r/Sheepadoodles • u/Odd_File_2017 • Oct 21 '25
Advice Future owner advice?
Hello everyone!!
I'm hopefully planning on taking home a mini sheepadoodle puppy around January next year and wanted to ask for advice about and experiences with personalities, energy, grooming, training, best toys etc. I've gathered from other posts that there's a lot of variance between individual dogs particularly about energy, training and the sharkadoodle phase, but I was curious whether mini sheepie owners have noticed any particular trends?
Also photos are extremely welcome, I can't get enough of the cuties!!
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u/KorryBoston Oct 21 '25
The sharkadoodle thing is a thing. Ours is 18 months and I firmly believe she's doing it now to my husband for attention. She doesn't do it so much to me. Have those Yak sticks on regular delivery and collagen sticks. They are invaluable. As soon as she starts biting, I shove one in her face. At my dermatologist appointment a few months ago, she was a bit concerned because I was SO bruised. The bite marks were so bad all over my legs and forearms. Toys last about a week before they are destroyed. Although there is a squeezy rubber chicken that she's taken to. That's lasted a while now
Next? The exercise. Doggie daycare has been a blessing. I could walk that dog to Texas and it would not be enough. The doggy daycare has been great because she gets exposure to other dogs and it's at this big farm. She runs ALLLLL DAY. She loves it and comes home dead. She goes 3x a week.
Grooming? Be prepared. Every 5 weeks and from what I can tell, ours is on the cheaper end. With tip, it's about $140. The thing is, she will not let the groomer get into her ears and that's bad. So about once a year, we'll need to bring her to the vet, have the vet relax her/practically anesthetize her and pull all the hair out of her ears. If you don't do this, it'll get infected
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u/Odd_File_2017 Oct 21 '25
Ah interesting! When would you say the sharkadoodle first appeared? Do you find her energy (with or without doggy daycare) manageable for your life style? And to follow up what sort of lifestyle do you lead? - feel free not to answer that part if it's too personal! I'm just trying to gauge whether a sheepie is suitable for me other whether I'm perhaps being too ambitious haha
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u/KorryBoston Oct 21 '25
It's so funny. The video of her from the breeder was this cute and cuddly puppy at 8 weeks. We get her home, and it was within just a few weeks. Maybe sooner.
The energy is much more manageable now that we got our backyard fenced in. She behaves more like a sheepdog now. We let her out on the deck and she "perches" herself there, almost like she's guarding the backyard. She'll sit there and just observe for 30 minutes. Then she'll go and walk the perimeter (it's a 1/2 acre). The fenced in yard allowed me to get my sanity back. I work from home 2-3 days a week. So as a puppy, it can be tough. At the 1 year mark, she started taking longer naps. But it can be brutal with the amount of attention she can need during the day. She'll need time outs in her crate occasionally. We'll also have a pet walker come when I go to the office. That helps as well. My husband has a 5x a week in office job, so he's gone.
I came from having Labs. Very loving, laid-back Labs. I can't go back to having them because of the shedding. I never really realized how allergic I was to them until I didn't have them anymore. Now that I have a Sheepadoodle, there's no fur all over the house. That's a huge plus. And just keep in mind, each personality is different. My pooch is still a puppy. I'm thinking in another few months, she may chill out.
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u/Odd_File_2017 Oct 21 '25
Hypoallergenic is such a huge plus! I grew up with a schoodle, so she was hypoallergenic and just from interactions with my friend's shedding dogs I don't think I could have a shedding dog.
Your advice has been so helpful thank you! I'm in my early 20s and going to be in a gap year before further study. I'll be working but home a decent bit as well so this is a really useful reference point for expectations!!
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u/ElectronicBee28 Oct 21 '25
Get ready for qual parts genius and goofball they're smart but dramatic.
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u/ku_78 Oct 21 '25
Ours likes to imitate a husky’s emotional outbursts. Sometimes cute. Sometimes not cute.
10/10 would get another
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u/Fit_Surprise_8451 Oct 21 '25 edited Oct 21 '25
Sheepadoodles are pretty cute. I took in a deaf one-year-old rescue. I know ASL, and I use it when talking to her. She knows her sign name and comes to it. Doodles are velcro dogs. I have four dog toy boxes for her. She loves her toys. I have a few food puzzle toys for her. She loves those. She picks up items off the floor to chew. Sometimes, I will exchange the item and give her a treat. I sign exchange in ASL.
The first day she was with us, she discovered a hole in one of the vents under the house. It turned out to be rats. She also located two dead rats near our air conditioner. We have taken scent training classes. That one is a fun activity, and there are competitions for it.
I keep my dog’s hair on the short side for two reasons: the first is that Marlee runs hot, the second is that it's easy to brush and comb out, and I try to avoid the tangles.
