Choosing A German Shepherd Mix Breed: Which Is Best For Your Home

German Shepherds are among one of the most preferable dog breeds that fall under the category of ideal family pets. They are extremely loyal, intelligent, affectionate, and brilliant as guard dogs. Some people prefer pure breeds of German Shepherd whereas some go for the mixed breeds.

In this blog, we are going to throw light on the German Shepherd mixed breed variants along with the factors that you need to consider before bringing one into your home!

German Shepherd mix breeds have gained much popularity among the masses in recent times as they possess the quality and personality traits of two dog breeds that are crossbred. However, if you are willing to bring a mixed breed of German Shepherd, then it is essential to consider the size, temperament, personality, and energy level of the crossbred pet.

The moment you think of bringing home a pet, various thoughts begin to pop up in your mind. The trend of bringing mixed breed dogs has been on the rise as now more and more people are getting inclined towards it. If you are about to bring a German Shepherd mixed breed dog into your family, then the following information would help you out in making a wise choice!

The benefit of German Shepherd Mixes

Generally, the mixes of German Shepherd are healthier and affordable as compared to the pure breed ones. Apart from this, another advantage is that when a German Shepherd is crossed with the other dog breed, then the crossbred dog would possess the quality and traits of both the breeds.

Let us understand this through an example. If a German Shepherd is hybridized with a Labrador Retriever, then the crossbred dog is more likely to be courageous like a German Shepherd and friendly like a Labrador.

Common Mixes of a German Shepherd

German Shepherd is mainly crossbred with the medium or large size dog breeds such as Golden Retriever, Labrador, Corgi, Beagle, Husky, Rottweiler and many more. You cannot crossbreed tiny or small-sized dog breeds with a large dog breed such as a German Shepherd as it can lead to certain health disorders in pets. The following are some of the common mixes of a German Shepherd.

German Shepherd and Labrador

The mix of German Shepherd with a Labrador Retriever is known as a Sheprador. They are considered among the most popular mixes of German Shepherd. They are gentle, loving, affectionate, obedient, and loyal. Besides this, they are energetic and relish to socialize.

They might even possess the qualities of a service dog. Besides this, they are not stubborn that makes them easy to train. Shepradors come under the category of the large breed and their weight ranges between 50-90 pounds when they are fully grown. Their appearance is adorable as they have floppy ears. However, they possess a thick and dual coating along with hues of black.

These furry pals love to play outdoors. If you are having kids at home, then this breed is highly recommended as Shepradors are quite friendly with kids and are also great as guard dogs to protect the family in times of danger.

German Shepherd and Siberian Husky

The mix of German Shepherd with a Siberian Husky is known as a Shepsky. This breed is adorned with a wolf-like appearance along with a classy combination of black, grey, white, and tan colors blended. Also, they have a thick double coating that requires daily brushing and grooming.

They have enchanting blue eyes or a combination of one brown and one blue eye respectively. Their ideal weight ranges between 35-90 pounds. They have all the qualities of a working dog and they are quite friendly.

Apart from this, Shepskies are intelligent, affectionate, and loyal companions. They are not stubborn and can be trained easily. They tend to follow the commands obediently. This breed is highly active and requires regular exercise. If you are having kids who love to play outdoors, then this breed is for you.

German Shepherd and Rottweiler

The mix of a German Shepherd and a Rottweiler is called a Shottie or also known as Rottie Shepherd or a Shepweiler. This breed is famous for its attractive body build-up. Shotties are generally tall along with a good physique, a masculine chest along a well-muscled body.

This breed falls under the category of medium to large breed. Their hind legs bend and their hips slant similar to that of a German Shepherd. Their weight ranges between 30-90 pounds when they become adults.

Shotties are very attentive, energetic, and loyal. However, they tend to get aggressive if someone provokes them, specifically the kids, stranger people, and animals. These furry pals are also good at guarding. If trained properly, they can get along with kids and family well.

