German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers are two of the most popular dog breeds in the world.
When you breed a German Shepherd with a Golden Retriever, the result is a Golden German Shepherd.
The offspring will usually embody traits of both breeds, although it’s impossible to predict which exact characteristics a pup will inherit.
Golden German Shepherds should be good family dogs with a sense of loyalty given this is a key trait of both parents.
In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at the Golden German Shepherd.
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What do you call Golden German Shepherd?
A Golden German Shepherd is a Golden Retriever German Shepherd mix. It’s quite the mouthful so unsurprisingly the crossbreed are often given a shorter name.
They can be called Golden German Shepherds or shortened even further to Golden Shepherds. They usually make great family dogs due to their steady personalities.
Let’s take a look at each parent in a little more detail.
Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are the quintessential family dog. Although they’re the third most popular dog in the USA, the Golden Retriever originates from Scotland.
They were used as hunting dogs to retrieve game for the Lords of Scotland. The first members of the breed started to arrive in the United States around 1908.
Golden Retrievers play an important role in human society – they’re often trained to be guide dogs/blind eye dogs, search-and-rescue dogs or sniffer dogs.
However, they’re perhaps best known for being loving family dogs that show a lot of patience with younger members of the household. Their energy levels make them a good fit for a young family.
German Shepherd
German Shepherd at the park (Photo: Adobe Stock)
German Shepherds are America’s second most popular dog behind the Labrador, according to American Kennel Club.
Hailing from Germany as their name suggests, German Shepherds are quick learners with a high IQ. For that reason, they’re often used as police, military or service dogs. In fact, the first blind eye dog in the USA was a German Shepherd.
They’ve got an athletic build and require a lot of exercise to keep them both mentally and physically stimulated. German Shepherds usually develop a deep sense of loyalty to their owner and the family unit.
The breed are often used as guard dogs or watch dogs.
How big will Golden German Shepherd get?
A Golden Retriever can grow to a size of ranging between 21.5 and 25 inches in height. They’ll usually weigh between 55 and 75 pounds.
German Shepherds, on the other hand, are usually between 22 and 26 inches tall. They can weigh between 50 and 90 pounds depending on the sex of the dog.
Therefore, we can deduce that a Golden German Shepherd will grow to a size between 21.5 and 26 inches and weigh from 50 pounds to 90 pounds.
Golden German Shepherd characteristics
There’s no guarantee that a Golden German Shepherd will inherit specific traits from each parent.
WagWalking state on their website that the hybrid will usually have a rough coat like a German Shepherd or a smooth and soft coat like the Golden Retriever.
The Golden Shepherd can have a variety of different coat colors, including light to dark gold, black with tan trim, black, black and cream, blue, gray, liver, white, and sable.
These mix dogs will have brown eyes and a black nose.
Their ears can either be alert and upright like a German Shepherd or large and folded over like a Golden Retriever.
It’s safe to say that a Golden German Shepherd should have an athletic and muscular appearance given both breeds are sporting dogs.
Golden German Shepherd temperament
Golden Retrievers are an easy going and evenly tempered dog. They’re friendly and sociable canines that like to meet strangers.
They’re a smart dog – too. Golden Retrievers have been taught a wide variety of tasks by humans.
They like to be in a family environment.
German Shepherds are smart dogs but have an instinct to protect which is more emphasized than in the Golden Retriever.
They can become fiercely loyal to one member of the family and aren’t always sociable with strangers.
Although they’re often stigmatized as aggressive dogs, a well socialized and trained German Shepherd should have a balanced personality.
We never recommend leaving a dog unsupervised alone with any child.
Golden German Shepherd exercise
Golden German Shepherds will need quite a bit of exercise given both breeds are very active.
The mixed dogs need regular exercise to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. If your canine doesn’t get enough exercise, they could become destructive or problematic inside the home.
You’ll need to walk a Golden Shepherd at least 45 minutes a day to allow it to stretch its legs. They can walk up to 12 miles a week, according to WagWalking.
Golden German Shepherd hypoallergenic
Around 10 per cent of America’s population is allergic to dogs.
Unsurprisingly, hypoallergenic dogs are often in high demand. These are pups that are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.
However, there is no such thing as a 100 per cent hypoallergenic dog breed.
Golden German Shepherds aren’t hypoallergenic (at all).
Golden German Shepherd shedding and grooming
Golden Shepherds will usually have a high shedding coat. They’ll have a double coat that blows out twice a year at the changing of the seasons.
They’ll need regular brushing to remove dead hair and debris that may have become caught in their coat.
Golden German Shepherd life expectancy
Golden Retriever will usually live to around 10-12 years, while German Shepherds have an average lifespan of 7-10 years.
Therefore you can expect a Golden German Shepherd to live to around 10. This will vary from dog to dog.
Where to buy Golden German Shepherd mix?
If you’re thinking about getting a Golden German Shepherd mix, you should contact your local rescue shelter to see if there are any of these hybrid pups looking for a new home.
How much are Golden German Shepherd mix?
Golden German Shepherds can cost between $500 and $1000 depending on each individual breeder.
Other potential costs include dog food, pet insurance, grooming, vet trips and much more.
Golden German Shepherds to follow on Instagram
If you’re eager to learn more about the crossbreed, you can always search out Golden German Shepherds on Instagram.
Dog owners on the photo-sharing app will usually be more than forthcoming with information about their canines.
Here are some Golden German Shepherds to check out on social media.
1) Bodhi Bear (@bodhi_goldenshepherd)
2) Xander (@xander.and.belle)
Anything else to consider?
If you’re interested in a Golden German Shepherd puppy, you should contact an established and reputable breeder. They’ll usually ask you to fill out a questionnaire, place you on a waiting list and request a deposit.
It’s good practice to ask to see a puppy’s mother and father, watch the puppy interact with its mother, ask for the AKC and UKC papers for both parents as well as documentation regarding health checks at the vet.
In conclusion
We’ve reached the end of our introduction to the Golden German Shepherd.
These hybrid dog can inherit the physical and personality traits of both parents.
They’re a high energy dog that will need a lot of exercise to ensure you’ve got a happy (and tired) dog on your hands.
