If you’re familiar with Doodle breeds, you probably also know that there are several different of these designer dogs available. You hear about Doodles like the Goldendoodle, Sheepadoodle, Bernedoodle, and Labradoodle all the time. These dogs are defined by their various breed parents, which are all different across the board. The only feature they all have in common is a Poodle was used somewhere in the breeding process.
In this article, we’re going to focus on the Sheepadoodle vs Bernedoodle. Don’t worry about trying to memorize every little detail. We’ve got you covered with this simple guide that will differentiate between the two and give you a profound understanding of each option in a variety of categories.
Our goal is that you will be able to quickly reference the difference between a Sheepadoodle or Bernedoodle and you will feel like you have all of the information you need when you are through!
Here’s a quick summary of the Bernedoodle vs Sheepadoodle:
- Bernedoodles have unique coat colors. Typically, you will see a Bernedoodle with black, white, and brown colored coats. On the other hand, a Sheepadoodle will typically only have a black and white coat. The Bernedoodles coat is the major physical difference between the two dog breeds.
- A standard Bernedoodle will be larger than a Standard Sheepadoodle. However, the size of the parent dogs dictates each breed’s size. In general, these are both very large dogs.
- The Bernedoodle and Sheepadoodle will require a significant amount of grooming because they are considered hypoallergenic and nonshedding. Expect to give them haircuts every 6 to 12 weeks and brush them daily to prevent tangles.
- Sheepadoodles tend to have more energy than a Bernedoodle. This is due to the fact that a Sheep Dog derives from a herd dog breed. The Bernedoodle is usually more mellow and would prefer to cuddle.
Other articles you may like: Best Dog Food for a Bernedoodle and Best Mini Bernedoodle Breeders.
What is the Sheepadoodle?
The Sheepadoodle is pretty much just a giant teddy bear that is black and white. This Doodle breed is a cross between an Old English Sheep Dog and a Standard Poodle. There are some variations in sizes and colors that we will discuss later.
This big, gorgeous dog is considered to be a hypoallergenic dog breed. They are so pretty and so lovable. Sheepadoodles are long-haired dogs, but they shed very little if any which has made them increasingly popular as a doodle breed.
Sheepadoodle dogs are known for having a goofy disposition and being easy-going. They listen and train quite well and they are absolutely amazing as family dogs. In addition, they might have some energy thanks to the Sheep Dog in their breed.
What is the Bernedoodle?
The Bernedoodle is bred from a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. Like most doodle breeds, there can be various sizes and colors. These are also gorgeous and long-haired dogs. They tend to be large dogs unless there a mini or tiny Poodle involved in the breeding process. Standard Bernedoodles are big and beautiful teddy bears typically with a tri-color or bi-color coat color.
The Bernedoodle also tends to be happy and goofy. They are fun-loving and easy-going. In addition, they are also very smart and very kind dogs that will be loyal to the end. Bernedoodle dogs are considered to be hypoallergenic and nonshedding as well.
The Bernedoodle makes a wonderful family dog. There are quite a variety of colors and even coat styles, depending on the parent dogs. Bernedoodles will attach to you and typically don’t like to be separated from their owners for too long.
Sheepadoodle vs Bernedoodle: Size
Sheepadoodles and Bernedoodles are not much different as far as size goes and it highly depends on the parent breeds. In general though, the Bernedoodle will be larger than the Sheepadoodle. There are various sizes you can choose from with each breed including mini, medium, and standard.
Standard sheep doodles can stand anywhere from 20-28 inches tall at full height. They can also weigh anywhere from 45 and 80+ pounds when fully grown. These factors depend on the parents and whether they are male or female as well. Female Sheepadoodles will be smaller in size compared to males.
Mini Sheepdoodles use a mini or toy Poodle in the breeding process. These Sheepadoodles only weigh about 30 pounds. Any Sheepadoodle that weighs less than 40 pounds can be categorized as a mini Sheepadoodle.
