The Sheepadoodle, also known as a Sheepoodle, Shepapoo, or Sheepadoo, is a designer dog breed widely loved and famous worldwide. If you’ve been considering a Shepapoo, you may be curious about F1 vs F1b Sheepadoodle differences. We’re here to help!
Instagram is flush with Sheepadoodle accounts, including @otis_unleashed, with nearly 200,000 followers. A Sheepadoodle was also the famous “Talking Dog” of TikTok.
With so many breeds available in the modern world of designer dogs, it may be confusing to learn the differences between them, pull apart the research, and figure out the best dog for you.
Our article was written to help you break down the differences between the two most popular Sheepadoodle generations: the F1 vs F1b Sheepadoodle.
In short, the F1 Sheepadoodle is a mix between a purebred Old English Sheepdog and a purebred Poodle. The cross results in a Sheepadoodle that’s exactly half Poodle and half Old English Sheepdog. An F1b Sheepadoodle, on the other hand, is a cross between an F1 Sheepadoodle and a purebred poodle, resulting in a dog that’s 75 percent Poodle and 25 percent Old English Sheepdog.
Let’s take a closer look.
Other articles you would like: Sheepadoodle Dog Names and Sheepadoodle Generations (F1, F1B, F2, F2B, Multi-Gen)
Key Sheepadoodle Terms for Generations
To understand the differences among these lovable companions, you will need a basic understanding of what goes into dog breeding and dog breeds.
Dog Breed
Dog breeds are particular strains or dogs that humans bred to serve a specific role.
Dogs have served as valuable companions to humans throughout history, using them to help hunt for food, herd livestock, and guard property. Humans would breed dogs to acquire certain physical traits that aid in these activities.
This relationship has been beneficial for dogs, too, since they are the most abundant carnivore worldwide thanks to dog breeding. The dog breed we are talking about here is the Sheepadoodle.
Purebred
Purebred dogs result when humans breed the entire lineage of a dog to a puppy within the same breed.
Humans breed purebred dogs only within the same strain and try not to mix the blood of other dogs to maintain their distinctive breed features.
Over time, dogs that interbreed among other strains of dogs have a chance of losing distinctive features and advantages that humans seek after. When you mix two purebred dogs, you create mixed breed dogs that are labeled with the letter “F”.
First Generation (F1)
An F1 or first-generation dog is produced when two different purebred dog breeds have a puppy. The F1 label is essential for dog breeders to track when a crossbreed happens for the first time.
The “F” in the F1 stands for filial. Typically an F1 dog would still firmly maintain traits from both of their purebred parents that will sometimes diminish among dogs of future generations.
First Generation dogs are highly sought after by collectors and owners alike.
F1 dogs are 50/50 ratio mixed breed dogs. So an F1 Sheepadoodle is 50 percent Old English Sheepdog and 50 percent Poodle.
First Generation Backcrossed (F1B)
An F1B or backcrossed first-generation dog is a mixture of a first-generation Sheepadoodle and a purebred dog.
As a result, F1B dogs are 75/25 mixed breed dogs. F1B breeding is done to capture or intensify one of their parent’s traits or diminish another purebred parent’s traits. The F1B Sheepadoodle is going to be backcrossed with either a Poodle or Old English Sheepadoodle. In most cases, they will be backcrossed with the Poodle due to the Poodle’s nonshedding coat, hypoallergenic qualities, and superior intelligence.
What is an F1 Sheepadoodle?
An F1 Sheepadoodle is when a dog breeder breeds an Old English Sheepdog with a Standard Poodle, and both of the breeding dogs are purebred.
An F1 Sheepadoodle is 50 percent Old English Sheepdog and 50 percent Standard Poodle.
The Sheepadoodle dog breed was designed in a US army experiment in the 1960s, though it might have existed before then.
They did not gain much popularity until the 1980s; however, they were excellent dogs for people with allergies when the breed was discovered.
What is an F1B Sheepadoodle?
An F1B Sheepadoodle occurs when an F1 Sheepadoodle (Old English + Standard Poodle) breeds a purebred Standard Poodle.
An F1B Sheepadoodle is 25 percent Old English Sheepdog and 75 percent Standard Poodle.
F1 vs. F1B Sheepadoodle Differences
Although F1 Sheepadoodles and F1B Sheepadoodles can look very similar, they have some distinct differences that set them apart from each other.
