German Shepherd Lab Mix - Sheprador Breed Traits (2024)

German Shepherd Lab Mix Appearance

Most German Shepherd Lab mix puppies are first generation crossbreeds. That is, they have one parent of each pedigree. So there is huge variation in how they look, and no standard appearance.

Some have the telltale muzzle and tall ears of the German Shepherd, others more resemble a Labrador. The color of their coat will depend on the coloring of their parents. For example, a black Lab German Shepherd mix is likely to have a dark coat, and a German Shepherd yellow Lab mix is likely to have a mid-toned coat.

There are even arresting-looking white German Shepherd Lab crosses. Also, on top of their base color, German shepradors may also inherit their German Shepherd parent’s coat pattern, for example, the classic saddle back markings.

Grooming and Shedding

Like both their parents, your German Shepherd mix Lab has a double coat. An ultra-warm undercoat and a coarse outer coat to protect them from the elements as they work outdoors. Your German Shepherd Lab mix pup’s coat will almost certainly be short and neat like their Labrador parent’s. This is because the gene for long coats is recessive and very unusual among Labs. So even if their German Shepherd parent has a long coat, it’s unlikely to be passed on to their puppies.

Labrador German Shepherd mix dog’s require little grooming besides a good going over with a sturdy brush once or twice a week. Gathering up their lost hair will be a never-ending task! A good vacuum cleaner is essential. This might be reason enough to choose a different crossbreed if you have a busy family or someone with allergies in the home.

How Big Are German Shepherd Lab Mixes?

German Shepherds are large dogs. They stand 22 – 26 inches tall at their shoulder blades, and weigh 49 – 88 pounds. Meanwhile, Labs are a medium sized breed, 22 – 25 inches tall at their shoulders, and 55 – 80 pounds on the scales.

They might fall into different size categories, but as you can see, there’s not an awful lot in it – they’re both sizable dogs! And there’s a lot of overlap, so don’t assume that the German Shepherd will be the larger parent to a litter of these puppies. A Labrador German shepherd mix could be as petite as their smallest parent or as big as their largest parent.

Your German Shepherd Lab mix could weigh anything from 55 pounds to 80 pounds. As usual, the lower end of the range is typically made up of female dogs, and the top end is dominated by the boys.

German Shepherd Lab Mix Temperament

Labradors are friendly, active and outgoing. They love to interact with people, show their affection, and get on well with children. Also, the German Shepherd is confident, courageous and smart. They are loyal and full of life. Furthermore, Labradors and German Shepherds are both fast learners and eager to please. German Shepherds in particular need productive ways to channel their intelligence, or they will get into mischief to stave off boredom.

Your German Shepherd Lab mix could inherit any combination of the traits of their parents, which is why meeting both parents before committing to bringing home a puppy is so important. Either way, it’s important to properly socialize your new pup from an early age.

Socialization

Socialization is the process of making a dog comfortable with other animals, people, places and activities. Even for breeds that are known to be friendly and easy-going, like Labradors, socialization is very important. German Shepherd Lab mixes are likely to inherit a love of people and company from both sides of their family tree. But socializing them properly as puppies will be vital to give them the confidence they need in meeting new people.

German Shepherds, despite their great loyalty to their family, can be wary of strangers. So thorough socialization from puppyhood is essential, even for a mix. For instance, Socialization can involve having new people call over to the house regularly so your pup gets used to new faces and voices. It can also involve introducing your puppy to new dogs, cats, children and other animals so that they do not become fearful or territorial.

Training Your German Shepherd Lab Mix

German Shepherds and Labradors are both energetic, intelligent dogs. Without a doubt, to wear out your German Shepherd Lab mix so that they don’t bounce off the walls back at home, they’re going to need at least two hour’s vigorous exercise every day. A young dog in good health could require even more. They will also need human company for much of the day, and training to keep those big brains from getting bored.

They are working dogs at heart. Highly motivated to learn and impress you with their ability to follow instructions. Like with any dog, training them is an ongoing commitment that lasts a lifetime. But with your ultra smart dog it should be a satisfying and rewarding one. However, it’s important to remember that this breed is prone to some health concerns that could inhibit or affect their exercise requirements and ability.

