German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix: The Ultimate Guide
Do you have a soft spot for German Shepherds? How about Golden Retrievers? If so, then you’ll love the German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix! This dog is the perfect combination of two of the most popular breeds globally. In this guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about this amazing crossbreed!
Golden Shepherd Appearance
The Golden Shepherd was a designer breed by the Designer Canine Registry in 2009.
Height and Weight
Golden Shepherds are usually 21 inches to 26 inches tall. The weight can vary between 50 pounds and 70 pounds. You should feed your Golden Shepherd a diet that keeps the dog’s weight in the range of 55-65 pounds for optimal health.
Golden Shepherds are strong dogs with well-developed chest muscles and endurance, owing to their German Shepherd heritage.
Ears
The ears of a Golden Shepherd can be floppy or erect. This depends on which genes the puppy gets from their parents. Their ears may only get halfway up as the puppy grows and remain floppy at the top.
Golden Shepherd Color Patterns
This crossbreed typically has a range of colors, from all-black to snow-white. The coat is two-layered and long, so the dog feels best in mild climates. While the dog can cope reasonably well in winter, consider air conditioning your home if you live in an area where the summer is particularly hot.
The Optimal Nutrition Plan for Your Golden Shepherd Mix
Because the Golden Shepherd is a designer breed, there is no straightforward answer to their optimal nutrition plan.
Instead, it is important to eat the right amount of food. It should be based on a German Shepherd’s nutritional needs and a Golden Retriever.
Many dog nutritionists think the German Shepherd is a powerful dog. They recommend a feeding plan that includes at least 22% of protein. But others say that Golden Retrievers need a balanced diet with up to 1,800 calories a day.
If your German Shepherd x Golden Retriever Mix dog has a dominant set of genes, you may need to make some adjustments to their feeding plan.
Puppies’ Feeding Tips
Veterinarians and canine nutritionists agree that adult Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds should be fed once or twice daily. Puppies’ energy levels must be maintained by feeding them three to four times daily.
At this early stage in your Golden Shepherd’s life, I recommend that you work closely with your local vet. The vet can help give the dog all of the nutrients he needs.
Some puppies’ tummies are more sensitive than others. Puppies should eat mostly dry food based on one kind of animal protein – like veal, chicken, or lamb. Wet canned food should generally be avoided.
Feeding Your Adult Golden Shepherd
As your dog gets older, his stomach will be more stable, and you can add some canned food into his diet. Most people only feed their Golden Shepherd dry food. However, we know your dog will like one canned food once a month because it is similar to what they can find in the wild.
A dog can eat two rations of food in a day. If the dog eats dry food, it will need to drink water to digest it.
Life Expectancy
Golden shepherds usually live up to the age of 14 years.
Most Common Health Problems
If you get a Golden Retriever German Shepherd mix, your dog may inherit health problems from both of its parents. These health problems can include a range of issues.
- Hip/ Elbow dysplasia
- Bloat or Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus
- Epilepsy
- Hemophilia
- Diabetes
- Cataracts
- Degenerative Disc Disease
Everyday Care & Hygiene
Dog care needs to do routines like brushing, bathing, and grooming.
It is best to make sure that your dog’s ears are cleared out every day. You can do this by using a cotton swab.
The Golden Shepherd has a long coat, so it needs regular grooming, especially during the hot months of the year. Medium coats are easy to maintain; you can brush them once every 2-3 days. But long coats can develop mats and skin problems if you don’t brush them daily to remove dead hair and debris. To keep their hair healthy and shiny, brush it for 10 to 15 minutes.
Vets recommend bathing your dog once to twice every 3 months. Over-bathing can strip the natural oils from their coat, which can cause skin issues.
You need to brush your teeth three times a week to avoid getting mouth infections and bad breath.
If your dog doesn’t get enough walks and exercises, you will need to trim its nails. Make sure to clip them carefully as the upper part of the nails contain nerves and veins, which can cause pain and bleed if not clipped properly.
