Height:
14 – 19 inches
Weight:
40 – 50 pounds
Lifespan:
12 – 15 years
Colors:
Black, blue, brown, cream, gray, pied, red, silver, white
Suitable for:
Families with young kids, active families, couples
Temperament:
Affectionate, smart, trainable, playful, loving & loyal
The Sheltidoodle is a popular crossbred dog and a mix of the small herding pooch, the Shetland Sheepdog, and the highly-intelligent Poodle. As adorable as the name suggests, the Sheltidoodle is a smart, versatile dog that enjoys accompanying you for a jog just as much as she loves cuddling on the couch with your children.
Before you decide to scoop a cute Sheltidoodle puppy up for your own family, it’s important to know about her personality, trainability, health, and other critical elements to keep her healthy and happy.
Let’s explore every aspect of this lovable pup in this in-depth guide to help you decide if you should bring a Sheltidoodle puppy home today.
Sheltidoodle Puppies – Before You Buy
Before you decide to have this child, you want to educate yourself about every single detail in order to raise a healthy and healthy child.
The same mindset should be applied to buying this Sheltie Poodle mix. It’s important to thoroughly understand every aspect of your new pup’s personality and possible health concerns in order to provide her with the best life possible.
The first step in doing this is buying your new Sheltidoodle from a reliable and high-quality dog breeder. With the rise in designer dog popularity, more and more unqualified and bad breeders are selling puppies in harmful conditions.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy a Dog from a Bad Breeder
You should avoid buying a puppy from a puppy mill or backyard breeder at all costs. Though it may be very appealing to save a few hundred bucks on your new puppy, the affordable price can come with some dire consequences.
You need to understand that these types of breeders are simply looking to make a quick profit from their puppies. They will breed the parents over and over again and pay little to no attention to health conditions. They will also most likely sell the puppies before they should be taken away from their moms, which is eight weeks of age or older.
When you buy a Sheltidoodle puppy from a bad breeder, it could be a choice that affects your entire family. The dog could come with unwanted behavior problems and health issues, which will cost you time and a lot of money.
It’s always better to pay more upfront for a high-quality dog than try to save a few bones and then pay the price later on down the road.
How to Avoid Backyard Breeders
There are many steps that you can take to ensure the breeder you are buying a puppy from is reputable and responsible. Firstly, you need to know how to find a good breeder in your area. To do this, you can:
- Get recommendations from pet care experts, including vets, trainers, and groomers.
- Visit local dog shows and obedience competitions in your area and ask for referrals from the dog owners.
- Do your homework online and find a breeder with excellent feedback from past buyers.
- Ensure that the breeder is affiliated with local or national designer dog breeding kennel clubs.
When you finally find a dog breeder you are interested in, pay their facility a visit. A good breeder will always welcome potential clients to their property. Ask to meet the parents and the new puppies. Both parents should be in tip-top health and be sociable.
Also, ask for breeder the following questions:
- What type of care is required of a Sheltidoodle? Does this dog have specific needs that I should know of?
- How long have you been breeding Sheltidoodles?
- Where do you sell your dogs? Wholesalers? Online? Or pet stores?
- What character traits do the parents have that I should be aware of?
- Do you test the parents for genetic conditions before breeding them? If so, which ones?
- Can I see the vet records of both the parents and the puppies?
A good breeder should ONLY be selling their puppies to private parties, have up-to-date vet records for all dogs, provide references, and happily answer all of your questions.
What’s the Price of Sheltidoodle Puppies?
A Sheltidoodle puppy from a reputable breeder should cost you between $200 and $550. However, this price only applies to the puppy itself. You will also need to dish out dough for food, her initial shots, bedding, a crate, toys, a leash and collar, and other necessary puppy essentials.
During the course of her life, expect to pay thousands of dollars per year on food, vet bills, dog walkers or sitters, boarding, preventative care, and grooming.
As we stated before, dogs are a big commitment and investment of both your time and money. But the return of a happy, spunky, and loving pet is priceless.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Sheltidoodle
1. Poodles are Super Smart Pups!
That’s right! Your Sheltidoodle dog’s parent Poodle breed is the second smartest dog out of 138 breeds when it comes to working intelligence and obedience.
2. They Go by Multiple Names
Sheltidoodles are also known as Sheltiepoos.
3. Shelties are Petite Herding Dogs
Bred to be herding dogs in the Shetland Islands of Scotland, your Sheltidoodle pup’s parent Sheltie breed was used to herd sheep and ponies.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Sheltidoodle
Now that you know how to search for a reputable Sheltidoodle breeder, it’s time to take a deep dive into the personality of your new pup to know if this is the perfect dog for you and your entire family.
