Doodle breeds are all the rage, and Shepadoodles are one of the most sought-after. After all, the Shepadoodle is the product of a loyal, intelligent German Shepherd and a friendly, easy-to-train Poodle. What could be better?
If you’re considering adopting a Shepadoodle puppy or already have one, you might wonder what age is regarded as a full-grown Shepadoodle. Fortunately, you’ll find the answer here!
Read on to learn more about how big Shepadoodles get, what age they are fully grown, tips to help them stay healthy on their way to adulthood, and more.
Before you scroll down this guide, check out: Do Sheepadoodles Shed? (2023) and How Much Does a Sheepadoodle Cost? (2023).
How Big Do Shepadoodles Get?
Since a Shepadoodle has two large breed parents, it’s not surprising that the Shepadoodle is a large breed itself.
Generally, a full-grown Shepadoodle dog weighs between 55 and 90 pounds and stands about 18 to 24 inches tall. Like most dog breeds, female Shepadoodles will be smaller than their male counterparts.
Shepadoodle Growth Chart
For quick reference, here’s a chart illustrating the average weight of a Shepadoodle by month and the formative years. Since full-grown Shepadoodle puppies have such a sizeable final weight gap, the months also reflect that.
Moreover, females are generally shorter and more slender than males. So, if you have a female Shepadoodle, expect it to be on the lower end of the range, and vice versa for male puppies.
| Weight | Height | |
| 1 month | 4-9 lb | 3-6 in |
| 2 months | 11-20 lb | 6-12 in |
| 3 months | 20-30 lb | 8-15 in |
| 4 months | 24-40 lb | 10-18 in |
| 5 months | 26-49 lb | 12-19 in |
| 6 months | 28-57 lb | 15-20 in |
| 7 months | 30-62 lb | 17-21 in |
| 8 months | 32-66 lb | 18-21 in |
| 9 months | 34-71 lb | 18-21 in |
| 10 months | 36-73 lb | 18-21 in |
| 11 months | 40-75 lb | 18-21 in |
| 1 year | 40-79 lb | 18-22 in |
| 2 years | 55-90 lb | 18-24 in |
At What Age Is a Shepadoodle Full-Grown?
As the above chart shows, Shepadoodles generally reach their full height around eight months old, but there is some room for them to grow still. However, they will continue gaining weight until they are two years old. So, you can consider your Shepadoodle full-grown at two years old.
What to Do to Help Your Shepadoodle Grow Up Healthy
All pet owners want to keep their pets happy and healthy. If you got your Shepadoodle as a puppy and want to help it grow to its full potential and avoid health issues, below are a few tips.
Diet
Your dog’s diet is arguably the most critical part of keeping it healthy. Dogs require five essential nutrients to keep their organs, muscles, and overall body functioning properly: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins.
Most dog food brands will have these nutrients to some degree. However, cheaper brands will have, you guessed it, cheaper ingredients. These cheaper ingredients will offer less nutrition to your dog and may even lead to health issues.
While you don’t need to go all out and buy the most expensive bag of food on the shelf, you should keep an eye on the ingredients. Even expensive dog food brands try to cut corners by adding filler ingredients.
Some ingredients to look out for include:
- Animal by-products
- Bone meal
- Rendered fat
- Corn/corn syrup
- Soy
- White flour
- BHA/BHT
- Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STPP)
- Salt
- Vegetable oil
Exercise
You can’t expect your dog to grow big and strong if all it does is lay around all day. Also, since German Shepherds and Poodles are highly active dogs, not getting enough exercise can lead to anxiety, depression, aggression, destructive behavior, and other unwanted side effects.
So, keep your pup’s (and your own!) body and mind in good shape by getting off the couch.
It’s recommended that full-grown Shepadoodle adults get at least 60 minutes of vigorous exercise per day. This exercise can include hiking, jogging, games of fetch, or agility. It would also help if you lived in a home that had a backyard where your Shepadoodle could get out their energy whenever they please.
Routine Vaccines and Checkups
All animals require routine vet checkups to ensure they’re healthy. This is especially true if you have a Shepadoodle puppy that isn’t reaching the weight and height range for its age.
A few medical conditions can result in slowed growth of puppies, including:
- Parasites
- Digestive issues
- Liver shunts
- Protein-losing enteropathy
- Hypoglycemia
- Dental issues
These conditions can be cured or remedied with early intervention. So, if your puppy isn’t gaining weight, it’s best to schedule a vet checkup immediately.
