Golden Shepherd Dog Breed

The Golden Shepherd is a mixed breed that comes from two parents of two different dog groups as categorized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The Golden Retriever is a Sporting Group dog and the German Shepherd Dog (GSD) is a Herding Group dog. The temperament of this cross-breed has some generally predictable traits but the disparity of the parents also makes for a high amount of chance regarding many aspects. For the most part, however, these hybrids are good for families, they love to work and they require a fair amount of maintenance.

PROS

• Intelligent
• Very devoted
• Love to play
• Easy to train
• Good guard dogs
• Cute when puppies
• Minimal maintenance
• Great guidance dogs
• Beautiful when mature
• Low tendency to wander
• Can be good hunting dogs
• Plays well with children
• Should get along well with other pets
• Can work well as search-and-rescue dogs
• Not barkers — or they don't bark much if they do
• Good chance that swimming will be a desired activity
• May be appreciably calm until action demands otherwise
• Double-coat allows comfort in cold or hot climates and weather
• Can adapt well to most households if they are exercised properly
• Can qualify as a decent competitive dog in competitions where crossbreeds are allowed

CONS

• Not hypoallergenic
• Can easily become obese
• Prone to separation anxiety
• Needs a lot of daily exercise
• Vet costs may be frequent and expensive
• Can be a heavy shedder during high summer and winter periods
• Susceptible to inheriting and / or developing a lot of diseases / ailments
• Must be trained and socialized properly to prevent possible aggression if GSD characteristics are strong

Because the Golden Shepherd has two very different parent breeds, there is a lot that can affect the nature of this large-sized hybrid dog. They are typically good for first-time families with children, tend to be easy to train and can adapt to apartment living provided they are exercised daily outside the home.

Your Golden Retriever German Shepherd mix is sure to be a very smart dog who is easy to train, ready to work and looking forward to agility play with toys and people. It shouldn't take long to get them to respond to commands, but as with all dogs, they should be taught with positive reinforcement rather than harsh methods. They will want to be given tasks, and they make great guard dogs who can distinguish between danger and mere annoyances.

Golden Shepherds can be very friendly or they may be aloof of friends of the family as well as strangers. If they treat each family member differently, that is not unusual; regardless, she should be devoted to all of you even if only one of you has established him- or herself as the "alpha." Another variation may be exhibited in body language: if she has more Golden Retriever in her, she may be a bit hyperactive; if she has more German Shepherd, she may be very calm unless playing or actively guarding.

Both parent breeds are very active dogs when working, and your Golden Shepherd is sure to be the same. Whether you live in a mid-sized apartment, a house with a yard or on a sprawling ranch, she will need and want a lot of daily exercise to burn off energy. Frequent exercise will also keep her from becoming obese and developing related disorders.

The German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix temperament is very difficult--if not impossible-- to predict as these two purebred dogs are very different in their respective demeanor. Yours may be friendly to everyone, desirous of constant attention and not a good guard dog, or she may be extremely aloof of anyone not in the family, prefer watching over the house to playing with kids and easy to train for duties that keep her busy watching over you, the family and the property. Then again, she may inherit an equal amount of her purebred parents' characteristics and be a little of everything described above and not too much of any one of those traits.

Regardless, these dogs are typically strong, active and in need of a lot of stimulation to prevent becoming bored — and bored dogs tend to become destructive dogs that are hard to train (or re-train), maintain and be around. Lots of agility toys as well as a fair amount of daily attention and exercise will help keep your Golden Shepherd happy and manageable.

Because of the vast disparity in the two parent breeds (the Golden Retriever and the German Shepherd Dog), the Golden Shepherd doesn't have the hybrid health stability with which many crossbreeds tend to be blessed. These dogs have a higher possibility of a number of joint problems, eye issues, weight concerns, diet complications, cancer, allergies and nerve ailments, among many other diseases and conditions.

It's practically required that you acquire health tests and vet certificates regarding both parents of the Golden Shepherd you wish to buy. If you are adopting a mature Golden Shepherd from a rescue or shelter, you most likely will not be able to get the parents' health histories. One typically good thing you can expect is the dog's dental health. German Shepherd Dogs (GSD) love to chew, and this helps keep their teeth strong.

For those Golden Shepherds whose family is prepared with as much knowledge as possible as well as the ability to exercise and properly care for her, the life span for this hybrid should be around 10 to 12 years, sometimes a little longer.