One To Four Years Old
From one year old onwards, the physical differences that set dwarf GSDs apart from regular GSDs become more obvious. Some of the major changes begin with issues in their spine.
Spinal issues in dwarf GSDs typically target the first two vertebrae in their cervical spine. Unfortunately, these issues cause excruciating pain for the dog and can sometimes lead to paralysis.
Moreover, due to their dwarfism, the so-called âgrowth plateâ at the top of their leg bones will take longer than usual to fully close. As a result, despite their limited full-grown size, dwarf GSDs will continue growing at a slow and steady rate.
Around this age, most dwarf German Shepherds also experience severe alopecia. This causes the majority of their coat to fall off, leaving a big portion of their skin exposed.
It is also worth noting that the proportions of a dwarf German Shepherd, for the most part, are on par with normal. This means they will appear as a scaled-down version of a regular GSD rather than a dog with disproportionate body parts.
How Big Do Dwarf German Shepherds Get When Fully Grown
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German Shepherds with dwarfism typically grow up to 10 to 20 inches in height. On the other hand, these dogs usually range from 35 to 50 pounds in terms of weight.
Dwarf GSDs are very similar in size to most miniature German Shepherds, especially ones with a Poodle or Border Collie parent.
As a matter of fact, breeders with bad intentions will try to pass a German Shepherd with dwarfism as a miniature GSD or a purebred âsmallâ GSD.
For reference, full-grown dwarf German Shepherds are about the same size as regular five-month-old German Shepherds.
However, take note that these numbers are only meant to give you a rough estimate of how big dwarf GSDs get. Individual measurements will vary for every dog.
What Is A Miniature German Shepherd’s Habitat
A Miniature German Shepherd is a mix between the purebred dog breeds of a German Shepherd and usually a Yorkshire terrier, Corgis, or Border Collies, developed to become a great companion dog as they are loyal, obedient, and very smart capable of being excellent work or guide dogs as well. The standard breed German Shepherds were working dogs used to herd cattle, but soon, because of their sharp senses, intelligence, extreme loyalty, obedient nature, and wolf-like features made them the second most popular dog breed in the world found as a loving family pet, or as a guide dog to the disabled and even in the police and armies as working dogs or rescue dogs. They are mostly crossed with other herding dogs like a Border Collie which is regarded as the smartest domestic dog breed, or small-size dogs like Yorkshire terriers or Corgis who have a calm and loving nature bred to become great show dogs and family pets. Due to their ancestral history, mini German Shepherds naturally adjust to domestic habitats like houses and apartments, and because of their smaller size, they can do well even in small houses or studio apartments although it is better for dogs to have a large area to run around in as they have high energy and need a lot of exercise. They have a double coat which makes them adjust to extremely cold climates as well.
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What Does A Dwarf German Shepherd Look Like
Except for their stature, dwarf German Shepherds look very similar to regular German Shepherds.
This is especially true when you compare the coat color, muzzle shape, and ear shape of a dwarf GSD to a regular GSD. However, there are still many clear physical signs that distinguish one from the other.
Pituitary dwarfism in German Shepherds is accompanied by some peculiar health issues. These health issues develop at different stages of the dogâs life. As a result, as these dogs grow older, physical differences become more pronounced.
Letâs examine how pituitary dwarfism affects the physical appearance of dwarf GSDs at different stages in their life.
German Shepherd Or German Shedder
German Shepherds are sometimes nicknamed German shedders as they are known to leave their hair all-around your house.
Unfortunately, the Miniature German Shepherd is no different and they will likely shed throughout the year. Even more so during the shedding season, which usually occur with the changing weather and temperatures in spring and fall.
Since theyre not hypoallergenic, theyll require regular brushing every couple days or possibly every day, depending on how much your dog sheds. Bathing is only necessary once every couple of months.
You will also need to regularly trim your Miniature German Shepherds nails and their large ears will need to be cleaned at least once a week to keep them free of any mites, waxy build-up or debris.
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Are There Miniature German Shepherd Dogs
There is no such thing as a purebred miniature German Shepherd. A mini German Shepherd is usually the result of crossbreeding a German Shepherd with a smaller dog breed.
Can you breed a miniature German Shepherd? Small-sized standard German Shepherds do not exist unless the dog happens to have dwarfism. To get a Miniature German Shepherd, the standard is bred with another purebred, most commonly the Collie or Poodle.
What is a mini German Shepherd? The miniature German shepherd is an adorable designer dog that is the result of cross-breeding the German shepherd and a smaller dog breed. The smaller breed is usually the poodle or the collie, but in rare cases, some breeders prefer to use Yorkshire Terriers.
How many German Shepherds are there? When you think of German dogs, theres one clear breed that comes to mind: the German Shepherd. Its not all that surprising considering this European breed ranks second in USA popularity. But, believe it or not there are other German dog breeds. In fact, there are many, many more. Most of which, youve probably never even heard of.
