German Shepherd Mixed Breeds: Advantages And Disadvantages
The American Kennel Club has registered the German Shepherd dog in its club since 1908. Actually in the 19th century it was bred for herding, because of its strength, intelligence and its excellent temperament. At that time it was already a German Shepherd mix because it was a cross breed between three types of shepherd dogs found in three different regions of Germany. They were the long-haired, short-haired and the wire-haired shepherd dogs. Used extensively by the police and the army, they became excellent guard dogs and guide dogs. They were also used for search and rescue purposes.
Now the German Shepherd is further cross bred with other dogs and a common cross is with the Standard Poodle. The cross breed is called a Shepadoodle. The best way by which you can determine the temperament of a breed is to look up all breeds in the cross and you can then know which combination of the characteristics is found in either breed. The American Canine Hybrid Club recognizes the hybrid cross of the Shepadoodle. Of course not all such designer hybrid dogs which are being bred are even 50% pure bred. Breeders often breed multi-generation crosses.
It is generally believed that mixed breeds have a longer and healthier life than their purebred parents. This example has also been proved in the case of the German Shepherd mix. The German Shepherd has a genetic disease called hip dysplasia and when it is cross bred with another purebred, there is a remote chance that the hybrid dog will be prone to the disease.
The German Shepherd mix could, like any other mixed breed, be freed from some of the genetic diseases which are typical of the German Shepherd breed. Such a disease is hip dysplasia and often in the German Shepherd Mix the genetic disease could be absent because of the mixed breeding. Normally mixed breed dogs live a healthier and longer life than the purebred ones. Of course if both the parents have the same genetic disease, there is a great possibility that the disease will be automatically transmitted to the German Shepherd mix.
The German Shepherd or the Alsatian is a popular working dog, because it is intelligent, alert and confident and can be trained very well. It is known for its obedience and above all its loyalty to its family and especially to its master. It is extremely alert and is therefore a very good watchdog and has a natural aversion to strangers.
Yet some combinations may not prove to be too ideal for families with small children, because the hybrid German Shepherd mix may turn out to be aggressive and dominant. Such problems can occur with cross breeding with purebreds like the Chow Chow, Akita, Rottweiler and the Doberman Pinscher.
The cross with the Alaskan Malamute is also not recommended, because it’s stubborn and aggressive temperament is overbearing in the German Shepherd mix. In the bargain the hybrid dog can be a source of danger to families, if it does not receive proper handling and training. The same can happen by cross breeding the German Shepherd with the Chow Chow, the Akita, the Rottweiler and the Doberman Pinscher.
A good and successful German Shepherd mix is the cross breed with the Great Dane which makes it an affectionate, loyal and a pure family dog.
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