Old English Sheepdog vs Sheepadoodle: What Are The Differences?

Written by Kyle Glatz
Published: July 3, 2022
Share on:

Advertisement


Differentiating between a typical dog breed and its mixed-breed offspring can be very easy, or it can be rather difficult. In the case of the Old English Sheepdog vs Sheepadoodle, telling the dogs apart from each other isn’t all that hard when they’re right next to one another. Yet, their most obvious differences aren’t the sum of their unique qualities.

That’s why we’ve decided to walk you through an introduction to both species and show you six ways the Old English Sheepdog differs from the Sheepadoodle. 

Comparing an Old English Sheepdog and a Sheepadoodle

Old English Sheepdog is a pure breed while the Sheepadoodle is not.
Old English SheepdogSheepadoodle
SizeWeight: 60-100 pounds
Height: 22-24 inches
Weight: 45-80 pounds
Height: 13-24 inches, often on the lower end
Breed– Old English Sheepdog
– Purebred
– Mixed breed dog
– Mix of Old English Sheepdog and Poodle
Appearance– Double coat of water-resistant fur
– Shaggy, long fur
– Rounded head with fur that can cover their eyes and form what appears as bangs on their head
– Ears lie flat
– Tails docked in the past and present, but the practice is becoming less common  
– Can be double-coated or have a mixed coat of soft fur
– A long coat that is wavy, curly, or flat depending on the traits it inherited from its parents
– Hypoallergenic
– Ears lie flat on the head
– Tails are typically docked    
Colors– Gray, white, black, grizzle, and blue
–  Often found in combinations
– Black, white, gray, or a combination of black and white
Temperament– Intelligent
– Sociable
– Playful
– Can grow to be lazy or overweight without stimulation
– Potential for aggression if not introduced to pets and children while young
– Intelligent
– Rarely barks
– Good with older children and family members
– Has the potential to make toys out of household items when alone
Lifespan10-12 years– 12-15 years

The 6 Key Differences Between an Old English Sheepdog vs Sheepadoodle

A Sheepadoodle 6 week old puppy

Sheepadoodle have traits of the Old English Sheepdog and the Poodle.

©Lisa Mounteer/Shutterstock.com

The most significant differences between an Old English Sheepdog and a Sheepadoodle include breed, fur, and size. The Old English Sheepdog is a purebred dog with long shaggy fur that can often cover its eyes, weighs up to 100 pounds and stands 24 inches tall. The Sheepadoodle is a mixed breed weighing up to 80 pounds, stands between 13 and 24 inches tall and has a long coat of fur that may be wavy, curly, or flat depending on the traits it inherits.

As you can see, the differences between these dogs are not particularly vast, but they are worth examining. Let’s get a better look at the six greatest differences between these dogs.

Old English Sheepdog vs Sheepadoodle: Size

The Old English Sheepdog is heavier than the Sheepadoodle, but it may also be shorter than it. The Old English Sheepdog usually weighs between 60 and 100 pounds, making it a medium-sized breed. This dog can also stand between 22 and 24 inches.

Meanwhile, the Sheepadoodle weighs anywhere between 45 and 80 pounds, and it can stand anywhere between 13 and 24 inches, with some growing up to 27 inches tall. However, most members of this breed measure between 18 and 22 inches tall.

Old English Sheepdog vs Sheepadoodle: Breed

The Old English Sheepdog is different from the Sheepadoodle because it is a purebred dog. Yet, the Sheepadoodle is a mixed breed, and its parents include an Old English Sheepdog and a Poodle. Although this mixture may seem odd at first hearing, it actually works quite well. The combination of these two dog breeds led to a large, intelligent, sometimes fluffy, hypoallergenic dog.

Old English Sheepdog vs Sheepadoodle: Appearance

best big dog - Old English Sheepdog

The Old English Sheepdog has a shaggy, somewhat coarse double coat of fur.

©Svetlana Valoueva/Shutterstock.com

The Old English Sheepdog has a double coat of water-resistant fur, something that can be passed on to the Sheepadoodle. However, the latter is just as likely to have a mixed coat. For the most part, the Old English Sheepdog has shaggy, long fur that covers its round head and can flow down in front of the creature’s eyes.

This often gives the dog the appearance of having bangs. Depending on the length and type of fur coat it has, the Sheepadoodle can get a similar look. However, its fur is not always shaggy or as long. Sometimes, it’s wavy or curly instead of flat owing to its Poodle heritage, but it’s also hypoallergenic.

The Old English Sheepdog also has a docked tail and ears that lie flat, two traits that are frequently seen in the Sheepadoodle as well. 

Old English Sheepdog vs Sheepadoodle: Colors

The Sheepadoodle does not have as many potential colors in its coat as the Old English Sheepdog. Sheepadoodles usually have fur that is black, white, gray or a combination of those colors.

The Old English Sheepdog may have fur that is gray, white, black, grizzle, and blue in many different combinations. While this is not a huge difference, it is still a way to distinguish the dogs.

Old English Sheepdog vs Sheepadoodle: Temperament

Both the Old English Sheepdog and the Sheepadoodle are known for being intelligent dogs. The former is regarded as being sociable, playful, and good with a family if it’s introduced to them while young. The dog breed can be aggressive if it is not socialized early, though. Also, the dog can grow to be lazy and overweight if it is not provided ample exercise opportunities and motivation.

The Sheepadoodle is better with older children than younger children. Also, it has a predisposition to wrecking one’s house out of boredom if left at home alone for too long. On the bright side, these dogs rarely bark. 

Old English Sheepdog vs Sheepadoodle: Lifespan

A Sheepadoodle dog headshot

Sheepadoodles live between 12 and 15 years.

©Jason Grant/Shutterstock.com

Unfortunately, the Old English Sheepdog is a relatively short-lived dog breed. It only lives between 10 and 12 years on average, but can live a bit longer with good nutrition and care. However, the Sheepadoodle lives for a little while longer, somewhere between 12 and 15 years.

Although the Sheepadoodle and Old English Sheepdog share a heritage, they are not completely alike. They do have some differences, and they are smaller than those found in other breeds. Nevertheless, you should now have a good enough foundation of information about these dogs to recognize and discuss their distinctions.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Best dog photo/Shutterstock.com

Ready to discover the top 10 cutest dog breeds in the entire world?

How about the fastest dogs, the largest dogs and those that are -- quite frankly -- just the kindest dogs on the planet? Each day, AZ Animals sends out lists just like this to our thousands of email subscribers. And the best part? It's FREE. Join today by entering your email below.

What's the right dog for you?

Dogs are our best friends but which breed is your perfect match?

X-Small
Small
Medium
Large
Xtra-Large

If you have kids or existing dogs select:

Kids
Other Dogs

Should they be Hypoallergenic?

Yes
No
How important is health?
Which dog groups do you like?
How much exercise should your dog require?
What climate?
How much seperation anxiety?
How much yappiness/barking?

How much energy should they have?

The lower energy the better.
I want a cuddle buddy!
About average energy.
I want a dog that I have to chase after constantly!
All energy levels are great -- I just love dogs!
How much should they shed?
How trainable/obedient does the dog need to be?
How intelligent does the dog need to be?
How much chewing will allow?

Share on:
About the Author

Kyle Glatz is a writer at A-Z-Animals where his primary focus is on geography and mammals. Kyle has been writing for researching and writing about animals and numerous other topics for 10 years, and he holds a Bachelor's Degree in English and Education from Rowan University. A resident of New Jersey, Kyle enjoys reading, writing, and playing video games.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.