Information About the German Shepherd Greyhound Mix

More and more mixed breeds are showing up in popularity. One of them being the German Shepherd Greyhound mix. This is a combination of the German Shepherd and Greyhound dog breeds. Sometimes this mix is called a Shephound. This is a very friendly mix that would make a perfect family companion.

Ready to learn more about the German Shepherd Greyhound mix? Here you will find all the essential information you need to know about this hybrid breed.

German Shepherd Greyhound Mix History

Unfortunately, these newer types of crossbreeds do not have a lot of information about the history of the breed and how it came to be. What information we do have is on the particular parent dog breeds.

German Shepherd

In history, we know that one man was truly credited with the creation of the German Shepherd. He created the German Shepherd by combining a few different dog breeds together. He wanted a dog that could do many things such as hunting, guarding, and aiding the owner in whatever it needed.

After he began his breeding operation, he successfully created a dog just like that in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This breed could excel in various jobs. However, during the World Wars, people did not favor this dog breed because hence the name had an association with the German armies.

Eventually, the breed came to the United States and started to get very popular. This dog breed was accepted as a registered dog with the AKC in 1908. Of course, this dog breed is still highly popular today and praised for its amazing skills.

Greyhound

It is known that the Greyhound dog breed dates back a very long time in history. Some people believe the dog breed was around during Ancient Egypt, but there isn’t too much evidence to support this. It is known that the Greyhound was seen during the 5^th and 6^th centuries in England.

Many people like this dog breed due to its very fast nature and eyesight. This means that this dog breed would be an excellent hunting companion and even a racing dog. Therefore, this dog breed started to get popular with the nobility as well.

Today many people own a Greyhound around the world, and it is still a popular dog breed to this day.

Shephound Appearance

Appearance can range because of this being a mixed breed. Remember that each dog can be different as one can take on more German Shepherd traits and the other taking more Greyhound looks.

We do know that both the German Shepherd and the Greyhound are large breed dogs. So, your German Shepherd Greyhound mix will be medium to large in size. In addition, this breed will have a long muzzle and hang-down ears that aren’t completely down on the side of the dog’s face.

You will notice this dog breed to be skinny but also muscular. You will notice the tail of the dog to be very long. The coat can also vary, getting traits from either parent.

German Shepherd Greyhound Mix Temperament

German Shepherd Greyhound mixes will make absolutely fantastic family companions. Both parent breeds have really great temperaments and today are still some of the best breeds to own. If you have children, it will be no problem; this breed will be great around children. Just remember to start socialization at puppy age to ensure your dog will be used to kids.

This is a very loyal family dog breed too. This dog will be by your side whether you are napping or outside playing. You can count on your dog to be hanging and watching out for you. This mixed breed will also do very well around other dog breeds.

German Shepherd Greyhound Mix Coat

Again, the coat of this dog breed can either take on the look of the Greyhound or the German Shepherd. Your German Shepherd Greyhound mix can either have the short coat coming from the Greyhound or a thicker but still short-length hair from the German Shepherd.

Most likely, your Shephound will be somewhere in between that and have a short thick coat or a short fine coat. Remember that this is a shedding dog breed, so you will have to keep that in mind if you have allergies.

Get yourself a good grooming brush to help brush through your dog’s coat and to help remove some of that shedding hair. This coat will come in a few different colors depending on the parent breeds colors.

What Colors Do They Come In?

Here are some of the colors that your German Shepherd Greyhound mix may possibly come in:

Black
Brown
Brindle
Fawn
Tan
Red

Your Shephound will most likely have a black nose with either black or brown eyes.

Shephound Size

This is a medium size to large dog breed. The size will vary slightly from each dog. For example, German Shepherds can weigh between 49 to 88 pounds, and Greyhounds can weigh between 60 to 88 pounds. Based on this information, it is safe to say that your Shephound can range from 49 to 88 pounds in weight. Your dog’s gender will also influence its weight.

Greyhounds can span 27 to 30 inches in height, and German Shepherds can span 22 to 26 inches in height. Therefore, expect your German Shepherd Greyhound mix to fall within the 22 to 30 inches in height range.

Shephound Health Problems

Unfortunately, all dogs have health issues. Even when you take two mixed dog breeds and breed them together, they can still have health issues. However, this also has the same effect of reducing the chances of some serious health conditions.

Hip Dysplasia – This can limit your dog’s movement and ability to walk and run comfortably. This condition can actually happen to a lot of dog breeds. It happens when your dog’s hip bone comes out of the socket and causes your dog pain.

Elbow Dysplasia – This again can cause your dog pain. It is a lot like hip dysplasia, but this condition causes the elbow to move in and out of place. This will make your dog uncomfortable, but your dog’s veterinarian can treat it through pain medication.

Allergies – Allergies can be mild or severe; this just depends on your dog. Every dog is different, so be aware of your dog and if it has allergies issues. Allergies in dogs can be controlled with allergy medicine. Again, before you give your dog anything, ask your vet for the correct dosage.

Joint Issues – As we stated above, this mixed breed can get hip and elbow dysplasia. That can cause your dog to get joint pain. Your veterinarian can help your dog manage its pain by prescribing pain medicine or even ibuprofen that would be safe for dogs. Even if your dog suffers from arthritis, your dog can get help from the vet.

Bloat – Bloat is a very serious condition where the stomach can actually twist and almost flip. This happens if the dog eats too much or eats a lot that the stomach gets bloated. This can be fatal if the dog does not receive medical attention.

Again, you can check with your veterinarian if you are ever worried about your dog’s health. Overall, the German Shepherd Greyhound mix is quite a healthy dog breed.