Coat Types
Because the F1 Sheepadoodle is a 50-50 mixture between two different purebred dogs, the coat your dog will have will be somewhat random. F1s can have flat coats, wavy coats, curly coats, or even a mixture between them somewhere in-between. Most people do not want a flat or straight coat Sheepadoodle because they are shedding and less hypoallergenic. Thus, people will normally choose an F1B Sheepadoodle puppy.
The F1B Sheepadoodle coats can vary a bit, but not as much. Since they mostly get their genetics from a Poodle, you can predict their coat to be wavy or curly like a Poodle’s coat.
Non-shedding/Hypoallergenic
Both F1 and F1B Sheepadoodles can be non-shedding and great for people with allergies.
However, an F1B Sheepadoodle is nearly guaranteed to be those things, while an F1 Sheepadoodle’s genetics are left more to chance.
For these reasons, F1bs are a safer pick, especially for families. Shedding animal hair can be harmful even to those who don’t have bad allergies.
Animal hair carries bacteria with it, which has a chance to make humans sick, especially in a family situation where multiple people will be coming into contact with the dog daily. Parasites can also be a concern for similar reasons. Any respiratory condition, such as asthma, can also be inflamed by the shedding of dog hair.
Desirability
Because of the genetic variance of F1 Sheepadoodles, they aren’t sought after by people as much because their looks can be inconsistent.
Dog owners can sometimes care what others think of their dog, and if their dog doesn’t have a recognizable or standard look, that can affect the desirability of the dog.
Although, desirability can also affect your ability to get the particular breed you want because of supply and demand. If F1s are more your speed, the desirability of F1bs could leave you with more adopting choices and make adopting them more affordable.
Hybrid Vigor
One area where F1 Sheepadoodles triumph over F1Bs is in the area of a characteristic called Hybrid Vigor. Since F1s have an even variance in genetics, they reserve a boost to their overall healthiness and longevity known as Hybrid Vigor.
When two purebreds mate, their offspring will have the most excellent chance of reducing genetic defects, whereas dogs that are inbred increases the rate that congenital disabilities can occur.
F1bs get a bit of Hybrid Vigor boost compared to their parents, but it is greatly diminished since to produce an F1B, you must rebreed an F1 with their purebred kind.
Temperament
Because F1B Sheepadoodles are likely to have the temperament of a poodle, they will typically be higher maintenance dogs.
Poodles often have long legs and a crazy amount of energy, a combination that leads to them needing more physical exercise and also mental stimulation. F1s, by comparison, require less maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big do F1 Sheepadoodles get?
The size of your F1 Sheepadoodle will, of course, have a lot to do with the size of your dog’s parents. You can generally expect your F1 Sheepadoodle to grow to be between 50 and 85 pounds. However, Sheepadoodles as small as 45 and as large as 100 pounds have been known to exist.
What problems do Sheepadoodles have?
Aside from the need to brush your dog regularly, you’ll also want to pay attention to his health and well-being. Clean his ears as they’re prone to infection. Joint disease, bloat, Cushing’s disease and Addison’s disease are other ailments you’ll want your vet to check for. Early detection is key to a healthy dog, so regular vet checks are a must.
Who should get a Sheepadoodle?
We recommend that you have a bit of space, like a fenced yard, if you’re considering adopting a Sheepadoodle. The dogs are great with children and make excellent family dogs, and they’re not likely to bark much. Therefore, if you have neighbors, you’re likely safe in choosing this breed.
First time dog owners will be tickled pink with the intelligence of the dogs. They’re easy to train, even with minimal experience. Finally, the Sheepadoodle makes a great companion for seniors due to their gentle disposition and eagerness to please.
Conclusion for F1 vs F1B Sheepadoodle
The F1 Sheepadoodle is 50 percent Poodle and 50 percent Old English Sheepdog. The F1B Sheepadoodle is 75 percent Poodle and 25 percent Old English Sheepdog. Most people will prefer an F1B Sheepadoodle because they are more hypoallergenic and non-shedding when compared to F1 Sheepadoodles. We hope that you learned something today about the different first-generation Sheepadoodles!
Other articles you would like:
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
Why Trust We Love Doodles?
At We Love Doodles, we’re a team of writers, veterinarians, and puppy trainers that love dogs. Our team of qualified experts researches and provides reliable information on a wide range of dog topics. Our reviews are based on customer feedback, hands-on testing, and in-depth analysis. We are fully transparent and honest to our community of dog owners and future owners.