When deciding on getting a new dog, there is always the dilemma of what the best dog breed for me is. There is a lot to take into consideration, but everything needs to match you and your family.
A dog that is too big can be a problem for some people and some people are not that fond of dogs that are small. Energy levels are also quite important in order for the dog to be the perfect match.
High energy levels can be a lot for some people, especially if they are on a bit more of the calmer side. Others like to be active and share that active lifestyle with their dog. These types of people will not be a good match for dogs that are on the lazier side and that do not move around too much.
That being said, there is also a possibility that you may like two different breeds. This is where we come with the good news. There are purebred dog breeds, and there are also mixed breeds.
This is perfect for people who can’t decide on one because you can get the best of both worlds.
By you reading this article, we can tell that you are doing the research on the Samoyed German Shepherd mix, and we can tell that you have quite a unique and interesting taste. These dogs might look like they have nothing in common and do not go together, but we are here to see if that is true.
Let us start the journey that is called the Samoyed shepherd mix.
The Samoyed German Shepherd Mix: Let Us Meet The Parents
Mixed dog breeds can be tricky when it comes to determining their personality traits and their appearance. This is also the case with the Samoyed Shepherd mix. These pooches are quite unusual, and they are not that common in the dog world.
This is the main reason why you can never be 100% sure about what you will be getting. The good thing that may help is getting to know their dog parents more.
When you know a lot about the two breeds that create these beautiful dogs, you can get a closer picture of how this mixed pooch may be, and what they might look like.
This is why, when talking about crossbreeds, we always like to introduce the parents first and then go more in-depth about the mixed breed itself.
Let’s start with the introduction of the parent breeds.
German Shepherd (GSD)
The German Shepherd dog is one of the most popular dog breeds on the entire planet, which is confirmed by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The best description for these pooches is loving, working dogs.
They can do everything from being military dogs, police dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs to competing in every possible competition and excelling in it. They are very big, and have a bit of an intimidating appearance.
This is what makes them amazing guard dogs and even watchdogs. They will alert you to every potentially dangerous situation or person approaching your home. Because of this, some people might think that they are aggressive.
Just like with any other dog, if not given proper socialization and training, the GSD can become aggressive as well. But, people who decide on getting this breed are usually aware of the fact that these dogs are super intelligent and willing to work, and that they need to be shown who the leader is.
If you do not show this dog dominant energy, it will try to claim it.
They come in different colors, but they are mostly recognized by the black and brown colors that are distributed throughout their body in a way that only the German Shepherd breed has.
They do shed a lot. There has been some research showing that this dog breed is one that sheds the most out of every other dog breed out there. This is why regular brushing is a must when it comes to the GSD.
Even though they have that intimidating look to them, kids seem to love them, and they love them back as well. This is mostly because of the GSD’s pure heart and loving nature that the kids can sense straight away.
Samoyed
The Samoyed is quite the dog breed. At first glance, their big, white, fluffy coat makes them appear as a big Teddy bear that is just for snuggles. But, there is much more to these dogs.
They were originally bred to hunt, and to be more specific, herd reindeer. Samoyeds were also beloved by the Siberians because they would help them by keeping them warm, tracking, and even pulling sleds if necessary.
This means that these pooches are quite working dogs, similar to German Shepherds. The only difference is that the GSD is used more frequently in many different aspects, while the Samoyed is more on the low side.
Today, they are typically owned to be family dogs, but the working dog in their DNA needs to be fulfilled. You can do this by giving them some small tasks throughout the day. Mental and physical stimulation is very important.
These pooches tend to get stubborn and strong-willed, which is why they are not for people who do not know how to show their dominant side and assert who is the boss.
The most adorable thing about Samoyeds is that they always appear as if they are smiling. This is so common that there is a name for their smile, and it is called the Sammy smile. You can say that they are quite photogenic dogs.
While looking at that smile, you would never think that Samoyeds can be aggressive. They are not, but that is only if socialization is done early and properly.
Their white coat is their main attribute, but you need to know that it can be a hassle at times. They do shed a lot, and their white hairs will get everywhere.
