Looking to get a Micro Sheepadoodle?
Micro Sheepadoodle is a crossbreed of the Old English Sheepdog and miniature Poodle. Dog owners around the world admit that no dog can replace a Micro Sheepadoodle!
Here are some Amazing Facts about them that you may be surprised to read about.
Lineage of a Micro Sheepadoodle
Despite what many people think, they often get confused about the parents of the Sheepadoodle.
The parents of the micro Sheepadoodle are an Old English Sheepdog and a miniature Poodle. To be more precise, they come from crossing an F1 (first generation) Sheepadoodle and a Toy Poodle. This is where their small size comes from.
Like most other Poodle designer dog breeds, the size of the Sheepadoodle depends on the Poodle used for crossing. The English Sheepdog is a large-sized English dog breed and is known to be a working dog (herding livestock).
Micro Sheepadoodle Size
As the name suggests “micro Sheepadoodle” is the smallest size that this designer breed comes in. The micro Sheepadoodle is much smaller than the “mini Sheepadoodle” and the two should not be confused.
A typical adult stands at a height of 14 to 19 inches and weighs less than 30 pounds. This is quite small for a Poodle hybrid and extra care must be taken with this small pooch to avoid injury!
If you like larger dogs, have a look at German Shepherd Mixes.
Distinguishing Features of Micro Sheepadoodle
This dog has a thick coat like every ‘doodle’ hybrid breed. Their patchy coat includes patches all over the coat and sometimes a patch even falls over one eye!
They have black noses, black or blue eyes (or one of each), and an inconspicuous mouth.
They are usually small to medium dogs that have a fluffy wooly textured coat.
How Many Micro Sheepadoodle Coat Colors are There?
Often Sheepadoodles have a black and white patched coat, while the smaller versions can have a rarer red and white coat. Rarely a micro Sheepadoodle can inherit a complete grey or brown coat. These are quite difficult to find.
This coat is a direct trait from the Old English Sheepdog which bears the exact same coat patterns and color. Their coats can either be straight or wavy depending on the dominant traits.
Are Micro Sheepadoodle Easily Available?
Micro Sheepadoodles are not the easiest designer dogs to find regardless of where you live. You are not likely to see them often. Availability is limited to special Sheepadoodle breeders and you will likely not find these dogs in shelters.
Most prospective owners have to wait anywhere between 12 to 18 months to receive their puppy. This is a long time that can be further delayed even after paying a deposit!
Micro Sheepadoodle Prices
Expect a micro Sheepadoodle to cost anywhere between $3000 to $4000! This is quite high, with scarcity driving high prices. Designer dog breeds are no strangers to high prices, especially Poodle mixes.
There are many reasons apart from appearance that earns the micro Sheepadoodle this high price. The most common ones being its small size and hypoallergenic coat nature. This size makes it suitable for any household, notably apartments.
Can I Register my Micro Sheepadoodle?
Sadly, the Sheepadoodle and the Micro Sheepadoodle miss out on AKC registration. Being a designer breed, these dogs are not purebred even though their parents are.
Organizations that will register them include:
- International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR)
- Dog Registry of America (DRA)
- American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC)
You can register your designer dog with any of these canine organizations to receive information and support while raising and training your dog. Both the parents are recognized by the AKC and other canine groups.
How Long do Micro Sheepadoodle live?
Thy will accompany you for 12 to 15 years. This is a decent age for a dog that is on the smaller spectrum of size.
Take this with a pinch of salt since disease and poor genes can decrease this age range drastically.
Micro Sheepadoodle: Great Pet For Allergy Prone People
Thanks to the Poodle parent, the micro Sheepadoodle inherits a coat similar to that of the Poodle. The Poodle is renowned for being one of the most hypoallergenic dogs. Even though the coat is not 100% hypoallergenic, it is as close as possible.
The reason why they are safe for allergy prone people is because Poodle hair almost looks like wool. This wooly coat barely sheds and less shedding means less dander. Additionally, these dogs barely drool.
