Dog breeds

Is the Energetic German Shepherd Lab Mix Right For You?

Sheprador German Shepherd Labrador Mix Breed

The German Shepherd Lab mix, also known as a “Sheprador” or “Labrashepherd,” is a very popular breed. This is often because they tend to be more healthy than most pedigrees, are often very friendly, and have excellent temperaments.

The German Shepherd and the Labrador are both known for their loyalty, intelligence, and loving nature, which makes this mixed breed a great family dog. However, the German Shepherd Lab mix requires a lot of exercise and training since it’s a fairly big dog with a high energy level. 

Overall, these dogs make a perfect companion for someone who lives an active lifestyle, since the Lab Germangerman_shepherd_lab_mix-300x225-5274063 Shepherd Mix enjoys many outdoor activities such as swimming, retrieving, and running.

So, what else should you consider before buying or adopting this breed?

Below, we dig into everything you should know about the German Shepherd Lab mix!

German Shepherd Lab Statistics 

Before you introduce a new dog into your family, whether it’s a puppy or an adult dog, you need to do some research on what to expect. After all, if you have young children, you wouldn’t want to end up with an overly aggressive breed. So, with that in mind, here are a few key statistics about a lab German Shepherd mix.

How Big Will My German Shepherd Lab Get? 

Both German Shepherds and Labradors are large dogs. This means that the German Shepherd and Lab mix is a decent-sized dog. On average, Shepradors are about 24 inches tall and weigh about 80 pounds when they are fully grown. A healthy weight is anywhere between 75 and 100 pounds.

How Long Will My German Shepherd Lab Mix Live?

With proper care, a German Shepherd Labrador mix will live between 10 and 12 years.

Grooming A German Shepherd Lab 

Designer dogs like German Shepherd Labs can vary in appearance; They can have long, wavy coats or short, dense coats. 

However, both parent breeds are heavy shedders, so a good vacuum cleaner and a healthy grooming routine are a must. You should groom your dog at least once a week. If your Sheprador has the thick, shaggy coat of a German Shepherd, you may need to brush your dog several times a week. 

You should also consider professional grooming, which may be appropriate every 4-6 weeks. There will also be a “shedding season” for your dog when it will lose a lot of its fur at once.

Dog owners beware: The shedding season can get messy! Again, a vacuum is a must with this type of breed.

Exercising A German Shepherd Lab 

German Shepherds and Labradors both need high levels of exercise, so it’s natural to conclude that German Shepherd Lab mixes will need a similarly high level of care.

Ideally, you should give your German Shepherd Lab at least an hour’s worth of exercise a day, preferably two hours.

This should include running, playing, and mental stimulation. Be sure to keep up with this exercise, as bored or pent-up dogs will turn to destruction and may become more badly behaved (which could mean the demise of your favorite furniture or shoes!).

How Much For A German Shepherd Lab Mix Puppy?

On average, a Lab Shepherd mix puppy sells for anywhere between $1000 and $2500. However, you may be able to adopt an older German Shepherd Lab mix from a shelter, with fees costing as low as $125. 

german_shepherd_and_labrador_retriever-300x200-4762874

Additionally, when considering purchasing a puppy or adopting one, there are many factors you’ll want to take into account. For instance, with adoption, you may not know the exact age or previous traumatic incidences that could impact your dog’s behavior. At the same time, adopting a dog is a wonderful act of kindness. Plus, many dogs are in need of loving and caring homes. 

Are German Shepherd Lab Mixes Aggressive?

The simple answer is no. There’s no reason that German Shepherd Lab mixes should be any more aggressive than other breeds. However, the German Shepherd is a strong-willed and intelligent dog. This means that with the wrong training, the dog could become badly behaved and even aggressive. 

Since the German Shepherd Lab is a large dog, it’s important to make sure it is properly trained and that it gets sufficient exercise. Bad behavior, like:

  • jumping up
  • pulling on a lead
  • possessiveness
  • or even aggression

…is often amplified in a large dog, especially when there is no training and a lack of physical activity.

German Shepherd Lab History: An Overview

To understand more about a designer dog before you buy one, it’s a good idea to research both parent breeds. This can give you a good idea of your dog’s appearance as an adult, size, temperament, and trainability. In this case, we need to look into German Shepherds and Labradors.