Shedding is not the only problem… oh, no. It is also very difficult to bathe these dogs and brush them. Their coat is very thick, so bathing time can also be considered as workout time for the owner.
Their hunting instinct can make living with a smaller animal interesting, to say the least. You need to teach them from a young age that chasing small animals is not okay.
The Samoyed German Shepherd Mix: Personality And Temperament
Now that we have met the dog parents, we can have a glimpse of what this mix can be like. It can never be said with 100% accuracy that these dogs will be this or that, but there are some traits that a lot of them share.
Both of the parent breeds have some similarities, but also some differences. The similarities will most likely be inherited by the German Shepherd Samoyed mix, but the differences are something that makes these dogs interesting.
It can almost feel like you are playing a personality lottery. The main factor for this is which DNA is stronger – the Samoyed one or the German Shepherd one.
Here are a couple of things that you need to know about these dogs:
They Are Intelligent
These pooches have parents that are extremely intelligent and are very easy to train. This part of the DNA is streaming through their blood because this mixed breed also has the same characteristics.
The German Shepherd Samoyed puppy is really a pleasure to train. Their focus, mixed with their goofy side, is amazing when it comes to training them. Positive reinforcement and some treats are a must when it comes to getting this pooch to learn what you want it to.
Dog training can be sometimes overwhelming, and if you are one of those people, you can always hire a professional dog trainer, but we are sure you will do just fine.
A bit of patience is what you need, and your doggy will do the rest of the work. Try to make it as fun as possible, and even create a bonding experience from training sessions.
Mental stimulation is very important with these dogs, and it needs to be done on a daily basis.
They Can Be Shy
This is something that is a bit unusual because both the German Shepherd and the Samoyed are not dogs that are particularly shy, especially the German Shepherd. Both of these dogs are known to be quite outgoing.
Shyness is not that dominant in this mixed breed, but it can happen. You can see this the most when they are meeting new people. At first, it might look like they are scared, but actually, they are just trying to hide.
When they get a bit comfortable, which you will need to help them with, they will love to spend time with their new friends.
You might even notice your dog following you to the bathroom because they might not feel comfortable leaving your side until they get to know people all the way.
So, keep in mind that if you plan on introducing your dog to new people, do it slowly and patiently. Make sure that your dog is comfortable. If not, they might connect the new people with a bad experience, which can cause some problems later on.
They Are Energetic Dogs
Their activity levels are very high. Samoyeds are known to have their goofy side and to show off their high energy levels, while a German Shepherd is calmer, more collected, and will let go of all that energy when the time and place are right.
These mixed pooches can be considered to be somewhere in between, but the Samoyed side will be more dominant. They need a lot of exercise on a daily basis. If they do not get enough exercise, you might have a problem.
They can even become destructive, and in the worst case scenario, become aggressive. Thus, even these extremely intelligent dogs can be hard to socialize if they become aggressive.
There are plenty of physical activities in which both you and your dog can enjoy. When they are puppies, playtime is very important, and that includes one-on-one play sessions with their owner and some playtime with other dogs.
RELATED: 24 Medium-Energy Dog Breeds That Might Be Suitable For You
They Don’t Like To Be Alone
This highly trainable and high-energy dog is a great family dog, but you need to know that they really hate being alone. This is something you need to keep in mind if you are thinking about getting this dog.
If you need to be out of the house for long periods of time or if you travel a lot, then getting this dog is not a good idea. This is something that will not affect you as much as it will affect your doggy.
They can become anxious and start behaving strangely; for example, they can become really attached all of a sudden and start following you everywhere. This might be cute and nice in the beginning, but the backstory is not that good for the pooch.
Getting another dog can fix this because they will have a companion that will spend time with them when you are not there. If you need to spend some time out of the house, the best thing to do is either ask a family member or a friend to spend some time with them, or hire a professional dog nanny.
They Are Friendly
These dogs love to play and meet new people and dogs. This is, of course, if they do not have a shy side to them, which we already mentioned is rare, but can happen.
If you are the type of person who has a lot of friends or a big family, and loves to spend a lot of time outdoors, you may ask yourself: is a German Shepherd Samoyed mix right for me? The answer will be an absolute yes!
