Where Does The German Shepherd Pitbull Mix Originate
Although not widely sought, the GSD Pitbull mix is likely a common cross.
Accidental mixes would be frequent in two such popular breeds, and purposeful breeding of the German Shepherd and Pit Bull probably has roots with performance-minded people.
The police force would have an interest in introducing more agility from the Pit Bull and more working intelligence from the German Shepherd.
Illicit uses might include people keen on a larger fighting dog or a more protective guard dog and would add GSD to their Pit Bulls for both qualities.
Can A German Shepherd Kill A Pitbull
A German Shepherd can kill a Pitbull. Any dog breed can potentially kill another. However, Pitbulls are more likely to kill German Shepherds than German Shepherds are to kill Pitbulls. A fatal attack from either dog would be rare and often indicate a lack of proper socialization and training.
What Do German Shepherd Pitbull Mixes Look Like
This dog has appearances that are more pronounced towards the pit bull side of the heritage. However, like most dogs that are mixed breed, you will never know what they actually look like until they are born. Generally, a dog of this breed will have a face that resembles more of its pitbull parent than its German shepherd parent. They have a short muzzle accompanied by a broad face. Usually, these dogs have bent flappy ears but exceptions do occur. There are instances of the German pit having a narrower face and more erect ears like its German shepherd parent.
In terms of the fur coat, this dog will very rarely take after its pitbull parents. This mixed dog has a coat that resembles the German shepherd’s coat. They have medium to long coats and are known to be shedders. These dogs might have a shorter coat length only if takes after their other parent. The color of the coat varies due to the variations in the coat color of its parents, especially the pitbulls. These dogs usually come in various colors but the most common ones are brown, white, black, fawn, tan, and grey.
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German Shepherd Pit Bull Puppies Veterinary Needs
Like any dog, German Shepherd Pit Bull puppies need a series of shots when theyre young. These will usually start at six to eight weeks old and will be a series of three or four shots. This is important, as it protects them from distemper, parvovirus, and other nasty and often fatal diseases. After these, theyll get their mandatory rabies shot as well as bordetella, which protects from kennel cough.
After that, theyll need check-ups once a year. Your vet will keep an eye out for health conditions, run a fecal test, and give them their booster shots to keep them protected.
Its imperative to keep them up to date with flea and heartworm medication too. Usually, this is a pill given monthly.
You should also be aware that hip dysplasia is common in German Shepherds, so this and other health conditions may rear their heads. Willow
Are German Shepherds More Aggressive Than Pit Bulls
Just like poor training and socialization histories, breeding histories can also cause a dog all manner of problems. Its not the dogs fault, of course, and like the German shepherd a pit bull is the product of its upbringing.
German shepherds have a formidable bite and the potential to be aggressive if trained that way, but theyll never do anywhere near the damage that a pit bull would. If you were to put an aggressive pit bull and an aggressive German shepherd side by side, theyd both make a terrifying combo but the pit bull would always be the more dangerous, and its bite more serious.
But what if you were to join the two breeds together and create a mixed breed dog? If the parent breeds are on the banned list, will this mean that the pups are, too, and should you be worried about a German shepherd pitbull mix breed?
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Misconceptions About The Gsd
The Pitbull German Shepherd mix was first spotted in the US in the 2000s.
This hybrid inherits the intelligence, loyalty, and hardworking nature of its parents, but it suffers from the bad reputation of the GSD and APBT.
German Shepherds and Pit Bulls are both commonly associated with territorial aggression and biting, both with humans and other dogs.
The stigma that all German Shepherds are aggressive isnt correct.
This breed has been utilized in the police force because of their high intelligence and trainability.
But it doesnt necessarily mean that these canines are vicious.
Another Shepherd stereotype that needs to be addressed is that they attack anyone entering their home or territory.
This lovable breed has a characteristic of being territorial and may show aggression if he feels that he or his family is threatened.
Proper training and socialization during puppyhood will nip this potential problem in the bud.
Food & Diet Requirements
Both German Shepherds and Pit Bulls exert a lot of physical energy. To replenish their bodies, they benefit from high protein, calorie-dense dietsespecially during puppyhood. Having a diet with healthy carbs, whole protein, and plenty of vitamins and minerals is essential.
Dry kibble is the best main source of food for your Sheppit. It cleans their teeth to prevent dental issues while providing a well-rounded diet. Adult Sheppits should have between 3 to 4 cups of high-quality kibble per day, depending on weight.
You can add wet food as a topper to their meals occasionally. You can also offer wholesome snacks like carrots, apples, cucumber, and other fruits or veggies.
Both breeds are food motivated, so theyll never turn down a quick treat. But be careful not to overfeed them, as these dogs are prone to bloat. Bloat is caused by eating too quickly, which can be detrimentalespecially in larger breeds.
