How Big Do Sheepadoodles Get? [Average Size & Weight Guide]

Sheepadoodles are designer dogs, meaning that they are a mixture of two purebreds. In this case, the breed has been developed by breeding an Old English Sheepdog with a Standard Poodle. The result is an adorable, even-tempered dog that makes great pets. But, this means that their size, both in terms of height and weight, can vary. I decided to do some research to find out what owners can expect from this breed.

So, how big do Sheepadoodles get? Sheepadoodles can weigh anywhere from 30-80 pounds, reaching between 13-27 inches in height. Their final size depends mostly on the size of the parental dogs used in breeding; with toy, mini and standard sheepadoodles sizes available.

The Sheepadoodle can vary somewhat in potential size and there are actually three different classifications of Sheepadoodle: Standard, Mini, and Toy.

Either way, all three are considered to be a larger breed, and due to their size, you’ll want to take care when you have children around them.

Sheepadoodle can accidentally knock down or inadvertently hurt a small child.

That being said, Sheepadoodles are a great addition to any family as they are a good-natured and friendly breed.

Let us now take a closer look at what you can expect in terms of size and growth rate across the three classifications.

Average Sheepadoodles Weight and Size

Both the Standard Poodle and the Old English Sheepdog, the parents of a Sheepadoodle, are also quite large, so it’s no surprise that a Sheepadoodle can get so big.

While Sheepadoodles can reach 27 inches, the average Sheepadoodle will be around 16 to 22 inches in height at the shoulders. They typically weigh between 60 and 80 pounds.

While it is true there are other smaller versions of the Sheepadoodle, these are less common and not what you would expect to see as often.

Parentage

Standard Poodles, on average, are usually 22 inches and can weigh anywhere between 45 and 70 pounds when fully grown.

Old English Sheepdogs are around the same height as Standard Poodles, averaging 22 inches, but are much heavier than their mates, weighing between 80 and 100 pounds when they are fully grown.

When it comes to size, the Sheepadoodle is much more in line with their Poodle parent than with their Old English Sheepdog parent.

However, these are just averages, so it is possible to have a Sheepadoodle that is larger than 80 pounds.

In comparison with other dogs, the Standard Sheepadoodle falls under the classification of Large or Extra Large. Due to their size, apartment living might not be the best situation for them.

How Fast do Sheepadoodles Grow?

Sheepadoodles grow relatively slowly, as do most larger breed dogs. If a larger breed dog grows too quickly, it can cause issues for them down the road. The most common issues from growing too fast are joint problems.

Sheepadoodles, as a breed, are already pre-disposed to joint issues and hip dysplasia. Because of this, you will want to reduce the probability of your dog suffering from these conditions.

Sheepadoodles complete their growing in about 24 months from the time when they are born.

Can you imagine a two-year-old child being fully grown? So, while the growth happens slowly for dogs, it’s still quite a fast growth spurt!

Growing too quickly can affect many areas of a dog’s life, and for some, it would disqualify them from being working dogs, such as service dogs.

Equally, malnourished Sheepadoodles or those that pick up intestinal parasites can also suffer from stunted growth.

In this context, they will not be able to effectively reach their full potential for height and weight.

It is therefore imperative that you monitor your Sheepadoodle closely, from the time they are a pup – ensuring that they are growing in accordance with the breed’s standard.

How to Keep Sheepadoodles From Growing Too Fast

If you have a large dog like a Sheepadoodle, talk with your vet about the best options for your dog to ensure they grow at a safe rate and not too fast.

If they do gain weight quickly or begin to grow at an alarming rate, your vet will be able to identify and detect this.

In this situation, more than likely, they will have you reduce the number of times you feed your puppy.

They will also want you to switch to a food that is made specifically for large breed dogs.

For the Sheepadoodle, it is imperative that you offer the appropriate food, for them. Regular puppy food developed for medium-sized dogs, can be too much for this breed. Even when following the recommendations on the bag.

What Age Are Sheepadoodles Fully Grown?

On average, Sheepadoodles reach their full height when they are around 18 months old. Like most large breed dogs, Sheepadoodles take longer to reach their full size.

After reaching their full height, they will continue to increase their weight due to filling out and forming muscles.

You can expect your Sheepadoodle to be at their full height and weight at around two years old.

Your vet may offer solutions to prevent your Sheepadoodle from growing too quickly, such as a specific type of food for large breed dogs.

Sheepadoodles need the extra time to grow and strengthen their bones, joints, and muscles so that they can carry the large builds of the full-grown dog.

