German Shepherd Poodle Mix: Dog Breed Guide
The German shepherd poodle mix sometimes referred to as a shepadoodle, is an interesting combination of the loyal, hard-working German shepherd and the intelligent, often-hypoallergenic standard poodle. This hybrid designer dog breed combines positive traits from both of its parental lineages and has a lot to offer individuals looking for a faithful, loving, and loyal pup to add to their lifestyle.
This dog breed guide will give you a rundown of the essential information you need to know about German shepherd poodle mixes. We’ll also provide advice about where to adopt one of these amazing pups and how to determine whether or not this is the right breed for you.
A Quick Look at German Shepherd Poodle Mixes
The quick facts about the German shepherd poodle mix below will help you to understand some basics about their appearance, temperament, and care needs.
| Weight/Height | 25 to 90 lbs/13 to 26 inches |
| Coat Type | Thicker, longer, and typically wiry, though it can be straight |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding |  |
| Temperament | Intelligent, loyal, affectionate, active |
| Good With Kids | |
| Good With Other Animals |  |
| Intelligence | |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 10 to 14 years |
What Is the History of the German Shepherd Poodle Mix?
A cross between two of the most prominent working breeds, the German shepherd and the standard poodle, the German Shepherd poodle mix displays many of the traits from both of these breeds. Their temperament is loyal, loving, and hard-working, and this breed loves to learn new things. German shepherd poodle mixes are intelligent and eager to please their owners, making them a great choice for a working dog, service dog, or just a companion animal.
As a relatively newer dog breed, the first German shepherd poodle mix can be traced back to the 1960s. They were initially bred to be military police dogs for the United States Army and are still used in this capacity today. However, in recent years, this breed has gained popularity as a protective and affectionate companion dog.
The German shepherd poodle mix fits well into most families and loves to lead an active lifestyle. Their intelligence, easy trainability, and capacity for learning new commands make them a popular breed that is steadily gaining more recognition as the perfect high-energy family dog to this day.
What Do German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Look Like?
The appearance of the German shepherd poodle mix can vary based on its parents’ traits. Mostly, this dog will be medium or large in size, standing between 13 and 28 inches tall. They weigh between 25 and 90 pounds, and their face will often have a longer snout and dark, alert eyes. Additionally, this pup often has floppy ears and a wiry, shorter coat, making it more hypoallergenic and low-shedding than other dog breeds.
The color of their coat is often black, grey, or brown, but they may sometimes have tan or white mixed in. German shepherd poodle mixes may also be bi-color or tri-color.
What Size Is a German Shepherd Poodle Mix?
The German shepherd poodle mix is a medium-sized or large dog. They weigh between 25 and 90 pounds and will stand between 13 and 28 inches tall, depending on their parents.
What Is a German Shepherd Poodle Mix’s Coat Type?
The German shepherd poodle mix often has a short, wiry coat thanks to the genetics of the standard poodle. Their coat tends to be shades of black, brown, grey, or a mix of those colors, and they are considered low-shedding dogs. Occasionally, a German shepherd poodle mix may have a longer, more scruffy coat with thick, straight hair.
What Is a German Shepherd Poodle Mix’s Temperament?
German shepherd poodle mixes are known for their intelligence and high-energy nature. This pup can have a range of temperatures due to these factors and the temperaments of their parents, but for the most part, they are loving, loyal, and protective of their families. The German shepherd poodle mix learns quickly and loves to spend time outdoors with its family or indoors cuddling on the couch.
Make sure that you note this dog is a high-energy breed and will require a good amount of exercise to stay healthy and happy. Without proper mental and physical stimulation, they can become anxious or destructive.
Are German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Affectionate?
The German shepherd poodle mix is known to be affectionate and very loving toward its family. They have a friendly disposition and will likely follow you around the home, wanting to spend all of their time with you. This breed also forms strong bonds with its family and will act very protective yet remain gentle with children. They make a good choice for a family companion.
Are German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Good With Kids?
This breed is a good choice for families with children, but you should always be careful when you have young children around larger dogs. The German shepherd poodle mix is very loyal and protective over their families, children included, and they will typically play gently with children. However, make sure to supervise all playtime between your children and your dog to ensure that everyone stays safe.
Are German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Good With Other Animals?