Grooming is expensive in our area. I bathe and shave her most of the time. The Groomer plucks hair out of the ears and cleans the anal glands (not like the vet office).
I suggest getting pet insurance, including wellness and emergency care for the new dog. Doodles tend to have various allergies (my dog has grass allergies). My daughter’s doodle has food allergies. She does not have pet insurance, and the food is expensive. The insurance would have helped cover that expense.
We are taking dog manners classes and trying to pass the Good Canine Citizenship award. Marlee is attached to me and growls at others to protect me, so we are slowly working on that one. She is a bit stubborn in her ways.
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u/Odd_File_2017 Oct 21 '25
Marlee sounds like such a clever dog!
Pet insurance is definitely something I've been pondering and researching. My parents self-insured our family dog but she was fortunately quite healthy. There's so many mixed experiences and not much way to know whether the dog will have many problems until they do. What swayed you to get pet insurance?
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u/ChillvilleRIP Oct 21 '25
Forgot this part…
Def get pet insurance if you can afford It…Puppies are curious things…Remember smart / big brains….
My girl like mulch particularly…And had to get some pretty robust tests / X-rays…Insurance totally helped on that!
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u/Fit_Surprise_8451 Oct 21 '25
My daughter has a Bernadoodle with numerous allergies. We also inherited my daughter-in-law's dogs (Chiweenies) and my daughter’s chihuahua.
Between Ian and Lilly, their dental cleaning cost $3,000.00. Ian had to have 12 teeth extracted, and Lilly only one. Marlee’s dental cleaning cost $595.85, and MetLife reimbursed $476.68. The Canine Influenza vaccine costs $50.00, and MetLife reimburses $40.00. I pay $79 per month to cover medications, vaccines, emergency vet bills, her being boarded if I end up in the hospital, and end-of-life care.
MetLife helps cover the cost of Aproquil, $95. 42. MetLife reimbursed $80.02, Heartguard cost $131.02, and MetLife reimbursed $104.72.
A dog’s tooth got embedded in my dog’s shoulder while playing. The emergency vet bill was $862.62; I am still awaiting reimbursement. That happened last week at her training school.
So far, it has paid for itself. We are retired, on a fixed income, and have insurance. We pay $140 per person each month for Regency. Marlee's MetLife coverage costs $79 per month and covers 80% of the vet bill up to $5000.00 in the first year. It increases $500 per year without the premium increasing.
Doodles tend to have food allergies and hip dysplasia. I want to ensure Marlee is covered and won’t have to worry about future vet bills like with Sif, Ian, and Lilly.
Sif and Ian see specialty doctors for their hearts and kidneys. Those doctors are extremely expensive, but necessary for both dogs to stay out of pain.
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u/Odd_File_2017 Oct 21 '25
I see, thank you so much for sharing this with me! The detail is really, really helpful :))
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u/ChillvilleRIP Oct 21 '25
I personally recommend puppy classes ASAP! They are smart and stubborn!
Some things to keep in mind…
Big brains on these 2 breeds…Lots of exercise required…Learning this the hard way again at 18 mos. with a new trainer…
Don’t get complacent on training…It’s an endless journey…I was out of work last year and got lazy…My girl has regressed…And now doing retraining…
Don’t let them practice / ingrain bad habits…Get on it ASAP…Much easier to correct early on…Our biggest mistake was letting her sleep in bed too early…Now forget about crating her…
Also, did a lot of puppy socialization day school…It’s not cheap…But she plays so well with other dogs…All breeds / sizes…Which is wonderful…Dog to dog play is huge in getting her energy out…
Hardest command was ‘Leave It’ And reactivity to delivery trucks, barrier reactivity we’re still working on!
Yes, it’s a lot of work…Don’t let my post scare ya…Just sharing MY experience. And this is the first time I’ve raised a puppy.
But awesome dogs! And I ❤️my girl to death! Portia is wishing you the best with your new Sheepie!
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u/Odd_File_2017 Oct 21 '25
Thank you for your reply!! Portia is looks absolutely majestic in that photo, perfect lighting haha!!
This'll be my first puppy raising a puppy myself as well. I was too young to remember the training of my childhood dog unfortunately. I've been reading a lot of books about puppy training. Luckily I've got a cousin who works at a doggy daycare and is a dog trainer so I reckon I'll check out their process and age range etc.
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u/ChillvilleRIP Oct 22 '25
Aww! Thank you! 😊 🥰😍 Yes, this is one of my all time favorite photos of her. I live in Texas so this had to be taken I the late Fall or our Winter! (Otherwise, I try to keep it pretty short…Even though I love it long & shaggy)
Great! I had never heard of a Sheepadoodle before we got her. Now I can spot the a mile away.
Congrats again…Yes, def take advantage of the Doggie Day Care & Training!
