Bernedoodle vs Sheepadoodle

There are so many ‘doodles’ you can choose from. The Labradoodle, the Goldendoodle, the Bernedoodle; today we will focus on the Bernedoodle vs Sheepadoodle .They’re all adorable. How do you choose? How do you know which breed is best for you?

That’s a hard question. They’re all incredible family dogs.

First, let’s explain the breed mix. We clearly know they are mixed with a Poodle, but what’s the other breed?

The Bernedoodle is a mixture of the Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog.

The Sheepadoodle is a mixture of the Poodle and Olde English Sheepdog.

What’s the Bernedoodle Look Like?

Think of a Bernese Mountain Dog. Now, think of a Poodle. Can you think of what the mixture of personalities would look like?

The catch here is there are a variety of Bernedoodle sizes and colors! The Bernedoodle can be one of the following:

Mini Bernedoodle: 18-35 lbs

Medium Bernedoodle: 35-50 lbs

Standard Bernedoodle (50-100+ lbs)

As far as coat color goes, they are tri-color in most cases. The Bernedoodle often has a coat that’s primarily black with a mixture of tan, white, and/or dark red. The following is a list of coat colors:

Black/Tan Bernedoodle

Black Tri-color Mini Bernedoodle

Red Bernedoodle

Red Tri-color Bernedoodle

Black Tricolor Mini Bernedoodle

Black and White Mini Bernedoodle

The Bernedoodle’s Personality 

To fully understand the Bernedoodle’s personality, you must first learn about the Bernese Mountain Dog. Many dog lovers know what a Poodle is. The Bernese Mountain Dog isn’t one of the most well-known breeds. 

Bernese Mountain Dogs, in the past, served as a working dog and used on the farm to help pull heavy loads. They have extreme loyalty, strength, and willpower. This dog breed is also known to have a calm, gentle demeanor with low energy. These dogs are happy to help, but they are also happy to lie down to watch a movie with you.

You’ll notice these characteristics in the Bernedoodle. Due to these characteristics, the Bernedoodle is known as an easy-to-train family dog. 

What’s a Sheepadoodle Look Like Anyway?

You’re likely to notice the difference in appearance with the Sheepadoodle because the Sheepadoodle does not have as many colors in their coat. Instead of being tri-color, the Sheepadoodle is bi-color. 

Sheepadoodles have black and white or red and white coats.

Sheepadoodle vs. Bernedoodle: What’s Different About the Sheepadoodle?

Now, again, to fully understand the Sheepadoodle, you must first understand the Olde English Sheepdog.

The Olde English Sheepdogs generally have more energy than the Bernese Mountain Dog because they were used for herding purposes. They needed extra energy. 

There is concern with the word ‘herding’ when some dog lovers hear their history. Don’t worry, the herding tendencies are reduced and/or eliminated in the Sheepadoodle due to the ‘Poodle’ part of the dog. Unlike the traditional Olde English Sheepdog who can be hard-to-train, the Sheepadoodle is well-known for her willingness and ability to train quickly and easily.

After reading about the personalities of the Bernedoodle vs. Sheepadoodle, you can see how their demeanor varies. The Sheepadoodle tends to be more active whereas the Bernedoodle has a more laid back demeanor.

Breed Profiles: The Sheepadoodle vs Bernedoodle

As a summary of the Bernedoodle vs Sheepadoodle, we have provided a breed profile for each below.

Keep in mind the chart is not strict but rather designed to provide you with an idea of the kind of dog you’re looking at.

You should view this as a way to generalize the Bernedoodle vs Sheepadoodle. The only way to fully understand the dog you are choosing, you must get to know the individual dog regardless of breed.

Bernedoodle vs Sheepadoodle: The Sheepadoodle Facts

Dog Group: Hybrid

Sheepadoodle Weight: 60-85 lbs on average

Sheepadoodle Height: 15-26 inches

Coat Color: Black and white, red and white, all black, all brown, all gray.

• Black and white is the most common color combination (more black than white).
• Red and white coloration is seen but not common.
• You may also see all black, brown, or gray Sheepadoodles.

Coat Type: Straight, curly, medium length, long length, or a mix of all traits.

• Sheepdogs have a long, straight shaggy coat that requires a significant amount of maintenance.
• The Poodle has a shorter, tight-curled coat that’s low maintenance.
• Puppies will vary in coat color and coat type.
• All traits are dependent upon which characteristics are gained from the parents.

Life Expectancy: 10-15 years

Bernedoodle vs Sheepadoodle

Sheepadoodle Traits

Affection Toward Children: High

•  Sheepadoodles love cuddles and tons of attention. This makes them an excellent dog to be around children. Just as with any dog, children should be supervised to ensure they are practicing good behavior (and the dog is showing good behavior).

Affection Toward Other Pets: High

• Sheepadoodles are extremely affectionate to other pets. They are an incredibly loving breed.

