Sheepadoodles are wonderful dogs that love spending time with their families. They are especially fond of children and are quite gentle with them. This cuddly and fluffy mix of the Old English Sheepdog and a Poodle has become popular in the U.S. due to their friendly personality, teddy bear appearance, and low-shedding coat that is easy to maintain.

Since they are not purebred dogs, there are no hard rules about how Sheepadoodles should look, including their size and coat appearance. What they all tend to have in common, though, are their calm temperament and outgoing personality.

Before getting a Sheepadoodle, you should consider the associated expenses. Getting a Sheepadoodle can cost you from $150 to $3.000 and monthly expenses are usually $50–$295. In this article, we explore the costs of owning one and exactly what those entail.

Bringing Home a New Sheepadoodle: One-Time Costs

Once you purchase your Sheepadoodle puppy, there are several associated costs you have to cover, including the purchase price of your Sheepadoodle, travel costs, the initial medical exam, a collar, a leash, a dog bed, and a tag. If you have a backyard, you will need to ensure that it’s well-fenced.

Free

Sheepadoodles are rare, and getting one for free is unlikely unless your friend’s or neighbor’s Sheepadoodle has puppies. Even if you get the puppy for free, chances are that you will have to get the vaccination and other shots. You’ll also need to pay to spay or neuter them and purchase all the supplies they need.

Adoption

You can adopt a Sheepadoodle from rescues or dog shelters. Adopting a younger Sheepadoodle is higher in cost than an older one because most procedures, like vaccination, neutering, and spaying, need to be performed on the younger Sheepadoodle. The adult is more likely to have undergone these procedures before ending up in the rescue center.

When adopting a Sheepadoodle, you should assess their energy and how they will suit your lifestyle. Puppies tend to be more energetic than adults, which are more relaxed.

Breeder

The Sheepadoodle is an expensive designer breed. The cost depends on breeder experience, parental pedigree, coat color, and size. If you are keen on buying one, ensure that you purchase from a reputable breeder, even though they typically charge more. The breeder should provide you with the puppy’s vaccination certificate and both parents’ medical records.

Initial Setup and Supplies

The initial setup and supplies for a new Sheepadoodle parent can be costly. You can split these costs by budgeting ahead and acquiring some of these supplies before your dog comes home. Some supplies will vary in cost based on factors such as the dog’s size, the type of the supplies, and where you get them from.

Toys and crates are a vital part of getting your Sheepadoodle to create a positive association with their new home and bond with you.

List of Sheepadoodle Care Supplies and Costs

Before bringing home a Sheepadoodle, you should purchase quality care supplies that will last longer and save you the cost of frequently replacing them.

How Much Does a Sheepadoodle Cost Per Month?

The monthly cost of caring for a Sheepadoodle may vary based on your dog’s age. For example, the food costs can vary depending on the brand and how much your dog eats. Some dogs prefer fresh food, which is more expensive than dry or canned food.

Health Care

Like other mixed-breed dogs, Sheepadoodles have a relatively lower occurrence of the genetic diseases that crop up in purebred dogs. They tend to be a healthy breed with a 12–15-year lifespan. However, some health conditions can affect this dog even if the breeders take every possible precaution.

Food

The cost of food for your Sheepadoodle will depend on the quantity and quality of the food. It will also depend on whether you feed your Sheepadoodle a raw diet, dry food, or a customized meal. It’s recommended to give this dog a high-protein diet. You should also add supplements to increase its nutritional value. Ensure that you read the label to confirm the food meets all your dog’s needs.

Grooming

Sheepadoodles shed minimally, and they only need to be brushed once a week for a healthy coat. That means they are great for those interested in getting an indoor dog without having all the hair on their furniture and clothing. However, they still need to visit a groomer for a coat trim, nail clipping, and general grooming every 4–6 weeks.

Medications and Vet Visits

Your puppy will usually come to you with most of their shots. However, if you are in charge of the vaccinations, the cost will vary according to where you get the shots. You’ll also need to take your Sheepadoodle to the veterinarian for checkups and tests even when they are healthy—at least once or twice a year.

