The German Shepherd Poodle Mix aka the Shepadoodle

The German Shepherd Poodle mixed breed is more commonly known as the Shepadoodle dog. This is not a purebred dog and it is a mix between the standard Poodle and the stock German Shepherd.

These shaggy medium-sized dogs come in a variety of different colors, including black, gray, tan, or cream, and they can come in either a solid color or sable. The Shepadoodle is both a strong and agile dog, and together with its good muscular framework, they tend to have good stamina.

This usually hairy dog typically has a narrow muzzle like the Poodle, but sometimes it can have a wider one like the stock German Shepherd.

Its ears are typically the same as a poodle and are hairy, flopping downwards. It has a well-fringed tail which is carried high with a slight curve upwards.

Shepadoodle History

Let’s take a deeper look at the history of both the parents of this mixed breed, which are the German Shepherd and the Poodle.

The German Shepherd, as you may already know, hails from Germany where it was used for all sorts of jobs such as hunting, guarding, and even companionship.

Eventually, as with every dog breed, it eventually made its way to the United States in the early 1900s. The American Kennel club later adopted the breed into the club in 1912.

The breed grew in great popularity over the years among all sorts of people. You can still find the German Shepherd in many homes to this day as a great companion to many families.

Now let’s take a look at the Poodles history, the Poodle has been debated as if to originally hail from France. Some people believe the Poodle also came from Germany like the German Shepherd.

Before the Poodle got its love from the royal families, it was used in hunting. The way the Poodle had its haircut done was actually to benefit the dog during hunting. The bigger spots on the dog’s fur were used to keep the dog warm during the cold winter months.

Eventually, the breed was loved by the royals in France and became companion dogs. Then many years later, the breed was brought to the United States and accepted into the American Kennel Club.

Now the Shepadoodle was primarily created to help serve troops in the United States Military. To do what we do not know but both of the parents of this breed have such a strong background aiding people and working, so it is only natural for people to want to use this mixed breed for help.

This crossbreed was first created in the 1960s.

German Shepherd Poodle Mix Appearance

The appearance of this mixed breed is going to vary like most other mixed breeds. To truly know what your puppy might look like, you will want to look at features that both the German Shepherd and Poodle both have.

The first thing you will notice is just how large this dog breed is. This is considered to be a medium to large size dog breed.

This mixed breed can come in a variety of different colors, you will find a list of them down below.

The coat of this breed is going to be a very thick double coat, it won’t matter if the coat is curly or straight, but it will have a thick double coat. Your dog will either have a short thick coat, long, or even a very curly coat.

Shepadoodles tend to take on the ears of the Poodle parent so they will be quite floppy.

German Shepherd Poodle Mix Coat

Most likely, your dog will have a thick coat that is actually double layered. This mixed breed gets this trait from the German Shepherd parent. The thick coat helps protect the dog from outside elements as well as cold weather.

The coat of the Poodle parent is very curly, and your German Shepherd Poodle Mix may also have a very curly coat. The coat can still be long as the German Shepherds but with some curl to it.

Either way, you will have an adorable pup with a long double coat that is either wavy or curly.

What colors do they come in?

Here is a list of all the possible colors that your dog might come in:

• Black
• White
• Gray
• Fawn
• Brown
• Cream

Your Shepadoodle will most likely have a black or a brown nose along with brown eyes.

Shepadoodle Temperament

The Shepadoodle has an excellent combination of the Poodle’s intelligence and the German Shepherd’s loyalty which makes it a great family pet.

It is an active dog and very curious, and it is believed to be one of the safest dogs to have around children.

German Shepherd Poodle Mix Size

The weight and height varies of the Shepadoodle depending on its parents, however, both females and males tend to weigh the same between 50-80lbs (22-36kg), and they range in the height of about 15-26 inches (38-66cm).

Shepadoodle Health Problems

The German shepherd poodle mix is a dog with relatively few disorders and diseases.

The most common disease it suffers from is hip dysplasia, Von Willebrand’s disorder, bloat, and because of their long curly hair, they are sensitive to flea attacks.

