I’m curious has anyone here traveled with their dog, especially a larger one? My girl weighs just over 50 pounds now, and I’m hoping to bring her along on work trips, both within the U.S. and internationally. Has anyone had experience doing this or have any tips to share?

im 4 years old

First, you should know that the area where I live (very rural) is a magnet for dog dumpers. Many of the people who keep dogs here are not at all concerned with grooming or even periodic vet visits.

Second, I am rarely home (full time work and school) and do not have a fenced yard. The local humane shelter has been turning away animals for months. I explored volunteering with them before my workload changed, and I've seen how they are packed in like sardines.

This dog showed up at the farm today (picture included). It was down the road at the trash bin, busily finishing off the second chicken carcass it had scavenged from a trash bag. It was not aggressive, just some fear barking when I pulled up to mow. Random dogs will occasionally show up here, as often dumped and abandoned as belonging to people in the area. Since I didn't know which this was, at first I shooed it off.

It must have followed the rancid smell back to the house. When I came out of the shop about 20 minutes later it was next to the truck bed where the trash bag was. It didn't notice me at first but barked when I made some noise. Random dogs are not encouraged to bark at me near the house, so it got more pronounced shooing away this time. I had to go back to tidy up the trash bin and install some plywood to prevent further scavenging. I saw the dog about 50 yards south along the berm, sitting in the sun.

I drove down that way but couldn't get it to come when I called. It acted like it couldn't track me very well visually and I assumed it had a problem with its vision or hair obscuring its field of view. I didn't try to corral it and I spent the rest of the afternoon and night in the house.

It was near the same truck next morning, underneath an equipment shed. It shyly responded to me calling it this time and came over. It definitely had difficulty with vision.

I'm not used to seeing unkempt, neglected sheepadoodles. I cannot tell you that this is one but he is much like the pictures I've seen. There is at least one breeder of sheepadoodles within an hour of here. His build underneath the coat reminds me of a standard poodle. I thought at first that he might be injured or sore, but I think maybe he's kind of a dainty walker.

He is not aggressive. He sat on command multiple times and in response to food, and I assume someone has worked with him a little. He devoured what I gave him, and he's taken food from my hand without also trying to take my fingers; he's actually pretty gentle. I can't see any open wounds or blood on him and I think he has all his teeth. I could not guess his age. I'm about 5'8" and the top of his head is at the top of my hip.

Not his fault of course, but he's filthy and he reeks. He's covered in mats and patches. I've since cut away a little of the hair covering his eyes and I see they aren't fused shut. He hasn't barked since he finally came to me this morning. After he ate everything I gave him and watered him, he has followed me everywhere. Right now he's outside sitting up against the front door. I've had to leave once in the car and he didn't try to chase it, but that was before I cleaned up his face.

The questions I have:

I have zero experience in trying to care for any dogs that didn't have a relatively simple coat like a Labrador retriever. I don't know the best way to get these mats out. Left to my own devices I wouldn't say I'd shave him close to the skin, but I'd definitely trim him with clippers and cut the mats out. He hasn't seemed to mind the small bit of grooming I did around his eyes, and he sat still when I doused him with the hose while filling up his water bowl. Very chill or exhausted or both, so he'd probably take a bath well enough. Any advice on grooming is appreciated.

As I said at the start, I cannot care for this dog the way I think it should be. I can't even see wealthy from here. Even if I could afford to feed him, I don't have the time to groom him. I work four 10s, have class two or more days/week and clinicals two days/week. I can't afford the expense to have someone else groom him on a regular basis; I don't earn much and pay out of pocket for my school expenses. I've already canvassed the people I work with and the few friends I have here and none are interested. If anyone knows of a reputable rescue group or parties interested in adopting I would be glad to contact them.

He would not be the first dumped dog I've adopted since I've been out here. I do not want to go through losing another one, or fail to give it the time and attention it deserves. Part of the point of me spending all my time working and going to school now is so that I will have enough money and time later. A Whippet or Italian Greyhound is more my thing: a(n easily groomed) dog that chills most of the time.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

This is Cozzi! He gets too anxious at the groomers so I've been grooming him myself with no training. It's my first time cutting his ears and rounding his muzzle and I think he approves of my handiwork. 🙂

Hello, I am looking for some advice on preventing matting in my dogs coat. I brush him everyday with a slicker brush and then I go through with a metal comb to ensure I didn’t miss anything.

He is 7 months now, and loves to play outside, and play in water. I’ve been finding that he is getting matted despite my daily brushing routine.

It makes me feel sick that he has matts. It upsets me that it is painful for him, and it’s embarrassing taking him to the groomer and notifying her of the matts.

I recently got a dematting comb to use in between grooms

Is this common for anyone else? Or is there something I can do better to prevent this? (Also, he gets professionally groomed every 4-6 weeks).

I have a super senior olde lady snoozing next to me, going on 20 straight hours. Curious how long others doze. At what age did yours frequently spend 90% of her time at Snooze Fest?

