Choosing a breed can be daunting for any new dog owner, especially with Doodles. We are here to walk you through the differences between a Shepadoodle vs Labradoodle.
Two of the best Doodles to own are the Shepadoodle and the Labradoodle. These dogs make great companions and life-long pals. But, you may be wondering what breed to buy.
By the end of this article, you will know precisely what dog is right for your home.
Lineages
All Doodles are half Poodle. What makes them all unique is what their other half consists of.
Poodles have a long European history for hunting and, eventually, lap dogs. But what makes up the Shepadoodle and Labradoodle?
Shepadoodle History
A Shepadoodle is a mix of a Poodle and a German Shepherd. The German Shepherd has gone through rigorous breeding to create the perfect dog with high intelligence and great stamina.
These dogs were commonly seen herding flocks of sheep throughout the countryside. These dogs didn’t take long to catch the eye of police to use as working dogs and service dogs.
Note that the first Shepadoodle was a hypoallergenic police dog for officers that have allergies.
Labradoodle History
The Labradoodle is half Labrador Retriever. The Lab was initially bred in Newfoundland as a water sport hunting dog.
They were perfect for retrieving ducks and other fowl. A drive to please and a focused mind make them great for almost anything.
Years later, people discovered they also made great working and service dogs. The first Labradoodle was bred in Australia to be shipped to Hawaii.
The owner was blind and needed a hypoallergenic dog because her husband had allergies.
What’s Their Temperament?
The temperament results from years of perfecting the breeds and the abovementioned history. This temperament is something you can count on throughout all generations.
Shepadoodle Temperament
Your Shepadoodle will be the best combination of German Shepherds and Poodles. They are intelligent, loyal, energetic, and noble. Your Shepadoodle will love spending time with you and enjoying daily activities.
Shepadoodles are great for any family, whether hiking in the mountains or running around in your suburban backyard.
Labradoodle Temperament
Labradoodles are goofy rays of sunshine that love to share their joy for life. They can’t contain their excitement and must let it all out.
Your Labradoodle will be affectionate and loyal to all members of the family. They are very accepting of all people and animals.
Energy Levels
All dogs have energy levels that can determine how much exercise they need. Without proper exercise, they may turn to bad behaviors to relieve stress.
Shepadoodle Energy Levels
Shepadoodles have a moderate to high energy level. As puppies, you may think that your dog will never settle down. They will need lots of exercise and a large yard to play in.
When your dog fully matures, it will also enjoy doing other activities. They enjoy lounging around the house just as much as a hard day of play.
Labradoodle Energy Levels
Labradoodles are excited balls of energy that always seem to be happy. They will giggle and bounce for joy at everything you do. They are a perfect cheerleader.
Your Labradoodle will need a lot of exercises and one-on-one playtime. These high-energy dogs can become distressed and misbehave if they do not have the freedom to run and play in a large yard.
Intelligence
Doodles are known for their high intelligence and training ability. But these two Doodles are some of the smartest dogs in the world.
In fact, Labradoodles were named one of the world’s top 10 most intelligent breeds, according to thesmartcanine.com.
And, since the Poodle and German Shepherd are on the list for the top smartest breeds, it makes sense that Shepadoodles are too.
Both of these Doodles are extremely easy to train. They love having training classes and respond well to a confident and firm owner.
These Doodles love to please, so all it takes is a little positive reinforcement, and they will rise to the tops of their class.
With this high intelligence also comes a great responsibility to keep it sharp. You will want to give these Doodles fun toys and puzzles when they are alone to enrich them.
Coat Types
Many breeders will tell you that all Doodles have the same coat. But that is not always true.
Shepadoodle Coat
A Shepadoodle typically has a straight-to-wavy coat. They come in various colors: brown, tan, cream, and grey. But do they shed?
Your Shepadoodle will have some shedding, but not as much as a pure Shepherd. Some wavy coats have such little shedding that you may not even notice it.
Labradoodle Coat
Your Labradoodle can have a straight, wavy, or curly. The curlier the coat type is, the less it will shed. Most curly coat types don’t even shed at all.
This lack of shedding is what makes them hypoallergenic dogs. Labradoodles can come in about every color you can imagine, with chocolate, black, and cream being the most common.
Grooming Needs
All Doodles require a fair amount of grooming. You should expect to pay a decent amount for home grooming supplies and a professional.
You should always have combs, brushes, nail clippers, and shampoo. You should only bathe your dog when needed and no more than once a month.
Doodles have delicate skin and coats, which can dry out from over-washing.
Doodles do need a lot of brushing. Longer coats require daily brushing, while shorter coats may only need once-a-week maintenance.
No matter their hair length, they must see a professional groomer every 6-12 weeks. Since their hair does not shed, it will need to trim regularly.
Keeping up with a Doodle’s coat can seem daunting at first. But, you will soon find that brushing them is almost relaxing to you.
They will grow a strong bond with you during this time and will even look forward to it. Above all else, they will need grooming as young as 12 weeks old.
It is a common misconception that your Doodle will only need to see a groomer when they are over a year old.
Size And Life Expectancy
Shepadoodles come in two sizes: mini and standard. A mini Shepadoodle is by no means very small.
They grow between 30-50 pounds and still require a lot of room to exercise. A standard Shepadoodle can get anywhere from 50 to 90 pounds.
Labradoodles also come in various sizes: mini, medium, and standard. Minis grow to be 15-25 pounds, which can be great for smaller homes.
The mini can be great for apartments as long as you walk them regularly and get plenty of exercises. Even though they are small, they still pack a lot of energy into them.
A medium-sized Labradoodle gets 30-45 pounds, and a standard grows to 50-60 pounds. Both Doodles have a long lifespan of 12-15 years, and sometimes even longer.
Health
When choosing a dog, you must familiarize yourself with common health concerns within the breed. This can help you choose a reputable breeder and a healthy puppy.
Shepadoodle
Shepadoodles are prone to hip dysplasia, Von Willebrand disease, eye disease, and skin ailments.
Labradoodle
Labradoodles are also prone to Von Willebrand disease, eye disease, skin allergies, and hip and elbow dysplasia.
These diseases can be prevented in most cases by genetic testing of parents before breeding.
So, if both parents do not have the genetic markers for these diseases, they will not pass anything to the puppy.
Most reputable breeders also have scans and x-rays done to show that bone structure and densities are suitable for breeding.
Remember that a breeder’s #1 purpose is to make a breed they love better.
Price Of A Puppy
When comparing any two breeds, everyone is always curious about the price. They wonder if they are getting a good deal and if the prices they are finding are average for the breed.
A Shepadoodle puppy can cost anywhere from $250-$1,800. And Labradoodles can cost as low as $500 or as high as $3,000.
These prices can change depending on your location and how many breeders are in your area. The rarer a dog is, the more it will cost.
Some color and size variations will cost a lot more than others. This is because they are often harder to predict or not bred for.
You can expect a superbly bred dog when looking at the higher-priced puppies. That is worth its weight in gold regarding how much it will save you in vet bills later.
Most first-time dog owners should also expect to pay an extra $1,000 in supplies needed for their new addition. This cost covers toys, food, crates, and other basic necessities to get started.
In Conclusion
Will you choose the calm and majestic Shepadoodle to join your peaceful lifestyle? Or will you choose the happy, goofy energetic Labradoodle to join in on your outdoor adventures?
Which of these Doodles do you think will fit into your lifestyle seamlessly? Let us know, and don’t forget to follow our page for the latest Doodle updates!
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Doodle Board!!
