we require intelligence to be top of the list. What does that mean? The dog has to be able to learn quickly, with less repetition, and then be able to perform the task with high reliability. The more intelligent the dog is, the variability of the tasks that can be mastered is almost endless. 

The Poodle is one of the most intelligent and versatile breeds when it comes to learning new and varied tasks. We can expect that they will problem solve quickly and be ready to take on more challenging assignments. These qualities lend themselves to Poodles often being chosen for service and therapy type work. The Sheepdog is also an intelligent breed that thrives on instinct and repetition. They are not as versatile as the Poodle but are incredibly in tune with their owners needs and willing to do anything to please. 

The Sheepadoodle averages high on the intelligence list and is eager to be challenged.  They will enjoy physical activities that also mentally stimulating like agility, group obedience class, retrieving in the backyard, and going for long walks. On the calmer side, consider therapy or emotional support as a job for your Sheepadoodle where they can use their cute and cuddly looks and innate desire to please to benefit those around them.

Enough is Enough

The part of working breeds that can easily overwhelm a family is the never-ending push from their dog to get what it wants. That could be a ball that is stuck under the couch, the treat they know is on the counter, or the walk at the end of the day that should be skipped because of the bad weather. The inner drive to do, all the time, is more than most know what to do with. 

What is so wonderful about the Sheepadoodle is that they are just as happy to go out and play in the yard as they are to sit at your feet and cuddle. The Sheepdog carries that calm and sweet demeanor and the ability to turn off when the job is done. The Sheepadoodle carries that balance of energy to play and the desire to be your constant companion while you watch TV or work on your computer. Be cautioned that close is never close enough and you may end up wearing your Sheepadoodle like a blanket if they have it their way.

Sensitive

There are some truly hardheaded breeds out there that need a firm hand. Police or military working dogs have that high energy and tough body mentality where quitting isn’t an option. It’s about getting the job done at any cost and they are incredible at their job. That isn’t what most of us need or want in our home.

What we need is a balance of energy to play and keep up with the kids but soft enough to take bumps and pulls of a toddler. Sheepadoodle’s natural inclination is to be a people pleaser and they can be sensitive to even a verbal correction. You may see their ears flatten and their tail go down but it’s just for the moment. Use that time to teach what you do want. Break out the treats and create the behavior needed. They are resilient and choose to replicate the behavior that gave them treats and not the scolding. 

Just A Bite?

Most families need a puppy to know their basic obedience commands of sit, down, stay, come, and be reliable around distraction. The best way to teach these behaviors is finding motivation for your puppy and using that as the reward. Some want to chase a ball, others need your praise, most have food high on the list of motivators. 

The Sheepadoodle enjoys a mix of all these which makes them super easy to train. They love treats, affection, and toys which helps complete their training under the greatest of distractions. If the value of the reward isn’t higher than the distraction itself, a puppy will naturally choose what they value most. 

Beginning when your puppy is young you can use their everyday kibble to entice them to do things for you. Often the Sheepadoodle will eat more than they should, as they aren’t necessarily picky, and become a bit on the heavier side. Taking extra treats out of the equation and just using their kibble can help keep them at a good weight. Save the higher value treats for special occasions when you know you need your pups attention.

Eager to Please

If you have ever looked into the eyes of an Old English Sheepdog you know those eyes have looked right back into your soul. There is something almost human about their expression and you know they understand and feel your every emotion. The Sheepadoodle carries that same knowing eye and is rightly in tune with you and the family. It’s as if they can hear your thoughts and know your next move. 

Sheepadoodles may choose moments of independence, chasing a squirrel or following a scent, but are happiest when right at your side. If the kids are running around outside, playing on the trampoline or swing set, so is your doodle. Taking this dependence on people to your advantage it’s easy to have your Sheepadoodles attention to create the habits your want. Sit before you go out the door, boom, you got it! Down and wait before you get your food. Sure thing! The dependency and eagerness to please make every moment a training session instead of a game of chase.

Your Sheepadoodle will, of course, have its own variation of personality traits form its parents. Early socialization and training is key to a happy and healthy family dog. Keep in mind that your pup may inherit more of the Poodle side or more of the Old English Sheepdog and your training should always be based on the needs of your individual dogs temperament. 

5 Reasons Why Labradoodles can be Hard to Train

Early and consistent training is the key for your Labradoodle puppy to ensure they are working for you instead of against you. Teaching the desired behaviors early is much easier than trying to undo engrained habits in a driven and sometimes stubborn breed. Taking into account all of the traits that make a Labradoodle difficult to train they can also be the very same traits that make your puppy a loyal and happy member of your family.

All the Energy!

Labradoodles have an abundance of energy and can be difficult to manage without a proper outlet and training. We see this energy exhibited in jumping on people and furniture, pulling, lunging on leash, barking at their surroundings and being highly distracted. This energy stems from the working breed cross of Labrador Retriever and Poodle who are historically bred to retrieve game fowl. Each of these breeds, individually, require both energy and stamina to perform their job. Be prepared to spend between 1-2 hours daily to drain physical and mental energy from your Labradoodle puppy. This includes long structured walks, retrieving, playing hide and seek, swimming and proper socialization. 

