Dogs are probably one of the most diverse human-made species on the planet. Thousands of years of selective breeding have created a wide range of distinctive breeds with varying colors, coats, conformations and sizes. But what happens when two breeds produce a successful crossbreed that combines the most noticeable characteristics of its parents? You can get an adorable dog that combines the best of both breeds.
The debate about who is better, mongrels or purebred dogs, will probably never be settled. Purebred dogs have a predictable set of characteristics, such as size, color, and personality. However, breeding animals tend to be more susceptible to genetic diseases. Mixed breeds tend to be healthier in this regard, but they may have behavioral problems. Also, if you want to get a shepherd mix puppy, for example, you may have little idea how big it will grow.
Golden Shepherd
The Golden Shepherd, or Golden Cattle Dog, takes the best qualities of the Golden Retriever and the German Shepherd. This mixed breed has less aggressive personality traits than the German Shepherd and can make an excellent family dog.
However, it is hardly possible to completely tame a mixed breed because Golden Retrievers are known for being energetic, but at the same time obedient and eager to learn. All this makes the Golden Shepherd ideal for hunting, guarding, obedience and search and rescue work.
Other crosses and hybrids
Today, more than a dozen mixed breeds of four-legged animals are found in nature. The most common ones include: a cross between a “German” and a Malamute, a cross between a Caucasian Shepherd and a German, a mixture of a Caucasian with a Laika, a golden shepherd dog, a nops or a cross between a “German” and a pug, a hybrid of a German Shepherd and a Labradoodle, a mixture of a Shepherd with a collie and many other.
The Laika-Shepherd mix is a mixed breed that is highly prized among breeders living in large metropolitan areas. Laikas, accustomed to freedom and a free lifestyle, find it difficult to get along in city apartments, but mestizos quickly adapt to new living conditions.
When crossing a shepherd and a husky, it is difficult to predict in advance what appearance the dog will have. This could be a dog that looks exactly like a shepherd, but with a tail in the shape of a donut curled up. Or, on the contrary, you will buy a husky puppy with sharp ears of a German shepherd. Until a puppy is six months old, it is almost impossible to determine the future appearance of a pet.
Similar article: Description of the Italian Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog
A mixed breed of husky and shepherd dog, as experienced dog breeders note, will become man's best friend. Representatives of this breed are distinguished by their devotion to their owner, playfulness and friendliness.
A cross between a German Shepherd and a Labrador is an interesting pet option for a family with small children. Dogs are inherently playful and friendly. They easily find contact not only with people, but also with other animals living in the house. Having carefully studied the appearance, habits and character traits, dog experts note that this cross has absorbed all the best qualities of its “parents”.
Do you want a reliable guard and protector to appear in your home? Pay attention to the German Shepherd and Rottweiler mixes. The main character traits of representatives of this breed include: self-confidence and calmness. They are also very energetic and inquisitive.
The animals are large in size - the weight of an adult dog reaches 50 kg. They feel confident and comfortable in the company of the owner-leader. If they sense weakness on the part of the owner, they begin to follow commands poorly and refuse to train.
Labrador and German Shepherd mix
Labradors are easy to train, obedient and amazingly patient with children. They tend to have a slightly lower energy level, which is balanced out by the high-energy German Shepherd.
The lab and shepherd mix is an excellent dog for children, it will always be playful and affectionate. She also tends to get along well with other pets and can remain alert throughout the night. This well-balanced hybrid can truly give you the best of both breeds.
Shepherd chow
Chow Chows are known for their incredible wit, curiosity, and intelligence. Today their main functions lie in the field of hunting, defense, or property protection. So when the natural protective instincts of the Chow Chow are combined with the suspicious nature of the German Shepherd, the result is a dog that is always on guard.
Fortunately, Chow Shepherds love to please their owner and are always happy to please him. This means that your family will always be safe if you have a Chow Shepherd nearby.
Healthy dog with an unpredictable character
It is believed that mestizos take the best from their parents, and this opinion is not groundless. Hybrids often have good health, since they do not inherit genetic ancestors. But this does not mean that the mixed breed will never get sick, because poor living conditions can undermine any dog’s immunity.
The character of hybrids may not be as good as their health. There is a fifty-fifty chance that crossing two different breeds can either balance out negative traits or enhance them.
Take, for example, a cross between a Rottweiler and. Both breeds have a dominant character and are capable of showing. Two options are possible: either absolute calm (naturally, when the owner and his family are safe), or a redoubled desire to be a leader and sudden outbursts of anger towards strangers. In any case, such a mestizo needs a firm and constant hand from the owner.