German Shepherd Breed History

The German Shepherd ancestry of this mix originated in Germany in the late 1800s and gained its recognition from a man by the name of Captain Max Von Stephanitz. The breed was introduced to America for the first time in 1907. 

German Shepherds were originally used as herders of animals such as sheep and cattle, hunters of game animals, and guard dogs which are a few of the many skills this breed has today.

And the German Shepherd Lab Mix inherited these traits. Many police forces and military units train German Shepherds to aid them in rescue and retrieval missions due to their intelligence, trainability, and love of work.

German Shepherd Temperament, Skills, and Appearance

German Shepherds are loyal and friendly. This means that they actually make for excellent guard dogs. This is also true of the German Shepherd Lab Mix. They are long and muscular and have great strength. German Shepherds are known for their intelligence and ability to remember and respond to a large number of commands. 

Furthermore, German Shepherds are a confident breed, yet they train quite easily. They do, however, require a lot of attention, as their energy level is extremely high. German Shepherds aren’t recommended for first-time dog owners; While they are intelligent, this can actually make training them rather difficult.

German Shepherds are usually two-toned in black and tan but can be a combination of other colors such as black and red, and tan and red. Some are even born with a solid coat of red, black, tan, or white. 

German Shepherds also have a double coat. The outer coat does shed year-round, while the undercoat provides warmth for this breed in extreme weather conditions. Like the German Shepherd, the German Shepherd Lab Mix also has a double coat which requires a lot of maintenance and takes a good amount of time and patience to wash and brush.

Labrador Breed History

Labradors have been a popular breed of dog for as long as most of us can remember, and their ancestry dates back to the 1900s. This breed was born from a cross between a retriever and a small water dog in Newfoundland, Canada.

In 1878, the Earl of Malmesbury imported this breed. They were first recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1903. Interestingly, Labradors are known for their keen sense of smell and their retrieving skills (hence the full name: “Labrador Retriever”) and were mainly used for hunting.

Labrador Temperament, Skills, and Appearance

Today, Labradors are one of America’s favorite breeds. They’re loyal and friendly and make excellent family dogs. Their life expectancy is about 10-13 years. They come in a variety of colors, such as yellow, chocolate, black, and white. 

The Labrador’s coat can come in many styles, such as smooth and wavy. Their coats are dense and excellent for water activity. Yet, Labradors require a lot of grooming care as they are mainly outside dogs. 

Overall, they are a strong breed and are excellent swimmers. They love participating in outdoor activities such as swimming, running, and retrieving. Labradors, like German Shepherds, are highly intelligent and have the capability of learning and remembering a large number of commands very quickly. 

This breed also has a high energy level and requires a lot of exercise, which makes it a great companion dog for someone who enjoys the outdoors. Still, Labradors make excellent family pets and are good for first-time owners or those not confident in their dog training skills.

The German Shepherd Lab Mix

Black Sheprador - German Shepherd Labrador Mix Breed
Source: Image by Rebecca Scholz from Pixabay

The German Shepherd Lab mix is the perfect combination of two very strong breeds.

This breed is not only strong, agile, and intelligent but also very loving, affectionate, and docile. They tend to be a bit shy when it comes to strangers or meeting another dog for the first time, but they eventually warm up to the idea once they feel comfortable. Training should be approached with a positive attitude as this breed loves to feel accomplished and enjoys a reward for their hard work.

This brilliant breed has a double coat and requires a lot of brushing, and washing does take a little extra time than, for example, washing a dog with only one coat. Their coat color takes after the Labrador and is usually dark in color, either black or dark brown. Yet, some have a tan underneath or a white chest. The German Shepherd Lab mix is quite vocal, and their bark tends to sound more like a German Shepherd than a Labrador. The German Shepherd Lab mix makes a great family dog and companion and is becoming more popular among breeders and dog lovers.

Is the German Shepherd Lab Mix the Right Breed For You?

So, who should own German Shepherd Labs? All in all, these beautiful mixes make affectionate and lovable dogs, but they do require a lot of attention and exercise.

They make excellent pets but should only be taken on by owners who are able to give their dogs the love, attention, and time that they need.

German Shepherd Labs do better with people in the house and won’t thrive if left alone all day. They suit active, energetic families best and love accompanying their owners on walks and long hikes. 

If you don’t like the idea of owning a German Shepherd Lab mix, feel free to read about other breeds in the Dog Breeds section above!

Editor’s note: This article was previously published August 16, 2020 and has been updated to provide more information. 

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