German Shepherd Mastiff Mix Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Care, & Facts

While the German Shepherd Mastiff combine won’t be as well-liked or roll off the tongue fairly as properly as different hybrid canine breeds (we’re taking a look at you, Goldendoodles!), that doesn’t imply that they don’t have some glorious qualities that make them incredible household pups.

These pups mix the loyal, affectionate, and brave qualities the guardian breeds in an enormous, stunning package deal. Read on to study extra about these huge canine to determine if that is the appropriate hybrid for you and your life-style.

Breed Overview

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The German Shepherd Mastiff combines the perfect traits of each guardian breeds. These pups have the intelligence, vitality, and guarding instincts of their German Shepherd guardian and the affectionate, good-natured, and constant persona of their Mastiff facet.

German Shepherd Mastiff Characteristics

German Shepherd Mastiff Puppies

The German Shepherd Mastiff pet is probably going extremely playful but barely clumsy as they develop into their massive our bodies. Like all puppies, they could take a look at their boundaries with you to see what they’re allowed to get away with. Owners want to start socialization and coaching as quickly as doable to come up with their soon-to-be huge canine.

Finding a German Shepherd Mastiff breeder is likely to be difficult, if not unimaginable. We have been unable to seek out any breeders specializing on this hybrid. That doesn’t imply that these combined canine don’t exist, nonetheless. Interested potential homeowners ought to search their native rescue and shelter’s web sites and accessible canine databases to see if there are any German Shepherd Mastiff hybrids ready for his or her without end properties.

German Shepherd Mastiff Breed Origin & History

Because this can be a hybrid canine breed, its precise origin and historical past are unknown. However, the historical past of its guardian breeds is effectively documented.

The German Shepherd was developed within the late 1800s by a German cavalry officer and canine breeder. The breeder wished to create a utilitarian and clever canine whereas additionally fiercely loyal to its homeowners. Early German Shepherds have been used for herding and guarding, and in the present day, they are often discovered working as police and army canine, information canine, and search and rescue canine.

Mastiffs are an historical canine breed first found in Britain when Rome invaded in 55–54 BCE. These pups have been initially developed with traits that made them glorious hunters and guardians, traits they carried over into trendy life.

Temperament & Intelligence of the German Shepherd Mastiff

The German Shepherd Mastiff’s persona can differ from pup to pup. Even wanting on the traits of the guardian breeds can present only a glimpse into the potential persona of those canine, as a pup’s breed solely accounts for 9% of a canine’s habits.¹ However, to get an thought of what a German Shepherd Mastiff is likely to be like, let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the dad and mom.

German Shepherds are loyal and watchful canine. They’re extremely protecting and mild with their members of the family and reserved with strangers. They’re extremely curious and wanting to study and serve a goal.

Mastiffs are additionally very loyal and brave. They’re very pleasant, affected person, and lovable companions. Like German Shepherds, they’ve a wariness towards strangers, which may come in useful for those who’re on the lookout for a reliable guard canine.

The German Shepherd Mastiff’s intelligence can differ from canine to canine. The German Shepherd is taken into account the third most clever canine breed, whereas the Mastiff didn’t make the highest 20 breeds on the American Kennel Club’s record¹.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

The German Shepherd Mastiff could be a incredible household canine. They’re mild and affectionate, although they are going to require coaching and socialization to make sure they keep that manner.

Their braveness and protecting nature, coupled with their imposing dimension, means they are often glorious guard canine.

However, it’s important to contemplate the age, dimension, and maturity stage of your kids earlier than bringing one in every of these large canine into your private home. Remember, they’ll weigh as much as 200 kilos (or extra), and I’m positive you possibly can think about what sort of injury these huge pups can do, even inadvertently, to small youngsters.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Some German Shepherd Mastiffs can get alongside effectively with different canine, whereas others could be territorial or aggressive. The similar applies to different family pets like cats. It comes all the way down to the persona of the person canine.

However, if the 2 animals are raised on the similar time, they could be extra prone to reside harmoniously collectively.

Things to Know When Owning a German Shepherd Mastiff

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The German Shepherd Mastiff is a big or extra-large canine breed that requires a high-quality weight-reduction plan to assist its dietary necessities. As puppies, this hybrid needs to be fed puppy-specific meals for giant canine breeds to make sure they get the appropriate stability of vitamins to assist them develop. Once they hit the one-year mark, they are often transitioned to an grownup weight-reduction plan for upkeep.

How a lot you feed your pup will rely completely on their dimension and life-style. The meals you’ve bought for them ought to have feeding pointers, however these needs to be used as a jumping-off level and never adopted as a rule. Your pup might have kind of than really useful on the label. We suggest working together with your veterinarian to find out the precise amount your canine wants based mostly on their well being, weight, and life-style.

Since these canine are susceptible to growing gastric dilation-volvulus, they need to be fed smaller, extra frequent meals as a substitute of 1 large meal per day.