German shepherd poodle mixes might be good with other animals depending on their individual temperament and the size of the other animal. This breed often has a high prey drive and might attempt to chase or attack smaller animals, such as cats or small dogs. However, German shepherd poodle mixes are likely to get along well with other dogs their size, and they may be trained out of prey hunting behaviors.
Supervise all interactions with new animals and monitor your dog closely when introducing them to other animals to ensure that no one gets hurt.
Are German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Aggressive?
The German shepherd poodle mix is not known to be aggressive, but a lack of proper care and exercise can make this dog quite destructive. Make sure your dog is properly socialized and train them with basic obedience skills to ensure that they are healthy, happy, and friendly and that any unwanted behaviors are trained out of them.
Do German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Bark a Lot?
The German shepherd poodle mix is a relatively quiet dog, and they are unlikely to bark a lot. However, they are fairly protective and will bark if they sense a threat or are trying to alert you to something they deem important. However, for the most part, the German shepherd poodle mix is not very vocal.
Are German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Intelligent?
A combination of two pretty smart dogs, the standard poodle and the German shepherd, this mix is quite intelligent. This pup learns fast and is often eager to please; they are hard-working and enjoy learning new skills, tricks, or commands. You can expect this dog to easily pick up on your cues and follow your routines, as they love learning and staying by your side.
Are German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Easy to Train?
The German shepherd poodle mix is pretty easy to train thanks to its intelligent nature, love of spending time with family, and tendency to be hard-working. This dog loves to learn new commands and can easily pick up basic obedience training when you ensure they have a consistent training routine. Your dog may even move to more advanced skills quickly as they receive valuable mental stimulation through regular training sessions.
Are German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Energetic?
This dog is considered a high-energy breed, and the German shepherd poodle mix will need a fair amount of exercise and playtime to stay happy. Ensure your dog gets at least an hour or two of exercise, outdoor time with their toys each day, and two to three medium-length walks. Your dog will also need regular visits to outdoor areas where they can run around and socialize, such as an enclosed dog park.
Make sure that your German shepherd poodle mix has plenty of toys to play with when you’re not home and that they have enough space in your home and outdoors to get out their energy without being destructive.
Are German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Good Apartment Dogs?
For the most part, German shepherd poodle mixes are not great apartment dogs. The medium-sized versions of this breed might fit into an apartment space ok, but this dog is usually too big for an apartment. They need lots of exercise, space, and access to the outdoors to play, and that is typically hard to achieve when living in an apartment.
However, if you take lots of walks with your dog, and your apartment is larger (more like a condo) and provides ample access to the outdoors for regular exercise, this large breed may be able to adapt to apartment living.
Are German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Good Watchdogs?
The German shepherd poodle mix is a good watchdog as they are loyal, protective, and often fearless when safeguarding their home; additionally, they don’t bark unnecessarily. You can expect your German shepherd poodle mix to bark when they detect threats or to alert you to suspicious activity. They are also likely to stay by your side and guard you when they perceive a threat.
Are German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Good Service Dogs?
Both poodles and German shepherds are considered star breeds for service dogs individually, so it makes sense that a mix of the two would also make for a great service dog. This breed is intelligent and eager to please, and they love helping out and spending time with their owner.
They also have a larger size, which makes them a good candidate for mobility and medical service dog training, in addition to psychiatric service dog work or emotional support animal training.
How to Care for a German Shepherd Poodle Mix
Your German shepherd poodle mix will need proper care throughout their lives to ensure that they stay happy and healthy. You’ll need to make sure your dog gets at least an hour or two of exercise each day and receives at least two daily walks.
German shepherd poodle mixes should also have plenty of toys to play with inside and out. In addition, they will benefit from a consistent training schedule to increase their obedience and provide mental stimulation.
They’ll require a diet of high-quality dog food tailored to their caloric intake needs, and you should attend regular vet visits, so their health is always in good condition. They will also need to be brushed multiple times a week to help curb shedding, and they may occasionally require professional grooming to help keep their coat, nails, and ears stay in tip-top condition.
Do You Need to Groom a German Shepherd Poodle Mix?
You will need to brush your German shepherd poodle mix’s coat two to four times a week to help detangle it, prevent mats, and encourage better shedding. Regular professional grooming is recommended for this breed to ensure their hair stays trimmed, out of their eyes, and in good condition. You may need to bathe your dog occasionally at home if they get into messes outdoors or if their coat is starting to appear unkempt.
Do German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Shed?
