Golden Shepherd 101: Dogs That Will Light Up Your World!

Golden Retriever German Shepherd Mix is a cross of a German Shepherd with a Golden Retriever, also known as German Retriever os Golden German Shepherd. Its a large dog at about 20 to 26 inches tall, weighing around 55 to 85 pounds. This crossbreed has a lifespan of 7 to 12 years.

This mixed breed loves people, makes for an incredibly loyal friend, and is as smart as it is pretty.

Keep reading below to learn more about the Golden Retriever German Shepherd Mix. But, first, we’re diving into the history of their parents.

German Shepherd: Loyal and Tough

This breed is one of the most recognizable dogs in the world. It’s the 2nd most popular in the US.

When Germany chose the German Shepherd as their official dog and Max Emil Friedrich von Stephanitz created a club to regulate standards, their popularity really boomed! This happened at the end of the 1800’s.

It’s no wonder breeders often use these dogs to create mixes, like the Golden Shepherd or the Siberian Shepherd.

They started out as sheepherders in Germany. Owners valued them more for their excellent work ethic versus their companionship. Fortunately, the German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix is appreciated for both of these reasons.

Today, German Shepherds are often used with police and the military. They are also known for having the strongest bite. Owners love them for their sharp looks, intelligence, and hard-working skills.

Golden Retriever & German Shepherd Mixes are no exception to this, and, like their parents, also make great workers.

Golden Retriever: Beloved by All

Anyone can recognize this dog thanks to their gorgeous golden fur and an adorable smile. Fortunately, the Golden Retriever German Shepherd can inherit both of these famous traits!

Lord Tweedmouth, a British aristocrat, first created these pups. He took his prized retriever and bred it with a water spaniel that, sadly, went extinct. In fact, the Golden Retriever recently celebrated their 150th anniversary with a giant party that included 361 Goldens in one park.

It’s thanks to Lord Tweedmouth that we get to have so many fabulous mix breeds, like the Golden Shepherd or the Goldendoodle.

Today, they make fantastic hunters for their skills at retrieving birds. They are also the common choice as therapy dogs thanks to their intelligence, kind personality, and people pleasing skills.

Combine a Proud Dog with a Social One and You Get The Golden Shepherd

The German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is a designer breed. These are created by combining two well-known dogs for the desired effect. Often times it’s to make an adorable, smaller version of a popular pet. Other times it's to enjoy a furry friend that is hypoallergenic.

The act of producing designer breeds has become extremely popular in the last decade. From this, we receive favorites like the Goldendoodle or the Peekapoo.

However, it’s also a recent trend. Because of this, there isn’t much known about the history of the Golden Retriever German Shepherd Mix.

All that matters, though, is that they are here now and loved by all!

Like with any other crossbreed, AKC does not recognize the Golden Shepherd, but these organizations are proud to do so:

• International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR)
• Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA)
• American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC)

Learn about the Adorable Characteristics of the Golden Shepherd Mix

Since this dog is a mix breed, there’s no telling how exactly they’ll look. If you buy a puppy, you’ll have to study the parents to see what characteristics are possible.

Here are some of the possibilities!

How Big Will a Full Grown Golden Retriever & German Shepherd Mix Get?

Above all, know that these dogs are by no means small! In fact, they can grow to be quite large. But that doesn’t mean that will stop them from wanting to be in your lap or by your side 24/7.

This mix will grow to be somewhere in between how big its parents are. So, let’s check out those numbers first.

Male and female German Shepherds have a better big difference in height and weight. While males grow up to 24 and 26 inches (61-66 cm), females get to be about 22 and 24 inches (56-62 cm). As far as weight, males can be 65 to 90 pounds (29-41 kg) heavy while females are only between 50 to 70 pounds (23-32 kg).

The Golden Retriever looks a bit different. Again, there is a difference between the sexes. Let’s start with the females first this time. Females can grow as tall as 21.5-22.5 inches (55 – 57 cm) and weigh as much as 55-65 pounds (25 – 29 kg). Males are 23-24 inches (58 – 61 cm) tall and 65-75 pounds (29 – 34 kg) heavy.

But what does this mean for your Golden Shepherd? As mentioned above these dogs grow to 20 to 26 inches (50-66 cm) tall and 60 to 85 pounds (27 – 39 kg) heavy.

But don’t be surprised if your Golden Shepherd is taller or heavier like it’s parents before it. It really is just a guessing game with this breed.

The Best of Both Dogs in the Golden Shepherd’s Temperament

Since German Shepherds are often used in police work, you can expect them to be brilliant and excellent at learning new tricks. Hands down, they the best out of the best when it comes to guarding. Because of their tendencies to pick favorites out of the family members, strangers aren’t their favorite.

Golden Retrievers are on the opposite end of the spectrum. They are very easy going, love all strangers, and are loyal to any family members. These dogs are social and beloved because of their awesome people pleasing skills.

The Golden Retriever German Shepherd Mix could inherit any combination of these behaviors from their parents, just as the same as their appearance.

Always striving to please their owners, it won't be long before the two of you become best buds. Their cleverness makes training easy. But we’ll go into the specifics of this a bit later.

Kids and Golden Shepherds get along great. However, if their bite is anything like the German Shepherd's, you'll need to always watch them around smaller family members.

The best way to bond with your German Shepherd & Golden Retriever Mix is through playtime. Your dog will always be up for some fetch or tug-of-war. Don't plan to leave your friend alone for long periods of time. The Golden Retriever genes love to be around people all the time, so if you’re gone for too long, they can get separation anxiety.