You should also make sure you get your puppy vaccinated on schedule and keep up with their vaccines over the years. Unvaccinated puppies are at risk of contracting distemper and parvovirus, both of which are often fatal.
Grooming
The Shepadoodle’s coat is a true mixed bag — you never really know what shedding level your Shepadoodle pup will have until it gets its adult coat.
On the one hand, a Shepadoodle is part German Shepherd. German Shepherds have double coats and shed a lot, so much so they’ve earned the nickname “German Shedders.” On the other hand, Poodles have low-shedding coats that require routine grooming.
The shedding level depends on whichever parent the puppy takes after, but you can expect a low amount of shedding.
You’re unlikely to have your puppy professionally groomed more than a few times. However, once your full-grown Shepadoodle has its adult coat, it will need to be groomed once every six to 12 weeks. So, make sure you have room in your schedule and budget for routine grooming.
Dental Care
Pups need their teeth brushed too! Many pet owners forget about dental care until it’s too late, and their dogs have dental issues. It’s also common for puppies to have dental issues that can prevent them from eating, meaning they won’t get the nutrients they need for proper growth.
To avoid any issues resulting from poor dental hygiene, you should brush your dog’s teeth once a day. If this seems like a lofty goal, you can get away with brushing their teeth three times a week.
Flea and Tick Protection
You should always protect your dog against fleas and ticks. There are many diseases that a dog can contract from fleas and ticks, and many of them can affect their weight, including:
- Tapeworm: An intestinal parasite that attaches to the lining of a dog’s small intestine, absorbing the nutrients they consume. Tapeworms can be spread through fleas.
- Murine typhus: A zoonotic disease spread by fleas that causes vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. It can lead to organ damage if left untreated.
- Lyme disease: A disease spread by ticks causing loss of appetite, fever, and breathing difficulties.
You can speak to your veterinarian about flea and tick prevention and medicine to help ward off pesky critters.
Spay/Neuter at an Appropriate Age
All responsible pet owners know that spaying and neutering are necessary to avoid unwanted puppies. But did you know that the age you choose to have the procedure done can affect your puppy’s growth?
Dogs spayed or neutered early tend to grow taller than if they are spayed or neutered later in life. The general guidelines for spaying and neutering are around six to nine months of age. So, if you want your pup to be taller, aim for six months.
For a female dog, spaying also decreases the chances of mammary cancer. The chances of mammary cancer go up with every heat cycle. So, if you’ve adopted an unspayed puppy older than nine months, it would be wise to book a spay surgery as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions from around the web to give you more information about Shepadoodles.
Yes. Poodles and German Shepherds are two of the most common family dog breeds. So, it makes sense that a mix of the two would be a popular choice! Due to their high energy and playful nature, they’re great to have around children.
It depends on the dog and how it was raised. German Shepherds are known as guard dogs, so they are fiercely protective of their family and territory. What’s more, Poodles are known to be protective as well.
If you adopt a Shepadoodle puppy, you will need to put time and effort into properly training and socializing it to ensure it doesn’t become aggressive. Of course, some dogs are still aggressive, even with training. So you’ll need to know your dog and its triggers well to avoid putting it in any situations that will make it react aggressively.
Designer breeds are relatively expensive. Since the Shepadoodle is a good-looking dog with sought-after traits, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 for a Shepadoodle puppy.
The average life expectancy of a Shepadoodle is between 10 and 14 years.
There is no truly hypoallergenic dog, so the answer is no. Shepadoodles will shed, though a small amount. Remember that a Shepadoodle is half German Shepherd, a major shedding breed. However, since it will inherit Poodle genetics, it will shed significantly less than a German Shepherd.
Conclusion for “When Is a Shepadoodle Fully Grown”
So, when is a Shepadoodle fully grown? You can expect a full-grown Shepadoodle at around two years old. Although it will reach its maximum height at approximately eight months old, it will continue to fill out for a while.
The Shepadoodle is a loyal and loving breed. If you’re considering adopting a Shepadoodle, ensure that you have the time, patience, money, space, and affection needed to raise a happy and healthy large dog.
If you find this guide, “When Is a Shepadoodle Fully Grown,” helpful, check out:
Learn more by watching “Sheepadoodle Dog Breed Guide | Dogs 101 – Sheepadoodle” down below:
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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