Exercise 🐕

The train necessities for a German Shepherd Mastiff can differ significantly relying on which guardian your pup favors.

Mastiffs are infamous for his or her low train necessities. Despite their massive dimension, their straightforward upkeep makes them appropriate even for condo life.

German Shepherds, however, are very energetic and athletic canine. They require a variety of train to remain mentally and bodily wholesome. Those not receiving sufficient train or stimulation can develop into annoyed and will develop problematic behaviors.

With that in thoughts, homeowners ought to anticipate anyplace between one to 2 hours of average to vigorous exercise every day. You’ll want to find out which guardian your pup takes after extra when determining simply how a lot to train your canine.

Fun actions to your German Shepherd Mastiff can embody actions that cater to the German Shepherd facet, reminiscent of herding, agility, nostril work, dock diving, and monitoring. Fun actions for the Mastiff facet embody obedience, search and rescue, and lounging out on the sofa.

Training 🦮

The German Shepherd Mastiff is an eager-to-please breed that responds effectively to optimistic reinforcement. If your pup takes after their German Shepherd guardian, they’ll be good. That’s to not say a Mastiff-dominant German Shepherd Mastiff shall be dumb, however they’re simply not as shiny.

Training needs to be constant and rewards-based. The reward you supply will rely in your canine’s pursuits. Most are very food-motivated, so if that is so to your pup, you’ll have to discover a high-value reward that you just’ll solely supply throughout coaching periods. Some canine desire taking part in or receiving reward as their reward for a job effectively accomplished.

Grooming ✂️

Grooming necessities for a German Shepherd Mastiff will differ relying on which guardian the pup inherited their look from.

German Shepherds have medium-length double coats, whereas Mastiffs have quick, dense coats. Both coat varieties would require a fast brush each few days to take away unfastened hairs. They shed year-round, although they are going to endure two durations of heavy shedding all year long.

Pups that inherit the facial wrinkles from their Mastiff guardian would require common inspections and cleansing to forestall pores and skin irritation and infections. Owners might want to wipe their pup’s facial folds every day with a dog-friendly wipe to forestall moisture and particles buildup.

Health and Conditions ❤️

The German Shepherd Mastiff could be susceptible to the identical well being points that have an effect on the guardian breeds.

German Shepherds and Mastiffs can develop degenerative myelopathy, eye points, elbow and hip dysplasia, most cancers, gastric dilation-volvulus, allergy symptoms, and coronary heart illness.

Additionally, Mastiffs could also be susceptible to epilepsy.

Male vs Female

The solely notable distinction between female and male German Shepherd Mastiffs is their dimension; nonetheless, the precise discrepancy can differ from pup to pup because the guardian breeds can differ vastly in dimension.

Male German Shepherds are between 24 and 26 inches and weigh 65 to 90 kilos, whereas females are 22 to 24 inches and 50 to 70 kilos.

Mastiffs have a way more vital dimension discrepancy between sexes. Males are, at minimal, 30 inches, and females 27.5 inches. Males weigh between 160 and 230 kilos, whereas females are a lot lighter at 120 to 170 kilos.

3 Little-Known Facts About the German Shepherd Mastiff

1. The German Shepherd Mastiff is susceptible to weight problems.

These are massive canine by nature, however “massive” doesn’t must be synonymous with overweight. These pups are susceptible to weight problems, which may worsen joint issues and coronary heart illness and reduce their lifespan.

2. The German Shepherd Mastiff shouldn’t be appropriate for first-time canine homeowners.

These massive and in cost canine shall be simply that—massive and in cost—if they aren’t owned by somebody who has expertise with large canine. They require very constant and agency coaching and socialization to make sure they don’t use their dimension towards their people.

3. The German Shepherd Mastiff could be a superb tracker.

Both the German Shepherd and the Mastiff can excel at monitoring as they’ll detect, acknowledge, and comply with particular scents. This exercise encourages them to work alongside their handler to comply with a path via various terrain and environments. It’s a good way to supply psychological and bodily stimulation to your pup.

Final Thoughts

The German Shepherd Mastiff is an enormous canine breed with an imposing stature and an enormous, loving coronary heart. These affectionate and mild pups could make a terrific household pet for properties with older kids who an overexcited canine wouldn’t inadvertently harm. These pups make brave, loyal, and protective family dogs.

They are finest suited to homeowners with some expertise with massive canine breeds, as coaching and socialization shall be required to make sure these big canine develop into well-rounded and well-behaved adults.

If we’ve satisfied you that that is the appropriate hybrid canine breed to your life-style, know that it may be difficult to seek out one accessible for adoption. These designer pups aren’t formally acknowledged by any kennel membership, which implies breeders are few and much between. If you’re concerned about adopting one, preserve your eyes peeled in your native rescue’s accessible pet database to see if there’s one in your space ready for his or her without end house.

Featured Image Credit: Left- anetapics, Shutterstock | Right – Monica Arauz, Shutterstock