Since there is hunting blood in their veins, watch them around smaller animals. Or you might witness lots of chasing.

Be on the Lookout for These Possible Health Problems

As mentioned in the first paragraph Golden Shepherds have a life expectancy of around 7-12 years if they receive enough love and high-quality care. However, German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers have numerous health issues that can pass down to their puppies.

Work closely with your breeder to prevent this from happening to you. You’ll want to see pedigrees and health reports of your future dog. Especially with the Golden Retriever Mix, you’ll need to be on the lookout for a history of cancer.

German Shepherd Health Risks

These dogs have been bred for multiple centuries. Because of this, they run into many medical problems. Just to name a few, you’ll have to be on the lookout for panosteitis, chronic superficial keratitis, progressive retinal atrophy, epilepsy, hemophilia, and hypothyroidism.

However, here are the top three problems that you might run into.

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia

This is a pretty common disease for most, but unfortunately, the German Shepherd is more prone to it than others. In fact, 1 out of 5 German Shepherds are expected to have this. This could be blamed on their energetic personality and big stature.

Regardless, hip and elbow dysplasia is when the hip or elbow joint frequently pops out of its socket. As you can expect, this can cause the bones to wear down over time and, eventually, cause lameness.

Perianal Fistula

In other words, doggy diarrhea. It can be particularly alarming as it is often accompanied with bloody poop.

It all starts when the skin around the anus begins to gets infected. Needless to say, it’s very painful for both pet and owner.

Osteoarthritis

Or, when the joints begin to wear down after normal living. Most specifically for German Shepherds, it happens around the spine.

This is a lot worse than if it affected places like the wrist or leg, as a spine breaking down hurts your friend's ability to walk around a lot more.

If you take good care of your German Shepherd, as well as schedule regular vet visits to be proactive in their health, you can expect 11 happy years together.

Golden Retriever Health Risks

Sadly, Golden Retrievers face a large number of health issues. The most alarming of these is cancer. It’s shocking to know that approximately 40% of Goldens die from this, and neutering your female will put them at a higher risk. Aside from this, you can expect 12.5 years from these dogs.

Here are several of their other health problems:

• Atopic Dermatitis: Otherwise known as allergies! Most commonly, dogs can be allergic to pollen, animal dander, plants, insects, food, and medication. This breed is known to have lots of issues with this.
• Aortic Stenosis: This is a medical condition that affects the blood flow in the chambers of the heart. Eventually, this can thicken the heart walls and lead to serious heart issues and even failure.
• Just like with German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers are also prone to hip and elbow dysplasia.

Debate Of Health Difference Between Purebred and Mixed Breed

You might have heard before that a mix is healthier than a purebred. Many do debates whether this is true.

On the one hand, many think it’s easier to control against diseases when the kind of dogs used is limited. The unfortunate side of this is that examples have shown us over time they may change into something not as healthy. A great example of this is the English Bulldog.

Yet, on the other hand, mixing combines the positive traits of two types while getting rid of the negative. It takes a lot of time and hard effort, but it can happen.

Regardless of this debate, whether your pup is healthy comes down to the breeder you choose and the parents. Remember to work together to ensure you grab a healthy German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix.

Training is a Breeze with a Dog This Smart

We’ve already talked about how easy the Golden Retriever and GSD Mix is to train. But what should you specifically work on?

Make sure to socialize your Golden Shepherd early in case they adopt the nervousness around strangers from their German Shepherds parents. Have visitors, other animals, and children over often. The more experience they have around strangers, the better.

As well, do puppy training early to learn basic commands to make everyone’s lives easier. You’ll have an obedient pal that won’t yank on your arm while walking or pee all over the house right from the start.

Big Dog Means Lots of Exercises

Golden Shepherds require lots of attention and care and aren’t for the lazy at heart.

Plan for many daily walks. They’re big dogs that love to have fun, but if there is any leftover energy, it may turn destructive.

Because of this, a house with a yard is better. But an apartment can work if given enough daily exercise.

Since German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers are prone to having joint problems and your pup could inherit these issues, be cautious when exercising. You don't want to overdo it!

As well, overeating can be a problem because extra weight increases the load on the joints. Aim for ¾ to 1½ cups of food split into two meals each day.

Be Prepared for Lots of Grooming

You’ll need to brush your Golden Shepherd at least once a day to trap loose fur before it sheds. Make sure to use a brush that can reach both layers of the coat. Otherwise, you’ll be doing lots of cleaning and vacuuming.

Bath your dog only when necessary, such as when they’re covered in mud or dirt from playing outside. Heading to the bathtub too often can damage their skin.

As well, pay attention to how long their nails have grown and clip when necessary. Brush their teeth weekly to avoid the buildup of plaque and stinky kisses. And check their ears weekly for too much wax.

How Much Does a German Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix Puppy Cost?

This depends on where you buy from and the pedigree. Golden Shepherd’s price typically ranges from $500 to $800 but can go all the way up to $1500.

The good news is that there are breeders everywhere! Golden Retriever Shepherd Mixes are available in America in states like Michigan, Oregon, Ohio, Illinois, California, and more! Also across Canada and the UK.

As we mentioned before, do your research! Make sure anyone you purchase from is raising healthy and happy pups.

Visit whoever you choose to see how their dogs are around them and to discuss any potential health problems that may crop up.

There is also a great chance you’ll find a needy Golden Shepherd up for adoption. Do a quick search in your area.

Have Room for the Golden Shepherd in Your Home?

The German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix is the perfect pet for joggers looking for a running partner, skilled dog owners with no issues performing health monitoring, and those with lots of free time to devote to providing constant love and affection.