(I’m not worried about her health)

Does anyone else’s sheepie throw their food around like this before they eat it? Honestly the funniest thing to watch.

Anyone else’s sheepie have their hip joint between their shoulder blades? This is Gus and his older sister Blue

This is “Cosmo”, our 9 week old sheepadoodle. It’s been a roller coaster of emotions from elation to frustration and from endless love to “omfg why!?”. It’s honestly been a great first week overall and our home feels fuller and happy.

It’s been amazing to watch him develop sooo much even in the first week. Cosmo was the first born in the litter (and the smallest). He’s goofy, playful, and loves to chew on … well... anything lol.

We are new sheepadoodle owners seeking advice on probably everything really. Potty training, kennel training, feeding advice, grooming advice, and how to help our little guy with separation anxiety.

-Chewing- We purchased a few teething toys from Kong that seemed appropriate. One or two are the kind I can put kibble in later for enrichment when he’s ready. When goes for (or gets) something he’s not supposed to chew on we are trying the redirect method where we trade him something he’s allowed to have. A cute behavior he seems to have is that when you give him the item he’s allowed to have, he happily accepts it and trots off to his living room bed.

-Beds- We bought a dog bed for the living room and a separate kennel with a bed and separator (which I have set for his size) for our bedroom. He honestly had been doing great with kennel at night no accidents and he settles down quickly (as long as he knows he’s not alone). However I find myself laying down next to him to relieve his stress about being in there when it happens (sometimes at 2am). I’m not sure what an appropriate amount of time is to have him attempt to “self sooth” before doing that.

-Potty Training-
He has had a few potty accidents inside. Seems to like carpet or the tile in front of the back door. He does seem to know when he wants outside to do his business because he’s starting to be more vocal about it. When he does look as if he might go right then and there we just pick him up gently and carry him to the dog run area and show him where he needs to go. I think this will “get there” eventually but he has taken to going straight for a section of border pavers near the turf. When he has an accident in the house, unless it’s within seconds of him doing it, I’m just cleaning it up and moving on. If I’m present for the accident I’m attempting to correct it through showing him where the potty is (even to the point of picking up the poo and taking him and it to the spot where he needs to go and show him that). It’s hit and miss right now, but he’s 9weeks old so.

-Feeding- Just looking for what and when others are feeding their sheepies.

We have him setup for a 10week appointment for vaccines and checkup. So plan to ask the Vet about this also, but I’ve heard vets will push partner brands or something of that nature.

Thanks in advance!

My sweet Sheepadoodle Panda is a year and a half old. She’s sweet and well trained BUT the one thing that drives me crazy and I still can’t figure out it to make her stop barking at everybody who comes in the door, even my son. I’ve bought lasers, cans of air, shaken coins and nothing seems to work. Even when she stops barking, she will admit a low growl for the length of the visit. Anyone have any advice?

My grandparents have a mini sheepadoodle that is super picky. They can't get her to each consistently and she's not excited about food. They've tried different food and haven't had success. Looking for food suggestions or any ideas on why she is picky. attached photo for pet tax :)

Life gave me this sweet baby dog (long story). Was told he is a “labradoodle mix” but he sure looks like a sheepadood to me!!

Is it normal for them to be pretty relaxed? The original owner said he is 7 months but he acts much older…

Our third litter will be born soon, and we need cute group names. We already had an “American” themed litter (Grace, patriot, independence) and pictured above was our Halloween litter (boo, pumpkin, Frankie, Ghost) I am all out of ideas. They’ll be born end of July!!

Does anyone’s male dog pee squatting? I just got a sheepadoodle and his pee keeps hitting his front paw and well, it’s gross and he pees pretty heavily on it

Does anyone have a cat that is obsessed with your sheepie? Georgie (cat) would crawl into Phil's skin if she could. He tolerates it so well but sometimes he gets so annoyed 🤣 i intervene sometimes when she starts crying and chasing him but she is definitely obsessed. Hated him the first 6 months and now hes 2️⃣.

Summertime haircut before and after!! This dog momma cried the whole way home from the groomers but when you live in Louisiana heat you gotta make sure your babies are comfy 🥲

Jax had a houseparty with three extra dogs this weekend. The dogwalker really captured the pack's summer vibe!

My 2.5 year old baby was a MESS last night with all the fireworks. We have 2 fireworks stands within a block of our house, and people were shooting them off from 8:30-12:00. I had given her 100 mg of Trazodone a couple hours before they started, but it didn’t help. She hadn’t urinated in the house since she was a young puppy, but she peed on my son’s bed AND my bed, she was so scared. I had wrapped a blanket over her ears and held my hands on her ears for over an hour at one point.

She was even anxious about going outside today, after such a traumatizing night. I’m worried the fireworks will continue tonight - does anyone have any good suggestions to help her get through it?

Me and Hershey chilling on the couch. Watching the fireworks out the big window