These dogs can get along with everybody, and also with any other animal. A household with a lot of people is amazing for them.
The most amazing combination would be if most of your friends have dogs. This will be just heaven for them… both human and dog friends that they can see daily?! Say no more – your pooch will enjoy it.
They Are Good With Kids
This is one of the main things that makes them amazing family pets. This large dog might look a bit intimidating at first glance, but they are really kid magnets. They have a long and fluffy coat, which makes them look like huge Teddy bears.
The important thing is that they love kids, too. If you have kids, this information is important because you will like the fact that your dog and your child will be getting along well.
Don’t worry – you will have no problem, but make sure to socialize them and surround them with kids while they are still puppies.
Since they are big in size, they can accidentally injure a kid while playing. This is the reason why you should always be around, and never leave your kids unintended when playing with a dog, even if the dog is amazing with your kids.
Sometimes, an accident can happen unintentionally, and we are here to make sure that it does not happen. If something minor does happen, try not to react too angrily because they do not know what they have done, and they did not do it on purpose.
And, please never hit your dog because they might not forgive you later.
The Samoyed German Shepherd Mix: Appearance
When it comes to describing a dog that is mixed, you need to know that every dog can look different. You have an example of a Goldendoodle or a Labradoodle. These mixed dogs have a general appearance because they are bred frequently since they are very popular.
Over time, they got the specific look that we all know and love today. When it comes to mixed breeds that are not that popular and not bred that often, you can expect to never know what you will be getting until the dog gets big.
We have listed some things when it comes to their appearance in order to give you a general idea of what you may be getting.
General Appearance
This is something that can never be said for sure. There can be examples where the dog has inherited more German Shepherd DNA, and because of that, it resembles the German Shepherd more, or they can look more like their Samoyed parent.
The most frequent examples of this dog that you can find are that they look like a German Shepherd with a coat that resembles the Samoyed more, and colors that can be a mix of both.
They will most likely have big and pointy ears that will be covered with their coat since both parents have ears like that.
They can grow to be around 24 inches tall, and can weigh anywhere between 45 and 88 pounds, which makes them large dogs.
They will have a muscular body, which is no surprise when you know how active they are and how much time they spend being on the move. You might not see those muscles like you would see in a Pit Bull because they are covered in their long and dense coat.
You can compare this to an Australian Shepherd. They are muscular dogs as well, but you can not notice that because of their coat.
Their tail will most likely be long just like both of the parents have, and it will be covered in a longer coat. It is not advised to crop the tail of this mixed breed.
Coat Colors And Type
Both German Shepherds and Samoyeds have a medium-length coat and a double coat, so you can expect their puppies to have the same. This fluffy, double coat mixed with some color patterns makes them appear like sled dogs, or in other words, they might resemble a Husky.
This might sound strange when you read it, but when you see one of these, you will get the picture. Coat colors will depend on what parent they inherited more from, but the general colors that they can have are black, brown, white, cream, gray, and tan.
When looking at a Samoyed German Shepherd mix puppy, you can get an idea of what you are getting. The only thing that can change is some of the patterns as they grow up.
When it comes to the color shade of their coat, it stays the same, meaning if you pick a bit of a darker puppy, the darker colors will stay that way.
The interesting thing is that in most cases, they will inherit some lighter variations of German Shepherd colors, but they will have some white in the mix, which a GSD never has.
Talking about their coat, you need to know that these dogs are quite the shedders. Keeping them in an apartment will be quite a battle not just because of their size, but because of the hairs being everywhere.
If you have some dog allergies, then you need to keep that in mind.
The Samoyed German Shepherd Mix: Training And Exercise
When it comes to large dogs that are also high-energy dogs, you need to know that exercising with your pooch will be a daily routine. Proper training is extremely important. You might take your dog for daily walks, but sometimes that is not enough for these pups.
If you are taking a walk somewhere in nature where they can roam, then that can be enough, but a stroll around the neighborhood will definitely not be enough for them.
You will need to combine it with either letting them play with other dogs or having a play session with them, like playing fetch, throwing them a frisbee, or whatever comes to your mind.