Playfulness and Energy: High

• Sheepadoodles often get their high energy from the Sheepdog and need lots of exercise. If the Sheepadoodle (like many other breeds) doesn’t get enough exercise, you may begin to notice behavioral problems.
• Be sure to provide at least one hour of exercise per day. Sheepdogs are herding dogs so any activities you can incorporate into his daily routine will reduce the risk of behavior issues. With the right amount of exercise, these dogs are known to be among the best family dogs you can find.

Trainability: Easy-to-train

• The Sheepadoodle wants nothing but to please you. This makes him fall in the easy-to-train category.

Intelligence: High

• A high level of intelligence results in an easier-to-train, more obedient, well-rounded dog.

Prone to Excessive Barking: No

Amount of Shedding: Little to None

• Sheepadoodles shed very little due to their Poodle counterpart. They are known to be hypoallergenic as well. This is common among all Doodles. Hypoallergenic basically means they are often able to be tolerated by people with dog allergies.
• Despite little to no shedding, it is still necessary to brush your dog’s fur on a regular basis to maintain a healthy coat and healthy skin. This helps distribute the oils throughout your dog’s body.

Health Problems Found in the Sheepadoodle

Common Health Issues: Your dog is not guaranteed to have any of the below issues. The information is simply for educational purposes so you know what to watch for should you notice any difference in your dog’s appearance or behavior.

• Hip dysplasia: When a dog has hip dysplasia, her hips become weak from the bones basically brushing against one another. To understand this better, it’s kind of like arthritis in humans. Any large breed (for the most part) carries the risk of hip dysplasia due to how fast they grow from puppy to adult.
• Elbow dysplasia: Elbow dysplasia is essentially the same as above, but rather than the pain or discomfort coming from the hips, it comes from the joint in the elbow.
• Cataracts – Poodles are known for how susceptible they are to cataracts. Your dog may or may not gain this trait.
• Canine Autoimmune Thyroiditis – In “CAT,” anti-thyroid antibodies result in the thyroid gland weakening. Treatment is available as a medication.

Bernedoodle vs Sheepadoodle: The Bernedoodle Facts

Dog Group: Hybrid

Bernedoodle Weight:  Three sizes of Bernedoodle: tiny, miniature, and standard.

• The size of the Bernedoodle parent depends on the size of the Poodle parent.
• As you may know, Poodles range in size and can be found as a toy, mini, or standard size.
• Toy-size Bernedoodle ranges from 10-25 pounds.
• Miniature Bernedoodle ranges from 25 to 50 pounds.
• Standard Bernedoodle ranges from 70 to 90 pounds.
• You may notice a difference in males and females in each category.

Height: 12- 30 inches

• Tiny Bernedoodle ranges from 12 to 17 inches.
• Miniature Bernedoodle ranges from 28 to 22 inches.
• Standard Bernedoodle ranges from 22 to 30 inches.

Coat Color: Chalk, cream, apricot, gold, red, black, blue, silver, tri-color

Life Expectancy: 10-15 years

Bernedoodle Traits

Affection Toward Children: High

• Bernedoodles love children and are among the best family dogs.
• Early socialization is critical with all dogs.
• Introduce your puppy to children at a young age.

Affection Toward Other Pets: High

• Bernedoodles often get along well with any other dog.
• Known to get along with cats.
• Introduce your puppy to other pets at an early age.

Playfulness: Medium

• The Bernedoodle is moderately playful.
• She enjoys a long stroll through the woods but is more than happy to come back home to cuddle.

Trainability: Easy-to-train

• You may notice a stubborn streak but the Bernedoodle is eager-to-please.
• The stubborn streak generally fade with age.
• High intelligence
• Be patient while training.

Intelligence: High

Prone to Excessive Barking: No

Amount of Shedding: Little to None

• Bernedoodles are hypoallergenic. We will talk about what hypoallergenic means in a different post, but if a dog is hypoallergenic, that dog generally doesn’t affect those who are allergic to dogs as badly. We can thank the Poodle in their hybrid breed for that trait.

Health Problems in the Bernedoodle

Health Problems in the Bernedoodle: According to research, crossbreeds have fewer health problems than pure breeds, but there are a few conditions you should watch for.

• Hip Dysplasia: Bernedoodles may inherit hip dysplasia from their Bernese Mountain Dog parent (due to their large size). This is a common issue with many large-breed dogs. Basically, it’s a painful condition that affects the hip joint.
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Skin Problems/Allergies: Allergies and hotspots are possible in the Bernedoodle. Keep an eye on any excessive itching, licking, and/or scratching.

Sheepadoodle vs Bernedoodle: Not the Easiest Decision

We understand it’s extremely difficult to pick which Doodle would be best for you. The decision should be made carefully to ensure both your happiness and the happiness of the dog.

Making the Choice: Bernedoodle vs Sheepadoodle

The Sheepadoodle and Bernedoodle are great family dogs for an active family.

Both breeds, when comparing the Sheepadoodle vs Bernedoodle,  are suitable for a family who enjoy being outdoors but also enjoys a nice quiet evening at home watching a movie. If you are having a hard time making a decision, we are here to help you by finding matching your lifestyle, family, and activity levels to the perfect Doodle.

Once you’ve made your choice, click the apply button below to ask a member of our team which puppies we have available.