But if you cross a Rottweiler with an American Bulldog, then there is a risk of getting an explosive mixture of activity and viciousness. And although breeders managed to reduce as much as possible the aggression and pursuit instinct in bulldogs, they remained at the genetic level. However, the dog can be as lazy as a Rottweiler.
Don't forget about the sizes. No one can give a 100% guarantee that a tiny puppy will not turn into a huge bear. A mixed breed of Rottweiler and Central Asian Shepherd Dog (Alabai) can grow to the size of a Rottweiler and weigh about 50 kilograms. Or it can reach 70-100 kilograms, because the Alabai is one of the largest dogs in the world.
The same results can be expected when crossing a Rottweiler with a St. Bernard or other large breeds. The size of a puppy's paws can indicate the dog's future size, but it is not an exact measurement.
Among fans of hybridization, there is an opinion that the participation of a Rottweiler in crossing can produce a mixed breed similar to the American Pit Bull Terrier. That is, the dog may have good nature, loyalty to the environment, stubbornness, endurance, a desire to reach the end, activity controlled by aggression.
Siberian Shepherd - a cross between a shepherd and a husky
The German Shepherd and Siberian Husky mix known as the Siberian Shepherd is both highly intelligent and obedient. The hybrid is quite large in size. The dog also has a fairly thick coat, so it is not the best choice for hot climates. In general, the Siberian Shepherd can be described as loyal, intelligent, sociable, energetic, and has developed guarding and protective instincts.
Crossbreed with a wolf
Wolfdog - this is an interesting name given to a cross between a German shepherd and a wolf. Dog breeders who decided on such an unusual experiment wanted to breed a new breed that would be distinguished by the devotion of a dog, as well as the incredible courage and bravery of a wolf. However, the task turned out to be not an easy one, because the wolf is a predatory animal that does not allow either people or pets near it. Fortunately, in one Siberian village it was possible to discover a domesticated she-wolf, which at one time was picked up by one of the local hunters and raised at home.
The shepherd-wolf mixture is unique for the reason that today not a single kennel in the world officially breeds such a cross. For the same reason, the exact cost of a puppy of this “breed” is unknown.
Why is a cross between a German Shepherd and a wolf so interesting for dog breeders and dog handlers, you ask? Imagine a dog whose main qualities are:
- excellent health and high immunity to various diseases;
- lightning-fast navigation in unfamiliar terrain;
- high intelligence and quick wit;
- quick learning and receptiveness to training (it is important to note here that the wolf-dog will obey only a powerful owner);
- fearlessness, courage and well-developed security qualities;
- absence of innate aggression towards humans.
Similar article: Characteristics of a medium-large Belgian Shepherd
Another interesting feature of a cross between a wolf and a German shepherd is the appearance of the animal. At a quick glance, it may seem that this is a real wolf. Large muscular body, slightly lean and dry. The dog has a characteristic wolf coloration. However, there are also specimens whose fur is predominantly black rather than gray. The gripping force of the jaw immediately reveals that the pedigree of such a pet includes representatives of predators.
We recommend this article:
Features and types of dog crossing
German Shepherd and Collie mix
This hybrid breed is highly alert, has a cheerful and energetic personality, and has a friendly, engaging disposition. Both the Collie and the German Shepherd have been used as herding dogs, so they will need a fair amount of walking and exercise. The hybrid is easy to train and always eager to please.
Mixed Corgi and German Shepherd
This crossbreed is another strange hybrid, but at the same time quite balanced. The hybrid is significantly smaller in size than the standard German Shepherd.
Welsh Corgis, despite their size, tend to be dominant, so you need to be prepared for this and let him know who's boss in the family. If given a chance, the pet will become dominant over its owner, and in this case, training will be useless. So, a mix that combines the dominant nature of a Corgi with the stubbornness of a Shepherd can be a recipe for disaster unless you have a dominant, strong will.
Mixed Rottweiler and German Shepherd
When it comes to protection and security, there is probably no better breed than the Shepherd-Rottweiler mix. These dogs tend to be very large, weighing around 50kg on average, so you'll need to be prepared for that if you want to get one of these.
This hybrid breed needs an owner who will be the alpha male in his family. Overall, they are surprisingly calm and confident animals, with enough energy to be ready for anything you throw at them.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Shepherd is a popular, intelligent, brave, loyal and obedient dog breed. Purebred dogs bred in special kennels have the correct conformation, endurance, and learn quickly.
Currently, shepherd dog mixes are also gaining popularity, as they retain the advantages of two strong dog breeds.
Compared to a purebred dog, a crossbreed has a number of advantages:
- the puppies are strong and healthy;
- resistance to genetic diseases;
- immunity is developed;
- intelligence is more clearly expressed;
- the cost is lower than a purebred.
