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German Shepherd Poodle Mix: All You Need To Know

By Jacquelyn Kennedy
Updated on

Are you looking for a dog that’s sharp, easy to train, and eager to please?

Then, you should look into the cute German Shepherd Poodle Mix.

Also known as the Shepadoodle, the German Shepherd Poodle Mix is an intelligent and beautiful hybrid dog. Shepadoodles are fantastic with kids, loyal to their families, and charming little dogs.

And they make amazing watchdogs as they are wary of strangers!

In this blog post, I’ll be going through the German Shepherd Poodle Mix dog breed and tell you everything there is to know about this sweet little doggy.

So, without any further ado, let’s get started!

Let’s begin.

Quick Breed History Lesson: The German Shepherd Poodle Mix Parents

Shepadoodles, or the German Shepherd Poodle Mix, find their origins in the United States of America. The breed was developed by the US Army in the 1960s to be military dogs.

These cute doggies are the result of the interbreeding of two working dogs—the German Shepherd and the Poodles, so they are full of energy and need regular exercise.

Poodles and German Shepherds originated in Germany. The former was bred to hunt waterfowl, while the latter was bred to herd sheep.

Let’s take a look at the parent breeds, shall we?

The Poodle

Poodle

Originated in Germany, Poodles were bred to be waterfowl hunters. You can find these doggies in three sizes:

  • The Toy Poodle
  • The Miniature Poodle
  • The Standard Poodle

These dogs are hypoallergenic and are good for kids as well as families. They are intelligent as well as eager to please—making them easy to train or teach new tricks. They are also loyal and have a good nature.

However, Poodles are excitable little creatures full of energy and need a lot of exercise throughout the day.

The German Shepherd

German shepherd

Intelligent, athletic, and able, German Shepherds are a working dog breed that has a strong herding instinct.

This is one of the top dog breeds in the US and one of the world’s most recognizable dog breeds. This dog is a good military and police dog as he’s intelligent and easy to train.

German Shepherds are loyal to their families and extremely protective as well, which makes them fantastic guard dogs.

However, these dogs need someone with them at all times, or they develop negative behaviors such as biting, chewing, or dogging. So, they don’t make good dogs for people who are away from home for long periods of time.

German Shepherds can be strong-willed, so they need a harsh yet fair trainer.

This dog breed is also prone to getting separation anxiety.

The German Shepherd Dog needs to be socialized with different pets and humans, or they can be aggressive toward others. So, enrolling them in puppy kindergarten is a good idea.

Other popular German Shepherd mixes include:

The Temperament and Behavioral Characteristics of the Shepadoodle

German shepherd poodle mix 4

Shepadoodles are easy to live with, thanks to their relaxed nature. They aren’t ‘high-strung’ dogs and like to chill whenever possible.

These dogs are attached to their owners and are loyal, just like the German Shepherd is. They are warm, loving, and well-mannered little creatures if taught right. In fact, they are family-oriented doggies who are good with kids and other pets.

However, these doggies have high energy needs as they are a product of two working dogs combined in one. You should take your German Shepherd Poodle mix out on a walk at least once a day.

They’ll love the dog park, too!

These doggies are eager to please their owners and adhere to instructions.

German Shepherd Poodle mixes have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.

The Activity Requirements of the German Shepherd Poodle Mix

German shepherd poodle mix 2

When comparing the German Shepherd and Poodles, we find that the former has stronger activity needs.

As a child of two working breeds, the German Shepherd Poodle mix needs a lot of activity to live a happy and fulfilling life.

These dogs love to accompany you on walks, treks, camping trips, etc.

Shepadoodles need regular daily exercise. You can take them out for a walk, jog, or play games such as fetch with them and they’ll love it! This dog breed needs a lot of physical activity.

Long walks are necessary for this dog breed as they are at risk of getting obese if they stay inactive. So, take your doggy friend out to the dog park for some fun with other dogs as well as socialization.

Take a look at these active little puppies!