Please Don’t Leave

With an abundance of energy and an extreme love of people the Labradoodle can become tightly invested in its family. This might create a problem called separation anxiety where your pup is not able to happily be left alone. Separation anxiety is specific to each puppy, but the most common expressions are excessive vocalization, pacing, drooling, shaking, potty accidents, and destruction to property which can lead to injuries. It’s imperative to teach your puppy to find peace when left alone starting at a young age. Giving your pup a safe space with access to mentally stimulating activities while you are away, draining their energy properly, and practicing alone time, often, for short periods of time, can greatly reduce the likelihood of your labradoodle puppy having separation anxiety. 

I’m Bored.

Remembering that Labradoodles are a mix of working breeds we recognize they are highly intelligent and learn new tricks and tasks very quickly. It can be quite a job to keep them excited about the same routine day in and day out. Your pup will need a variety of engaging activities and games to keep them mentally stimulated or they will create their own at the owners expense. When we give Labradoodles the opportunity to make their own choices, we come home to chewed furniture, emptied trash cans, destuffed toys, items missing from the kitchen counter, all of which can lead to very expensive vet visits. There are an assortment of doggy puzzles, mats, chew toys, and treat dispensers to be purchased that can be traded out weekly to keep your pup engaged and happy. Save the favorite toys for use when you are leaving your puppy home alone so they have something to look forward to when you walk out the door.

I Can’t Hear You over all that Noise

It’s normal for dogs to bark with excitement, nervousness, and fear as it’s the strongest communication tool a dog has with a human. We all look around when a dog starts barking to see what they see. We believe them when they talk to us. Labradoodles are great “communicators” but can also be overly reactive to their environment, leaving us to wonder, will they ever stop? They will be the first to let you know when the mailman arrives, your food has been delivered, or that pesky squirrel is back in the yard. This working breed cross is highly excitable because of their retrieving background and if not directed consistently to another task, Labradoodles will make it their full-time job to alert the neighborhood to all they see. The best way to minimize the nuisance barking is to stay with your puppy in the yard and address any barking right away. Redirect your puppy away from the object of its interest and praise when they leave it behind. This redirection can be used at the door, in the car, at the park, or anytime you know your puppy likes to vocalize.

I Want it My Way 

It’s understood that Labradoodles have energy, want to be close to their humans, can become bored easily, and let us know all this with their barking. Lastly, we touch upon their independent and stubborn nature. Their first choice is to do what makes them happy in any moment without thinking how this affects anyone else in the house. This can be a struggle when your pup has grabbed the Thanksgiving turkey off the counter, is chasing the squirrel down the road, or destuffing a brand-new toy. These are instinctual behaviors tied to their drive to thrive. There is an independent spirit when it comes to the Labradoodle which needs to be harnessed and redirected when your puppy is young. Instead of allowing your pup to chase the squirrel you will need to teach a game of fetch to fill that desire. When cooking an amazing dinner teach your pup to stay out of the kitchen and give them engaging activities in another room.

5 Reasons Why Labradoodles are Easy to Train

There are a few common traits that easy to train dogs have in common. When searching for a service, therapy, or all-around happy family companion, we want to be able to teach new behaviors easily and quickly and have our dog retain the information for the next time we need it. The top breeds for working ability, including the Labradoodle, genetically inherit an array of traits which make them easy to train.

Their High Drive for Food

All puppies begin their life based on survival. If they do not eat, they do not survive. Food becomes the driving factor for the puppy to move, bond, fight, and thrive. This basic exchange transfers from mom and pup, to human and pup usually around the eight-week mark when the puppy is completely reliant on their human to provide all their caloric needs. Start training your puppy as soon as it comes home. Labradoodles have a high drive for food, meaning they will do just about anything if they believe there is one more piece of food left for them. It is an amazing advantage to have a puppy that will eat under high stress and high distraction scenarios as you can keep their focus, build confidence in new situations, and encourage your pup to try things they wouldn’t under normal circumstances. Training a labradoodle pup for basic obedience or high-level service work is made a lot easier by their hunger for life.

They come from Breeds with High Intelligence 

Finding ways to measure intelligence in dogs has involved creative tests. How quickly do they learn new tasks? Do they remember the names of toys and people they meet? Can they figure out how to solve a complex set of steps in a puzzle? How long do they retain the information they have learned? Dogs bred to perform a job, like the Labradoodle parents, measure high on these intelligence tests and pass along the same abilities to their puppies. Teaching the basic sit, down, stay and come can be accomplished with less repetition and stress, but keep in mind, consistency from you is the key to harnessing your puppy’s natural gifts and using them for your benefit. 

Their Social Personality 

Temperaments can vary among any breed but outgoing and friendly is the best way to explain the Labradoodle. Take the happy go lucky Labrador and the sweet and affectionate poodle, you have the best of both worlds. Their life is about pleasing their human and spending time together exploring the world. Expect that your pup is going to want to go everywhere with you and be involved in all you do, which is made much easier because of the social nature. Most Labradoodle pups get along well with other dogs and children, being thoughtful that all interactions should be supervised. 