Golden Shepherd Exercise Requirements
Golden Shepherds like large patios or backyards because they can run about and burn calories when they need to. Golden Shepherds should be exercised at least an hour a day since their parent breeds were developed as working dogs regarding the amount of exercise required. Giving them enough activity every day will certainly keep them in good health and spirits.
Training
The Golden Shepherd is a crossbreed that is easy to train. They have a balanced temperament, which means they respond well to positive encouragement. Make sure to reward them for their progress.
It is better to start training your golden shepherd puppy early. The first sessions should be light and fun so that the puppy can concentrate on them. They only have a short attention span, but they are easy to distract.
Start by teaching them their name. Then teach them some basic commands like “Come,” “Sit,” and “Stay.” For better results, teach these in different gestures.
It is important to exercise your Golden Shepherd three days a week. This will help them learn new commands and get some rest. Remember that training sessions are more intense than regular walks.
Temperament and Personality
Golden Retriever German Shepherd mixes are social dogs that do not like to be left alone. They can get separation anxiety and might show destructive behavior when left alone for a long time. If you’re going on vacation, always try to find a place that allows dogs.
Golden shepherds often develop a stronger bond with one family member than the others.
These dogs are calm around children and feel safe around strangers. They also like to be around other dogs.
Price of a Golden Shepherd Puppy
Brief research shows that the price of a puppy can be from $500 to $800. The factors that affect the price are:
- breeder’s reputation;
- the pedigree of parents; health conditions;
- area
However, you can also adopt a dog from a non-profit rescue center. The adoption fee is usually less than $300.
The Golden Retriever German Shepherd mix is a playful dog that will be loyal to you for many years. This dog can give you a lot of love, and the bond between the two of you will gradually grow stronger. You cannot buy this kind of friendship with money!
Frequently Asked Questions About German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix
The German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix can make a wonderful family dog. They are friendly and, if properly socialized, may be excellent with youngsters. The loving and affectionate personalities of the German Shepherd and Golden Retriever are well-known.
A Golden Shepherd puppy will cost you $500-$800 from a breeder.
The Golden Retriever is a well-known and beloved canine. They are known for being intelligent and sensitive dogs. However, this doesn’t mean they are always friendly. There is always a chance that you could encounter an aggressive Golden Retriever.
German Shepherd Retriever Mix dogs typically live between 10 and 14 years if they are taken care of properly. However, this breed is more prone to certain health conditions as they get older. Most of these health problems can be treated if caught early.
German Shepradors make great family companions and watchdogs. They are protective of their family and will alert you when someone they don’t know is coming near. Their German Shepherd parents work as military, police, and guard dogs. In contrast, their Labrador Retriever parents have jobs hunting and guiding dogs.
The Goberian is usually a large-sized dog. They weigh between 45 and 90 pounds and are around 20 to 24 inches tall.
Golden Retrievers are the 4th smartest dog breed out of 138. They have good obedience and good working intelligence. But what makes them really smart is their adaptive IQ, which means they can read people’s emotions and communicate well with people.
Goldens are very expensive dogs in India. Without the puppy cost, the average annual price of a Golden Retriever will be over one lakh rupees. A Golden puppy can cost anywhere from $12,000 to 40,000, depending on its quality.
Yes, Golden Retrievers are known for their good-natured demeanor. But they are still dogs. Sometimes, Golden Retrievers will bite when they are scared or in trouble. Dogs bite when they feel trapped and want to defend themselves or their territory from a threat.
No, in general, Golden Retrievers are not aggressive. They are patient, friendly, and forgiving family dogs. However, they can sometimes show aggressive behaviors.
German shepherds make great guard dogs. They usually get along well with children, too. Mixing in another breed just makes these traits even better.
People are thinking about getting a golden retriever puppy to know how much it will cost. You can expect to pay between $1,000 and $3,500 for a golden retriever from a quality breeder.