The excellent health of a crossbreed does not mean that they do not need care, care and proper nutrition.
You need to get the necessary vaccinations just like any other pet.
When keeping a crossbreed as a pet, you should remember the following disadvantages:
- the size and color of an adult dog cannot be determined;
- flaws in appearance;
- have no documents or pedigree;
- cannot participate in exhibitions;
- unknown character of the pet: it can be either affectionate or aggressive.
Scientists have proven that crossbred dogs are the best option, since the puppy takes only positive qualities from its parents. When mating two different dogs, the negative qualities of the breed are compensated.
Mixed Shepherd and Labradoodle
This hybrid combines the unique traits of both breeds and is an extremely intelligent and fun-loving dog. They are quite large, weighing from 25 to 35 kg. The mixed breed is in many ways a truly unique dog and, moreover, unlike most other shepherd hybrids, it practically does not shed.
Features
Puppy
The shepherd grows very quickly, as they say, by days. His body develops quite harmoniously, with the possible exception of adolescence, when puppies have a somewhat awkward appearance. The mongrel does not gain weight as rapidly and does not grow as quickly.
Training.
Already from 2 months of age, a German Shepherd puppy can begin to be trained. He quickly, after several repetitions, remembers commands and carries them out with pleasure. The mongrel cannot do this.
Head
rough or too light - an indicator of mongreldom. In a shepherd it is moderate in all respects. The forehead is slightly convex. The transition from it to the muzzle is weakly expressed. The nose is quite large and always black. In mongrels, unlike shepherd dogs, the frontal groove is clearly visible.
Moles.
Five black moles near the corners of the mouth are clearly visible on a shepherd puppy, but they are not an indicator of the breed.
Eyes
almond-shaped, clean and dark, smoky blue until two months of age, the look of a shepherd is focused and intelligent. The same cannot be said about the mongrel. Her eyes are more rounded and often bulging.
Ears
German Shepherds, especially puppies, have very long, “burdock-like” hair until they begin to stand. In a mongrel, if it is not a mixed breed, they are of medium size and can remain hanging.
Breast
Shepherd dogs are well developed and massive. In mongrels it is more barrel-shaped.
Paws
. Experienced breeders determine the breed, first of all, by the structure of the paws. In purebred dogs, they are “aristocratic” – moderately elongated, straight and large. In German Shepherd puppies they stand out especially.
Tail
in the stance of the German Shepherd it is lowered and resembles a saber. The mongrel has it thrown into a ring above his back.
Color.
The shepherd is characterized by a black coat color. White spots on the chest, which are quite common in mongrels, are unacceptable for the breed.
Wool
The German Shepherd is a bit harsh, although very pleasant to the touch. The mongrel's coat is softer, as if silkier. The skin of a German Shepherd is very elastic, it does not form saggy or folds.
Movement.
A purebred dog carries its paws very close to the ground, without throwing them, unlike a mongrel dog. The back is straight both when standing and when walking. Moves at a low, creeping trot.
Mixed German Shepherd and Akita Inu
Akitas are known to be good family dogs, great with children, but can be somewhat stubborn. Combined with the German Shepherd's stubbornness, this will be an even more difficult case, so you must take a fairly confident and consistent approach to training them.
Being large dogs with high energy levels, they need a lot of exercise. With proper training and socialization, you will end up with a smart and well-trained dog that will love you and your family.
Perhaps there are other hybrids or mestizos of the German Shepherd? Please let us know in the comments!
Which dog to choose, who is stronger, smarter, better?
Before getting a dog, you should compare it with other breeds - this will help form a more accurate idea of the character and abilities of the future pet.
Labrador
Labradors are loving, affectionate and friendly dogs towards absolutely everyone.
They are quite intelligent and amenable to training , but are inferior in this regard to shepherd dogs, for whom service is their main calling.
Shepherd dogs are also superior in jaw grip strength, but Labradors are still more agile and nimble pets.
Pitbull
Despite their more compact size, pit bulls are superior to shepherds in strength - they are more powerful, have a stronger jaw grip and are better suited to participate in fights.
"Caucasian"
“Caucasians” are excellent watchmen and bodyguards; even the “Germans” cannot compare with them in this regard. They are also ahead of their relatives in terms of aggressive behavior towards children, other animals and strangers. Caucasian shepherd dogs are much larger than German ones and surpass them in strength and power.
Wolf
Wolves are hardy, capable of reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h, and the clenching force of their jaws is 2.5 times higher than that of fighting dogs .
There are very few dogs capable of fighting a wolf, and those who can win are even fewer, and German shepherds are not one of them.
