German shepherd golden retriever mix is an intelligent, friendly, and loyal dog that will never let anyone hurt its favorite person.
Golden Shepherd, aka the German Retriever, is a perfect service, hunting, and guard dog but also makes a fantastic family pet.
This cross embodies everything that makes golden retrievers and German shepherds so sought-after and lacks many disadvantages of the parent breeds.
However, no dog is perfect, so prospective owners should be aware of potential health problems, behavior issues, and the dog’s needs.
The German shepherd golden retriever mix is in no way low maintenance. But at the end of the day, the time and effort invested in grooming, training, and exercising the dog pay off.
Appearance
The German shepherd golden retriever mix appearance varies depending on which parent’s traits a puppy inherits.
Most Golden Shepherds range from 21 to 26 inches in height and weigh 55-80 pounds, so they are slightly larger than purebred goldens.
These dogs always have a broad cheat and athletic build. German shepherd golden retriever mix can have standing or drop ears, but they always have broad skulls, long snouts with black noses, and round dark eyes. The overall expression is intelligent.
Golden Shepherds have fuzzy tails and a thick double coat. The coat is usually straight but can be slightly wavy. The German shepherd golden retriever cross colors are numerous.
Some dogs may inherit the signature solid gold color of golden retrievers, while others may have a patterned coat.
German shepherds come in 15 colors with different combinations of white, black, tan, and brown. The facial markings of Golden Shepherds resemble purebred German shepherds.
Temperament
The German shepherd golden retriever mix temperament is very predictable because parent breeds have many traits in common. A Golden Shepherd is guaranteed to be a friendly, energetic, confident, fearless pup.
These dogs are loyal to their owners and are affectionate with their loved ones. However, some Golden Shepherds may be aloof with strangers because German shepherds are natural-born guard dogs.
The German shepherd golden retriever mix will always protect its owners but won’t be aggressive towards someone for no reason.
These dogs get along with other pets and children because they are patient and intelligent, but socialization is important.
Both parent breeds historically worked alongside people and tend to form strong bonds with their owners, so they shouldn’t be left alone for long periods.
Overall, a German shepherd golden retriever mix is a perfect family pet but can also serve as a guard dog or hunting companion.
Intelligence & Trainability
What happens if you cross two of the top five most intelligent dog breeds? German shepherds rank third and golden retrievers fourth in Stanley Coren’s working dog intelligence study, so Golden Shepherds are bound to be brilliant.
Both parent breeds memorize commands from only five repetitions, have a 95% obedience rate, excel at problem-solving, and effectively communicate with humans. Work ethics is rooted in their genes.
Because of such a trait combination, training a German shepherd or golden retriever is straightforward, even for people with little to no experience. These dogs don’t know what stubbornness is.
Of course, a German shepherd golden retriever mix is equally obedient and smart. Such a bright dog can help someone with a disability perform daily tasks, cheer up depressed people, track prey when hunting, or serve in the police.
Although Golden Shepherds are highly responsive to training, prospective owners must realize the high exercise needs of these dogs. Without sufficient activity, they can become mischievous, destructive, and disobey the owner.
Health
The German shepherd golden retriever mix is a healthy cross, but, like all dogs, it’s susceptible to some medical conditions prospective owners should be aware of.
Because both parent breeds are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia and epilepsy, so is their cross.
Hip and elbow dysplasia is a widespread condition among large dogs characterized by loosening of joints, resulting in arthritis, limited mobility, and muscle atrophy.
Epilepsy usually manifests at one to five years old and cannot be predicted. Some Golden Shepherds may suffer from progressive retinal atrophy, a condition causing partial or full blindness because of retina deterioration.
Golden Shepherds that aren’t getting enough exercise may become obese because they are food motivated, which leads to diabetes, joint problems, and heart conditions.
A German shepherd golden retriever cross with drop ears is prone to ear infections because of its ear anatomy.
Fortunately, owners can prevent ear infections with regular ear cleaning. Insufficient grooming can lead to skin condition development.
Although golden retrievers are prone to many forms of cancer, the German shepherd golden retriever mix is at much lower risk.
