Is A German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix Good For New Owners
Unfortunately, because of its high energy and intelligence, the golden shepherd is not the best breed for new dog owners. Although they are easy to train, they are also strong, energetic dogs, which can make them difficult to control at times. They also have relatively high grooming needs, which may be overwhelming to new owners. It is not recommended that you adopt a golden shepherd as your very first dog.
German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix Dogs Are Known To Be Intelligent Athletic And Highly Energetic
Golden Shepherds are playful and full of energy.
Due to their parent breeds wonderful personality traits, its no surprise the German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is a sought-after crossbreed.
This hybrid is incredibly intelligent, which can be problematic for some novice dog owners who arent prepared for their wit and ability to outsmart people.
That said, this brainy mix is a joy to work with as they are eager to please and love to learn.
Because the German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is the offspring of two working dog breeds, they will require a lot of time, attention, and mental stimulation to keep them busy and content.
German Shepherd Golden Retriever dogs are also full of energy. They love to play and can continue to behave in a puppy-like manner well into adulthood.
If you are considering a German Shepherd Golden Retriever dog, keep this in mind and be prepared to stay active with this hybrid.
With that noted, its important to consider your lifestyle and home environment before investing in one of these dogs.
The German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix will not do well in apartments or very small homes without yards big enough for them to run and play.
They need to be with owners who can exercise them daily through play, walks, hikes, etc.
German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix: The Ultimate Family Dog
The Golden Retriever German Shepherd mix is a cross between two of Americas favorite breeds.
According to the American Kennel Clubs most popular dog breeds list, the German Shepherd is at number two and the golden retriever is at number 3. With these stats behind it, how could a Golden Retriever German Shepherd mix not be an amazing breed?
Affectionately called the Golden Shepherd, this breed is loving, friendly, energetic, intelligent, and loyal.
This dog is suited to an active family who will be able to meet their high activity requirements and wont mind a bit of shedding.
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Golden German Shepherd Exercise
Golden German Shepherds will need quite a bit of exercise given both breeds are very active.
The mixed dogs need regular exercise to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. If your canine doesnt get enough exercise, they could become destructive or problematic inside the home.
Youll need to walk a Golden Shepherd at least 45 minutes a day to allow it to stretch its legs. They can walk up to 12 miles a week, according to WagWalking.
Comparison Of German Shepherd And Golden Retriever
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As you can see, the two parental breeds have many characteristics in common, including approximate size, lifespan, trainability, and kid-friendliness. This mean there isnt generally too much variation in temperament between one golden shepherd and another. However, when it comes to appearance, your golden shepherd may have distinctive features from either parent.
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Origins Of The German Shepherd Dog
One of the most popular and recognizable breeds, German Shepherds have come a long way in the past hundred years.
Exactly as their name suggests, these dogs started out as sheep herders in Germany.
They were valued far more for their work ethic than their looks.
It was only at the end of the 19th century that an effort was made to create a specific dog of Germany.
How Big Do Shepherd Retriever Mix Get
Golden Retriever German Shepherd Mix is a cross of a German Shepherd with a Golden Retriever, also known as German Retriever os Golden German Shepherd. Its a large dog at about 20 to 26 inches tall, weighing around 55 to 85 pounds. This crossbreed has a lifespan of 7 to 12 years.
How long do shepherd retriever mixes live?
Its Average Lifespan is About 10-14 Years
Like many dogs, German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix can live up to 14 years.
Are German Shepherd golden retriever mixes protective?
Loyal, loving, and protective of its people, this energetic dog makes a wonderful family pet and companion. If you are looking for a family companion that can double as a guard dog, the shepherd golden retriever mix is the perfect dog for you.
What dog has the highest IQ?
1. Border collie. According to The Intelligence of Dogs, which ranks 131 dog breeds in terms of their relative intelligence, the border collie is the smartest dog breed known to man.
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Exercise Requirements For German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix
All that intelligence and loving energy come with a cost, though golden shepherds need significant exercise, at least an hour every day. They also like variety in their exercise, as they can easily become bored without diverse stimuli. If youre an avid runner or hiker, your golden shepherd will love tagging along, running off their energy, and experiencing new surroundings.
You might also consider some more formal exercise training for your golden shepherd. Competitive events like agility, flyball, and chase will appeal to these dogs. Even if you dont intend to compete, golden shepherds will love the combination of physical and intellectual challenge that comes with navigating obstacle courses and racing to retrieve toys.