Life Expectancy of a German Shepherd Greyhound Mix

Mixed dog breeds can have varying life spans just based on the mix of the two parent breeds. For example, the German Shepherd parent has a life span of 9 to 13 years. On the other hand, greyhounds have a life span of 10 to 14 years.

Based on this information, we can estimate the Greyhound German Shepherd mix to have a life span of 9 to 14 years. If your dog is healthy, you should expect it to live a long time. Of course, you can always ask your veterinarian’s opinion on your dogs’ lifespan.

Living Conditions

This is a great dog for people with families. If you have children, this mixed breed can really thrive with you and your kids. It is important that you have a home with a yard when you get this dog breed. The yard will be ideal for your dog to run around in.

This is a high-energy dog, so it is important that you can adequately give your dog the required amount of exercise. If you are an elderly person who may not give your dog an hour of exercise each day, then this may not be the dog breed for you.

This dog breed will cost more in food costs based on its size. So if you are used to a small breed dog, you need to make that switch in your brain that a larger dog breed will require more food and more money spent on dog food.

German Shepherd Greyhound Mix Exercise

Both of these parent dog breeds are active and will need adequate exercise each day. Your German Shepherd Greyhound mix will need at least one hour of exercise each day, if not more. You will have to cater the amount to your specific dog’s personality and activity. Overall, your dog will need at least one hour.

If that sounds like a lot to you, then no problem, simply break up that hour into smaller sections of time throughout the day. For example, you can do four 20-minute sessions throughout the day, one in the morning, mid-morning, afternoon, and evening. However, doing that is fine as long as you get your dog’s energy out and keep your dog healthy through exercise.

Some examples of good exercise ideas are walks, playtime with toys, running sessions since your dog is part Greyhound, etc. You get the idea. Also, puzzle toys are great to keep your dog mentally stimulated when you are outside.

German Shepherd Greyhound Mix Feeding

The German Shepherd Greyhound mix is a medium to large dog breed, so it is important that you feed your dog the correct amount of food to sustain your dog and keep it healthy. The food amount that you will feed your dog will largely depend on the weight and size of your dog.

If you overfeed your dog, it can lead to a health condition called bloat but also can cause obesity. So, it is very important not to overfeed your dog. First, make sure the food you decide on has a good source of protein. Do not buy the cheapest dog food on the market because it usually does have the protein in the first few ingredients.

Keep in mind this is a quite active dog breed and will need to replenish those calories lost during exercise. Also, make sure the dog food has a balance of carbs, fruits, and vegetables.

Greyhound German Shepherd Mix Training

The parent breeds that make up this mix are very intelligent dog breeds. This means it shouldn’t be too difficult to train your dog. Training should be started when your dog is a puppy. You can spend a few minutes each day when your dog is a puppy training. As your dog gets older, you can gradually increase that time.

As you know, the parent dog breeds of this mix are typically trained to do a variety of things. Especially the German Shepherd parent can do wondrous things when trained, such as therapy, search and rescue, and even police force.

If you do not have the time to put in the effort to train your dog, you can always sign up your dog to be trained by a professional. Remember when you are training to praise your dog with affection or treats. It is important to stop training when your feel frustrated; take it slow.

Greyhound German Shepherd Mix Grooming

The Greyhound German Shepherd mix can either have a short or medium-length coat. Remember that each dog will have a different coat, but it will shed whether it is short or medium in length. Shedding can be controlled by brushing your dog frequently. The hair will get trapped inside the brush and just help combat the hair that would otherwise fall onto your floor.

Your dog only needs to be bathed about once a month or earlier if you see your dog looking physically dirty. However, if you bathe your dog too often, it can actually dry out its skin which can cause a lot of issues.

Don’t forget to clip your dogs’ nails when they get too long. It is important that you do this because it can be painful for your dog to walk around on long nails. Also, check your dog’s ears to ensure they are clean and infection-free. Again, if you do not have the time to do this, you can have your dog go see a professional groomer.

German Shepherd Greyhound Mix Puppies

When getting a mixed breed puppy, it is important to purchase from a breeder that is reputable instead of a puppy mill or pet store. It may take you some time to find a breeder actually selling this mixed dog breed. If you keep looking, you will eventually find one.

Most breeders will work with you and give you a healthy puppy. Some breeders also have their puppies come with a health guarantee which means if something happens within the time frame given, they will give you a new puppy.

All breeders price their puppies differently. Since this mixed dog breed is quite rare, you may have to pay more because of that. It will all be worth it because you will get your dream dog.

Remember to socialize your puppy when you get it, as it will make your dog more friendly to other people and animals. You will also want to start to teach your dog some training techniques. However, don’t expect your dog to learn all of these tricks right away; it will take time.

Shephound Litter Size

Litter size is another category that can vastly vary between dogs and in mixed dog breeds. It truly all depends on the size of the dog and which parent breed is the female. German Shepperd’s can have a wide range of litter sizes from 1 to 15. On average, it will be between 5 to 9. Greyhounds can have between 1 to 12.

So, as you can see, the Shephound can have a large litter size ranging from likely 3 to 10. Veterinarians have ultrasound technology and can actually see how many puppies your dog will have once it’s farther along. Some vets will even take an x-ray to see.

Key Takeaways

In this section, I like to leave you with the major points discussed in this article about the Shephound.

This will be a medium to large dog breed, so make sure you can accommodate your dog in your home accordingly.
The Greyhound German Shepherd mix will truly make a great family dog even if you have small children.
This is quite an intelligent mixed dog breed, so training should be easy as long as you are the alpha.
Shephounds need around one hour of exercise each day to ensure they get out all of their energy.
Feed your dog a high-quality food. You can even make your own dog food if you prefer to do that.
Remember to get your Greyhound German Shepherd mix from a reputable breeder instead of a pet store.