These dogs have 75% Poodle coat characteristics. This F1B cross will have limited to no shedding making it popular for immunocompromised individuals.
Micro Sheepadoodle Temperament: What to Expect
With parents like a Poodle and a Sheepdog, the micro Sheepadoodle is bound to benefit from the best traits. These are dogs who are good for a family setting. They are social, easy to train, loving and playful, the type of dog that will enjoy snuggling up with you.
With a Sheepadoodle there are no worries about having an out of control dog or any ferocious behavior. The Sheepadoodle is a dog that enjoys being around humans, even if they are not his!
Will Grooming Take Forever?
Get ready to dedicate a small amount of your time EVERYDAY! The micro Sheepadoodle requires daily grooming. Constant professional grooming is also required to prevent the coat from matting.
Expect to set aside 30 minutes for daily brushing of the coat. As grooming involves more then just coat maintenance, it is safe to say this is a high-maintenance dog. Other aspects of grooming include clipping nails, brushing teeth, and cleaning ears.
You will also need to take an interest in trimming the hair around his eyes.
Health Concerns
Nobody wants to adopt a dog only to have them taken away suddenly by disease. For this reason, we make attempts to identify possible diseases that affect each dog breed. Any Sheepadoodle size can be plagued by diseases their parents usually suffer from.
All micro Sheepadoodle puppies should be tested for the following health risks:
- Elbow and Hip Dysplasia
- Degenerative Myelopathy
- Eye Defects (ones that can lead to blindness)
- Ear Diseases (can lead to loss of hearing in one or both ears)
Identifying a disease early can stop it from getting worse. It can help diagnose the problem sooner and eliminate suffering.
Training a Micro Sheepadoodle
Training a micro Sheepadoodle is not a painstaking process. This is owed to the high intelligence that both its parents show. Although, you will have to account for their small size and their lower attention span that could easily wear out faster than larger dogs.
Using positive training methods works for almost any dog breed including the Sheepadoodle. Use a few tasty treats and toys to make learning more fun and less boring! Learning can be a boring task for a Sheepadoodle of any size and energy level.
Expanding The PET Family! How Will Your Micro Sheepadoodle Feel?
The Sheepadoodle is far from being a selfish and jealous dog. That said, he will be thrilled to have siblings, human, canine, or something else!
He enjoys playing with other dogs and animals making him a very social family member. You will rarely find him being anti-social.
You might find him herding the group (animal or human), a trait of the Old English Sheepdog!
Is the Micro Sheepadoodle Right For You?
The appearance and temperament of these dogs is a tempting reason to get one. However, the micro Sheepadoodle is not always the right dog for everyone.
For starters, their small size may not be great for everyone. People living in farms or in homes with small children would prefer a larger dog. Smaller dogs are more ‘delicate’ and sensitive compared to larger dogs.
Another point to ponder is the high amount of time required to groom and maintain the micro Sheepadoodle. Their coat resembles that of a Poodle and busy people will not have much time to do this.
Can I Get a Merle Micro Sheepadoodle?
Although having the ‘merle’ gene could possibly cause health issues, many bad breeders still pursue creating this appealing coat pattern. These breeders do not carry out the required genetic tests to ensure healthy puppies.
People who buy merle micro Sheepadoodle puppies from breeders must make sure tests have been done on the puppy.
Tests to detect genetic diseases such as blindness and deafness are mandatory. Also, tests for hip and elbow dysplasia must be conducted.
Really interested in a merle dog? Read Merle Poodle.
Other Sheepadoodle – Mini and Standard
A mini Sheepadoodle is one size larger than a micro Sheepadoodle. You must be wondering why so many size variations exist in this breed.
The reason is that there are three Poodle sizes. Based on the parent Poodle size, the puppies will be influenced by this size.
The Sheepadoodle bears three sizes:
- Standard Sheepadoodle
- Mini Sheepadoodle
- Macro Sheepadoodle
All three may look different in size but bear the same fun temperament and coat. You can choose any size that best fits your family and personal preferences.