All the Energy = All the Fun 

With all the intelligence, the food drive, and the willingness to be with you, your puppy still needs the stamina to keep trying to get it right. There is no giving up when it comes to your Labradoodle. Born with the energy to be a superstar at agility, dock diving, swimming, retrieving, or running partner, there is no end to the fun you can have with your puppy. This active breed will give one hundred percent of themselves to learn new and challenging tricks and games and expects that you are willing to give the same. 

Confidence is Key 

Labradoodles are curious and excited to interact with their surroundings. They will climb up and over, under and around, through their world using their nose as a guide. Whether it’s meeting new people, neighborhood dogs, or something new in their environment, nothing will stay a stranger for long. When training a pup like this, it may seem that they are highly distracted as they search for clues and information, but it is important that your pup has positive interactions to continue to build confidence. 

A lot of people ask about the differences between a male and a female dogs when it comes to training and behaviors. And this question is a great one. We really have put a lot of thought and time into thinking through that answer. We are unique breeders in that we train ALL of our pups, which gives us a lot more experience than most breeders. Typically breeders let their puppies go home before they really show their personalities. Not only do we keep our pups longer, but we spend hundreds of hours with each individual pup. In fact, you will find a unique personality description of every puppy on their individual sale pages. We have trained over 500 puppies in the past decade, so we really have a strong “case study” for this. 

Common Myths About Male vs. Female Dogs

The first myth that we want to debunk is that there are major personality differences between males and females. Some say that males are more loving or that females are more laid back. That’s just not true. We have never noticed a trend in which a gender shows themselves to be more of a certain personality trait. We have trained so many puppies looking for subtle personality differences and have come to the conclusion that there is no definite personality difference between the genders.

We have had extremely loving females and some females that were more independent. We have had very calm females and males and very outgoing females and males. We have noticed a couple of other differences, though, that you will want to take into consideration and which we will discuss in detail below.

The second myth is that males have a lot of issues with “marking” or “humping.” This is almost never the case, especially if you are not breeding. If you plan on neutering your boy and have no females in heat with another male nearby, then you will not have to worry about a male marking in your house or even too much in your yard. In fact, the vast majority of our males will squat to urinate their entire lives. They also are not prone to “humping” legs like some other breeds may be.

So What are the Differences Between the Male and Female Pups?

There are a few differences between the genders that are important to point out. These are based on our extensive research, and while there may be other differences, these are the ones that stuck out the most over the years.

The first difference is mental maturity

Females do mature mentally faster than males. A 1 year old female acts like a 1.5-2 year old male. Males have a longer “puppy stage,” which a lot of people love and a lot of people don’t. It’s a matter of preference. Males do mature physically faster than females, especially when it comes to potty training. Because of this, most females are easier to obedience train than males. They normally have their commands down sooner than male puppies. A 12 week old female is typically obedience trained as well as a 14 week old boy.

The second difference is physical maturity

Males do physically mature faster than females, mainly in the area of bladder control. Part of our Puppy Training Institute is potty training and crate training. We spend over half of our training time working on these 2 crucial areas. One thing we have found out is that males can hold their bladders for longer than females. They are quicker to potty train, spot train and crate train as a result. Females definitely do better in obedience training but in potty training and crate training the boys typically do better simply because they can hold their restroom longer.

The third difference is size

The males can be typically 10-20 lbs heavier than a female. An average female is 60-65 lbs and an average male is 75-80 lbs. A small female can be as small as 45 lbs, and the largest females are rarely larger than 70 lbs (not overweight). A small male will be around 60 lbs, and larger males can reach 85 lbs.

Males also typically have a blockier head, thicker coat and especially thicker “mane.” Most show dogs are males because they look a little better and shed their coat about ½ as much as a breeding female. Breeding females blow their coats after a heat and so half of the year they do not look good. If you spay your female, then she should shed as much as a male dog.

Also, just because a male dog has a thicker coat does not mean that they shed more. They shed about the same amount, as long as the girl is spayed. If she’s not spayed, then she will shed almost twice as much as a male after her heat cycle.

Why these Differences Matter

When it comes to becoming a new puppy owner, choosing between a male or female is often one of the biggest decisions you will make. We are confident that no matter which one you choose, your experience will be an enjoyable one. However, it’s important to realize the above differences.

As your puppy grows into adulthood, some of these differences will become irrelevant. The training level of a graduating puppy in our Puppy Training Institute may be different in certain areas between the male and female pups, but these differences will even out, particularly if you plan on continuing your pup’s training.

So whether or not the gender matters is up to you. Some buyers simply prefer one over the other. But there is no right or wrong answer, and your puppy will be equally as healthy, and as loving, regardless of what you choose. We do encourage you to choose a puppy with the personality traits you prefer, which are detailed on each puppy’s page, and we will help you in your decision to choose the best companion for your family.

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To see all of our current available puppies, visit our Available Pups page