The Merle Sheepadoodle Guide – Worth The High Price?

The Sheepadoodle is one of the cutest dog breeds of all time; they have such a fun spirit and can lighten anyone’s day.

They have such a unique appearance that can melt anyone’s heart, and what is even more striking than their appearance is their appearance when they are merle.

The merle Sheepadoodle is pretty much the same as any Sheepadoodle in everything except in the appearance, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves; let’s get to know them together, shall we?

Other Names	None
Weight	60 to 80 Pounds
Height	16 to 22 inches
Lifespan	12 to 15 years
Colors	Blue merle, blue merle, and white or black.
Health	9/10
Grooming Needs	7/10
Exercise Needs	9/10
Shedding	6/10
Kid Friendliness	10/10
Pet-friendliness	9/10
Protectiveness	8/10
Good for apartments	Yes
Average puppy cost	$1,500 – $3,800

Merle Characteristics 

Size: 16 to 22 inches

Weight: 60 to 80 pounds 

Colors: Blue merle, blue and white or black Merle. 

Coat Type: Double coated/curly or wavy

The Merle Sheepadoodle is just like any other Sheepadoodle except for their coat colors. 

Still, their size is the same, and it depends on which type they are, whether they are standard, miniature, or toy, so it’s impossible to determine their exact size.

However, they can range from 60 to 80 pounds in weight and 16 to 22 inches in height.

They have double coats and can have curly or wavy fur; it depends on which parent has the dominant gene. They can be blue merle and white, blue merle and black, or black, white, and gray.

Their eyes can be dark brown or light blue; they are oval and have small black, brown, pink, black and pink, or brown and pink noses.

Finally, they have cute floppy ears that can vary between white, gray, and black.

It’s not easy to know the temperament of any breed because each dog has its character and temperament depending on its owners and surrounding. Still, it’s more challenging to learn a mixed breed temperament.

They result from two completely different breeds, so it’s tricky to understand which traits they will inherit from each parent. However, knowing the parent breeds can help you learn more about the merle Sheepadoodle.

Parent Breeds

Let’s start with the Old English Sheepdogs; they are a caring and loving dog breed.

They are one of the most adaptable dogs, and even though they are big dogs that should require a big house, they can be raised in an apartment because as long as you provide them with all the exercise they need, they can be easily raised anywhere.

The Old English Sheepdog is an ideal family dog; they love nothing more than spending time with the people they love. 

They can be stubborn and require patience and consistency while training; they need between one to two hours of exercise per day.

The OES is a playful and energetic breed, they are intelligent and can be quick learners, but they are prone to separation anxiety.

Poodles are incredibly witty and can learn anything easily and quickly; they have a playful nature and require at least one hour of exercise per day.

They are great with kids and can get along with other pets as they are socialized and adequately trained.

Poodles are eager to please and are one of the easiest dogs to train, and they are incredibly protective of their family.

Temperament, 

The temperament of the merle Sheepadoodle is a mix of the personalities of the Poodle and the Old English Sheepdog.

They can get along quickly because the parent breeds are pretty friendly.

They are intelligent and playful which makes them great companions and the ideal play partner for your kids.

They are protective of their family and love nothing more than spending time with them, so try to include them in many family activities as possible.

The Sheepadoodle is a loving and affectionate breed that loves cuddling and spending quality time with their owner, so you should make time for them every day to do something together, just the two of you. 

Even activities such as watching a movie together, napping, or even sitting next to each other doing nothing will be enjoyable to them. 

Health and lifespan 

The Sheepadoodle is, in general, a healthy pup, but just like any different breed, they can be prone to some health conditions.

So here are the health conditions that the Sheepadoodle is prone to:

• Canine Hip Dysplasia 
• Hypothyroidism 
• Addison’s Disease
• Cushing’s Disease 
• Legg-Perthes Disease 
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy 
• Von Willebrand’s Disease
• Epilepsy 
• Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus 
• Patellar Luxation 
• Optic Nerve Hypoplasia 
• Cataracts 
• Deafness
• Sebaceous 

If you ever noticed any sudden changes in your dog’s behavior, such as lack of movement, weight loss, limping, loss of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea, you should take them to the vet.

