The German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix is an exciting blend between a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred German Shepherd. They are protective, highly intelligent, and trainable mixed dogs, weighing between 55 and 85 lbs and standing at 22 to 26 inches.
This intelligent mixed dog is also known as the “Golden Shepherd.”
This dog can inherit different tendencies from either of the parents, the retrieval Golden Retriever instincts, or the German Shepherd protectiveness.
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Over recent times the Golden Shepherd has become a very popular crossbreed among dog lovers.
There is much more to learn about this dog, so, stick with us as we cover all the essentials.
German Shepherd Golden Retriever overview
German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix Summary Table | |
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Height | 22-26 inches |
Weight | 50-90 pounds |
Lifespan | 10 – 14 years |
Breed Type | Mixes and more |
Purpose | Companions and service dogs |
Suitable For | Families with large homes |
Color Variations | Black and tan, black, white, golden, dark golden and brown |
Temperament | Intelligent, trainable, athletic, playful, and affectionate |
Other Names | Golden Shepherd, German Retriever |
4 Fun facts about the Golden Shepherd mix
- This mix was first registered as a crossbreed in 2009.
- Both the Golden Retriever and Geman Shepherd are very popular breeds standing in the 3rd and 2nd positions respectively.
- The German Retriever is a very intelligent and highly trainable cross.
- Golden Shepherds were developed to be companion dog but they are also great working dogs.
Pros and cons
Pros:
✓ Healthy.
✔ Great with children.
✓ Active.
✔ Highly trainable.
Cons:
✗ Sheds throughout the year.
✘ Wary of strangers.
✗ Has no breed standards.
About the Golden Shepherd cross
With proper breeding, the Golden Retriever German Shepherd Mix should be a smart, loyal, athletic, trainable, and sociable dog with an eagerness to please.
This is due to the combination of the Golden Retriever’s easy-going and sociable nature with the German Shepherd’s intelligence and athleticism.
First registered in 2009 by the International Designer Canine Registry, this mix is not recognized by any of the major kennel clubs.
As we mentioned earlier this dog can take more from one parent more than the other, but to get an idea of what to expect let us look at an overview of each of the parent breeds.
German Shepherd overview
This is the second most popular dog breed standing as tall as 26 inches at the shoulder and weight up to 90 pounds.
These canines are popular among the security forces where they are mainly used to assist in search and rescue and drug detection. They are also popular as guide dogs.
German Shepherds originated from Germany where they are used for herding sheep but their abilities go beyond herding.
But as a result of herding sheep and other livestock, German Shepherds popular for the qualities they are known for such as versatility, intelligence, and others.
In the late 1800s, a German captain by the name Max von Stephanitz decided to breed the perfect German herding dog.
After 35 years of hard work, the German shepherd that you know today was created.
Although their use as herding dogs reduced as technology took over cunning nature and intelligence remained. They are now used as the first choice for police and the military.
Other popular German Shepherd mixes
- Siberian Shepherd. Also known as the Gerberian Shepsky, the German Shepherd, and Siberian Husky mixes.
- Shollie is a mix between the German Shepherd and a Border Collie.
- Corman Shepherd is a mix between Corgies and German Shepherds.
- German Shepherd Rottweiler mix
Golden Retriever overview
The Golden Retriever is a large-sized soft mouth dog that is well -known for his retrieval abilities and friendliness.
They are great companions and family dogs.
It believed that these dogs were first seen in the late 1800s where they were used as circus dogs. A man named Lord Tweedmouth fell in love with these dogs and bought all of them and this was the start of a new dog breed.
However, documents that were published by Tweedmouth’s grand nephew proved that this was not the case.
The publications revealed that this dog came from a cobbler whose dog had given birth to a very different puppy, the puppy had a yellow coat.
Tweedmouth bought this puppy and crossed it with a Tweed Water Spaniel giving birth to a litter of 4 pups.
To create a Golden Retriever, these puppies were crossed with other breeds including an Irish setter, a Black Retriever, a St John Waterdog, and a Bloodhound.
This created the now popular Golden Retriever.
Other popular Golden Retriever Mixes
- Combining a Poodle and a Golden Retriever gives you a Golden Poodle.
- Labrador Golden Retriever Mix is also called Golden Labrador
- Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix is also called Golden Australian Shepherd
- Dachshund Golden Retriever Mix is also called Golden Dachshund
- Cocker Spaniel Golden Retriever Mix is also called Golden Cocker Spaniel
German Shepherd Golden Retriever Puppy
German Retriever puppies are super cute puppies that will easily melt your heart.
If your Golden Shepherd Puppy is the first-generation mix, the temperament and appearance are harder to predict.
They are often born with floppy ears, that eventually become erect in most cases.
These puppies may differ in appearance, some of the puppies having the German Shepherd’s black and tan coat and some may inherit the golden color tones of the Golden Retriever.
If your puppy is a second-generation mix, its appearance will be a bit easier to predict, but if you have a first-generation mix, you really can’t be sure what you will end up with as it is difficult to predict.
How much does a German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix puppy cost?
A Golden Shepherd puppy would cost anywhere ranging from $500 – 800 USD, depending on your breeder and location.
These puppies take about 18 months to mature.
Temperament and personality traits
The German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is a loveable, affectionate, playful, and adaptable family dog. This mix tolerates all family members from young children, teenagers, and even other family pets.
They are highly trainable due to their eagerness to please and intelligence.
However, they require regular exercise and are well-suited for active families, where they would be able to easily reach their daily exercise quota.