If this growth happens too quickly, Sheepadoodles can suffer from joint problems, and dysplasia issues, which will affect their quality of life.

While two years may seem like a long time for a puppy to grow, it is needed so that everything has the time to grow properly. 

Mini and Toy Sheepadoodles grow at a slower pace reaching full size in under a year. The shorter time to fully grow is because they are smaller dogs with a lower requirement for development than in the Standard Sheepadoodle.

Factors That Influence Sheepadoodle Size

Different factors can influence a Sheepadoodle’s size. The main factors involve their parents, especially the size of the Poodle.

If their Poodle Parent is above average in size, the Sheepadoodle will more than likely be above average in size as well.

There are three versions of a Sheepadoodle; Standard, Mini, and Toy.

Though the names suggest that the two smaller versions of the Sheepadoodle are tiny, like a Toy Yorkie, they are not, and they are just smaller versions of the Standard.

Standard Sheepadoodle

Standard Sheepadoodles are the largest of the three and generally the version people refer to when speaking about the Sheepadoodle.

They average around 18 to 27 inches tall, weighing in, on average, between 65 and 80 pounds.

Mini Sheepadoodle

Mini Sheepadoodles are a cross between an Old English Sheepdog and a Miniature Poodle. On average, they weigh about 35 to 55 pounds.

The Mini Sheepadoodle stops growing earlier than their Standard brethren, reaching full height at between 7 and 8 months, then adding more weight before reaching full size.

Toy Sheepadoodle

The Toy version of a Sheepadoodle is created by crossing an Old English Sheepdog with a Mini Sheepadoodle. On average, this version of the Sheepadoodle grows to be under 35 pounds.

So, as you can see, the Mini and Toy versions are still quite large compared to other toy breeds that usually only reach a maximum size of 4 pounds.

Just keep this in mind so that your expectations can be kept realistic.

When Are Sheepadoodles Considered To Be Fully Mature?

Growing physically, and being mentally mature are two different things and can come at different times across different breeds.

For Sheepadoodles, they generally reach mental maturity a bit before and around the same time that they do physical maturity.

By the age of one, you should notice that puppy behavior begins to reduce. This can include toilet accidents, general clumsiness, and chewing.

At 2 years of age, these behaviors should cease entirely, and your dog should be behaving more maturely.

Temperament and Personality

Sheepadoodles are gentle giants. Though they are big, they are even bigger softies. They grow quite attached to their owners and don’t like to be apart from them for extended periods.

Due to their affectionate personalities, many Sheepadoodles work as therapy and emotional support dogs.

The breed is a lively and boisterous one, so they will need to be exercised regularly. Training for Sheepadoodles is relatively easy, and many experts recommend to get started at an early age.

They love to please their people and are a highly intelligent breed, so stimulating them mentally, as well as physically, makes them extremely happy.

Sheepadoodles make great family pets, despite their size. They love to be with their owners, playing or cuddling up on the sofa. You can usually find a Sheepadoodle as their owner’s shadow.

Sometimes people feel that the bigger the dog, the harder they are to take care of. That’s not the case with the Sheepadoodle. In addition to having a great temperament, they are also easy to take care of when it comes to grooming.

They shed very little, and this was one of the points that made them so popular, especially amongst people with allergies.

It is a good idea to give them a good brushing two to three times a week to reduce the chance of forming mats and tangles.

They should also visit a groomer’s every eight weeks or so, to have their fur clipped so that it doesn’t get too long and scraggly or interfere with their eyes.

In Summary

Sheepadoodles are very large dogs, even reaching 27 inches and 80 pounds in some cases. Though their physical size might be intimidating, after a few seconds with one, you will soon realize that they are lovable and anything but intimidating.

Because of how affectionate they are, they make great family dogs and great therapy and emotional support dogs. They love people and want to make them happy and enjoy cuddling.

Sheepadoodles are a cross between Poodles and Old English Sheepdogs, both of which grow to about 22 inches, but have very different average weights, 70 and 100 pounds respectively.

Sheepadoodles tend to take after their Poodle parent when it comes to determining their size.

In addition to the Standard Sheepadoodle, you can also find Mini or Toy versions smaller than the Standard but are still larger than what most people think of when they think of Mini and Toy breeds.

If you have a Standard Sheepadoodle, you can expect them to grow for their first two years before they reach their full height and weight. They will reach their full height before filling out and reaching their full weight.

If you’re thinking about getting a Sheepadoodle, you just need to decide which version, Standard, Mini, or Toy, is the right size for you!

Related guides you may want to read:

• How Big Do Dogs Get?