Shepadoodle Puppies for Sale

overview of the Shepadoodle Dog Breed

Are you looking for an intelligent, low-shed dog that loves to work and play?

Take a look at our Shepadoodle puppies for sale below!

Shepadoodles (not to be confused with Sheepadoodles) are a cross between the German Shepherd and Poodle. Originally bred by the US military to be allergen-friendly police dogs, they are brilliant, trainable dogs that love to work with humans! Also called German Doodles, Shep-A-Poos, and Shepdoodles, they have fantastic temperaments and are in tune with their family’s emotions.

However, Shepadoodles love to be kept busy! Channel their energy and intelligence in healthy ways, and you’ll have an outstanding, loyal companion!

Adopt your Shepadoodle puppy today and start enjoying this wonderful, talented breed!

You can also check out our selection of other available puppy breeds on our “all breeds” page.

Shepadoodle temperament

Super Intelligent and highly trainable: Both Poodles and German Shepherds are extremely intelligent dogs, and your Shepadoodle will be intelligent, too! This high intelligence means it needs opportunities to use its mind. Plan to spend time training and playing with your puppy every day and consider enrolling them in dog sports or activities like search and rescue or therapy work.

Allergen-Friendly: Shepadoodles are considered hypo-allergenic. The poodle is one of the lowest shedding breeds, and many people with allergies can tolerate a poodle. However, each puppy has a different combination of genes, so allergens vary from dog to dog. Spending time with a puppy before adopting them is a good way to know if you are triggered by their allergens. Please talk to your doctor before adopting a puppy if you have allergies.

Mature Quickly: The German Shepherd genes cause the Shepadoodle to mature quickly mentally, and Shepadoodles are said to ‘calm down’ or ‘grow up’ more quickly than other doodle breeds.

Moderate to High Energy Level: Shepadoodles make excellent companions for people with active lifestyles! Shepadoodles that aren’t kept busy will become anxious and destructive. Once your Shepadoodle has a long walk, hike, or fast-paced game of fetch, they’ll be happy to relax on the couch with you!

Loyal: Shepadoodles are known for their loyalty to their families. They often form strong bonds with their owners and are protective of them, making them excellent watchdogs.

Energetic: German Shepherds are active dogs, and Poodles are known for their energy as well. Shepadoodle puppies typically have good energy levels and require regular exercise to stay happy and healthy. They enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and playing fetch.

Guard Dog & Companion Dog: Shepadoodles are protective of their home and family and make great guard dogs. They are watchful and loyal to their family. Shepadoodles are affectionate and have a playful side. They make excellent family dogs!

Remember that individual personalities in puppies may vary. A puppy’s temperament depends on factors such as breeding, upbringing, and training. Not every Shepadoodle puppy will display all these characteristics.

Shepadoodle Breed history

Although we don’t have a lot of history about Shepadoodles, we do know that they were bred as military police dogs by the US army in the 1960s. It is thought that they were bred to work with officers who had allergies.

Shepadoodles are also called German Doodle, Shep-A-Poo, Shepdoodle, Sherdoodle, German Shepherd Poodle Mix. They can be registered with:

• ACHC = American Canine Hybrid Club
• DBR = Designer Breed Registry
• DDKC = Designer Dogs Kennel Club
• DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.
• IDCR = International Designer Canine Registry

Since German Shepherds and Poodles are both working dogs, the Shepadoodle is intelligent and hard-working.

Let’s take a look at the history of the hard-working parents of the Shepadoodle!

The History of German Shepherds 

During the Agricultural Revolution in Europe, herding dogs were used to protect and herd livestock on farms.

Many of these herding dogs were not purebreds, and a German named Captain Max von Stephanitz wanted to change this. His goal was to create a purebred German herding dog.

In 1899 Stephanitz saw a dog that looked similar to a wolf. He bought this dog and began a careful process to create the German Shepherd breed through meticulous note-taking, breeding, and watching for negative traits.

As farming communities turned to industry, the German Shepherd became used for its intelligence in police and military settings.

The first German Shepherd puppy that came to the United States was when Corporal Lee Duncan found a puppy in a destroyed French building during WWI. This puppy was called Rin Tin Tin and starred in several Hollywood films, helping the German Shepherd’s popularity grow in the United States.

Today German Shepherd puppies are still bred for their intelligence and agility. This has resulted in high use in the military, police force, and search-and-rescue operations.

German Shepherds ranks number 2 out of all dogs registered with AKC.

The History of Poodles

Although Poodles are the national dog of France, they originated in Germany, where they were bred and used as retrieving water dogs. At that time, the Poodle’s showy haircut was practical – it allowed the poodle to move about easily while hunting while still protecting certain parts of its body, such as the paws, chest, and head.

With its elegance and intelligence, the poodle became a popular breed among the French nobles and in other parts of Europe. Because of their trainable, attention-loving nature and showy looks, poodles were often used in the circus. They have also been used for hunting truffles (underground mushrooms) with their long snouts.

The Standard Poodle was downsized to the Miniature and the Toy Poodle. If they are well-bred, each breed is a replica of each other.

Today, the Standard Poodle ranks number seven in breeds registered with AKC.

Shepadoodle Average size

Shepadoodles size varies widely. If your Shepadoodle favors a German Shepherd, it may be 22-26 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh 50-90 pounds. A Shepadoodle that favors the Standard Poodle will be over 15 inches tall and 40-70 pounds.

Average Shepadoodle lifespan

Shepadoodle body features

Shepadoodles are muscular dogs, although you may not notice their athletic build under their curly coat. Shepadoodles usually have curly or wavy coats, although straight hair is a possibility too.

They can be gray, black, brown, fawn, white, or a combination of these colors.