Fun Facts About Mini German Shepherds
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What Are Common Miniature German Shepherd Traits
Like a purebred German Shepherd, these dogs also possess a high intelligence level, as well as loyalty and protective instincts.
Two of the traits that are likely to be most similar to a Shepherd include the ears and coat colors.
The smaller dog breed in the mixture will likely influence the size to a certain degree.
In addition to having a somewhat smaller size, the dog will also likely have some of the same traits associated with the smaller of the two breeds.
Despite having one parent who is a smaller breed, some of these dogs might reach a size closer to that of a purebred German Shepherd, although weighing under 50 pounds is quite common.
In most cases, the height might vary considerably.
Most of these dogs have a double coat typical of German Shepherds, with red and black or red and tan colors.
Their ears might be larger and somewhat more erect, and the tail will curve downward and be bushy.
In the case of Miniature Shepherds that have a Corgi, Pug, or Sheltie parent, they will usually have the shorter, smaller stature, regardless of traits otherwise inherited from the German Shepherd parent.
You can count on having a unique dog, regardless.
What Health Issues Do Miniature German Shepherds Suffer From
Miniature German Shepherd does inherit a few health issues or conditions that they commonly suffer from its larger-sized parent. The common health problems include elbow and hip dysplasia, bloating , epilepsy, perianal fistula , hemophilia, hypothyroidism , megaesophagus , and degenerative myelopathy. Due to deficiency of thyrotropin in their thyroid glands, pituitary dwarfism is also common in the weakest pups of the litter. Most of these problems are curable with the right diet and treatment, whereas some are caused genetically and have no cure.
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Where To Find Miniature German Shepherd Puppies For Sale
Buying a Mini German Shepherd takes time and careful research to find a reputable breeder. When it comes to designer dogs in general, you want to take extra care and look out for buzzwords such as teacup or purebred.
Breeders that guarantee their puppies will exhibit specific characteristics, look a certain way or grow to an exact size are providing false information. No one can guarantee how a mix will turn out.
Instead, a worthy breeder will introduce you to the puppys parents and share their medical history. The breeder should be able to present health clearances for hip dysplasia and other common diseases.
For a German Shepherd crossed with a border collie, puppies cost up to $950 while a Poodle cross can cost up to $900.
Check out these Miniature German Shepherd breeders for available litters.
Do Miniature German Shepherds Have Health Problems
Purebred German Shepherds are at risk for a variety of health problems, many of them genetic.
Because miniature German Shepherd dogs arent purebred German Shepherds, they may be spared from the disorders that can affect their purebred mom but that isnt a guarantee. As a general rule, though, purebred dogs are far more likely to suffer from certain disorders than mixed breeds.
Your mini German Shepherd may still develop one or more conditions that tend to be common in German Shepherds. Its a good idea to watch for the following conditions that require treatment.
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How Do You Care For A Miniature German Shepherd
Exercise needs
This small hybrid dog is powerful and naturally active with great stamina, so it will need lots of mixed exercises that blend fun and challenges.
Feeding
Feed as a small-sized dog. They should be fed twice a day to prevent bloat, and encouraged to eat slowly, possibly using a slow feeding bowl.
Fact: Any sudden change in diet or change of dog food brand can cause diarrhea in a puppy. So any change must be gradual. If changing the brand of dry food, mix some of the new with original and increase new brand gradually.
Grooming
This mixed-breed dog has a thick double coat that sheds more than the average dog requires regular brushing, at least twice a week is recommended.
Bathing
This dog should be bathed when required but too often as their coat has natural oils that are stripped through excessive washing. Certain dog formulated shampoos have a double effect of cleaning the dog coat and protecting it against fleas and insect bites.
Cleaning teeth, nails and ears
As with all dogs, their teeth need to be cleaned regularly to prevent a build-up of plaque. Chewing breaks down plaque, so use doggie chew-toys, bare-bones and soft toothbrushes and toothpaste. Nails grow quickly and need to be trimmed regularly, say once a month, and checked for debris that could cause infection.
The Miniature German Shepherd And Dwarfism
Pituitary dwarfism is a genetic autosomal recessive disorder that affects the GSD.
Physical characteristics of this condition include:
- Shorter than normal legs
- Stagnant development of the hair coat or baldness
This would truly be a miniature German Shepherd in terms of temperament and behavior.
However, pituitary dwarfism can have some pretty serious health effects.
Impaired kidney function, hypothyroidism, and a weakened skeleton are just a few of the health problems that are associated with pituitary dwarfism.
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Siberian Shepherd Or Gerberian Shepsky
This exquisitely handsome boy is a German Shepherd Husky mix that will have you falling over your feet when he looks at you with that one baby blue. Love at first sight for sure. And the bonus? He loves you just as fiercely. Hes real hard-worker too an inherited trait from the Husky breed parentage.
