Shepadoodle puppies

About the Shepadoodle

The Shepadoodle, or German Shepadoodle, crosses the German Shepherd with the Standard Poodle, and a Mini Shepadoodle uses a Miniature Poodle instead. There is no breed standard. PetMD gives the standard cross as 18.1 to 40.8 kg and says their lifespan falls within the parents' ranges of 12 to 14 years for the German Shepherd and 10 to 18 for the Poodle. The coat is hard to predict because the two parents' coats are so different, so plan for regular shedding and frequent brushing.

Both parents were bred for work, and PetMD notes that German Shepherds and Standard Poodles each need at least one and a half to two hours of exercise a day. Lifelong training suits this cross, which learns fast and enjoys it, and they adapt well to most homes once their exercise needs are met. Ask about hips, elbows and degenerative myelopathy on the Shepherd side and von Willebrand disease and sebaceous adenitis on the Poodle side, and learn the signs of bloat, which is an emergency in a deep chested dog.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Shepadoodle puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Bloat (gastric dilatation and volvulus), an emergency in a deep chested dog
• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow scoring radiographs of both parents
• Degenerative myelopathy from the German Shepherd side, which usually shows after eight years of age, with a DNA test available for the parents
• Idiopathic epilepsy, diagnosed after other causes of seizures are ruled out and managed with medication
• Sebaceous adenitis from the Poodle side, suspected from scaling and hair loss and confirmed by skin biopsy
• Von Willebrand disease, an inherited clotting disorder detectable by DNA test and important to know before surgery

Your Shepadoodle puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Shepadoodle.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 18.1 to 40.8 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 42 inch (42 x 28 x 30 in, 107 x 71 x 76 cm) for an adult of up to 40.8 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Do slow feeder bowls work? Choosing one for a puppy that gulps
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other large breeds

More on the Shepadoodle

Previous: Sheepadoodle · Next: Sheprador

Sources

• petmd.com for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• Health notes from Shepadoodle breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/shepadoodle. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

No published figure for adult height, coat type, the good with children rating, the good with other dogs rating and country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.