The strongest subgroup of shepherd dog breeds includes the King Shepherd.
The King Shepherd is widely recognized as a designer dog that has the Shiloh Shepherd as well as the GSD among its ancestor line.
Compared to any other breed, the German Shepherd-crossbreed King Shepherd personifies the phrase “man’s closest friend.”
Here are some things to think about before deciding whether your lifestyle has the capacity for a King Shepherd.
What Is The King Shepherd?
King Shepherd dogs were bred to be powerful working dogs; I might say, bred to be an enhanced version of the German Shepherd dog.
They were strong and capable, and their enormous size would act as a major impediment to any dangerous predator. Although they are not violent dogs, King Shepherds are fiercely devoted to their owner.
The German Shepherd is a necessary component of the King Shepherd, which may also comprise other breeds.
Some earlier lines can be traced back to the Akita, albeit they are most frequently mixed again with an Alaskan Malamute and/or a Great Pyrenees. Despite their possibly scary size, they are warm and affectionate towards their family members and those who they don’t see as a threat.
History
Two Americans, Shelley Watts-Cross, together with David Turkheimer, created the King Shepherd in 1990. This type of dog is still considered to be in its developing stages since it is not yet recognized by the AKC.
Large dog breeds, such as the Great Pyrenees and the Alaskan Malamute, and occasionally, the Akita, are mixed in with German Shepherds to create this hybrid dog breed.
Breeders sought to produce a German Shepherd-like dog that was larger and had less hereditary health issues than the German Shepherd.
This dog, which comes from a long history of working parents, requires activity to maintain its happiness.
Although the hybrid first saw the light of day in the 1990s, a breed club for King Shepherds wasn’t founded until 1995.
The phrase “designer breed” can refer to large, untamed-appearing King Shepherds as well as canines, including Labradoodles and Yorkipoos.
These canines, which first appeared in the early 1990s in the United States, were bred to produce a German Shepherd hybrid with minimal health problems compared to a conventional German Shepherd dog.
The American Kennel Club has not yet approved King Shepherds because they are a pretty recent breed, and remain extremely uncommon throughout American families.
The World Wide Kennel Club (WWKC), the Eastern Rare Breed Dog Club (ERBDC), American Rare Breed Association, American King Shepherd Club, Dog Registry of America, and several other associations do, however, recognize them.
Physical Characteristics Of The King Shepherd
Female King Shepherds (as I like to call them, Queen Shepherds) should be 70 to 120 pounds, and stand between 25 and 27 inches tall at the shoulder. Males should range from 90 to 150 pounds, and stand 27 to 31 inches at the shoulder.
Nevertheless, some dogs could be larger or smaller than usual, and not fall within the parameters set by their breed.
The coat color of King Shepherds is primarily a fusion of German Shepherd and certain other progenitor breeds. Fawn, beige, black, chocolate, as well as sable make up most of the coat’s color palette. King Shepherds will, at least, have two colors of their coat present.
This GSD mix is a gentle giant with a weather-resistant and environmental-resistant coat and stature. King Shepherds can captivate you with their charming personalities.
We have already highlighted how incredibly caring and devoted they are. It’s also gentle, compassionate, and playful.
King Shepherds have a shepherd instinct, which makes them diligent laborers. They desire to please you, and pick up on your instructions quickly.
Personality And Behavioral Traits
King Shepherds are extremely composed and flexible dogs. Due to their size and significant exercise requirements, they are most suitable for single-family houses with gated outdoor areas.
These dogs make a wonderful choice for families with young children because they are frequently highly patient with both youngsters and other animals.
King Shepherds have a high level of intellect, which makes them simple to teach, and suitable as both friends and effective working dogs. This breed forms strong ties with its owner, but if left home alone too frequently, it can turn destructive.
They are gentle giants… Teddy bears and lovey-dovey with their loved members of the pack and family, but with strangers, these dogs turn into extremely alert guard dogs. They were once herding dogs, but now they mostly serve as family dogs and watchdogs.