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Buying A German Shepherd Pitbull Mix
If you feel like the German Shepherd Pitbull mix is the breed for you the next step is to find one. This means you need to find a reputable breeder.
To make sure you are buying from a responsible breeder you should ask to see the puppy with mom and the rest of the litter. If the breeder doesnt want you visting, then chances are they are not trustworthy.
Seeing the puppy with mom will give you an idea about what temperament the puppy has and will give you a chance to see moms health and personality.
You should ask the breeder questions too, like, what are you feeding the puppy and what socializations have they been exposed to.
A trustworthy breeder should provide you with health certificates of the puppys parents and will let you know what vaccinations the puppy has had so far. Some breeders may even be taking part in hip dysplasia genetic screening, which has been shown to help reduce the prevalence of the disease.
A puppy should be able to leave mom when they are 8 weeks, but some breeders may wait until they are 12 weeks old.
German Shepherd Pitbull Mix Personality And Temperament
Just like any other cross breed, it can be difficult to predict their exact temperament.
However we can get a good idea by looking at each parent breeds temperament.
The German Shepherd is intelligent, loyal and confident. They are territorial, which means they have an innate distrust of strangers. But with the right socialization and training you can reduce their distrust.
German Shepherds are very energetic and dont do well on their own. They can get bored very easily and will start to chew everything in sight. American Pitbull Terriers are also prone to chew things when bored.
The American Pitbull Terrier is also very loyal, playful and energetic. They love their human family, but dont tend to be friendly to other dogs. They can be aggressive at times, but with the right socialization and training, this isnt a problem.
With these two parent breeds in mind, the German Shepherd Pitbull mix will be very affectionate and loyal to their family members. They are very likely to chew things and will be very energetic.
This mix will make the perfect guard dog.
This dog also wont do well on its own for long periods of time. So if this is the dog you want, you need to commit your time to them.
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Are Pitbull Mix Dogs Dangerous
Both the American pitbull terrier and the German shepherd have a reputation for being dangerous dogs. States all over the USA either ban or restrict one or both of these breeds, so in a lot of ways it makes you wonder how they could even get the two dogs together in order for them to produce a litter of German pit pups.
But are they really dangerous dogs to begin with, so should you be worried about a mix of the two? Lets take a look at their individual characteristics.
How Do They Reproduce
The average litter size of these dogs consists of five to 10 puppies. The German shepherd’s litter size is around four to nine pups while the litter size of the pitbull is around five to 10 puppies. Thus, it is quite evident that the pit German mix puppies have a litter size that is similar to the pitbull.
In the case of breeding, the German pit has habits that are similar to any other dog. Both the males and the females become mature enough to mate around the ages of two years. The females go through the heat cycle every six months and males breed with them at that time.
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The Origin Of German Shepherd
The German shepherd, as the name suggests, originated in Germany. During the late 80s to early 90s. German Shepherd was primarily bred to become sheepherder due to their distinct size and aggressiveness.
Captain Max Von Stephanitz, who designed the dog breed, is a German Cavalry officer. His purpose for designing the dog was to make it more imposing, have a wolf-like appearance, and be an easily-trainable dog. And when he made this idea, he let the police and military know.
German shepherds are known to be hardworking, trainable, and loving breeds. And that is the reason why they are popular dog breeds amongst law enforcing people. Although they work as military and police dogs, they can also be utilized as guard dogs for disabled and handicapped individuals.
One of the most popular traits of German shepherds, aside from being highly-trainable is they are also highly-adaptable to certain situations and conditions. Thus, making them an all-around pet of the house.
German Shepherd Pitbull Mix Exercise
As German Shepherd Pitbull mix dogs have shorter legs, their walks should be kept short and gentle when they are puppies. After the age of one, it is then recommended to take them for longer, faster-paced walks twice daily.
This dog also needs a lot of mental stimulation, so exercise toys and puzzles are ideal. This dog breed needs a lot of exercise, around 180 minutes a day. This is quite more than the average dog breed. Make sure you break up this time into smaller amounts of time spent throughout the day outside.
There are so many fun things that you can do with your dog. You can really make your exercise sessions fun by incorporating activities that you and your dog can do together. Keep in mind that if you do not like to do a lot of exercise, this may not be the dog breed for you.
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Training And Exercising Your German Shepherd Pitbull Mix
Since Shepherd Pitts are especially prone to hip dysplasia, youll need to take extra precautions to ensure that your dog doesnt become obese. This is especially important if your dog has hypothyroidism in its genes.
Youll need to plan for daily walks, play time, and off-leash exercise.
Additionally, both Pitbulls and German Shepherds are working breeds that are high energy. Its therefore best to keep them where they can play and run in a yard.
They wont be happy living in a small apartment or spending long periods in a dog crate.
As mentioned earlier, your puppy will need to be thoroughly socialized from the day you bring him home.
You can find more information and guides on training here.