Likewise, Bernedoodles have a couple of different sizes as well. Bernedoodles are broken out into tiny, mini, and standard sizes. Tiny Bernedoodles are little teddy bears that weigh about 10 to 25 pounds. While the mini may sound small, they are actually more of a medium-sized dog breed that weighs between 25 and 45 pounds. Standard Bernedoodles might weigh anywhere from 50-100 pounds so they can be slightly larger than Sheepadoodles at full growth.
Sheepadoodle vs Bernedoodle: Temperament
Temperament is often an important factor to take into consideration when considering a Sheepadoodle vs Bernedoodle. You want to know that your dog will be friendly and have a steady temperament. You certainly don’t want to end up with an unfriendly or aggressive dog, particularly if you have a family for the dog to join.
Many people ask questions like will a Sheepadoodle or Bernedoodle be loving and friendly? Will they be easy to train or extra stubborn? These are common traits to look into before choosing a dog.
Both Sheepadoodles and Bernedoodles are great family dogs. Overall, they are similar in temperament. Both of them tend to be loving and affectionate and both of them make really awesome family dogs that get along with kids and other animals.
Sheepadoodles do comefrom sheepdogs, which means they might try to herd. However, they are lovable, gentle, and loyal. They like to cuddle and they like to play fetch in the backyard. Sheepadoodles will have more energy than a Bernedoodle but will calm down easily. They are protective and may bark at unknown strangers, but they mostly just sound an alarm and do not act aggressively.
Bernedoodles like to be in the presence of people or other animals. They are affectionate and loving and they get lonely when you can’t be around. They do have plenty of energy and will need to run but they are easy-going and fun-loving family dogs.
Bernedoodles tend to be everyone’s friend. They are intelligent and easy-going. They love to be loved on, like a giant teddy bear, pretty much.
Bernedoodles do tend to be calmer where Sheepadoodles need attention and exercise every day. Both breeds need exercise but it may take a bit more to wear out a Sheepadoodle.
Bernedoodle vs Sheepadoodle: Life Span
The good news is that both Sheepadoodles and Bernedoodles live a good number of years for designer dog breeds. They actually live longer and healthier lives than some of the purebreds out there and you might be surprised at the numbers.
The Sheepadoodle will typically live anywhere from 12-15 years. They have been known to live longer than this but this number is the average lifespan. Bernedoodles could possibly live slightly longer than Sheepadoodles.
The average lifespan of a bernedoodle is 12-18 years and tiny Bernedoodles have a reputation for living the longest of all of the Bernedoodle breeds and sizes. It is possible they will live longer than this average time frame.
Sheepadoodle vs Bernedoodle: Health
Another common factor with designer crossbreeds is the potential for health problems. These problems can be directly related to the parent breeds and your dog may never experience any of the possible health risks that a Sheepadoodle or Bernedoodle can face. Most breeders have the parents and sometimes even genetic test the puppies to pinpoint any possible health risks.
Sheepadoodles are large dogs and can face joint issues related to their size. It is not uncommon for Sheepadoodles to suffer from hip or elbow dysplasia. This is also true of Bernedoodles. Sheepadoodles are more prone to develop disorders like Addison’s, Cushing’s, cancer, and possibly skin allergies.
On the other hand, Bernedoodles can sometimes develop eye conditions or diseases and sometimes have allergies or hot spots with breakouts and rashes on their skin. They might have sensitive skin that has to be carefully handled. It is beneficial to ask the breeder about health testing to know if there are any known health issues in the line.
Sheepadoodle vs Bernedoodle: Appearance
Some people think Sheepadoodles and Bernedoodles look alike. While it is true that they have similarities, they are certainly not identical. The Sheepadoodle and Bernedoodle do come in similar colors overall and are known to come in both solids and mixed colors.
Sheepadoodles come in all types of colors. They are rarely more than two colors although it is possible. Tri-colored Sheepadoodles are very hard to find in this dog breed and it is common in the Bernedoodle breed.