Pet Insurance

Insuring your Sheepadoodle is highly recommended, as it will help you cover the dog’s medical costs in case they get sick. It will also help you cover the costs of any damage your Sheepadoodle might cause. The insurance fee will depend on the insurance company and policy you choose for your dog.

Environment Maintenance

A potential cost of a Sheepadoodle is that they are prone to chewing and can destroy furniture, shoes, food and water bowls, and other materials swiftly. This also means you must often replace their dog bed and toys. However, there are several techniques to keep them from chewing, such as keeping them from getting bored. Make sure they have enough exercise and mental stimulation.

Entertainment

Sheepadoodles are fun-loving, playful pups that love spending time with their family and always want to be in on the action. They benefit a lot from running around with other dogs or kids. To make playtime more interesting, you can also buy dog toys like Frisbees, a toy bone, squishy toys, and rope and tug toys.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Sheepadoodle

Once you have all the supplies for your Sheepadoodle, the total monthly cost of owning one is around $80, including food, toys, treats, and grooming. You can reduce these costs by buying dry kibble in bulk. Reusing your old pet’s toys or buying them from Goodwill can also reduce monthly costs.

Additional Costs to Factor In

Additional Sheepadoodle costs you need to factor in will include pet sitters when going on vacation, emergency treatments for illness, possible household damage caused by your pet, and behavioral training.

Daycare/Dog Sitting

Sheepadoodles tend to develop separation anxiety, and leaving them alone can cause them to become destructive. Taking your dog to daycare or getting a pet sitter when traveling is recommended instead of leaving your pup alone for a lengthy period. The cost of daycare will depend on the age and temperament of the dog. If you want to cut down on the cost of daycare or dog-sitting services, consider getting a friend or neighbor to keep your pet company when you are gone.

Behavioral Training

Sheepadoodles are highly intelligent dogs with active energy levels. They are, therefore, easy to train since they are also eager to please their owners. They should attend obedience classes when they are puppies to prevent them from acting out. Teaching them tricks also helps keep them mentally and physically engaged. It’s important to teach them the “sit” and “wait” commands and recall commands.

Emergency Treatment

Unexpected emergencies, such as car accidents, cancer, and surgeries, can happen, and you should always keep some money aside just in case. A comprehensive insurance policy will reduce the amount you need to keep in your emergency fund.

Owning a Sheepadoodle on a Budget

Sheepadoodles are fantastic—the love and companionship that they provide are indisputable. However, the amount of money owners must spend on them is often high, including the initial purchase cost. Adding up the prices of all the food and supplements, grooming visits, vet bills, insurance, and training can be overwhelming.

Tips you can use to reduce the amount that you spend on your Sheepadoodle include:

Saving Money on Sheepadoodle Care

Managing and caring for a Sheepadoodle can be an expensive business. One of the things you can do to save money on caring for your Sheepadoodle is to brush them daily to keep them clean and mat-free. If you want to reduce the cost of paying a groomer, you should learn how to de-mat your Sheepadoodle, wash them, and trim their coat.

There are various guidebooks and YouTube videos you can use to master this and grooming kits that can help you easily handle this task. Doing this can save you up to $800 a year. You can also plan a playdate with other Sheepadoodle owners to prevent paying for a dog walker or daycare.

Summary

The Sheepadoodle is one of several mixed-breed designer dogs that have gained popularity over the past few years. The high demand for these dogs has significantly increased the cost of owning one. They are not only expensive to purchase but are also expensive to manage and care for. Before buying a puppy, you must consider the cost of owning a mature Sheepadoodle.

This includes food costs, routine vet visits, flea and tick prevention, training, treats, and toys. However, that is not to say that you cannot own and care for a Sheepadoodle on a budget—there are several tips that you can use to cut costs.

Featured Image Credit: Lisa Mounteer, Shutterstock