Are Miniature German Shepherds Real
Many think that it is just a smaller version of a standard GSD.
This simply is not true.
If there are any small full bred German Shepherds, it means that they suffer from dwarfism, and this is actually quite rare.
While Miniature German Shepherds do exist they are not full breed German Shepherds.
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9 other answers
A Miniature German Shepherd is a cross between a German Shepherd and a smaller dog breed that is meant to result in a smaller version of a German Shepherd. Common crosses include Miniature Poodles, Border Collies, and Yorkshire Terriers. Although these Mini Shepherds can inherit any combination of traits from their parent breeds, they tend to be …
Miniature German Shepherd size will depend on a number of factors. If theyre crossed with another breed, they could be closer to the size of the other parent. So crossing with a Collie would make a larger dog than one mixed with a Yorkie. A miniature German Shepherd full grown with the gene for dwarfism would have very short legs and weigh approximately 30 pounds.
The Mini German Shepherd can reach a weight of up to 50 pounds, unlike the German Shepherd parent that can reach a weight of up to 90 pounds. And if the Mini GSD is a result of the introduction of a dwarfism gene, then the pooch will weigh about 30 pounds.
The cost for this breed is about the same price as a German Shepherd dog from $200 to $500. 4.
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How Cute Are They
A small German Shepherd with all the qualities of a purebred German Shepherd is simply the cutest and most adorable. Although German Shepherds are amongst the most popular breeds adopted, their large size, strength, and wolf-like features make them look intimidating and scare away many. Thus this mixed breed is considered perfect for people who want a smaller dog with similar characteristics and temperament, and they also require much lesser space, food, and exercise compared to the larger breed. They are extremely intelligent, loving, loyal, and big-time master pleasers. They are very affectionate and have a much lower prey drive than the pure breeds and hence, they would make for great companions for families with younger children or for deaf, blind, or disabled people who live alone or for senior citizens living alone as they are great watchdogs as well.
Miniature German Shepherd Vs German Shepherd
It can be challenging to know exactly what a mini German Shepherd puppy will look like or its precise temperament when cross-breeding. Ive already mentioned that the mini GSD will often take the dominant traits of the purebred, but this isnt guaranteed. Nonetheless, below is a comparison table so you can easily see the differences between the two and what to expect.
| Mini German Shepherd |
|---|
| $100-300 to Adopt |
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Positives And Negatives Of Ownership
Positives
- Commonly Asked Questions:
Q: What is the proper name of the mixed breed Mini GSD dog?
A. Its a Miniature German Shepherd but sometimes shortened to a Mini German Shepherd or Mini GSD.
Q. How much does a Miniature German Shepherd puppy cost?
A. Buying a mini GSD puppy from a reputable dealer will cost around $1000, the Poodle mix is even more expensive.
An alternative is to adopt a dog from a rescue center puppy or adult. The cost of adopting a rescue dog is much less than from a breeder.
Warning: If considering a Mini GSD rescue dog it is important to find out about the circumstances behind why that dog ended up in a rescue center abuse, neglect, personality, behavior, or any other available details of the temperament or health issues of the parents.
Food costs around $30-$40 per month for an adult and given their possible health problems you must factor in Vets fees and accessories from a retailer like Amazon.
Top Best Answers To The Question Are There Miniature German Shepherds
There is no such thing as a purebred miniature German Shepherd. A mini German Shepherd is usually the result of crossbreeding a German Shepherd with a smaller dog breed This is why mini German Shepherds often look just like small versions of their purebred mom or dad.
Those who are looking for an answer to the question «Are there miniature german shepherds?» often ask the followingquestions:
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Dog With A Magnificent Double Coat
Its coat can be heavily influenced by its other parent, but they typically have a thick and double-layered fur thats medium-length.
Its texture and colors can range. It could be curly like the Poodle, wiry like the Terrier, or silky and straight like the Collie.
They can be found in the standard black and tan shade of the German Shepherd, or you may even find this breed in red, black, white or silver.
This German Shepherd Chihuahua mix is one example:
Your Healthy Miniature German Shepherd Puppies Buying Guide
Miniature German shepherds can be mixed with poodles, Maltese, and more. This means the dog might inherit different traits that you might not know of.
Sure, you can easily search up on the internet what breed are the miniature German shepherd puppies parents. However, the same doesnt go with obscure traits like temperament, health, and more can only be identified by checking the pedigree of the pooch.
Information such as the DNA line and health data are crucial things that you should know so you can take care of the miniature GSD properly.
Since some breeders will breed those with the dwarfism gene intentionally, its important to know how to handle these uncertainties.
Breeders that cannot answer questions about the parents or provide any documents to back their statements are likely to be the type that only goes after the money.
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