Are These Dogs Good for Families?
Yes! Sheltidoodles are amazing dogs for families, even ones with young children. Due to their intelligent and loving nature, these dogs make incredible members of the household.
However, due to the Sheltie’s natural need to herd, you will have to keep an eye out during her playtime with the kiddos. She may think your children are sheep and nip at their heels and bark in order to corral them!
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
If socialized from a young age with your other family pets, the Sheltidoodle will get along with every four-legged member of your household.
Things to Know When Owning a Sheltidoodle
Now that we’ve got her personality covered, let’s explore everything you need to know about your new Sheltidoodle’s health and happiness.
Food & Diet Requirements
It’s important to never compromise on the quality of your Sheltidoodle’s food. She needs a high-quality, high-protein, and grain-free diet to live her best life. Divide your Sheltidoodle’s food into two, 1.5-cup meals per day. This will cost you between $35 and $45 per month.
You can mix the kibble with quality canned wet dog food to ensure she is getting the vitamins and nutrients her body needs. If you do this, be sure to adjust the amount of dry kibble as needed.
Exercise
The Sheltidoodle has a moderate activity level. A daily 60 minutes of exercise is recommended for this designer dog breed. Whether you take her for two 30-minute walks per day, play fetch or tug in your backyard, or let the children play with her in the living room, this should all do the trick.
However, because of her smarts, you also need to constantly stimulate your Sheltidoodle mentally as well. There are several ways that you can do this, including:
- Offering her a bunch of interactive toys, such as a puppy puzzle and activity flip board.
- Enroll her in a doggie daycare if you work long hours.
- Or hire a dog walker.
- Provide her a cozy bed near the window for a great view of the front yard and street.
Training
Since their Poodle parent breed is super smart, your Sheltidoodle will quickly pick up on new tricks like the pro she is. Start with the basic commands of sit, stay, come, paw, down as a baby to build a solid foundation from which to build on.
Positive reinforcement training methods work wonders for this breed. Since she has a strong desire to please, you can use the clicker methods for your Sheltidoodle’s training. This training method requires a clicker to be used every time she performs the desired behavior. Immediately click the clicker and then give her a treat or pat on the head. She will soon learn to associate the clicker with the desired behavior.
You also should consider entering your Sheltidoodle into an obedience or agility course to further cater to her big brain. She’ll learn extremely fast and never be bored!
Grooming ✂️
Your Sheltidoodle’s two parent breeds have very different coats. While the Sheltie has a double-layer coat that is extremely dense, straight, and long, the Poodle has a single-layer coat of curls. Your Sheltidoodle will typically come with wavy or curly fur, however, their coat may be single- or double-layered. Double-layer coated dogs will shed more and require much more brushing. However, if your Sheltidoodle comes with curly fur, you will need to also brush her quite a lot to keep knots at bay.
We recommend grooming your dog daily with a pin brush and comb. You should also routinely cut her nails and gently clean her ears.
Health and Conditions
Your Sheltidoodle dog will likely inherit health issues that her parent breeds have been afflicted with. While there is no way to predict what specific illnesses your dog could develop, you should always talk with the breeder about health conditions the parent breeds have suffered from. It’s also important to take your Sheltidoodle to the vet for routine checkups.
- Cataracts
- Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)
- Corneal Dystrophy
- Color Dilution Alopecia
- Deafness
- Diabetes
- Glaucoma
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Canine Hip Dysplasia
- Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV), also known as Bloat
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Sebaceous Adenitis
- Von Willebrand’s Disease
Male vs. Female
The Sheltidoodle male will be slightly larger than the female. He will also be more outgoing. The female of the breed will be more trainable at an early age. Both genders of the Sheltidoodle make great pets.
Final Thoughts
The Sheltidoodle is a spunky and endearing designer dog that makes the ideal companion for just about anyone. With smarts, a great personality, and gorgeous looks to match, your Sheltidoodle puppy will entertain and delight you for years to come.
Just be sure to get your new puppy from a high-quality breeder to guarantee you’re getting a great pooch. Keep your dog healthy and happy with a balanced diet of nutritious food and plenty of exercise. Also, keep her mentally stimulated by giving her a lot of interactive toys.
The Sheltidoodle is an amazing hybrid breed and will offer lots of love for her human companions!
Related Reads:
- Border Collie Great Dane Mix
- Schnottie (Schnauzer & Rottweiler Mix)
- Afghan Retriever (Afghan Hound & Golden Retriever Mix)
Featured Image: Anne Richard, Shutterstock
