Did you know that not all sheep have white fur? Some, like the Romanov sheep, have hair in shades of black and gray, others, like the awassi, show shades of white mixed with brown, and others are completely black. Therefore, in the list of dog breeds that look like sheep you will find dogs with a common characteristic, the curly and fluffy coat, but of very varied colors, according to the different breeds of sheep that exist.
Dogs that look like sheep have a very characteristic coat, with curly, abundant and leafy hair Generally, dogs that meet the Due to this trait, they lose very little or none of their hair, so it is necessary to go to the dog grooming salon periodically to carry out adequate maintenance of the coat. If you are thinking of adopting one of these dogs for their sweet and cuddly appearance, but also for the fact that they do not lose hair, read on and discover the dog breeds most similar to sheep on our site.
Poodle or poodle
Without a doubt, one of the first breeds that comes to mind when we think of "sheepdogs" is the poodle, also known as the poodle. No matter the size, they all look like adorable little sheep! Especially when their coat is white or cream, the toy and dwarf poodle looks like a little lamb, while the medium and giant are more like an adult sheep.
Poodle hair is fine and woolly texture, very similar to sheep's. Of course, the mestizos born from the cross with this breed of dog would also fall within the dogs that look like sheep. These dogs practically do not lose hair, so it is necessary to brush them two or three times a week to avoid the formation of knots. On the other hand, he is one of the most intelligent dogs, so he needs both physical and mental stimulation to be happy.
Meet the different types of poodles in this other article.
Bichon Frize
White in color, with fluffy, soft and silky hair, automatically when looking at the Bichon Frize a lamb comes to mind or a sheep, depending on the hairstyle you wear. This dog does not lose hair, so it is also part of the list of hypoallergenic dogs. Of course, as in the previous case, to promote proper care of the coat, it is essential to carry out weekly brushings and visit the dog groomer from time to time.
Despite being a small dog, it is very dynamic, active and playful, so it needs daily exercise, games and, of course, attention. They are also very sociable, especially with children, so they can be the ideal companions in almost any home.
Bedlington terrier
Another of the dogs most similar to sheep is the Bedlington terrier, especially the Herdwick sheep when its hair is grey. This dog not only resembles the type of coat it has, but also the characteristics of its snout, sin stop, very similar to those of the sheep's snout.
This dog's coat is curly, long and dense, with a peculiar bluish-greyish hue, liver or sand with or without fire-colored spots. It is a very affectionate dog, but also tenacious. If it does not receive proper socialization, it may not tolerate other animals well.
Irish soft coated wheaten terrier
The Irish soft coated wheaten terrier is medium-sized and is characterized by a curly, soft and silky coat, wheat-colored. Due to its peculiar color, it is a dog very similar to sheep, especially merino sheep. Something curious about this breed is that the puppies can be born with darker colors, but they lighten as they reach the adult coat, which occurs around 18 months.
Unlike other types of terriers, the Irish soft coated wheaten terrier is very sociable, although in all forms it is necessary to carry out an adequate socialization. It is also very energetic and active, so it needs daily exercise and games. As for the specific care of the coat, as in all the cases that we show here, it is necessary to brush it several times a week, ideally once a day, since they do not lose hair either and can get tangled easily.
Barbet
The barbet or French water dog can have the following colors: black, gray, brown, sand, white or light fawn. For this reason, it is a dog that can look like a black sheep but also a merino sheep, a hissar sheep, coburger, etc. His coat is dense, padded and curly, a characteristic feature of all water dogs.
The barbet is intelligent, playful, sociable and very familiar, for this reason he does not usually tolerate solitude very well, especially if you spend many hours alone. His coat also needs weekly brushings and visits to the dog groomer.
Spanish Water Dog
In the same way that the barbet is a dog that looks like a sheep, so is the Spanish water dog. In this case, the race can be unicolor (white, black or brown) or bicolor (black and white or white and brown), so it can also resemble those bicolor sheep breeds, such as the awassi, which is white and brown.
As in the previous case, brushing should be almost daily and it is advisable to go to the dog groomer when necessary to keep the coat in perfect condition. Likewise, it is a dog that needs physical exercise every day, since it is very active and energetic
Goldendoodle
Of course, we can't forget the mongrel dogs such as the goldendoodle. Any mestizo dog born from the crossing of the previous breeds can also be a dog that looks like a sheep if he inherits the mentioned coat characteristics, however, this time we are going to focus on these dogs. The goldendoodle arises from the cross between the golden retriever and the poodle or poodle, so it has characteristics of both parents. In general, it usually has the coat of the poodle, so that it is curly, dense and woolly. Likewise, it can inherit the colors of the golden such as cream, so the result is a truly adorable dog that reminds us of precious little sheep.
He is an intelligent dog, very active, balanced, affectionate and sociable. He is the ideal companion for almost anyone, as long as he receives the physical and mental stimulation he needs, as well as weekly brushings.
Cockapoo
Continuing with the mestizo dogs, we now highlight the cockapoo as another of the dogs that look like sheep or lambs, since this is a medium-sized dog. It is a cross between the cocker spaniel terrier and the medium poodle, so its coat is usually long, wavy and bushy
He is a loving and active dog , but he does not usually tolerate being alone well, so he needs guardians who can dedicate time to him enough. On this occasion, it can lose more hair than the breeds mentioned and it is also necessary to brush it often, it being best to do it every day.
Now that you know the different breeds of dogs that look like sheep and mestizo dogs, remember to adopt responsibly, assessing, first, if you can really meet the needs of the dog. And if you already live with one, leave a comment with their photo!
