Sheepadoodles are crossbreeds that are easy to train and maintain. They are playful pets that make great family dogs. So, how big do Sheepadoodles get?
If you have one or plan to adopt one, you might be worried or confused about its size and growth. In this article, we will discuss the size of Sheepadoodles as well as the factors that affect their growth. Keep reading to learn more.
How Big Does a Sheepadoodle Get?
The average height of a mature sheepadoodle is usually about 15 to 21 inches. Large Sheepadoodles may grow up to 26 inches, while mini Sheepadoodles grow to a height of 14 to 21 inches. Micro Sheepadoodles can get 13 to 18 inches in height. A large sheepadoodle can weigh up to 80 pounds.
There are several types of Sheepadoodles, with each one of them having a different height and size. Here are some of them:
Standard sheepadoodle
A standard sheepadoodle normally has a height of 22 to 27 inches. Its size is more like the size of a 4 to 8 months-old Standard Poodle. When fully grown, they will weigh about 50 to 80 pounds. A female standard sheepadoodle is usually heavier as compared to the male.
Medium sheepadoodle
A medium sheepadoodle is around 18 to 21 inches at the shoulder. Their size is almost the same as an average-sized female Old English Sheepdog and a small Standard Poodle. On the other hand, they weigh between 32 to 55 pounds.
Sheepadoodle puppies
Sheepadoodle puppies are usually smaller in size. They are much similar to a mini Sheepadoodle with a height of about 16 inches. However, the size depends on the number of months or weeks as well as the weight.
Mini sheepadoodle
The mini is also known as the small Sheepadoodles. They usually have a height of about 16 to 20 inches when fully grown between 6 to 12 months. They attain maturity earlier than other types of Sheepadoodles.
The adults weigh from 25 to 38 pounds. Some may weigh up to 50 pounds within 18 months.
Micro sheepadoodle
A micro sheepadoodle typically has a height of around 20 inches. They are also referred to as Miniature sheepadoodle because of their size. Their weight ranges from 23 pounds to 35 pounds.
Factors That Determine The Size of a Sheepadoodle
Several factors affect the size of the Sheepadoodle. Here are some of them.’
Parents
Like human beings, dogs too inherit half of their genes from each of their parents. Some of these inherited traits will be expressed, while others will not. The two parents of Sheepadoodles are the Old English Sheepdog and the Poodle.
Old English Sheepdog
The American Kennel Club does not emphasize the weight of the Old English Sheepdog as it does on its overall character and conformation. Therefore, the weight can vary within the breed. Their standards indicate that a range of 60 to 100 pounds is acceptable.
It is widely believed that the size of a puppy is influenced mainly by its mother than the father. The female used in almost all sheepadoodle is an Old English Sheepdog. This explains why a sheepadoodle tends to be larger on average than the standard weight range for a Standard Poodle.
Smaller sheepdogs tend to produce smaller puppies, while large sheepdogs will make more giant puppies. It is important to remember that the father’s size will affect the size of the puppy too.
Poodle
According to The American Kennel Club, the male standard Poodles used to create a Sheepadoodle must be between 60 to 70 pounds and more than 15 inches tall.
This does not align with the standard size of a sheepadoodle, as many may exceed 70 pounds, especially when their mothers were large.
It can be concluded that the size of poodles limits the final size of a sheepadoodle. The small size of Sheepadoodles can evidence this. Some breeders consider using a miniature poodle to produce mini Sheepadoodles.
Gender
As is true of nearly all dog breeds, whether crossbred or purebred, males are usually heavier and taller than their female counterparts. Although there are always some exceptions to the rule, males will always be bigger than females in most cases.
Generation
Not all Sheepadoodles are first-generation. They were created using a Poodle and an Old English Sheepdog.
In some cases, a first-generation Sheepadoodle is bred to a Poodle either of miniature or standard size. This helps in reducing the size of puppies and enhancing low-shedding qualities.
If a first-generation (f1) Sheepadoodle is bred to a miniature Poodle, it will result in f1b generation puppies, with the “b” standing for backcross. The resulting puppies will be smaller as compared to Standard Sheepadoodles.
Nutrition
Sheepadoodles that lack proper diet and those plagued by intestinal parasites are more likely to experience stunted growth. As a result, they may not be able to reach their full potential for weight and height.
Dogs do not excel at self-control when it comes to food. If you do not handle portion control well, your dog can quickly become obese, thus affecting her general health in the process.
A dog with several health issues will more likely experience stunted growth. Therefore, a proper nutrition and feeding program for your Sheepadoodle will ensure that it attains the right weight and height.
At What Age is a Sheepadoodle Fully Grown?
Generally, Sheepadoodles grow fully when they are 12 to 17 months old. However, this may vary depending on various factors such as food supply, sizes, and parent dogs.
Large Sheepadoodles like the standard Sheepadoodles can take about 2 to 3 years to get to their full height of 22 to 25 inches. They usually get to half of their expected growth at the age of 4 to 6 months.
In addition, when your dog is not fed enough fat (9%) and protein (30%) every day, it might take more than two years to be fully grown.
Smaller Sheepadoodles like mini, toy, and micro Sheepadoodles take 6 to 12 months to grow fully. Luckily, they do not require a strict food supply to mature within 12 months.
When Does a Sheepadoodle Stop Growing?
A sheepadoodle will stop growing once it is about 13 months or one year old. Some standard Sheepadoodles may take more than two years. Typically, small Sheepadoodles stop growing earlier as compared to large Sheepadoodles.
For instance, mini Sheepadoodles will stop growing at six months. This is a lot earlier as compared to the standard Sheepadoodles.
How Long Does a Sheepadoodle Live?
A sheepadoodle reaches its full maturity within 10 to 13 months. This does not mean that it has a short lifespan. Sheepadoodles generally have a relatively longer lifespan as compared to several large breed designer dogs.
On average, a sheepadoodle can live for 12 to 16 years. Smaller Sheepadoodles usually have a longer lifespan than larger Sheepadoodles. A standard sheepadoodle with a shorter lifespan has an average of 10 to 12 years.
On the other hand, smaller Sheepadoodles like the micro, toy, and mini Sheepadoodles tend to live a longer life with 12 to 15 years.
The lifespan of Sheepadoodles may also depend on other factors such as generation and heredity.
Conclusion
Sheepadoodles are slightly large dogs of various sizes. There are various types of Sheepadoodles each having its own standard weight and height. Several factors may affect their growth, such as food supply, gender, generation, and parents.