The Sheepadoodle and Goldendoodle are both hybrid dog breeds: they’re Poodles mixed with either Old English Sheepdogs or Golden Retrievers. Sheepadoodles are typically more distinct with their black and white coats and huge stature.
Goldendoodles are a household breed at this point and arguably one of the most popular crossbreed dogs. They can even be used as guide dogs, service dogs, or emotional support pets. Moreover, they are good for the whole family due to their kindly nature and adaptable personalities.
Sheepadoodles are relatively new to the Doodle Breed world and gaining momentum and popularity as a designer dogs. Goldendoodles are mainstream already, filling homes with their bright personalities and hypoallergenic qualities. These hybrids are both big dogs that love to run around, play, and connect with their humans.
Prefer to watch a video? Check out the video we made on the Sheepadoodle vs. Goldendoodle. Watch it below:
Here is a summary of the main differences between a Sheepadoodle vs Goldendoodle. We will go into more information in the article below:
- Goldendoodles are more popular. As a result, they come in more sizes and colors when compared to the Sheepadoodle.
- You’ll see Goldendoodles in mini, medium, and standard sizes. Typically, Sheepadoodles will come in the standard size.
- Sheepadoodles are much larger than Goldendoodles. Standard Sheepadoodles weigh from 60 to 80 pounds while a Standard Goldendoodle weighs 45 to 60 pounds.
- Sheepadoodles typically come in a black and white-colored coat pattern. Goldendoodles tend to be cream, apricot, red, tan, or chocolate. You can also find Goldendoodles in multi-color like parti, but it’s rare for them to ever look like a Sheepadoodle.
- Both the Goldendoodle and Sheepadoodle require a significant amount of grooming. This includes brushing, bathing, ear cleaning, and haircuts!
Other articles you would like: Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle and Goldendoodle vs Bernedoodle.
What is the Sheepadoodle?
The Old English Sheepdog is a big dog with fluffy hair that’s often seen on the English courtside perfectly protected from the chilling elements. This is what makes it a perfect breed to blend with the Standard Poodle, which is another classic dog that is known to originate from Europe.
The Sheepadoodle is almost too good to be true, a Newfoundland-style dog that actually doesn’t shed that much and is just as majestic. This breed often takes its black-and-white markings from the Old English Sheepdog breed, while having just a little different texture of hair. It’s very likely, regardless of the generation of your Sheepadoodle, that they will be nonshedding and hypoallergenic.
However, hybrid dog breeds are less stable in genetic makeup so you will see them in different coat colors and coat styles. What we do know is that this is a case where both dog breeds are tall and share a facial structure. The challenging part may be finding a breeder you know and can trust.
What is the Goldendoodle?
Goldendoodles are a breed of dog that everyone loves. Whether you’re looking for loyalty, searching for a hypoallergenic dog, or a low-shedding breed, the Goldendoodle is very well-known. Popularized across the country and world, they’re bred with generational consistency everywhere from the Sunbelt to the Rust Belt.
This breed is found when crossing a Poodle with the Golden Retriever. They can also be bred with the Moyer Poodle to create a smaller-sized dog. These are considered the mini Goldendoodle size.
The Goldendoodle is a lanky and perpetual puppy that will typically live for 12 to 15+ years. Goldendoodles often get compared to Labradoodles in their positive demeanor and uncanny Poodle intelligence.
Sheepadoodle vs Goldendoodle: Which is Bigger?
Standard Goldendoodles weigh between 45 to 60 pounds which makes them large dogs overall. They’re also taller than average and stand at about 20-26 inches when fully grown. These dogs get their height from the Poodle side as well as added inches from the Golden parentage of this breed.
One good aspect of the Goldendoodle is that you can also get them in smaller sizes. There are teacup, micro, mini, and medium Goldendoodle sizes that are readily available to suit your lifestyle all the way from 10 pounds to 35 pounds.
The Sheepadoodle is gigantic in terms of weight, averaging 60 to 80 pounds! Also, their height can range anywhere between 17 and 23 inches, although some of the males can be much larger. They also come in medium and small sizes, although much less common, depending on the size category of the Poodle’s parentage.
Sheepadoodle vs Goldendoodle Temperament: How do they behave?
The Sheepadoodle is an athletic dog, which means they love to swim and fetch, or even engage in a combination of the two! In addition, this dog is very smart which translates to quick learning of new tricks and behaviors that owners are willing to teach them. They’re big and somewhat clumsy, which means that they need to be trained to avoid knocking down their owners and even furniture in the home.
Goldendoodles are loyal and intelligent companions that won’t want to leave your side, ever. They’re smart and can learn potty training and other commands quite early in life. These Poodle hybrids warm up quickly to pets and people in the home. Just like the Golden Retriever, they quickly become attached and always look forward to pleasing their favorite humans.
In general, the Goldendoodle and Sheepadoodle will both be relatively high-energy dogs so be prepared to live an active lifestyle. The Goldendoodle will definitely have more energy than a Sheepadoodle, so you’ll need to be prepared to entertain them.
Sheepadoodle vs Goldendoodle Life Span: What’s Their Life Expectancy?
