The result of the cross between the German Shepherd and Golden Retriever is Golden Shepherd. Hence, this breed is the combination of intelligence, athleticism, and hardworking traits of the German Shepherd, with the loving and loyal traits of the Golden Retriever.
It is a playful and affectionate combination of both the strongest breeds of the world. The dominating traits in these dogs make them excellent family dogs. In this article, we will be discussing this mixed breed of the two most popular dog breeds.
Characteristics and Size
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Brief Description of The Breed Size: Large size dog Height: 20-26 inches Weight: 55-85 pounds Group: Mixed Breed Dog Coat Type: Double Coat Length: Medium-length coat Coat Pattern: Tricolor, Bicolor, and Merle. Colors: Black & Tan, Black, Tan, White, Golden, Dark Golden, and Brown. Life Span: 10-14 years |
Why to Adopt Golden Shepherd
They are adored for their sociability and easy-going nature. They are adaptable and smart, well suited to homes that have experience with large dog breeds. Being highly intelligent, and eager to please. They are loved for their adaptability to a family home. The friendly nature of the Retriever dog means- they tolerate all family members, kids, teenagers, and even the companion puppies.
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Adaptability to Apartment Living |
Low |
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Good for Novice Owners |
Low |
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Sensitivity Level |
Very High |
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Tolerates being alone |
Low |
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Tolerates cold weather |
Very High |
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Tolerates hot weather |
High |
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Good with young children |
High |
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Good with other dogs |
Medium |
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Openness to Strangers |
Medium |
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Playful |
Very High |
Being a large mix, feed them 4 times per day as a puppy. You can expect him to eat a lot. You need to brush them regularly and they shed a lot. Keep that in mind that they need some extra care for their coat as they lose more hair during the spring season.
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Shedding level |
Very High |
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Coat Grooming Frequency |
Medium |
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Drooling Level |
Low |
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Easy To Groom |
Low |
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General Health |
Medium |
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Potential For Weight Gain |
Medium |
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Size |
Large |
This dog is generally very easy to train with the sociability of Golden Retriever and the trainability of German Shepherd. You need to make them busy with tasks and adventurous activities which makes them more polished towards their protecting spirit.
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Easy To Train |
Very High |
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Intelligence |
Very High |
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Tendency To Bark |
Medium |
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Prey Drive |
Medium |
They can be more German Shepherd than Golden or vice versa. They require at least one hour of exercise per day. A high energy mix may even require 2 hours daily, including some running and brain games.
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Energy Level |
Very High |
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Intensity |
Medium |
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Exercise Needs |
Very High |
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Potential For Playfulness |
Very High |
History
This breed may have existed naturally but got attention during 2009. Mixing two breeds produces a new species which can have dominating traits of both breeds. Golden Shepherd is the result of this kind of matting. So it has both the traits of a German Shepherd and a Golden Retriever. The reasons behind matting these breeds are to minimize the health problems these purebreds have and to get a breed with family companion traits as well as protective watchdog traits.
The popularity of this breed increases due to its golden color with German Shepherd-like protective and hardworking nature, and loyal and loving nature towards their owners. People want them more so the demand for this breed increases day by day and is still in demand.
Health
The Golden Shepherd may contain some health issues that the German Shepherd and Golden Retriever also suffered from. Not all good traits are transferred to the child, few bad traits also come to the child. Well generally this breed is healthy, but they might get some common health issues from their parents. So, it is recommended to get a regular vet session.
The common health problems they can suffer from include:
- Hip and Elbow Dysplaia: It’s a disease in which the hip bone is weakened due to lack of nutrition or abnormal growth and development. The treatments include weight loss if your dog is suffering from obesity, nutritional medication, or surgery.
- Elbow Dysplasia: Just like hip dysplasia, the bone of the elbow is weakened and loses its function, mainly affecting the joint of the elbow. Some dogs get stiffness in their elbows and some become lame. The treatments include weight loss, medication, or surgery.
- Digestive Tract Issues: This breed may get some digestive tract issues like bloating, indigestion, vomiting, and diarrhea. This can be fatal if not treated well.
Highlights
- Most Golden Shepherds inherit their aggressive trait from German Shepherd parents, so socializing with them from a young age can help you to minimize their aggression towards strangers.
- Don’t leave them alone for so long, they can become destructive and bored. They need frequent work to do.
- They may not be a good choice of dog for allergic patients, they have a lot of hair and can activate your allergic cells.
- Their coat is pretty easy to care for, brushing them per week is enough. But, they shed a lot during the spring season.
- You need to train them at a young age how to interact with strangers and even with other pet companions. They can be friendly with other pets too.
- They have quite a high energy level, so give them some tasks to do, take them to the walk daily, give them some adventurous activities all these make them mentally and physically strong and active.
- Trim your dog’s nails regularly, they are large dogs and can harm you if you don’t properly care for them.
- Brush them daily, as this mixed breed is more prone to build up tartar and gum redness. They are also chewers, so keep toys for them to chewing.
- They don’t need regular bathing, their natural oils on the coat can strip off with regular bathing.