The German Shepherd and Golden Retriever Mix do not cope well with being left alone for extended periods. This is a people-orientated dog that thrives on human company and attention.
They may suffer from separation anxiety separation when left alone for long
German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix appearance and size
Golden Shepherds are classified as large-sized dogs, standing between 21 and 26 inches and weighing between 50-70 pounds.
They can come in a variety of colors that may range from black and tan, tan, white, golden, dark golden, and brown.
Some have floppy ears while other mixed have erect and pointy ears.
This dog has a thick double coat just like their parent breeds. Their coats can be longer if the German Shepherd parent had a long coat.
Frequently asked questions
What do you call a German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix?
A German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is also known as a Golden Shepherd.
Is a German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix Hypoallergenic?
Many dog lovers today are quite concerned about managing dog shedding to control pet-related allergies.
When it comes to shedding Golden retriever and German shepherd dogs are similar in how they shed. There is no 100% hypoallergenic dog but there are many breeds that do well with allergy sufferers.
The Golden Shepherd is not considered to be a hypoallergenic dog.
How to Care for this mixed dog breed
They are usually not high maintenance dogs but there is still much to consider when caring for a German Shepherd Mix daily; his food, exercise, and grooming are of importance to their happiness and general wellbeing.
Grooming a German Retriever mix
Golden Shepherds are heavy shedders and this is something that you should be prepared to deal with. Invest in a good vacuum cleaner to get rid of this dog’s fur from your house.
You will also need to frequently brush this dog’s coat which should be at least 3 times a week.
Visit our Golden Retriever grooming guide to learn more about how you can properly groom this pooch.
Bathing this dog should be done once a month at most to prevent the skin from drying due to overbathing. It is also important to keep this mix’s ear and teeth clean.
How to feed a Golden Retriever German Shepherd mix
You should ensure that you feed this mixed dog in a high-quality diet that meets his daily nutritional requirements.
Since the Golden Shepherd is a large crossbreed, you should aim to feed him four times a day as a puppy and reduce this to 2 meals per day as he becomes older. This is usually at around 18 to 24 months.
During training use, low-calorie treats as obesity could be an issue in both breeds and also be mindful of the number of calories you give to him.
Calories Per Day | Cups of Kibble |
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1500 | ~3 |
Exercise requirements
This is an active and super energetic dog. He will require at least 60 minutes of exercise a day.
This can be a good hiking companion for those that love hiking. As a dog owner, you should be careful not to over-exercise them as puppies.
Use the 5-minute rule for any dog. For every month of age, walk for a maximum of 5 minutes.
You may find this mixed dog to be a superb swimmer. Swimming is a great way of exercise this dog but you should do it in a safe place.
They excel in brain games and learning new tricks so is mental stimulation is key to keep their intelligent minds occupied.
Daily exercise is also key for this mix and highly recommended.
How to Train a German Shepherd and Golden Retriever Mix
This dog is generally easy to train.
Positive reinforcement and reward-based training are the best tools for any pet-parent. Use plenty of praise and reward during training and to reinforce good behavior.
You should also make sure that you socialize this dog consistently and from an early age.
Known Health Problems
German Shepherd Health Problems
The German Shepherd has a life span of seven to 10 years. The most common health issue that can affect the GSD is hip and elbow dysplasia.
Epilepsy, back issues, digestive disorders, blood disorders, and allergies are also other health issues to watch out for.
Golden Retriever Health Problems
The Golden Retriever has a life span of 10 to 12 years. The most common health issues that can affect the Golden include hip and elbow dysplasia, and heart and eye issues.
Eye issues, allergies, skin problems, cancer, and thyroid dysfunction, are also common in Goldens and should be kept an eye on.
Known Health Problems with Golden Shepherds
There are health issues prevalent in this breed, unfortunately, they run the risk of inheriting a range of conditions from both parents including:
Hip Dysplasia
This is an inherited condition where the bone at the thigh fails to fit the hip joint snugly.
Some dogs will show signs of pain on one or both of the rear legs but others may not show any sign that they are not comfortable.
To diagnose the best thing you can do is to get an x-ray screening. As the dog gets older he may develop arthritis.
Elbow Dysplasia
This condition is very similar to hip dysplasia but it affects the forelimbs of the dog.
Elbow dysplasia is an elbow joint malfunction that occurs at the connection between the ulna and the radius.
Just like hip dysplasia, this condition causes uneven wear and a loose connection at the cartilage that pads this two-move and rotate.
This results in severe arthritis and lameness as the dog ages and can be a really painful condition to your dog.
During the young stages of the dog, examinations should be carried out to determine if your dog has elbow dysplasia.
Allergies
Dogs commonly suffer from allergies and the Husky Shepherd is one of them.
The most common forms of allergies are food allergies. You can treat food allergies by stopping your dog from eating certain foods.
Inhalant allergies are also common. They are caused by airborne allergens such as mildew, dust, and even pollen.
There are also contact allergies which are reactions to topical substances such as chemicals, dog shampoos, beddings, and powder to get rid of fleas.
Bloating
The stomach fills up with gas and twits, this is often fatal. It is a common illness in large breeds
Degenerative Myelopathy
It affects the spinal cord in dogs, this is an incurable, progressive disease. There will be some weakness in the dog’s hind limbs, the may eventually lose mobility.
Cancer
This is a condition that not only affects humans but dogs too.
It is the lead cause of death to dogs that are over the age of 10.
Husky Shepherd’s parents make this dog even more prone to the disease. You should monitor your dog for any signs of cancer in the dog.