German Shepherd and Labrador Health

Magnification of health problems in pedigree dog breeds has become a well-documented problem. And there’s evidence that crossbreed dogs live longer than pedigree dogs as a result.

Labrador Health

One of the biggest health problems facing Labradors today is hip and elbow dysplasia – looseness in the joints that eventually leads to painful arthritis. Another is progressive retinal atrophy, a gradual failure of the retina at the back of their eyes that can ultimately leave them blind. It’s important to make sure that the breeder you buy your puppy from has tested the Lab parent for these inherited problems.

Also, Labs are also notoriously greedy, and prone to obesity if their penchant for snacking is indulged too often. Another less serious but common issue in Labs is ear infections. These are easily treated but may require veterinary care and frequent inspections.

German Shepherd Health

Due to the very small foundation gene pool of the German Shepherd breed, and years spent in pursuit of an exaggerated body shape by some breeders, today they are sadly prone to a catalog of health problems:

• Elbow and hip dysplasia
• Gastric Dilatation Volvulus – dangerous twisting of the stomach caused by the build up of gas after eating
• Chronic Degenerative Radiculomyopathy – slow onset paralysis of the back legs, caused by loss of the nerve fibers which control them
• Panosteitis – an inflammatory bone disease

Luckily, most of these diseases are easily detectable in parent dogs, so again, you’ll need to make sure your breeder has fully test the German Shepherd parent dog. In addition, they are more than usually prone to:

• Gastrointestinal diseases
• Anal infections
• Eye diseases
• Allergies
• Epilepsy
• Under active thyroid

German Shepherd Lab Mix Health

The good news is that dogs’ joints and eyes can be screened before they breed, so that individuals who suffer from joint dysplasia or poor eyesight can be removed from breeding lines. Furthermore, conditions like obesity are within our control as pet owners and can be prevented.

And it’s possible that by breeding a Labrador cross German Shepherd, the relatively robust health of the Lab will balance out the misfortunes of the German Shepherd and improve the health of their puppies. However there hasn’t been any clinical research to prove or quantify that yet.

In the meantime, the best thing you can do for your future German Shepherd Lab mix puppy is ask as many questions as possible about the health and medical history of their parents, and request certificates of health screening.

How Long Do German Shepherd Lab Mixes Live?

Labrador Retrievers will typically live between 10.6 and 14 years. Whereas your German Shepherd will typically reach a slightly younger age of 9.2 to 12 years. This means that you can expect to have your German Shepherd Lab mix around for about 11 or 12 years.

Finding Your German Shepherd Lab Mix Puppy

German Shepherd Lab puppies are advertised widely for sale across the country, and luckily don’t command the same price premium as other more fashionable cross breeds. That said, it’s expensive to breed healthy pups, so be wary of improbably low prices. Besides the usual puppy matching websites, the increasing number of designer breed registries often keep directories of breeders specializing in German shepherd and lab mix matings.

If you have a particular coloring for your pet in mind, for example a chocolate Lab German Shepherd mix, then be prepared to wait a little longer for the right pup to come along. If rescuing is not for you, make sure you do your homework so that you are only buying a puppy from a reputable breeder.

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German Shepherd Lab Mix Breeders

While there are plenty of reputable and responsible breeders around, there are unfortunately also lots of unscrupulous people trying to make quick money at the expense of animals. If you have friends or family who have found a mixed breed dog from a good breeder, ask for recommendations.

Once you have found a breeder, ask to see records of health tests and inquire about any behavioral or other issues. You should also ask to meet the parent dogs. A good breeder will be happy to show that the parent dogs are good shape, safe and happy conditions. There are also many telltale signs that a breeder is operating a puppy mill.

Rescue Dogs

If you already have your heart set on a beautiful black Lab German Shepherd mix, you could consider rescuing rather than buying. Start by checking out your local animal shelters as well as various German Shepherd or Labrador specific rescues. Some rescues do take in mixed breeds if they are a cross of their primary breed.