Because this breed is part poodle and has a wiry, shorter coat, they are considered low-shedding dogs. Due to this, they are often considered to be hypoallergenic, so they may be a good choice for someone with mild allergies.
What Should a German Shepherd Poodle Mix Eat?
A high-quality, protein-rich dog food is the best choice for this mix. You can feed them wet or dry food, but make sure that you adhere to your dog’s caloric needs, which can vary depending on the calorie density of the food and the specific size of your dog.
Supplement your German shepherd poodle mix’s diet with treats and high-value training rewards when necessary, but be wary about overfeeding.
Consult with a vet if you need assistance figuring out how much to feed your dog, and make sure to spread their food allowance out over two to three meals daily.
What Health Problems Do German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Have?
German shepherd poodle mixes are prone to certain health conditions like most other dog breeds, especially mixed dog breeds. Common health conditions that may appear in this breed include:
- Hip or elbow dysplasia
- Osteoarthritis
- Allergies and eczema
- Bloat
- Blood diseases, including Von Willebrand disease
Make sure to attend regular veterinary visits with your dog to ensure they are in their best health and to catch potential health issues before they become more serious or life-threatening.
How Long Do German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Live?
Compared to larger dogs, German shepherd poodle mixes tend to have a shorter life expectancy. This breed will live between 10 and 14 years on average, though they may live longer or shorter than that, depending on their care and specific health issues that occur throughout their life.
Are German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Expensive?
German shepherd poodle mixes are considered a designer dog breed, often making them more expensive. You can expect to pay between $800 and $2,000 for a puppy, with the varying price range depending on the breeder, your location, and the parental lineage of the puppy.
How to Find a German Shepherd Poodle Mix Breeder
If you want to find a German shepherd poodle mix from a breeder, your best bet is to start performing internet searches or asking around with local dog breeding organizations. When selecting a breeder, you should double-check any certifications, licenses, and the conditions of the breeding facility to ensure that all dogs are being treated humanely and that the breeder is adhering to ethical breeding practices.
Can You Adopt a German Shepherd Poodle Mix?
You may be able to adopt a German shepherd poodle mix from a local shelter or rescue organization, but this is less likely. Because this is a designer breed, they are often purchased directly from a breeder and are less likely to be surrendered to a shelter.
However, if you’re committed to adopting a German shepherd poodle and are having trouble finding shelters with this specific mix, you may want to look into rescues dedicated to their parent breeds. A German shepherd or poodle-specific rescue may also have mixes of these breeds.
Are German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Purebred?
German shepherd poodle mixes are not purebred, but they are a mix of two purebred dogs, the German shepherd, and the standard poodle. Therefore, this breed is considered a mixed breed, a designer breed, or a hybrid dog breed.
Can You Show German Shepherd Poodle Mixes?
Because German shepherd poodle mixes are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (the Club typically only recognizes purebred dog breeds), they are not eligible to be shown in official American Kennel Club events. However, you may be able to show your German shepherd poodle mix in local dog shows or via organizations that recognize designers or mixed breed dogs.
Are German Shepherd Poodle Mixes Good for New Dog Owners?
The German shepherd poodle mix might be a good choice for new dog owners in certain situations. This dog is typically higher maintenance than other dogs, requiring a consistent training schedule and a high-energy exercise routine to stay happy. Experienced dog owners will likely have no problem with this.
That being said, if you are a new dog owner committed to providing the proper care, exercise, and training that this dog breed needs to be happy, they will likely be a positive addition to your lifestyle.
Is a German Shepherd Poodle Mix the Right Dog for Me?
Determining whether or not the German shepherd poodle is the right dog for you can be difficult. Review our bullet points below for a concise idea of whether or not you should add one of these wonderful pups to your life.
The German shepherd poodle mix is the right dog for you if:
- You have an active lifestyle or plenty of time to dedicate to exercising your dog properly.
- You want an intelligent, protective, and loving family dog.
- You have a larger home, plenty of outdoor space, or easy access to outdoor areas where your dog can play.
- You want a larger dog that could be trained to complete service or emotional support animal tasks.
The German shepherd poodle mix is not the right dog for you if:
- You live in a small apartment space and don’t have much outdoor access.
- You don’t have an active lifestyle or the time to meet this breed’s high energy and exercise needs.
- You plan on leaving your dog home alone for long hours; more than eight hours alone is too much for this dog if you want to avoid them becoming destructive.