Sheepadoodles are most commonly found in black and white, solid black, grey and white, and red and white color patterns. These dogs have long-haired coats that have a slight wave or curl thanks to the Poodle in their blood. If you can imagine a Sheep Dog pairing with a Poodle with slightly shorter hair with the perfect blend of length and curl, then that’s the Sheepadoodle.
The Bernedoodle coat is similar in style. It is long as well with just a slight curl. The curls are not consistent over the coat and you may have curly spots and long spots. The result is a gorgeous and soft coat that is simply irresistible!
Bernedoodles are most known for their tri-color blends. While they come in a variety of colors and those tri-color coats are the most sought after. The three colors can really be just about any color from the bred. You might also see coats that are black white or red and tan or just red. You can get into a lot of technical details when it comes to the Bernedoodle coats and how their coloring plays out.
Both the Sheepadoodle and Bernedoodle are considered to be hypoallergenic dogs. Their coats shed very little, if any, despite the length of the coat.
Sheepadoodle vs Bernedoodle Grooming
You will be surprised at how little maintenance these long-haired coats require. If you’re used to seeing fancy haircuts on Poodles, you can toss that image out of your head. A Sheepadoodle or Bernedoodles shed very little if any. They are considered hypoallergenic and mostly nonshedding dogs. The Bernedoodle and Sheepadoodle have long hair with a slight curl, but it’s incredibly easy to manage if you know how to do so properly.
That being said, they do require regular grooming because of their long coats. You should plan to brush or comb your dog regularly. You can do so on a daily basis but you should brush them at least once a week if you want to keep their hair long.
Keeping their hair short requires consistent and regular grooming trips, which might get expensive but you can plan for them. It is recommended that you opt for shorter haircuts and you plan to take your Sheepadoodle or Bernedoodle to be groomed every 6 to 12 weeks.
It’s up to you to schedule consistent grooming and haircuts. There are some grooming aspects you can do at home like hair trimming, clipping, bathing, and nail cutting. You certainly don’t want your Bernedoodle or Sheepadoodle to end up with a bunch of matted fur as this can be painful for your dog.
Find a style and a length that will work for you. Be prepared to brush frequently, even if you space grooming visits out a bit farther. These tips are true of both the Sheepadoodle and the Bernedoodle.
Bernedoodle vs Sheepadoodle: Training
The good news is that both Sheepadoodles and Bernedoodles are intelligent dogs. They both tend to be easy-going and have very few attitude problems. Sheepadoodles can be slightly protective, but both breeds are super loyal.
Because of their intelligence levels, both the Sheepadoodle and Bernedoodle breeds are pretty easy to train if you work with them consistently. They both aim to please their masters with their loyal personalities. Bernedoodles or Sheepadoodles will want to make you happy and will do so by listening to commands.
Sheepadoodle vs Bernedoodle: Costs
The most expensive part of owning a Sheepadoodle or a Bernedoodle is ultimately the grooming and medical expenses over their lifetime. They can be fairly expensive to obtain initially as they are high-demand Doodle breeds and you could pay up to $5,000 for a quality tri-color puppy.
The cost of care is not overly expensive and typical of a normal dog. You should plan to use high-quality foods, particularly since Bernedoodles can sometimes have allergies and sensitive skin. You will need to work with a veterinarian for vaccinations and routine care. There can be some possible health ailments that can get costly but being proactive will help drastically in this case. If you don’t want to see a huge medical bill, you can always opt for pet insurance.
Conclusion for Sheepadoodle vs Bernedoodle
Either the Sheepadoodle or Bernedoodle can make a great family companion pet in your family if you’re looking for a large dog breed. The major difference between the two dog breeds is coat color. Bernedoodles tend to have a tri-color or bi-color coat that is very distinct from the Sheepadoodle. We hope that you were able to learn some of the similarities and differences between the Sheepadoodle vs Bernedoodle!
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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.
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