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Sheltidoodle Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Care & More!

Written by: Nicole Cosgrove

Last Updated on March 22, 2024 by Nicole Cosgrove

Sheltidoodle Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Care & More!

A Sheltidoodle is a mixed breed dog that is a cross between a Shetland Sheepdog and a Poodle. These are fairly active dogs that are highly intelligent due to their Poodle parent and an active, outdoorsy dog due to their Shetland Sheepdog parent. One thing is for sure about these dogs: not only are they very sweet and affectionate, but absolutely beautiful as well due to the attractive coat and features of both of their parents.

Breed Overview

Height:

14 – 19 inches

Weight:

40 – 50 pounds

Lifespan:

12 – 15 years

Colors:

Black, brown, cream, gray, white

Suitable for:

Families with large yards, families with kids

Temperament:

Loving, intelligent, highly trainable, energetic, playful

If you’re considering owning one of these precious and lovable dogs, it is important to learn everything that you possibly can about them. That way, you know what you’re getting into and there are no surprises. We don’t mean that in a bad way; we just want to make sure that you have everything you need to care for these dogs as well as the time as energy to do so. That’s why we’ve created this guide to teach you everything you need to know about owning a Sheltidoodle.

Energy
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High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
Trainability
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Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
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Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
Lifespan
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Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Sociability
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Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.

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Sheltidoodle Puppies

Sheltidoodles are great for people who are new to dog ownership, especially young couples who have a family or are wanting to start one. But, even though these dogs are easy for beginners to train and take care of, you still need to have an idea of what you’re doing.

You want to make sure that the Sheltidoodle you are considering taking home is healthy and was brought into this world via a responsible breeder. Otherwise, you could be left with a dog that is sick and requires a lot of medical attention. Be sure to read the Sheltidoodle’s full care guide to know what type of food, exercise, and grooming they need to grow into a happy and healthy pup!

Parent_breeds_Sheltidoodle
Photo By: Shetland Sheepdog – JACLOU-DL, Pixabay|Poodle – PetraSolajova, Pixabay

Temperament & Intelligence of the Sheltidoodle

One of the benefits of mixed breed, designer dogs is that you can create any type of personality and temperament that you could possibly want in a dog. And when it comes to the personality and temperament of a Sheltidoodle, they truly have one of the best of any dog breed.

As we previously touched on a little, Sheltidoodles have a high level of intelligence and obedience, which means that they are very easy to train. They are good at maintaining their focus and once trained, they know what their owner expects of them.

That being said, they also know how to have fun and won’t hesitate to play or run around with you. They love being outside, so living in a small apartment without plenty of space to play is not an ideal living situation for these dogs. They benefit massively from daily walks and playtime, and they don’t care what sort of activity they are participating in as long as they get to be outside.

Another great characteristic of these dogs is that due to their herding background, they make great farm dogs. Sheltidoodles love to feel useful, and what better way to make them feel that way than by letting them hone their natural herding abilities. Even if you don’t have a farm, a big, fenced-in yard is a huge advantage when owning one of these dogs.

Finally, Sheltidoodles are highly affectionate and very loving dogs. They are incredibly loyal to their families and want to protect them without being aggressive about it. They make great watchdogs without being too serious and aloof toward new people.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

Sheltidoodles are wonderful family dogs, especially if you have children. The more members of your family, the more people there are for your Sheltidoodle to love and play with. They especially love kids who have higher energy levels that they can spend their time playing with.

But that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to supervise your Sheltidoodle around your kids. All dogs should be supervised around kids, but in the case of Sheltidoodles, they may try to “herd” your kids if you have more than one. They may resort to herding tactics in the process and could accidentally knock a small child off of his or her feet. As long as you teach both your kid and your dog how to interact with each other as well as keep a close watch on them, you shouldn’t have any problems.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

Sheltidoodles will get along with your other pets just as well as they will with your kids as long as they have plenty of time to warm up to and get to know your other pets. They don’t mind sharing the love. But of course, the best way to ensure that this happens is to socialize your Sheltidoodle from puppyhood. That way, your pup will be able to grow up around your other pets and the other pets will have plenty of time to adjust and get to know their new family member.

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Things to Know When Owning a Sheltidoodle:

It’s very important to have the knowledge and understanding of a particular dog’s personality before you commit to getting one. But, what’s even more important is making sure that you know what a particular dog needs for his or her physical well-being as well so that you can ensure that you can provide it to them. Here’s everything you need to know about taking care of a Sheltidoodle so that your dog can live its best life.

Food & Diet Requirements

All dogs, not just purebreds, benefit from high-quality dog food, and this includes Sheltidoodles. The best type of dog food in particular, is one that is high in protein and low in fat in order to help keep your dog’s muscles lean and healthy.

