THE GOLDEN SHEPHERD - Everything You Need To Know

This beautiful dog is a cross between two of America's favorite breeds and that can be seen all around the world. It's a mix between the Golden Retriever and the German Shepherd. Mixing two super intelligent breeds results in a fantastic dog. They get along well with everyone, including kids, and once they are socialized with other family pets they will get along well with other animals.

The Golden Shepherd possesses the intelligence of the German Shepherd and the gentle and loving nature of the Golden Retriever. It’s not that simple though, if you are thinking of adopting a Golden Shepherd, there are plenty of things to consider including exercise, entertainment, food and training.

If you want to learn more about the Golden Shepherd keep on reading. We have covered a number of aspects of owning and caring for this lovely dog!

Physical Characteristics

Despite the fact that in Scotland there are variants of Golden Retrievers that have white fur, in America and the majority of the world their hair is golden. Its bright and striking fur is what most characterizes this beautiful dog and is why they are called a Golden Shepherd and not a German Retriever. Although we must add that the hair becomes darker and denser over the years.

The Golden Retriever has a longer coat golden in color. Depending on the exact trait transmitted by its parents you get a range of golden colors in a litter of puppies. When it comes to mixed breeds some puppies may look more like a German Shepherd and some may look more like a Golden Retriever.

The skills for hunting, the search for hidden things, swimming or chasing are often maintained in a Golden Shepherd since these are traits which both parents have. The Golden Retriever is one of the friendliest dog breeds and while German Shepherds can be more wary of strangers they open up to others quickly. A mix between the two generally leads to a very friendly dog with a protective bark if strangers are present.

If you’re thinking of getting a Golden Shepherd you must be prepared for a physically strong pet. These are big dogs so you want them properly trained and socialized from a young age. You need to establish yourself as the leader and be consistent with your rules (no jumping on the couch etc).

Hair And Grooming

Prepare yourself, because the answer is a resounding and gigantic yes.

The Golden Retriever and the German Shepherd share a characteristic with their fur and it's that they have a double layer: a thick external protection layer and a soft internal layer that perfectly serves to keep them warm, which obviously makes the Golden Shepherd inherit this characteristic.

These furry friends are going to fill everything with hair (we could call this a hair explosion) about twice a year. Although, if we are honest, your home will be full of dog hair most of the time. This means that you will probably be cleaning your furniture and floors because your dog will always be losing fur.

Keep in mind that Golden Retrievers have an easy tendency to have matted hair. If your little friend has this characteristic then it would be good to have a visit to the dog grooming once a month to have their fur trimmed so that they can have it a little more "under control".

It may be a bit distressing at first, because you're not used to it, but you can help with lint-removing brushes. Another tip is to pay close attention to regular grooming as it is a must. Brushing his shiny coat about three to four times a week with a brush that can reach the bottom layers of his hair to keep it shiny and tangle-free will help most of the hairs stay on the brush and not on your clothes, oops!

Although it wouldn't hurt to start considering having a little more black clothes in your wardrobe.

Remember to check their nail as they can lengthen very quickly. They shouldn't be making noise on the floor. If you find it very difficult to cut his nails by yourself, your vet can help you, or you could go to the dog groomer to verify that your Golden Shepherd has its nails in good condition.

Teeth and ears are also very important. Brushing twice a week will keep his teeth shiny and healthy, as this mixed breed is prone to tartar buildup. Your vet can teach you how to brush your Golden Shepherd's teeth properly.

You should examine the ears for wax because the ear holes of both races are very deep and can accumulate wax in a short time.

Temperament And Personality

For Golden Shepherds human interaction is a must as they are prone to experience separation anxiety when left alone for long periods of time. They are not aggressive, but will bark quickly if they feel there is a good reason to do so. The Golden Shepherd is a loving, intelligent and active dog; boredom is not an option for them, if they are lacking mental stimulation they will make their own. Restlessness and boredom can lead to destructive behaviors if their physical exercise and mental stimulation needs are not met.

Training is very important especially at a younger age to establish how they are to behave inside and outside the home.

A German Shepherd is protective and loyal as well as intelligent and a Golden Retriever is loyal and smart but not quite as protective.

The mix between these two breeds will be somewhere between the Golden Retriever and the German Shepherd. You can expect an intelligent and loving dog, although they may be a little reluctant with strangers. Because of this, socialization is necessary with this mix. When you have your little Golden Shepherd puppy, you need to make sure that it experiences many different situations, people and other pets. This is going to help them be friendlier to strangers, and more open to new experiences.