King Shepherds can captivate you with their charming personalities. We have already highlighted how incredibly caring and devoted they are. They’re also gentle, compassionate, and playful.
Want a beloved family pet to be a part of your children’s childhood memories? Although they are boisterous and lively, King Shepherds are nonetheless wonderfully gentle with children. Additionally, they are devoted to and watchful of their young friends.
Health
Although King Shepherds generally have good health, they can nevertheless develop specific health problems like other breeds. However, this breed’s genetic variety does offer further prevention against hereditary diseases.
Reputable breeders will screen parent dogs for hereditary disorders to minimize transmitting them on to their offspring.
King Shepherd dogs can face some health problems, and I have listed the ones which you should pay the most attention to below.
Elbow dysplasia as well as hip dysplasia: This disorder results in a deformity in your dog’s growing joints, which can cause discomfort, unsteadiness, or stiffness. Large-breed dogs are especially susceptible to dysplasia.
The hereditary condition known as Von Willebrand’s Disease reduces the blood’s capacity to coagulate following injury.
Hypothyroidism, a hormonal condition which affects the thyroid, lowers your dog’s metabolism, which may result in future excess weight as well as other health issues.
Bloat, also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), is a condition that is frequent in big and giant breeds of dogs. Your veterinarian can suggest stomach-tacking surgery as a prophylactic measure.
Generally, I would say that these dogs don’t have as many health problems, and that is one of the reasons why they are good for first-time owners.
Maintenance
The King Shepherd perhaps isn’t the best dog for your needs if you’re searching for one that requires little upkeep. King Shepherds demand a great deal of time, effort, and care in order to flourish due to their hygiene and exercise needs.
Every day, you must engage in intense exercise for at least an hour. These are large dogs that were employed as herding dogs, so it is in their veins that they need to roam freely. Single-family houses with lots of area for running, walking, exploring, and playing are ideal for these dogs.
Your dog’s undercoat will stay healthy, tidy, and tangle free if you brush them many times per week, or even every day. You will need to spend a certain amount of time every day in order to maintain their double coat. And, I’m not saying it’s easy!
It is advised to only give them a bath when absolutely necessary, and to use a gentle shampoo. I advise brushing them almost every day, or at least every other day because their double coat can get messy if you don’t do so.
The coat’s natural oils can be removed by taking too many baths. Only ordinary baths every 3 to 4 months are necessary for the King Shepherd. To avoid infections, make sure your dog has regular dental cleanings and ear checks.
Jogging and strolling will hopefully maintain your King Shepherd’s nails if they are particularly active, but trims should be done as needed.
It is highly important, just as with any other dogs, that you give the King Shepherd a lot of mental stimulation, provided with obedience training, socialization, and spending a lot of time doing basic dog training.
They typically have a medium-length, standard coat, and although they are not an ideal breed of dog for people who suffer from allergies, their coat is quite simple to maintain. Some argue that they are among the low-maintenance dog breeds.
Since they are the children of very active purebred dog breeds, they will need an owner who knows how to deal with large dog breeds.
Final Word
The King Shepherd is an American big breed of dog with a long nose, pointed ears, and thick fur all over its powerful, solid frame. King Shepherds are, as their name suggests, enormous hybrid canines that result from the mating of Shiloh and German Shepherds.
The King Shepherd, though, stands out among its blood relatives due to its enormous size.
King Shepherds, despite their enormous size and sometimes intimidating look, are typically very amiable. Typically, these dogs are gentle and affectionate with their owner.
King Shepherds make the ideal companion for the proper owner because they are not only ferocious, but also devoted and defensive of their family members.
They have goofy Retriever personalities in a large format, especially the ones mixed with the European GSD. Their lifespan will depend on the ways you treat them, take care of them, and maintain their health.
We will always be the ones who will recommend that before you decide to purchase, try to find this dog breed in your local shelter because you never know… maybe your huge Teddy bear awaits you there.
Want a beloved family pet to be a part of your children’s childhood memories? Although they are boisterous and lively, King Shepherd puppies are nonetheless wonderfully gentle with children. Additionally, they are devoted to and watchful of their young friends.