Most Shepadoodles, if cared for properly, live to be 12-14 years.

Life Expectancy of a Shepadoodle

To understand the life span of your Shepadoodle, you will want to see the life expectancy of both the parents of this breed, the German Shepherd and the Poodle.

German Shepherd can live quite a long time but not as long as the Poodle.

The German Shepherd is expected to live between seven and ten years.

The Poodle can live longer between ten and eighteen years. So as you can see, your mixed breed can vary from different life expectancies.

Living Conditions

The gentle temperament of this dog, mixed with its versatility, means that it can do well in almost all living conditions, even apartments, if it is taken for regular walks.

However, due to its large size, it is better to have a fenced backyard for it to move about.

Shepadoodle Exercise

While this is an active dog and needs walking, it is not necessary for it to run around to be tired out like the German Shepherd.

Taking this dog for a leisurely walk twice daily is the perfect way to keep it in shape.

However, this mixed dog breed will need around 90 minutes of exercise each day. This will keep your dog fit and entertained as the Shepadoodle has a lot of energy.

Both parent breeds have a ton of energy, and that is where this mixed breed gets it from.

Take your dog to a dog park, to play fetch, or on long walks to help get the built-up energy out.

German Shepherd Poodle Mix Feeding

The Shepadoodle is a large dog breed, so this breed needs around three cups of food a day. You can choose to either give your dog dry food, wet food, or a combination of both.

The food that this breed should have is one with a lot of protein and a balance of healthy carbs, vegetables, and grains.

Depending on the quality of food you purchase for your sweet pup, you can estimate spending around $1.35 to $2.00 a day on food costs.

Make sure you split up the three cups of food into smaller meals throughout the day.

Give your dog a cup in the morning, one for lunch, and the last cup at dinner time. This will reduce the chances of getting your dog obese, as well as the bloat condition.

Poodle German Shepherd Mix Grooming

The Shepadoodle dog needs constant brushing and maintenance of its coat to keep its hair from tangling. Constant brushing also helps prevent flea attacks.

Use a metal pin brush to keep its coat looking in top shape. This dog has a naturally thick coat, and it should be bathed only when needed.

Despite it having long hair, when wet, do not dry it with an electric dryer as it may cause skin irritation.

Shepadoodle Training

This mixed breed is made up of a German Shepherd and a Poodle. Both of those breeds are very energetic and will need a lot of exercise as well as consistent training.

The good news is that both of these breeds are very intelligent and can pick up training quite easily with consistent training.

When you are training, start off slow and with positive reinforcement and, of course treats to show your dog that you are happy with the progress it’s making.

Don’t get discouraged as training will take a lot of time. Start off with easy things such as socializing your dog and potty training. Then you can move on to other things as you progress.

Shepadoodle Puppies

This breed can be quite hard to find as there are not a whole lot of breeders available. You will have to do some extensive research to find a breeder in your area. This may take some time, but I’m sure you will find one.

Make sure you check the breeder out to make sure you can trust them and their breeding practices. Always check out the facility if possible, and see health papers from the breeder on the parents of the puppies.

This mixed breed can cost around $600 to right around $1000. This is considerably affordable compared to some other mixed breeds, as well as the cost of purebred breeds.

Of course, there is always the option of finding the Shepadoodle from a rescue, but it will most likely be older and not a puppy.

Shepadoodle Litter Size

Since this is a larger breed of dog, the litter size will be larger than a smaller dog breed. The Shepadoodle will have between five and seven puppies in a single litter.

Of course, depending on the dog, she may only have a few puppies or even more than seven puppies.

Suitability

The Shepadoodle is the perfect family pet as it has a very gentle and loving nature. While they are intelligent dogs, early socialization and obedience training is a must as it is easier to keep them in line.

These dogs need a firm owner who will be strict with training and commands otherwise it has a tendency to do what it likes because of its playful manner.

Close relatives of the Shepadoodle

Below you will find a few breeds listed that are very similar to this mixed breed, they are:

• German Shepherd
• Poodle
• Labradoodle
• Goldendoodle
• Double Doodle
• Aussiedoodle
• Wolfadoodle