Grooming
Both golden retrievers and German shepherds have double coats and are notorious shedders. Shedding becomes extra intense in fall and spring when they blow out their undercoats in a matter of weeks.
Like most long-haired dogs, the German shepherd golden retriever mix needs daily brushing to prevent tangling and matting.
A slicker brush or comb will do the job most of the time, but during seasonal shedding periods, Golden Shepherds need to be brushed with a de-shedding tool to remove dead hairs stuck in the undercoat.
How often to bathe a German shepherd golden retriever mix depends on the dog’s lifestyle. Professional dog groomers recommend washing Golden Shepherds at least once in six weeks.
However, German Retrievers frequently swimming in stagnant water or rolling in the mud might need a bath more often. Note that too frequent baths are harmful to dog skin, causing it to become dry and flaky.
Shaving is unsuitable for double-coated dogs because it can damage their undercoat and intervene in the body’s thermoregulation. Minimal feather trimming will keep the dog’s coat neat and minimize tangling.
Exercise Needs
Golden retrievers are high-energy dogs that need at least an hour of walking daily, and German shepherds need over two hours. Consequently, the German shepherd golden retriever mix is equally exuberant.
These dogs have immense stamina and can run miles non-stop, but veterinarians recommend splitting the exercise into two or three sessions.
Sessions of energy-consuming activities like hiking, running, playing fetch, and swimming can be shorter than walking, so they are life-saving for busy owners.
Training equipment in dog parks provides Golden Shepherds with physical and mental stimulation, facilitating command memorization and improving discipline.
Puppies shouldn’t get more than five minutes of exercise for each month of their lifetime. For example, a six-month-old puppy should only walk for 30 minutes, and an eight-month-old puppy should walk for 40 minutes.
Limiting exercise before bone plate closure is vital to prevent the development of hip and elbow dysplasia.
Senior dogs, too, don’t have to comply with the standard schedule because they might have health problems hindering their movements.
Life Expectancy
German shepherd golden retriever mix life expectancy is 11-14 years, which is slightly longer than the lifespan of purebred golden retrievers and German shepherds. Crossbreed dogs are generally healthier than purebred ones.
With timely veterinary care, up-to-date vaccinations, regular grooming, sufficient exercise, and a healthy diet, a German shepherd golden retriever cross can live even longer than average.
Behavior Problems
German shepherd golden retriever mix behavior problems depend on whether any issues were present in parents and which parent a puppy takes after.
Both German shepherds and golden retrievers are people-oriented dogs that genuinely suffer when left alone, so they can develop separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety in dogs manifests with destructive behavior involving chewing and digging, pacing, moving furniture, excessive vocalization, and potty accidents. Without treatment, the condition will only worsen.
Preventing separation anxiety is much easier than treating it. Puppies that are properly socialized from a young age are less likely to react poorly to being left alone.
Under-exercised and under-stimulated German shepherd golden retriever mix can exhibit similar behavior, minus the potty accidents. These dogs are highly intelligent and need plenty of mental enrichment.
Because German shepherds are guard dogs, they are prone to barking and howling. Fortunately, owners can combat this habit with training. Some Golden Shepherds might pull on the leash out of curiosity or jump on people.
Aggression is uncommon in Golden Shepherds, but under-socialized dogs may be snappy towards strangers and other dogs.
Rarity
German shepherd golden retriever cross is relatively widespread. It isn’t a popular designer crossbreed dog, but it isn’t rare either.
Both goldens and German shepherds are in the top five of the most popular dog breeds in the U.S., so finding the sire and dam is easy.
Furthermore, the dogs can mate without human help, unlike some dogs that need assistance – for example, golden retrievers and Chihuahuas.
Price
The German shepherd golden retriever mix price ranges from $500 to $800, although some puppies may be cheaper or more expensive than the average. The relatively low price results from low demand and easy availability.
The puppy price largely depends on its unique temperament and appearance traits, lineage, breeder’s reputation, presence or lack of health clearances, and location.
Puppies from champion parents are likely to inherit the traits that made their ancestors excel, so if you want a well-behaved puppy, search for one from obedience champs.