This Mix Gives You The Best Of Both Worlds
After learning more about the Golden Shepherd, we can say that this is a great family dog!
Of course, anyone whos interested in a purebred or a crossbreed would have to weigh in the pros and cons before deciding if this is the dog for you.
Youll need to be mindful of potential health problems and make sure that you can handle the size and needs of this pooch, but the mix of two great breeds gives rise to an incredible companion.
Heres a video that gives a quick summary or overview of this crossbreed:
Tell us what you think of the German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix in the comments!
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Golden Shepherd Grooming & Care
Most German retrievers have long and thick double coats, although some may have a medium-long coat. Regardless of the coats length, your shepherd golden retriever mix will shed a lot! Shedding is even more pronounced during spring and fall, and you may end up brushing your dog several times a day just to stay on top of all the loose hair.
To remove loose hair and minimize shedding, brush your dog at least three times a week. Regular brushing will help you control your pups shedding and also prevent mats and tangles from forming. Due to their heavily shedding coats, this designer hybrid isnt a good choice for allergy sufferers or people who dread seeing dog hair on their clothes or furniture.
As mentioned above, their coat is likely to mat, so taking your pooch to a professional groomer for an occasional trim and bath can be a good idea. Alternatively, you can invest in a variety of dog brushes and grooming tools and take care of everything at home. Luckily, this mix doesnt have to be bathed often generally, once every three months is enough to keep your dog clean and smelling fresh.
If trimming your dogs nails is more than you can handle at home, take your golden retriever shepherd mix to the vet or a professional groomer. Theyll be more than happy to trim your dogs nails for you!
German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix Lifespan
According to research at the University of Oxford, When it comes to the lifespan of mixed breeds, its difficult to provide an exact age.
However, we can guess that on average a golden shepherd will live for around 10 to 14 years but this will vary depending on the health of the dog.
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How Much Is A German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix
Expect to pay around $500 to $800 for a Golden Retriever German Shepherd mix puppy. That is just a general amount range for this breed. Still, it can be more expensive depending on the bloodline of the parent breeds, the popularity of the kennel, the breeders location, and even the availability of puppies.
Crossing Goldens and GSDs together can produce 6 to 10 pups in a litter.
How The German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix Came Into Being
It seemed like only a matter of time before this particular breed became a thing. Breeders generally tend to experiment with hybrid species for a couple of reasons.
Sometimes its about trying to eliminate problem traits. In the case of the Golden Shepherd, its tough to think of any negative personality traits, though. Both the parent breeds of this dog are friendly, loving, loyal, and obedient.
There is a possibility that there was some intention to address common health problems with either breed. Some of the ailments associated with the parent breeds are well-known. More on that later.
So, perhaps, in this case, its about combining the best qualities of each breed. In one sense, this may be considered a case of breeding the super-family-dog. Lets be honestif ever there was a dog that deserved a Superdog T-shirt, a hybrid of these two breeds would be in the running.
Its unclear when the Golden Shepherd started being recognized , but some of the earliest indications of interest trace back to around 2009. The International Designer Canine Registry , American Canine Hybrid Club , and Designer Breed Registry recognize the dog officially as a hybrid. The American Kennel Club does not officially recognize the breed, as it is a hybrid.
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Final Thoughts On The Golden Shepherd
Do you think a Golden Shepherd is an ideal dog to adopt? They will certainly have the desired personality while also acquiring their respective parents working mentality and loyalty.
One thing that will set this dog apart is its looks. It will be an unusual-looking pup with a unique combination of German Shepherd and Retriever features. They are ideal for your family, and even though they are best suited to a house with a large garden, they can adapt to apartment living, provided they have enough outdoor time with you.
Why not consider adopting one the next time youre looking for a faithful, friendly buddy to share a run with?
I covered all of the costs associated with writing this post on the border collie german shepherd mix dog. However, it does contain affiliate links. That means if you click through on some of the links in this article and end up making a purchase I may receive a small commission. It wont affect the price that you pay. Just wanted to let you know.
Are These Dogs Good For Families
The Golden Shepherd is a good family dog because of its loyalty and devotion to its owners. The dogs breeding brings out the best of both parents: the German Shepherds protectiveness and the Golden Retrievers loyal disposition. With proper socialization from puppyhood through adulthood, the Golden Shepherd grows into a friendly, faithful family companion.
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Debate Of Health Difference Between Purebred And Mixed Breed
You might have heard before that a mix is healthier than a purebred. Many do debates whether this is true.