This dog breed is extremely lovable, devoted, and affectionate towards their owners. They are perfect furry companions for those who want to experience what unconditional love and affection feels like. Shotties tend to wag their tail in anticipation. Undoubtedly, this breed is suitable for everyone.

German Shepherd and Golden Retriever

The mix of a German Shepherd and a Golden Retriever is known as Golden Retriever. This breed possesses the qualities of a herding dog. These furry pals are generous, obedient, gentle, cooperative, intelligent, and are pretty much easy to train.

This breed is generally said to be friendly yet reserved in nature and personality. Their weight ranges between 55-85 pounds along with a thick double coating that tends to shed unbelievably. Their fur resembles that of a Golden Retriever.

This breed is quite friendly and polite with kids. Besides this, these furry pals can sense the danger and are highly protective. They love to socialize with people and do not get aggressive at them. If you are having kids at home who love to play, then this breed would be great for you.

German Shepherd and Doberman

The mix between a German Shepherd and a Doberman Pinscher is known as a German Shepherd Doberman. This breed flaunts tan and black coloring along with a short and manageable coating. Besides this, they are highly attentive, intelligent, and are excellent as guard dogs that never fail to protect their owners.

They do not tolerate the presence of strangers in the house. Their appearance and muscular; they have been adorned with long muzzles and dark eyes that are sure to spellbind the people around them. Their weight ranges between 90-100 pounds when they become adults.

This dog breed is highly active and requires regular walking and exercise sessions to stay fit and healthy. Additionally, you can even give them specialized training as these furry pals have the potential to become great rescue dogs.

These furry pals have upright ears that add charm to their persona. If you are living alone, then this breed would be highly beneficial for you as they are loyal enough to rescue their owners during distressed or dangerous situations.

German Shepherd and Beagle

The mix between a German Shepherd and a Beagle is known as Beagle Shepherd. This breed is quite difficult to train as they generally acquire the trait of stubbornness from the Beagles. Besides this, these furry pals love to chase instead of herding.

This dog breed is pretty much friendly, loving, and affectionate towards their owners. Their ideal weight ranges between 20-50 pounds approximately when they are fully grown.

Their coating is short and quite manageable; they only require regular brushing for maintaining the quality of their fur. The only effort that you need to put in is for training these notorious furry companions. For this, you can even hire a professional pet trainer to train your pet. Above all, this breed is good for the kids and family.

German Shepherd and Bulldog

The mix between a German Shepherd and a Bulldog is known as Bulldog Shepherd. They fall under the category of medium to large dog breeds with an ideal weight ranging between 60-90 pounds. They have amazing strength that is acquired from both of the parent breeds.

These furry companions are courageous, loyal, well-mannered, affectionate, and intelligent. They are also obedient and can be trained easily. They are not notorious or stubborn and obey all the commands. This breed is highly protective of their owners. However, you would need to teach them to be gentle.

The coat color of this breed is a combination of patches of tan, white, and black with easily manageable furry coating. However, they are prone to breathing problems and hence, require proper care and attention. If you are willing to give that to your pet, then this breed is good for you.

Factors to be considered

The following are a few pivotal factors that need to be taken into consideration before bringing a German Shepherd mixed breed into your home as your beloved pet.

• Size and life expectancy of the dog
• The energy level of the dog
• Grooming and Maintenance of the breed
• The intensity of the shedding
• Temperament and Behavior
• Sociability
• Personality Traits of the Dogs
• Bonding with kids
• Any specific health disorders
• Estimation of diet and medical expenses
• Workout and fitness requirements
• Hypoallergenic information

Wrap Up

On an additional note, before bringing a pet, especially like a German Shepherd mix breed, it is necessary to evaluate whether you are prepared for the challenges and responsibilities or not. Financial soundness also plays an important role in fostering a pet. Lastly, make sure you are fully prepared to devote all your love, attention, time, and care to give these furry pals a good life and a loving family.