Sheepadoodles live to be 12 to 15 years old, which is quite high on the spectrum of larger dog breeds. With good veterinarian care, a proper diet, and lots of exercise, they can easily live to be 15 years or even longer. The Goldendoodle has an average span of 12 to 15+ years, putting them on the same level in terms of living long and healthy lives. It should be noted that smaller dogs, like the mini Goldendoodle, tend to live a lot longer.
As a hybrid dog breed, they might have some issues with their health that could result in shorter lives, but preventative care can assist with mitigating these risks. Purebred Golden Retrievers usually only live 10 to 12 years, contributing to the differences between these two breeds.
Goldendoodle vs Sheepadoodle Health: Are They Prone to Health Conditions?
Goldendoodles can develop eye diseases, especially a form of retinal atrophy that can eventually cause blindness. In addition, Willebrand’s is a disease related to clotting and excessive bleeding which a Goldendoodle can get. Like many designer dog breeds, they’re prone to hip dysplasia and patellar (kneecap) dislocation, and slippage.
The Sheepadoodle has risks related to its eyesight, including retinal atrophy and even glaucoma. However, there are certifications that you can look out for, including ensuring that both parents have no major eye issues. Also, genetic testing is now available to ensure your Sheepadoodle does not have parents with hip issues – one of the most common plights impacting this crossbreed.
The Sheepadoodle or Goldendoodle is going to inherit crossbred dog traits called hybrid vigor that make them less prone to genetic diseases. Typically, crossbreed dogs are always healthier than their purebred parents. This is because purebreds breed within the same bloodline over and over which passes down the same genetic diseases.
Sheepadoodle vs Goldendoodle Appearance
Sheepadoodles are jaw-droppingly big dogs with black and white markings. Old English Sheepdogs are huge and on par with the Great Dane and the Newfoundland in their stature. When bred with a Standard Poodle, the size is still impressive with even fluffier fur.
On the other hand, the Goldendoodle has an original look that’s become popular across the United States and the world. Goldendoodles typically come in light brown and have a somewhat goofy appearance. They look like a puppy well into adulthood. It should be noted that hybrid dogs always vary in looks, and the Goldendoodle is no exception. They can look more like the Poodle or Golden depending on the genetic makeup of the individual dog.
Both the Goldendoodle and Sheepadoodle are going to be cute dogs with soft and fluffy coats. If you’re looking for black and white colors then you would want to go with the Sheepadoodle. However, if you want a teddy-bear appearance then you should select the Goldendoodle.
Sheepadoodle vs Goldendoodle Grooming
Sheepadoodles are quite a project when it comes to grooming. They’re huge dogs with fur that needs to be maintained professionally. If you’re not able to do to groom your Sheepadoodle yourself, then be prepared to pay a pretty penny to have a professional groom your Sheepadoodle.
Likewise, Goldendoodles are slightly smaller but still require grooming to avoid messy and matted fur. They can be groomed at home but it’s very time-consuming in terms of grooming your dog to look nice without tangles or mats.
Both the Sheepadoodle or Goldendoodle will require regular weekly maintenance in terms of keeping them well-groomed. You can expect to brush them at least a few times per week, brush their teeth, clean their ears, and trim their nails. The Goldendoodle and Sheepadoodle require a significant amount of shedding since they don’t shed and great for people with pet allergies.
Sheepadoodle vs Goldendoodle Training: Can They be Easily Trained?
Sheepadoodles are considered one of the smarter dog breeds out there which is a testament to the nature of the Poodle and the Old English Sheepdog. Both these breeds are distinguished by their intelligence which makes them excel in training and obedience classes. It’s crucial to train them as a puppy, as their energy and smarts can get them into trouble. As they grow bigger, their size can do serious damage if they are properly trained.
On the other hand, Goldendoodles also train easily, due to their cleverness from the Poodle. Golden Retrievers are guide dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs, commonly due to their smart and easygoing demeanor. A fun fact is that Poodles are at the top of the pack when it comes to intelligent dog breeds. Both the Sheepadoodle and the Goldendoodle can learn advanced commands and need engagement to avoid negative behaviors around the house.
Goldendoodle vs Sheepadoodle Costs
The Goldendoodle is a fairly expensive breed to look after, which is also true of the Sheepadoodle. Both of these breeds are relatively large dogs, meaning increased costs for everything from dog beds, to dog food, to grooming and veterinary care.
The Sheepadoodle is on another echelon in terms of size, which can be expensive when finding equipment, services, or even clothing for your pet. Both of these hybrids are costly to adopt, although the Sheepadoodle is slightly more expensive overall.
You can expect to pay an initial cost of anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000 for a Goldendoodle or Sheepadoodle depending on their size. The initial cost isn’t the expensive part of caring for a dog. You should expect to pay at least an average of $1,000 per year to maintain your dog and pay for medical bills.
Conclusion for Sheepadoodle or Goldendoodle
Sheepadoodles and Goldendoodles are both gorgeous-looking doodle breeds. The Sheepadoodle is characterized by its large statue and black and white coat colors. On the other hand, the Goldendoodle is definitely the most popular dog and will come in a plethora of coat colors and sizes from many different breeders. In general, Goldendoodles definitely have slightly more energy than Sheepadoodles. Both of these dog breeds also require a significant amount of grooming since they don’t shed and are hypoallergenic. We hope that you learned about the Goldendoodle and Sheepadoodle!
We also highly recommend that you check out video on the Sheepadoodle vs. Goldendoodle below:
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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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