On the one hand, many think its easier to control against diseases when the kind of dogs used is limited. The unfortunate side of this is that examples have shown us over time they may change into something not as healthy. A great example of this is the English Bulldog.
Yet, on the other hand, mixing combines the positive traits of two types while getting rid of the negative. It takes a lot of time and hard effort, but it can happen.
Regardless of this debate, whether your pup is healthy comes down to the breeder you choose and the parents. Remember to work together to ensure you grab a healthy German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix.
German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix Temperament
Golden shepherds are excellent family and companion dogs with their playful, friendly, and loyal temperaments. Their high energy and affectionate nature make them great with kids. Of course, like any dog breed, they need the training to learn how to behave around children. Similarly, children must be taught how to play nicely with dogs. Golden shepherds are smart and will enjoy playing with puzzle toys. However, they are also power chewers, so make sure to invest in heavy-duty toys that they wont destroy immediately.
While German shepherds arent naturally aggressive, they can be protective, and combined with their strong loyalty, this can sometimes mean that they become very attached to one person and see other people, particularly strangers in the home, and animals as threats. However, this is a worst-case scenario, and in a golden shepherd, this protectiveness is mitigated by the golden retrievers sociability. Still, its important to socialize your golden shepherd from a young age, getting them used to other people, children, and other pets and dogs.
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Golden Shepherd Physical Characteristics
Although the exact origin location of the Golden Shepherd dog is unknown, it is suspected that they were developed in North America. Although not registered by the American Kennel Club, the Golden Shepherd dog has been recognized by the International Designer Canine Registry since 2009. Below are some common physical characteristics for the Golden Shepherd dog.
Meet The Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers joined the canine world during the 1800s, as well. Dudley Majoribanks, also known as Lord Tweedmouth, bought the only yellow puppy, named Nous, in a litter of black retrievers in 1865.
He bred Nous with Belle, a Tweed Water Spaniel, and gave rise to several yellow puppies, and were bred with other retrievers. Lord Tweedmouth kept mostly the yellow puppies, and these were the first Golden Retrievers.
Goldens are very eager to please, as well as extroverted and friendly. They are great family pets and generally very playful throughout their lives. They act like young pups despite their full-grown size of 21.5 to 24 inches , and they can weigh up to 75 pounds .
Its interesting to note that they were originally bred as hunting dogs to retrieve prey for their masters. Nowadays, many Golden retrievers also serve as therapy dogs, guide dogs, and fantastic companion canines.
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So Be Sure To Find Out How Much Each Breed Will Cost Before You Decide To Adopt One Of Them As Your New Family Pet
And be sure to remember that the German shepherd dog cost can go up a little if certain things are not done to the puppy before you adopt.
One of the easiest things you can do to help control the cost of getting a German Shepherd or a Golden Retriever mix is to buy a German Shepherd parent that already has the necessary coats and characteristics that you want for your new pet.
There are many different German Shepherd parents you can choose from. Each of them has its own characteristics such as coat length, color, and markings.
A German Shepherd parent can either come from the German Shepherd breed of dogs themselves or they can be adopted from another German Shepherd dog owner.
So, if you know someone that is interested in breeding their German Shepherd dogs and has a female dog that is already bred with a brown coat then you could purchase that female to breed it to produce a poodle-type German Shepherd.
Training Your Golden Shepherd Puppy
When it comes to training, the whole family can and should participate. Your Golden Shepherd will be just as happy to take commands from your 5-year-old as they are to take them from you!
But remember that because your puppy may have inherited the guarding and protective nature of his German Shepherd parent, early socialization with all family members, other pets, and even strangers is extremely important to developing a confident and happy Golden Shepherd.
These pups, like their purebred parents, are very eager to please and easily trainable! Training sessions should be rooted in the positive-reinforcement, rewards based method instead of punishment based.
Because both German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers are highly motivated, treats may not be a necessary component to your training regimen. Perhaps, high-pitched verbal praise and lots of petting may be enough reward for your Golden Shepherd. Experiment with both methods and discover what works best for you! If you do decide to use small treats to reward your Golden Shepherd, be sure to account for the extra calories in your dogs daily energy needs.
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Fun Facts About The German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix
Portmanteau names, or a name which combines parts of two other names to create something new, are very popular among crossbreed dogs.
This is understandable, as the full name can get a little unwieldy!
So youll be interested to know that the German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is also known as the Golden Shepherd.
Although the Golden Shepherd is not recognized by the AKC as a breed in its own right, this mix has been recognized by the International Designer Canine Registry since 2009.