The lifespan of the Sheepadoodle is between 12 and 15 years; however, they can live longer than that with the proper care.

So make sure to take them to regular vet check-ups, give them every shot they need, keep it up to date, choose the appropriate diet, and provide enough exercise.  

Nutritional Needs 

The nutritional needs of the Sheepadoodle are a bit challenging, just like any dietary needs of any other mixed breeds, so you should consult their vet about the proper diet for them.

The vet will give your Sheepadoodle a diet that it’s made especially for him depending on his size, energy, age, and health.

However, there are a couple of crucial things in any diet, so let’s get to them.

First of all, their diet should be high-quality food that is proper for their age; check to see if there is protein and fats in the product or not, and these two have to be on the top of the list. 

Any dog’s diet should consist of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals, and fibers.

You can add omega-3 to their meals for better health, coat, and skin. Also, make sure that they always have fresh cool water within their reach.

There are many options, actually maybe too many options, for dog foods nowadays, but I’ve tried most of them and reviewed them in this guide to the best dog foods, so make sure to check it out. 

Grooming Needs & Shedding

The Sheepadoodles are moderate shedders because Poodles are low shedders, but the Old English Sheepdog is a heavy shedder.

It would be best if you groomed your Sheepadoodle at least three times a week to prevent any tangling and maintain their coat healthy and clean.

They need a haircut every eight weeks and should be bathed once a month, or when it’s needed because you don’t want to bathe them too often because it strips their natural oils and leaves them with dry and flaky skin.

Make sure to trim their nails every three weeks or whenever you hear their nails clicking down on the floor.

Brush their teeth at least three times a week, but it would be better to brush them every day to prevent tartar build-up, gum diseases, bacteria, and bad breath.

You should also check their ears every week for redness, bad odor, or any sign of infection, then dampen cotton in a ph-balanced ear cleaner.

Exercise Needs 

The Sheepadoodle is an energetic pup that needs lots of exercise to keep them away from boredom because they can get destructive when bored.  

The Sheepadoodle loves all sorts of activities as long as they get to do it with their favorite people but especially swimming, playing fetch, and the daily walks.

However, you can also train them to run with you so that you can have a running companion, and you can also take them hiking and work out with you. 

Sheepadoodles are prone to obesity, so you should provide them with at least one hour of exercise a day.

If you live in an apartment and consider getting a Sheepadoodle, then it would be best to provide them with more activity than just an hour a day so that they can burn all of their excess energy and chill at home.

They are also playful, so make sure to set a playtime for them at least four times a week if possible; you can play hide and seek, fetch, tug-of-war, or any game you want.

Training 

The Sheepadoodle is generally easy to train, but it depends on which parent they are more like.

If your Sheepadoodle is more like a poodle, then training them will be a piece of cake, they will learn quickly, and you won’t have a problem with them not responding to you.

However, if they are more like the Old English Sheepdog, they will be a little stubborn, and they still will be quick learners but not as quick as the Poodle, but it doesn’t matter because it’s all up to you.

A dog can be incredibly smart but isn’t responding to the training because his owner is using the wrong method with him, so make sure to use only positive reinforcement with your Sheepadoodle.

So whenever they behave the way you want them to behave, reward them with their favorite treat and praise them in a cheerful voice to let them know they are doing something right.  

You should be patient and consistent with them and never raise your voice at them or punish them.

The Sheepadoodle needs to be socialized early as well with people, animals, and different objects.

It’s crucial to start training your puppy as soon as possible and teaching them the basic commands because it’s going to make everything easier for you. 

As Family Dogs 

The merle Sheepadoodle is a wonderful family dog; they are everything any family needs, joyful, friendly, playful, and loyal.

Also, if there are children or other pets in the household, then you don’t have to worry about getting a merle Sheepadoodle because they have sweet and gentle nature that helps them get along with everyone.

Plus, The Sheepadoodes can match the children’s energy and so they can play together all day long without getting bored or tired.

