One companion designer dog, that probably isn’t on your radar, but should be is the Shepadoodle. This is a cool and cute hybrid, which is the offspring of German Shepherd and Poodle.
The Shepadoodle is a dog that is medium to large in size and has been used as a companion and working dog.
It’s believed that they first came into existence in the 1960s as the United States Army, decided to breed them as police dogs for the military to use.
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They required a dog that was not only highly intelligent, but hypoallergenic and a great service dog. Because of this, the Shepadoodle didn’t disappoint as it inherits the German Shepherds watchdog and vigilant nature. Today, they’re more of a companion dog and these qualities are not the only factors that define this epic Doodle. In fact, there’s a lot more and to know about them keep on reading.
What Will You Learn? 👇
Little-Known Facts About the breed
To help persuade you more about why the Shepadoodle can be an excellent pet, here are some cool and unusual facts:
They’re highly active
If you’re a fitness enthusiast or love exercise, then this is an excellent breed to own as it is highly active. Therefore it constantly requires a lot of activities such as walking, running, playing and much more. If they don’t get enough exercise they can become mischievous and unruly, making them a difficult dog to own.
If you’re looking for a guard dog, then you might be in look with the Shepadoodle. They are quite wary around new people and strangers, and will certainly notify you when anything comes in your way.
Their roots are strong in Germany!
While the USA might have come about with this hybrid, their history traces all back to Germany. Both parents breeds the Poodle and German Shepherd, both come from Germany, and their history dates back to the 1800s!
The price of a Shepadoodle can vary a lot based on the part of the world you’re situated in, breeders reputation and lineage. At a minimum, you could pay at least $800 and upwards for this designer dog breed. However, if you want something more top of the line, then you should prepare to pay between $3,200-$6,500 for this dog.
When buying a Shepadoodle, you should not buy them online or from a pet store. They’re unreliable and you can’t guarantee the health of this breed, they could come from a puppy mill. Instead, you will want to get them from a certified breeder or kennel club, and visit the litter in person.
Are Shepadoodles hypoallergenic
Shepadoodles are surprisingly close to hypoallergenic dogs. Even though their German Shepherd parent has a double coat and sheds heavily, they tend to inherit their Poodle parents coat. As Poodles have low shedding coats, this causes this breed to be classed as close to hypoallergenic. Therefore they’re well suited for people who have allergies.
Temperament & Intelligence
Shepadoodles are often well-mannered and behaved dogs with a mild temperament if you socialize them from an early age. They also love to play and if you have the time can play all day long. Typically they like to fetch balls, hike and run. In addition to this, they’re quite hardworking and can do most jobs. They’re also courageous and will certainly alert you if anything untoward happens near your home.
Are Shepadoodles Good for Families?
These dogs are happy to be the center of attention and get along with everyone in the home. While they love to play, they equally love to curl up in your lap and snuggle after a long day. Sometimes they can be classed as velcro dogs, as they love to be around humans all the time. Due to this strong attachment, they can easily develop separation anxiety if they’re left for long periods on their own. Therefore if you’re someone who spends a lot of time outside your home, you might want to reconsider and look for another Doodle.
As long as they’re socialized well, these dogs can easily get on with other pets in your home.
Shepadoodle Food & Diet Requirements
Depending on its pattern of inheritance, the Shepadoodle may have a different food intake. After all, the sizes of a German Shepherd and Poodle are quite different! Their size will have a major impact on the calories they consume. Whatever size they are though, they must be given high-quality food that is grain and filler-free.
On average smaller Shepadoodles of Miniature size will require around 2 cups a day whereas grown-ups will have 4 cups. Moreover, their food should be split across 2-3 meals a day, as these dogs can be prone to bloat and become overweight. You will also want to feel them a lot of protein yet low carbs as they can easily get overweight. To know exactly what to feed them though, it’s best you speak to a veterinarian who will give you recommendations based on their size, age and health conditions.
Shepadoodle Full-grown sizes
On average a Shepadoodle can grow up to 22-28inches/56-72cm and weigh between 50-125lbs/23-57kg.
Shepadoodle Life expectancy
The Shepadoodle can have a lifespan of 12-14 years.
The main part of looking after a Shepadoodle is their exercise regime. They require at least 1-2 hours a day of exercise, alongside their daily walk. Exercising them should be varied taking them for swimming, running, hiking, fetch and agility games. As they have high exercise requirements they’re not dogs suited for an apartment, instead, they will need to live in a home with a lot of outdoor space. If they don’t get sufficient exercise they can become cranky quickly and difficult to look after.
Training
Shepadoodles are easy to train, due to their parents’ intelligence. They can easily learn tasks easily and communicate well with other humans. It’s part of the reason why they’re used by the US military.
Grooming
The Shepadoodle should be brushed around 2-4 times a week. If they have a double coat like their German Shepherd parent, then they might need daily brushing. It’s best they’re groomed on a flat surface to stop them becoming irritable.
Most of the time, this breed does not produce much odor and can go longer without a bath. On average you should aim to bathe them every 2-3 months, if you bathe them earlier or every week you could strip the natural oils from their skin.
It’s also important you pay careful attention to their nails, eyes, paws, teeth and ears. Try and use a clipper for their nails and if you don’t feel confident enough you should see a local groomer.
Health and Conditions
Most of the time, these dogs are healthy to own. Any conditions they may get are often genetic such as:
Osteoarthritis
Hip dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia
Bloat
Hemophilia
Conclusion
Overall, Shepadoodles are perfect dogs for families with large homes. They love to exercise so you must have a good amount of time to be able to fulfill their energy requirement, at least 90 minutes a day. They’re also great dogs for allergy sufferers, as they are seen as close to hypoallergenic as possible. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to predict their food intake, as this is a hybrid that can come in a range of sizes.
What size of Shepadoodle would you prefer? Let us know in the comments.
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Marko is the founder and author at PoodleHQ, where he blends profound expertise with formal training in Animal Behavior and Canine Genetics. With multiple generations of poodles under his care, he’s a breed connoisseur, honored with the Canine Care Excellence Award and lauded by the International Pet Enthusiasts Association.
