75-85 lbs
20-25"
United States
The German Sheprador is a mixture of the German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever parent dog breeds. He is a large dog who is also a great watchdog and a supreme companion dog. He is a moderate shedder and requires some maintenance. He tends to have a short coat like the Labrador Retriever, but he may have a double coat like the German Shepherd parent breed. He is an easily trainable dog, and he is wonderful with children. He is very loyal and protective, and he makes a great watchdog. Often, his size is enough to intimidate would-be burglars.
There is not a lot of information on the German Sheprador breed itself, but we can learn about the parent breeds in order to understand what to expect from the hybrid breed. The Labrador Retriever is native of Newfoundland, which is a country on the east coast of Canada. The Lab was originally referred to as St. John’s dog in tribute to the capital city of Newfoundland.
In the 1700s, the Labrador Retriever was a fisherman’s helper. The Lab has always been a working dog. This dog breed would retrieve fish that escaped from hooks and tow lines. It is believed that the St. John’s dog was a mixture of the Newfoundland dog and small local water dogs. English sportsmen imported a few Labs to serve as retrievers during the hunt. Around 1830, the third Earl of Malmesbury brought several St. John’s dogs to England. This man coined the term “Labrador Retrievers.”
The Lab is now America’s most popular dog. However, in the 1880s, the breed almost became extinct. The Malmesbury family and other fans of the breed dedicated themselves to reviving the breed. The breed thrived in England.
The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1917. Labs today work in search and rescue, as therapy dogs, and drug detection missions in addition to continuing to be a popular breed with hunters. The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed; he originates back to 1899 when Captain Max von Stephanitz decided to breed the various sheepherding dogs across Germany into a distinct breed. Stephanitz studied the breeding techniques of the British and traveled throughout Germany observing dogs at dog shows.
In 1899, Stephanitz found what he thought was the perfect dog. He was wolfish-looking. Stephanitz immediately bought the dog and begin breeding with sheepherding dogs. Although sheepherding was fading out of existence in Germany, Stephanitz would not be daunted. He introduced the dog to police work and military service. The German government eventually adopted the breed for military service. However, some Allied soldiers during WWII were able to obtain some German Shepherd puppies, and in this manner, the German Shepherd made its way to America.
The German Sheprador will be a combination of both parent dog breeds, the Labrador Retriever and the German Shepherd. While there is not a lot of information about the German Sheprador breed itself, we can study the parent breeds in order to determine what the German Sheprador will look like. The Labrador Retriever has a double coat. The top layer is short, thick, and straight. The undercoat is soft and weather-resistant. It is a perfect coat for retrieving game from water. The Lab comes in a variety of colors: chocolate, black, and yellow. Polar white and fox red are just variations of the yellow Lab.
The German Shepherd may come in many colors (although the traditional black with tan trim is most often recognizable). He may be all black, black and cream, black and tan, blue, gray, liver, sable and white. (White German Shepherds are not recognized as an acceptable color under AKC guidelines, but some breeders actually strive for this color.) Your German Sheprador will most likely have a coarse coat, that is very thick and straight. Whether the water-resistant quality will be present is uncertain. He will have an alert expression in his brown eyes and a long muzzle.
There is not a lot of information about the German Sheprador; however, we can study the parent breeds in order to determine what type of maintenance the hybrid breed will require.
The Labrador Retriever has a double coat. The top layer is short, thick, and straight. The undercoat is soft and weather-resistant. He does shed, but this will not require a great deal of extra grooming. Brush him with a soft bristle brush daily. Some experts recommend vacuuming after him as well. He will need to be bathed once every two months. Of course, if he finds a mud puddle or something unappealing to roll around in, you may have to bathe him more often. It is particularly important to clean your Lab’s ears regularly. Use a damp cotton ball to wipe out the inside of his ears. Be sure to regularly check them for a bad odor or redness, which could indicate an infection. The Lab’s floppy ears make him prone to such.
The German Shepherd has a medium-length double coat that was meant to protect his tender skin from snow and rain, but it also is resistant to dirt. Some German Shepherds are long-haired, but generally, he will have a medium-length coat. Sometimes the outer coat of the German Shepherd will be wiry to the touch. He may be prone to shedding as they shed year-round; he will also have a “blow” in which he will have a major shedding twice a year. Brush him two or three times a week with a smooth bristle brush. He should only be bathed as needed. The German Shepherd is generally very clean and often considered odorless. It is recommended that you take advantage of the fact that the German Shepherd loves to chew – give him dental chews to keep his teeth clean (in addition to regular brushing) and promote overall dental health. In general, your German Sheprador will look his best with daily brushing.
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While there is little information about the German Sheprador, we can study the parent breeds in order to understand what type of behavior to expect from the hybrid breed. The Labrador Retriever has a great reputation. He is known as one of the sweetest breeds of dog. He is outgoing, eager to please, and very friendly. He loves people and other animals. He is also very easy to train. He is highly energetic, and he needs both physical and mental stimulation in order to be happy.
The German Shepherd has a reputation for aggression; much of this is undeserved. He is highly alert and is reserved around strangers, so he makes for a great watchdog. It takes a while for him to make friends, but once he does, he is immensely loyal. He is highly intelligent and is easily trainable. However, he does not do well being alone for long periods of time. He needs companionship from his family, and he is exceedingly loyal to them. He may bark excessively or chew if he is bored. Early socialization is also recommended for the German Shepherd. Your German Sheprador will prove to be a sensitive, kind dog who strives to look after his family and wants to be included in all they do.
The German Sheprador is a fairly active dog. It is recommended that he gets ample exercise to ensure that he maintains a healthy weight. He may have a tendency to gain weight if he is not exposed to regular activity. He will be happiest and on his best behavior if he has a home with a large yard that he can be allowed to run and play in. He may also enjoy joining you for a leisurely walk. The dog park is a great place for the German Sheprador; he will enjoy the ability to get out and run and play with other dogs. He needs regular exercise so that he does not chew or bark excessively.
Written by Darlene Stott
Published: 11/09/2017, edited: 08/18/2021
More articles by Darlene Stott
I have a 6 month old spayed German shepherd Labrador retriever mix. She’s 38 lbs I am worried she’s to small or not truly a lab mix. She certainly looks like a little Shepard. Is this a normal weight?