Is This Breed Right For You
This mix breed is the lovely combination of both GSD and Pitbull and looks absolutely gorgeous on a renaissance pet portrait! So if you have one, or know someone who does, it would make for a hilarious gift. It will take a lot of taking care of, and you would have to be active for that. If you are always at work or dont have the time to devote to your dog then its best to avoid this breed.
Once you train them, they can be the perfect protecting dog from your family. So, you would have to make the final call here. If you can meet this breeds needs regularly, then German Pit can be the best companion out there.
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How To Train A German Shepherd Pitbull
Training and socialization are essential in instilling discipline in a dog. It mitigates the breeds aggression, pack leader mentality, and disobedience. Some people say a Pitbull German Shepherd mix dogs are aggressive due to their German Shepherd and Pitbull bloodline. The truth is that the canine is a mild-mannered and calm animal. However, if the breed has poor or little training and is in a poor environment, its aggressive tendencies will show up. The best age to train German Pitbull mix puppies is when they are seven weeks old. You can still train an adult dog, but it will be a tough training time. Thus, training German Pit puppies is the best method.
What Is A Good Breed To Mix With A Pitbull
Like the German shepherd breed, pitbull terriers have so many good qualities that you might want to own a cross breed of a pitbull and something else.
It all depends on what youre looking for. A beagle pitbull mix is a breed thats becoming more and more popular. Beagle pits are dog breeds that have the sturdiness and loyalty of a pit bull with the playful giddiness of a beagle, making them real family dogs.
A pitbull crossed with a border collie makes for a phenomenally intelligent dog with incredible work levels and fierce sense of loyalty, although theyre not known for interacting well with other dogs so it would take proper training to keep them in line.
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How Do You Begin Puppy Training
It will take time, patience, with positive reinforcement, using praise and small treats as a reward for success.
So, if you are not going to use a professional dog trainer Here are some tips to begin:
1)Develop your basic command words: Find the keywords you think you will use most like Sit, Stop, and Fetch etc. and be consistent each time you use them.
2) Crate Get a crate and get puppy used to going into it. It will become its nest and it will feel safe and sleep there. Lock the cage in the early days so it knows it has to sleep there, plus its useful experience if transporting your pet.
3) Potty training May be hit and miss for a new puppy who gets easily excited and lacks control, however products are available, such as mats and odour sprays to attract puppy go to the same spot each time.
4) Walking on a leash -Voice commands and road awareness is very important for your puppys safety.
Any mix from purebred dogs, could have congenital health problems.
A German Shepherd and an American Pitbull Terrier cross breed could develop:
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a mal-formation of the hip joint, where the ball at the top of the leg does not fit properly into the socket and the ligaments attaching it are weak. This allows excess movement of the fitting which can eventually lead to stiffness and pain for the dog.
This active dog could have hip problems, causing pain when moving.
Skin problems
Bloat
In each case it is important to seek medical help!
Your Shepherd Pittie Will Be A Loyal And Affectionate Family Member
German Shepherds are devoted and affectionate. You should teach the importance of all family members because a Shepherd may show a tendency to bond strongly to one person.
Although German Shepherds like to be busy, they enjoy close interactions with their owners. They may be particularly gentle and protective with children of the household.
Pit Bulls are also affectionate and enjoy a close association with their owners. They tend to bond equally with all family members.
Pit Bulls usually do well with children in the household, having served past roles in a babysitting capacity.
Your German Shepherd Pitbull mix will want to be an integral part of the family unit. She will likely enjoy unique interactions with all household members but may pick a favorite person.
She will do well with other animals she grows up with and will interact positively with your children.
Always exercise caution around small children as Shepherd Pit Bulls are rather large and pretty rambunctious, particularly when young.
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What About The Temperament
A mix German shepherd pit bull will inherit some fabulous qualities that will make him an ideal pet. Despite their strength and poor reputation, they make excellent an excellent family pet because theyre so fiercely loyal and protective of their owners.
German shepherd dogs were raised specifically to guard a farms livestock and they stuck close to their owners side for generations. They have an inbuilt sense of protection, and woe betide anyone who dares to come between them and their family!
This means that when introducing your mix German shepherd pitbull to outsiders and new members of the family, make sure you do it slowly and carefully. To your dog, the pack is being invaded by a new member and theyll be wary, so make sure to take your time. Its important that your German shepherd pitbull mix breed is socialized early on, so that you can stay on top of any potentially aggressive behaviors.
As the ASPCA states, all dogs, including pit bulls, are individuals. This is vital to remember! A lot of a dogs temperament as far as aggression goes depends on the way its raised, and a pitbull German shepherd is no different.
A German shepherd pitbull mix will have inherited some super-high intelligence, too. Dont waste this! As early as seven or eight weeks old, you can teach your German pit puppy some basic commands such as sit and stay. They love to learn, and will need mental stimulation just as much as physical exercise.