If you think that buying a new Sheepadoodle puppy for your family will create an automatic friendship, you need to think again. Of course, kids love to play, and such an adorable puppy would make it even more fun.
However, the playful nature of the Sheepadoodle puppy could be scary for some children. The new puppy, too, could view your child as a threat and rush to hiding to avoid interaction. We have the most beautiful cavoodle puppies melbourne, please check our site.
So, how do you make the Sheepadoodles the best choice for families with young kids? Before you seek Sheepadoodle puppies for sale, we need to understand the puppy itself. You may also be interested in checking out legit cavoodle puppies for sale australia.
What is Sheepadoodle?
It is a crossbreed of the German Poodle and the Old English Sheepdog. The Sheepadoodle emerged from a U.S Army experiment that sought to produce a breed with stronger traits from the parents.
As witnessed in the parents’ breeds, the military needed a breed with intelligent and friendly character traits. Breeders mixed the two parent breeds to develop a low shedding dog that provided an excellent companion and a family pet.
Considerations when Seeking Sheepadoodle Puppies for Sale
Size
The breed’s size mostly depends on the type of Poodle parent bred with the Old English Sheepdog. Notably, the Poodle has three distinct types, namely: Standard, miniature and toy Poodle. The standard produces the largest breed, with the toy producing small sizes weighing up to 10 kgs. The largest Sheepadoodle weighs around 30 kgs with a height of around 20 inches.
Personality
The Sheepadoodle is largely described as friendly, lively and lovable. The breed seems to enjoy every activity you introduce, from going outside for a brisk walk to snuggling on the couch all day. A high level of physical activity is inherited from the Old English Sheepdog parent, and the puppy will need to burn the energy with prolonged exercises.
The Sheepadoodles are rather athletic and will please you by easily learning new tricks. They also have unwavering loyalty and can make a great guard for your household whenever you are absent.
The boisterous nature of the Sheepadoodle puppies means that they require robust training at a tender age to keep them mentally stimulated and intelligent. Besides, they respond well to treats as rewards and positive reinforcement.
Sheepadoodles obedience and ability to easily connect with their owners have made them a popular companion and therapy dog. Practicing simple steps with the new puppy will strengthen the bond crucial for families with little kids.
Health
Although the Sheepadoodle boasts of Hybrid vigor, it is still predisposed to common conditions that affect the Old English Sheepdog and the Poodle. There is a probability that a puppy could have inherited some of the genes from the parents.
Therefore, it is crucial to keep a good eye on the newly acquired puppy to notice any health issue. In addition, you should regularly attend veterinary checkups to maintain good care and avoid worsening health conditions.
Common conditions that affect Sheepadoodles include Hip Dysplasia, bloat, Addison disease and joint issues.
General Care
Like in other dogs, it is important to keep up with regular veterinary checkups to detect underlying health conditions. Through the vet, you can develop a routine to keep the puppy healthy.
Another common issue with Sheepadoodles is weight gain. In most cases, weight gain is contributed by excess feeding and few or no physical activities. Failure to make a comprehensive meal plan for your puppy could lead to rapid weight gain as the puppy overeats daily.
Puppies should have around four meals every day to minimize stomach stretch and provide room for digestion. The four meals a day should be in small portions and should increase gradually as the puppy develops.
It would help if you also introduced physical activities to avoid boredom which contributes to weight gain. Note that lack of a proper plan to manage your puppy’s weight could lead to other conditions such as joint damage that worsens with age.
Color and Grooming
The Sheepadoodle’s appearance and coat are inherited from the parents, with the main ones including black and white. The breed has longer coats that can be curly, wavy or flat. These features make the Sheepadoodles ideal for allergy sufferers since the mix is considered a non-shedder. However, the puppy will need to be groomed despite being a non-shedder to avoid matting which could be irritating to the puppy and lead to a total shave.
Interaction with Kids
The Sheepadoodles inherit the herding instinct from the Old English Sheepdog and will appear to playfully nip at children’s heels as if to herd them. Their even-tempered and affectionate traits promote happiness when they are around kids and adults as well.
Although puppies appear small and calm, you should teach the children the best practices to interact with them without provocation or harm.
The interaction between the children and the puppy should be guided by demonstration and supervision. The children will easily learn from your example hence the need to be present and involved as family members interact with the puppy.
Since kids and puppies adore fun activities, it is wise to introduce games for your children and the puppy, ensuring that you supervise every movement and action. Games such as chase and fetch are a good starting point to keep both the children and the puppy active and entertained.
Giving your kids some responsibility also plays a significant role in creating a strong bond between the puppy and the kids. The responsibilities you give the kids make them loving and confident of their abilities when interacting with the puppy.
For instance, you can leave your child to take care of the puppy, including serving the puppy with meals and water and walking her regularly. These responsibilities show your kid that the puppy needs them, creating a lasting and deep bond between them.
Caring for a Sheepadoodle
A Sheepadoodle is a mixed breed known to be extremely intelligent and playful, making them a perfect pet for your young kids. However, pets are a huge responsibility, and you must be well-equipped with knowledge and tools before purchasing or adopting any dog. When taking care of a Sheepadoodle, it is essential that you ensure they get enough exercise, are fed the right kind of food, and are groomed and vaccinated when necessary.
Exercise Requirements
A Sheepadoodle dog is very high energy and needs lots of exercises to keep them healthy and happy. Ideally, taking them out for walks daily would be best. Professionals recommend a 90-minute light jog or walk should be enough exercise for this breed. If you neglect these needs, they can get boisterous and may start chasing your kids or other small objects or animals to burn off the extra energy they have.
Since they are friendly dogs, you can take them to a dog park and let them play with other dogs. This can also help dissipate their energy.
Grooming and Shedding
Despite their long locks, Sheepadoodle dogs do not shed as much, thanks to the poodle gene. Still, if you adopt a puppy, you won’t know the kind of coat they have until they are fully grown. Therefore, brushing your dog’s hair at least once or twice a week is best. This helps prevent matting and tangles in their hair. Most groomers suggest that Sheepadoodle owners should get the hair around their eyes trimmed regularly, or it may hamper their vision, causing them to bump into things.
Feeding and Diet
To keep dogs healthy, you need to feed them a balanced diet of good quality dog food. Their food must have a good quantity of protein in it as it fulfills their essential amino acid requirements. Dietary fats are also important in your dog’s diet as it keeps their coats shiny and healthy.
When feeding, try to maintain a schedule and feed them 3-4 times when they are a puppy. As they grow older, you can adjust the amount of food and the timings according to your schedule. Usually, smaller Sheepadoodles, weighing around 40 to 50 lbs, need 2.5 cups of kibble, and larger dogs, weighing 60 lbs, need 3 cups of kibble.
Conclusion
Buying a new Sheepadoodle puppy would be fascinating, especially if you have young kids. The kids will easily bond with the friendly pet through your guidance and supervision. Ensure that family members understand crucial traits of the puppy to create a strong bond and foster growth.
The above-mentioned points are just some of the many things you need to consider before you think of adopting or seeking a puppy for sale not just for Sheepapoodles, but for any kind of puppy.