Shepadoodles have large, dark eyes, floppy ears, and a long tail.

grooming Your Shepadoodle Puppy

The kind of care your Shepadoodle’s coat needs will depend on its unique coat. A Shepadoodle’s coat may favor a Poodle coat or a German Shepherd coat.

Poodle-type Coat

Although Poodles are known for minimal shedding, their curly coats still need some extra care. They need to be groomed every 4-6 weeks and brushed regularly, or their coat will become matted and tangled. You can take your Shepadoodle to the groomer or learn to give them a haircut by yourself.

German Shepherd-type Coat

German Shepherds have thick double coats and are heavy shedders. A quick brush a few times a week is sufficient most of the year. Because of their double coat, German Shepherds shed heavily twice a year. During these heavy shedding times, you’ll want to brush their coat daily to remove loose hair.

Your Shepadoodle will also need its teeth brushed and nails trimmed regularly.

Keeping Your Shepadoodle Puppy Healthy

For all crossbreeds, the puppies are susceptible to the conditions of both parents. To be aware of conditions that may affect your Shepadoodle, learn about conditions that may affect German Shepherd and the Poodle.

A few health conditions appear in both Germans Shepherds and Poodles.

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia 

Like all dog breeds, Shepadoodles are at risk for hip and elbow dysplasia, two of the most common health issues in dogs.

Hip and elbow dysplasia occurs when the thigh bone doesn’t fit snugly into the hip and can result in limping, lameness, or arthritis if it’s not addressed.

Hip and elbow dysplasia can be genetic, or it can be caused by environmental factors such as overeating or injuries.

Here are some ways to prevent hip dysplasia in your puppy:

1. Ask the breeder for an OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Hip Clearance. Dogs with hip dysplasia shouldn’t be bred.
2. Talk to your vet about the right food for your puppy and stick to the correct amount to prevent unhealthy growth.
3. Keep your puppy from running or jumping excessively on hard surfaces and from standing on their hind legs.

Bloat, A Life-Threatening Condition 

Bloat, also called gastric dilatation-volvulus or gastric torsion, can affect any large breed dog and is a life-threatening condition.

Bloat is when the stomach becomes twisted, and the gases in the stomach are unable to escape. The pressure from these gases affects the blood flow to the heart, and it can be fatal.

To prevent bloat:

1. Avoid feeding your dog right before or after heavy exercise.
2. Feed them a few smaller meals a day instead of one large meal to prevent bloat.
3. Learn to recognize the symptoms of bloat so you can take action immediately.

Some owners choose to have surgery done to tack their dog’s stomach in place and prevent it from twisting.

Protect Your Shepadoodle from Obesity 

You can protect your Shepadoodle from one of the most common health problems: obesity. One of the best ways to extend your dog’s life is by feeding them the correct amount of food and giving them adequate exercise.

Health Conditions That Can Affect Poodles

Two adrenal disorders, Addison’s disease and Cushing’s syndrome, can occur in poodles. These can both be treated with life-long medication and occasionally surgery.

Hypothyroidism– not enough thyroid hormones – is another condition in poodles that can be managed with medication.

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a genetic condition that leads to blindness, and poodles are susceptible to this condition.

Poodles can also be affected by Von Willebrand’s disease, a blood clotting disorder.

Health Conditions That Can Affect German Shepherds

In addition to hip dysplasia and bloat, German Shepherds are at risk for Degenerative Myelopathy and Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.

Typical Shepadoodle Allergens

Allergens are caused by dander, which is dead skin cells. Both animals and humans shed these skin cells. Dander is attached to the hair that dogs shed.

Although no dog is truly hypo-allergenic, Shepadoodles are lower-shedding dogs, so the risk of allergens is reduced in this breed.

Remember, each puppy has a different combination of genes, so allergens vary from dog to dog. Spending time with a puppy before adopting them is a good way to know if you are triggered by their allergens.

If you or someone in your home has animal allergy concerns, please consult your health provider before adopting a puppy.

• How much exercise do Sheepadoodles need?
  Sheepadoodles are energetic and need a good bit of exercise. You should give them a bare minimum of 30 minutes a day.
• Can a Sheepadoodle be an inside dog?
  Standard Sheepadoodles are fairly large and may do better outside than in an apartment. They can adapt to apartment living, just be prepared to give them plenty of exercise.
• Are Sheepadoodles easy to train?
  Sheepadoodles inherit high intelligence from both sides of their family, so they are usually intelligent and catch on to training quickly. They do best with positive reinforcement.
• Do Sheepadoodles make good watchdogs?
  Yes! Sheepadoodles are very loyal and can make great watchdogs. However, they aren’t quite as intense as the hardcore watchdog breeds.
• How do Sheepadoodles handle heat and cold?
  Because of their fluffy coats, Sheepadoodles can handle cold weather pretty well. However, in hot weather, you may want to get them trimmed so they don’t overheat.
• Do Sheepadoodles bark a lot?
  No, Sheepadoodles don’t tend to bark a lot. They are known to be fairly quiet, gentle giants.
• Are Sheepadoodles friendly with strangers?
  A Sheepadoodle may bark at strangers, but they tend to be more mellow than watchdog breeds when it comes to making friends with new people.
• Are Sheepadoodles playful?
  Absolutely! Sheepadoodles are goofy, funny, jolly pets that play 24-7!
• What colors can Sheepadoodles be?
  Sheepadoodles are most often black and white spotted, but they can also be solid black and in some cases gray.
• Can Sheepadoodles be left alone?
  Sheepadoodles have a talent for connecting emotionally with their masters. This makes them great therapy dogs, but also means they may not like being left alone. If you leave for a long trip, consider a dog sitter or doggy daycare for your Sheepadoodle.