A Samoyed German Shepherd puppy will need a lot of exercise as well, but make sure to not let them get over-exercised, which can happen for sure. They can be relentless when it comes to playing.
Try to find the perfect balance for your dog, and don’t worry if this will take some time. Finding the perfect combination for your pooch is sometimes not easy, so don’t feel discouraged. You might be lucky and find something they enjoy the most right away.
Since these dogs are high energy, they are not the right pet for people who love to lounge and spend most of the time having snuggle time with their dogs. These dogs love to receive attention – don’t get us wrong, but that is only after they let all of their energy out.
You can incorporate their high energy levels and playfulness into training. You can use some fun tactics to teach your dog something.
Since they are willing to please and love to show off, teaching them anything will not be a problem. Make sure that you start slow when they just arrive at your house.
If you spend a lot of time training them, they can become overwhelmed and start to dislike training. If that happens, getting them back to loving learning new things can be quite difficult.
The Samoyed German Shepherd Mix: Grooming
When you look at both of the parents, you need to know that this mix will shed tremendously. This is one of the reasons why they are recommended for people who live in a house with a yard, but that does not solve the problem of shedding completely.
A brush will be your best friend, so you should teach your dog while it is a puppy in order to get it used to brushing time because it will be frequent.
You need to know that all this shedding does not make them hypoallergenic, so if you have allergies, you should not get this dog because you will react to them a lot.
There are always some things that you can do when it comes to grooming by yourself. This will help you save some time and even money because you may not need to visit a professional groomer that often.
We made a list of things that you can do all by yourself. Keep in mind that some of these things can still be a bit overwhelming for some people, so asking for help from a professional groomer is more than okay.
– Bathing. This is something that most dog owners decide to do by themselves. It can be difficult with dogs that have a long and thick coat. But, do not get discouraged – you can always make the bathing time a fun experience and something that you and your dog can bond through.
– Brushing. This is very important, especially with dogs that have a very thick coat. If you don’t brush them regularly, they can get matts which are very hard to remove. You may also have to shave the dog if it gets too many matts. Getting a quality brush is all you need, and of course, some time to spare to brush them daily.
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– Clipping the nails. This can get difficult, and not a lot of dog owners will do this by themselves. You can always ask for help either from a vet or a groomer.
– Cleaning the ears. It is very important to clean the ears regularly. Something like black gunk or a lot of earwax can cause your dog to get an infection, and that is a problem that is a bit hard to solve and might cause your dog a lot of pain.
When it comes to giving them a trim, it does not need to be that often. Your pooch can go without a haircut for as long as 6 months. However, it is not advised to shave the German Shepherd Samoyed mix.
The Samoyed German Shepherd Mix: Health Issues
An interesting thing about mixed breeds is that it is considered that they have more resistance to some health issues because of their genetic diversity.
There is also a thought that they can be more prone to inheriting even more health issues since there are two dog breeds that have different potential health problems.
This is something that does not need to concern you, but we made a list so you can know what to keep an eye on from time to time. Sometimes, you can be doing everything to prevent some of these health problems from developing, but they will still happen.
So, please do not feel guilty if your dog, God forbid, gets sick. If you are providing them with enough exercise, giving them enough high-quality food, and providing them with lots of love, then your dog has a higher chance of staying healthy.
Some of the health issues that these dogs are more prone to are:
– Elbow dysplasia
– Hip dysplasia
– Bloat
– Progressive retinal atrophy
– Arthritis
These dogs are generally healthy, and their lifespan can go from 9 to 13 years.
To Sum It All Up
The Samoyed German Shepherd mix is an amazing dog. They have it all… the looks and the personality, and we can not choose what we like more. They are extremely intelligent, but also extremely hyper dogs.
They have a lot of energy, so you need to know that they are not for people who are not on the active side. This mixed breed is full of love, and loves to spend time with as many people as possible.
Playing with dogs and kids is also something that they love, but this requires early socialization.
Their physical characteristics are something that can not be described for sure because with every puppy, the appearance might be different, and they are all equally beautiful.
We hope that this guide has helped you, and that you got all the information that you need.