Weight And Feeding

Since both parent breeds are large in size, the Golden Shepherd will be a large dog. Both dogs are about 60 cm tall. Most German Shepherds tend to weigh around 35 kilos and the Retriever's average weight is also around 35 kilograms so you can expect the Golden Shepherd to be about the same.

The Golden Shepherd should have an active healthy look, they are strong and muscular and should not carry excess weight.

To keep your Golden at its optimal weight they need exercise daily. Include if you can any water sports routine. You must not forget that the Golden Retriever does have rescue tendencies in water and your Golden Shepherd may have inherited a little of this.

It is very important to pay attention to your Golden Shepherd in regards to their diet. This is in terms of quantity as well as the quality of the food they are eating. These dogs love to eat so if you give them free then obesity can be a real problem. It can be a bit difficult to say exactly how much food your dog should be consuming per day, especially when its size can vary as much as Golden Shepherds tend to do. However, we recommend that you give your pet about 3 cups of food each day. Divide them into two meals and the calories per day should be 1500. Your vet will be able to help you figure out what the ideal weight should be for your dog.

Training And Exercise Needs

This beautiful and friendly friend needs to stay active. Around 90 minutes of exercise will be enough to keep him happy. Regardless of the physical traits inherited from their parents, as both dogs are very active, the Golden Shepherd will need to discharge all that friendly energy in some way or another.

If they become bored and uneasy about the lack of activity, they can have destructive behaviors such as barking, chewing on things that aren't their toys and even urinating inside the house!

So in order for this not to happen, you need to make sure you have a solid exercise regimen. They love to walk, run and fetch the ball, but they also really enjoy playing games that make them think and use their agility skills.

Another great way to exercise them is off-leash dog parks which allow them to socialize and play with other dogs.

We also have to be careful not to overstrain our pet, as the German Shepherd is prone to hip problems as they age. With a puppy it is good to start slow with resistance games so that our Golden Shepherd develops the muscles necessary to play and walk.

As the dog ages, it is important to continue with light exercises so that they still get physical and mental stimulation.

Life Expectancy

If our Golden Shepherd is provided a high quality food designed for their age and size and they are taken to the vet regularly for checkups you can expect a healthy life between 10 and 14 years.

Puppies

The typical litter for large breed dogs is to have between 6 and 10 puppies. The Golden Shepherd will have beautiful puppies descendants of two very intelligent and naturally friendly breeds. It will be common for them to be a little suspicious of strangers from thee German Shepherd side, so, as we have already told you, it is essential that puppies experience early socialization. Exposing them to new faces, new places, other pets will help them tremendously.

You must make your little Golden Shepherd puppy experience all this while it is still young, but remember that everything in life is step by step and should be taken gradually. Taking your time will slowly help your puppy develop confidence during the first 2 to 4 months of its life. When doing so you must have everything under control and make sure that the experience your puppy will have will be positive.

Remember that it is very important to leave your puppy with the mother and it’s siblings for the first 2 months of his life, otherwise you could risk health and behavioral problems with the dog.

Once your puppy is weaned, they should have a healthy appetite and be ready to gobble up everything around him.

It is important to control the amount of food you give them, since obesity from overeating and receiving fatty treats can be a problem for Golden Shepherds.

Behaviour With Children And Other Pets

This friendly breed of dog not only loves being around people and keeping them company, but they also love children. They really enjoy playtime with them.

If you have a little slumber party or a birthday for your children and invite some classmates, you can rest easy knowing that a Golden Shepherd will love all the new friends they have around!
Like all dogs, Golden Shepherds must be trained how behave with children, and children must know how to act in the presence of a dog.

No matter what breed of dog you have, you should always teach your children how to approach and touch dogs. Pay attention to the interaction that the child and the dog are having to make that the dog is just getting attention it likes (no pulling its tail etc).

We have to teach our children that they should never try to take food away from a dog, and that they should not get close while it is eating or sleeping. This is just good life advice and is not specific to Golden Shepherds.

No dog, however friendly, should be left unsupervised with a child.

Final Thoughts

We hope that our guide on this beautiful and exuberant breed will serve you and help you decide if a Golden Shepherd is right for you. Keep them entertained and active and you’ll have the dog you’ve dreamed of.