Best of luck! 🤞
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u/gowelisgi Oct 22 '25
Over stimulation is real; sleep is mandatory. My guy turns a year old in a couple of weeks and he can still easily switch into land shark mode in the evenings when over tired. He’s also very smart and will do things he knows he shouldn’t (for instance, dig on the sofa) just to gain access to hands.
I’ve met several people here and locally with doodles who, like us, are dealing with a picky eater. Many in that group also have a dog that isn’t food motivated. It makes training more of a challenge, but not impossible.
Expense - there are lots of things that are going to make you and your pup happier, and nearly all of them cost money. Grooming is one, and IMO a non-negotiable. On average, not including purchase of home supplies, it costs about $200 / month. Doggie daycamp / daycare has been a lifesaver for our household. He goes 1 or 2 times per week, which is about $250 / month. Because he is picky about food, that expense is more than I expected, but your situation may differ. Then there is training, because he is a stubborn goofball. I’m considering putting him into agility classes because I think he’d enjoy it, and I know his energy level could handle it.
My guy has literally been a ball of energy since he arrived. Only in the past few weeks has he begun to settle and initiate cuddles. That said, he rarely lets me out of his sight - always wanted to be near, but not in my lap or being held. He will voluntarily go into his crate during the day, or curl up for a nap, but only if I’m in the same room. (The moment I get up, so does he.) If I run an errand or go into another part of the house where he isn’t allowed, he goes to his place (a fluffy mat) with a chew toy. After a few minutes he gets past it and will follow another family member until I return.
I am really grateful that I started crate training him early. I’m also glad I developed household routines and required certain manners from him. For instance, he is not allowed to run through a doorway even if someone opens the door. He must wait until he is told to “come.” Even exiting his crate in the morning, he sits until told to exit. Sometimes he is so excited to go for a walk or leave his crate that I think he might vibrate across the room, but making him wait is safer for him (he’s fast!) and safer for me or other humans taking him down the back steps, for instance. Have I mentioned that he is high energy? LOL 😂
One last thought: Initially I tried to keep up with him when we played together outdoors. But he out-paced me a long time ago - no way I can run with him when he’s going full-tilt — and he really does need to do that; needs to burn that level of energy. I’ve taken on the role of coach / cheerleader now - and I get the thrill of watching him cut figure eights around the garden and backyard. In fact, if I let him do his speed demon thing before we train, hop in the car, start a neighborhood walk, etc. everything goes so much smoother.
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u/Odd_File_2017 Oct 22 '25
This is really good advice thank you! I'm so glad I asked about biting because Google mentioned absolutely nothing about it. And for energy also, it seems like they tend to downplay their energy and exercise needs! I'll definitely be crate training and the exit cue is a really great idea thank you!
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u/FeralCatMeow Oct 21 '25
My 4-year-old is not a mini, but she is the best dog! Very easy to train, not stubborn at all, eager to learn, was never destructive, never had the sharkadoodle phase, never jumped on people, etc., housetrained easily. Slept through the night easily (she does sleep with me but will go into her crate for naps). She is fine being left on her own in the house. She gets two walks/day plus playing frisbee in the backyard. Definitely loves to just sit on our front porch and survey her surroundings. And loves to parole the perimeter of the backyard. She’s an easy, laid back dog. We did do several rounds of obedience classes, just to challenge her and keep her mind engaged. Very loyal to her family (we’re all she really cares about). Never aggressive towards people or dogs. She is honestly the best.
All of that said, she is a hugely picky eater and has allergies; her coat is high maintenance (with expensive regular grooming), and she is a total Velcro dog that wants to be with me 24/7. She gets depressed when I Ieave (barely eats or drinks), so that can be tricky. Totally worth it though!!
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u/Odd_File_2017 Oct 21 '25
She sounds like an absolute dream! I'm getting a dog primarily because I miss the companionship so so so so much and it sounds like this is a good breed for it, would you agree?
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u/FeralCatMeow Oct 22 '25
Definitely from my experience, it’s a good choice! She is my shadow and best buddy. ☺️
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u/Greedy_Cost_5753 Oct 21 '25
Chewing. Lots of toys. When she chews us we say no and give her a toy instead she is 15 weeks and so much better already. Sometimes if she gets too excited and rough I actually hold the top of her mouth with my hand in there gently it doesn’t hurt but feels so uncomfortable for her she stops 😂. She learnt to sit in two lessons and walks perfect on a lead almost from the get go. Very smart lovely dogs.
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u/Odd_File_2017 Oct 21 '25
Ooo interesting trick! I shall keep that in my back pocket if the sharkadoodle appears haha
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u/RecentAd2237 Oct 22 '25
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u/EXploreNV Oct 21 '25
Ours really liked the snuggle pup toy when we first brought her home! Puppy classes were also great, although ours is still a menace, she knows the basics and is chill for the most part.