However, it would be best if you socialized your Sheepadoodle early so they can grow up to be well-rounded dogs that can well-behave around kids, strangers, and other animals.

You should also supervise any interaction between your Sheepadoodle and kids because even though they are gentle and sweet, that still doesn’t prevent accidents from happening.

You should teach your kids how to treat the dog properly before you allow them to interact with each other.

So let them know that it’s never acceptable to try and ride the puppy or sit on them, not pulling their ears or tails, and never try to bite them because the dog will eventually snap at them and may bite them back.

If you have young children, it would be best to get the merle Sheepadoodle as a puppy so they can grow up together and be each other’s best friends.

As Guard Dogs 

The merle Sheepadoodle can make an excellent guard dog just like any other Sheepadoodle; they just require early training ( from 1-16 weeks).

They are protective of their family and can be a little bit territorial, which means that they may bark at anyone who tries to approach you.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing because they will keep the intruders and the burglars away, but you have to train them not to bark at people in the streets and scare them off.

You should also train them that it’s never acceptable to bite anyone. It’s better to teach them during the teething stage because they will be nipping and chewing on everything. Even though it seems harmless or even cute, you should never let them nip on anyone’s hand because it won’t be cute when they have full-grown teeth and still biting everyone.

The Sheepadoodle will put their family above anyone else, so if they sense that their loved ones are in danger, they will protect them with their lives if they have to, and overall, the Sheepadoodles are not aggressive dog breed, so they won’t attack people.

Where to find them? 

You can check your local shelter or rescue groups for the merle Sheepadoodle, you may not find them, but you may run into another pup that steals your heart from just one look and end up saving a life and giving a family to a puppy that deserves all the love in the world.

You can also check the rescue groups of the Poodles and the Old English Sheepdog because sometimes they have the mixes of this breed.

If you didn’t find any luck in either of these options, you could get them from a breeder, but you should make sure that the breeder is trustworthy and has all of their papers and is willing to give you all the papers you need. 

The most important thing when finding a breeder is to check their reviews. If they have lots of good reviews, then maybe you can check them out.

Buying a merle Sheepadoodle can cost you between $1500 to $3800, and the regular Sheepadoodle can range from $1000 and $3000.

All About the merle Sheepadoodle in a nutshell 

The Merle Sheepadoodle is an ideal family dog. They love children and get along with other animals, they need at least an hour of exercise per day, and the merle Sheepadoodle needs grooming at least for times a week; they can make decent watchdogs but not the best guard dogs.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is the merle Sheepadoodle A Good Family Dog? 

Yes, the mere Sheepadoodle is a good family dog; they are friendly, loyal, and caring family pets, Sheepadoodles can build a unique bond with every family member, and they also can get along with other pets easily, and as long as they are socialized and trained, they’ll well-behave with everyone.  

Is the merle Sheepadoodle easy to train? 

Yes, the merle Sheepadoodle is easy to train, just like any other Sheepadoodle. They are intelligent and quick learners thanks to their Poodle parent, who is the second smartest dog breed in the world. However, they may be a little stubborn like their old English sheepdog parent, so be patient with them.

Is the merle Sheepadoodle good with kids? 

Yes, the merle Sheepadoodle is good with kids. They have sweet and gentle nature that makes them wonderful with kids; they are also energetic and playful, so they can play all day long with kids without getting bored or tired of them. However, you should always supervise any interaction between them.

How much is the merle Sheepadoodle? 

The merle Sheepadoodle can cost between $1500 to $3800; however, they can cost even more because it depends on the breeder, and if you want a specific eye color it can cost even more, while the regular Sheepadoodle is going to cost between $1000 to $3000, so make sure to purchase from a trusted breeder.

Is the merle Sheepadoodle smart? 

Yes, the merle Sheepadoodle is smart, both of the parent breeds are intelligent, but they mostly got it from the Poodle; however, their intelligence can have its ups and downs. For example, they can pick up bad habits quickly, and they can get a little stubborn sometimes, so make sure to train them well.

Helpful Resources 

Sheepadoodle Dog Information

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