It’s also important not to overfeed your Sheltidoodle, as dogs are prone to obesity due to being overfed or allowed to eat whenever they want to. In general, a Sheltidoodle should eat between 2-3 cups of food per day divided into two meals. Keeping your dog on a feeding schedule can help ensure that they are not being overfed.

Exercise

Sheltidoodles aren’t the most active dog breed, but they do enjoy getting to run around and play. They need a moderate amount of exercise and stimulation per day as a result, usually around 60 minutes. That doesn’t mean that you have to play with them for that long. You can break that exercise up into increments as long as they get a total of 60 minutes of exercise per day.

You can take them for walks or just let them run around in the background to get their daily exercise in. Playing fetch or tug-of-war with your dog is another great way to provide them with exercise and giving her plenty of toys to play with indoors or out can help stimulate her mind so that she doesn’t get bored. Having a fenced-in yard is a good idea too. That way, if you have to leave your dog to go to work, he or she can still get some exercise in by running around outside.

Training

Sheltidoodles are highly trainable dogs due to the intelligence that they get from their Poodle parent and the obedience that they get from their Shetland Sheepdog parent. Even as a puppy, you should have no problem with teaching your dog basic commands, especially through the use of positive reinforcement and treats to let them know that they are doing a good job.

Once your Sheltidoodle has mastered the basic commands, you can also try to teach her more complex commands. This will not only keep her mind engaged and stimulated, but it will allow you to exercise your dog at the same time. Agility tricks and competitions can be a great way to show off how smart and fun your dog is as well.

Grooming ✂️

When it comes to the coat of your Sheltidoodle, there are two types you could end up with. If she gets the Poodle coat, it will be curlier and will require more frequent brushing in order to keep it from getting tangled and matted. You’ll also have to have it groomed more frequently in order to keep it looking its best, but you shouldn’t have to worry about shedding too much as Poodles are very low-shedding dogs.

If your Sheltidoodle gets a coat that is more similar to a Shetland Sheepdog, it will likely be wavier and thicker. You won’t need to brush it as often, maybe only twice a week. But your dog will shed more, especially during warmer months during which you may want to have your dog’s coat trimmed in order to reduce the amount of shedding that occurs.

Health and Conditions

Since Sheltidoodles are cross-bred dogs, they aren’t as likely to suffer from genetic conditions as purebred dogs are. However, it is possible that your dog could get whatever conditions the parents have. This is why it is so important to get any medical information about the parent dogs from the breeder upon initially getting your dog.

Some conditions that may affect your Sheltidoodle can affect all dog breeds, such as eye conditions and hip and elbow dysplasia. But there are other conditions such as sebaceous adenitis or bloat that can affect Poodles and other similar breeds. Conditions such as Von Willebrand’s disease and Collie eye anomaly are sometimes found in Shetland Sheepdogs.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that your dog will definitely have these conditions. But yearly veterinary checkups are important to catch and treat any potential medical issues before they become a problem.

Minor Conditions
  • Cataracts
  • Collie Eye Anomaly
  • Glaucoma
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Serious Conditions
  • Bloat
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Sebaceous Adenitis
  • Von Willebrand’s Disease

Male vs Female

Both male and female Sheltidoodles make great pets. There is very little difference as far as the temperament and personality between the two genders. But we can say that female dogs tend to mentally mature faster, while male dogs tend to physically mature faster.

A female Sheltidoodle will likely be slightly easier to train, especially from puppyhood. But a male will have a more eager and outgoing attitude. In either case, it is important to spay or neuter your Sheltidoodle, especially if you have other dogs. This can help reduce any unwanted behaviors that are a result of your dog wanting to mate.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Sheltidoodle

1. Sheltidoodles Are Just One of Many Names for These Dogs

You may also hear a Sheltidoodle referred to as a Sheltipoo or a Sheltipoodle. But, all of these terms refer to the same dog that has a Shetland Sheepdog parent and a Poodle parent.


2. Sheltidoodles Get Their Herding Instincts from the Shetland Parent

Shetland Sheepdogs were bred as herding dogs on the Scottish islands by the name of Shetland.


3. Both Parents Are Highly Intelligent

Poodles are one of the top five most intelligent dog breeds and Shetland Sheepdogs and great at following commands. This makes Sheltidoodles intelligent, obedient, and great and following commands.

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Final Thoughts

If you want a highly intelligent and obedient but fun-loving dog, then a Sheltidoodle may be the perfect dog for you. But you need to be able to provide your dog with the care that it needs to thrive. This includes having time for grooming and playing with your dog as well as making sure that he or she receives vet care when needed.

If you can provide those things and you have a big yard and kids as a bonus, you really do have the perfect environment in which to invite one of these beautiful, loyal, and loving dogs into your family. But, even if it’s just you and your Sheltidoodle, the two of you are sure to enjoy a truly special companionship that will last for many years.

Related Read:


Featured Image Credit: Left – Shetland Sheepdog (No-longer-here, Pixabay); Right – Poodle (dezy, Shutterstock)

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