The German Shepherd Pitbull Mix, aka German Pit or German Sheppit, is a mix of two popular dog breeds: the German Shepherd and the American Pit Bull Terrier. The Pit Bull German Shepherd mix is a large dog breed that can be excellent guard dogs, just like their parents.
In this article, we will learn about the German shepherd’s history, appearance, behavior, grooming, training, exercise, feeding, and health concerns.
History
The German Shepherd Pitbull Mix lacks history, unlike its parent breeds. The German Shepherd is a medium-to-large dog breed that originated in Germany. German shepherds are working dogs and were initially used for herding sheep. Hence the term shepherd.
They assist human beings in many other types of work as well, such as warfare, police investigation, and search-and-rescue.
The American Pit Bull Terrier, on the other hand, originated in the United Kingdom and later made its way to the United States. The American Pit Bull Terriers were primarily bred for fighting and working. Till now, they have been used for hunting, police work, and companionship.
The Pitbull German Shepherd Mix breed started as a designer breed in the 1990’s when designers mixed the two parent breeds for crossbreeding.
The result was a breed known as the German Shepherd Pitbull Mix. This breed is “generally” aggressive but can be trained to be loving and loyal.
Appearance
The German Sheppit will either look more like their father than their mother or vice versa. The German Sheppit is considered a large breed with muscular builds.
They are known for having strong jaws and pointy teeth. They can weigh anywhere from 29 to 38 kg, and their height ranges from 18 to 24 inches.
Their coat can be short or medium and can take various colors, such as gray, white, black, tan, brown, and yellowish-brown, depending on the parents.
Behavior
Although both parent breeds of the German Shepherd are known for being aggressive and dangerous, the German Shepherd Pitbull Mix can be trained to be loving and devoted to their owners.
Just like their strong bodies, German sheep have strong wills. They can be aggressive without proper training.
German shepherds are intelligent and very energetic. You can expect your Sheppit to play a lot. They like spending time with their families the most but wouldn’t mind spending some time alone.
However, it is not recommended to leave a German Shepherd pitbull mix on its own for a long period of time, as they can become aggressive.
Behavior With Childrens
German shepherds generally do not behave well with children on their own. So it is always safe to keep an eye on children if they are alone with the dog.
They may not misbehave with adults on their own, but they need to be trained properly before they can be left alone with children.
It is natural for German shepherds to be protective of their owners and wary of strangers because they inherit genes from two of the most loyal and protective dogs.
They can even be territorial in their behavior. German shepherds tend to chase away smaller animals.
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Grooming Needs For German Shepherd Pitbull Mix
The German Shepherd Pitbull Mix has short-medium coat sizes, and they shed quite a lot of hair. Consider brushing your sheppit’s hair regularly, at least 2-3 times a week, to reduce overall shedding.
If you have allergies, it is not recommended to keep a German Sheppit because of the high shedding.
Frequent baths for German Sheppits are not suitable for their coat, so you can bathe them when needed or once every 2 weeks.
Overall, pitbull German Shepherd is relatively easy to groom, so you can sit back and relax.
Training For Pitbull German Shepherd Mix
Now this is important: training a German shepherd. They need training to overcome a number of challenges, including excessive barking, becoming aggressive, trying to dominate, etc.
German Sheppits are vocal and tend to bark a lot. They need to be trained to control their barking; otherwise, expect a lot of nuisance.
Sheppits inherit characteristics of the German Shepherd and Pit Bull, which means it is instinctive for them to become aggressive around strangers if not trained well.
Having said that, daily socialization is mandatory for German Shepherd puppies to avoid aggressive behavior.
Both dog breeds, German Shepherds and Pit Bulls, carry a strong sense of leadership. And German Sheppits being their mix means this sense of leadership is inevitable.
Their training needs are the reason this breed is not recommended for people with no experience with having a dog before.
Not because they are not intelligent, but due to the consistency needed to train them and their potential to be rude if not trained properly.
In fact, German Sheppits are easy to train because of their high intelligence. Once the training is complete, German Pits turn out to be excellent guard dogs as well as devoted, loving and protective companions
Exercise
Pitbull German Shepherd is an active dog. It requires 2–3 hours of daily exercise. Exercise is essential because German Sheppits are prone to weight gain and can become obese.
For puppies, be extra careful of their exercise routine so as not to over-exercise them because puppies’ bones are not fully developed and need to be treated gently.
Give your German Shepherd a special place to play, whether at home or outside. The German Sheppits will definitely appreciate this kind of favor.
Dogs’ exercise needs can vary from age to age so its better to consult with a vet.
Feeding
The German Shepherd Pitbull Mix is an active dog breed and requires high energy levels to sustain daily activity. As dogs grow, their nutritional needs vary, and so should their diet.
Dry food formulated for medium- to large breeds is recommended. Consider consulting a vet to check if your dog has any special dietary needs, depending on their health conditions.
Moreover, try not to overfeed your German shepherd, especially a pup. Doing so will raise health issues like obesity and create problems. Daily exercise is vital to avoid bad health at the same time.
Health Consideration
German Shepherd Pitbull Mix are invulnerable to certain health conditions as their parent breeds. Some of the common diseases are irritation of the skin, bloating, allergies, hip dysplasia, heart disease, elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and sarcoptic mange.
Another health problem German Sheppits commonly face is dental issues, so taking care of their oral health should be a priority.
Consult a vet for your dog’s health checkup regularly to eliminate any possible health threats.
Conclusion
The German Shepherd PitBull Mix, also known as the German Pit or German Sheppit, is a strong hybrid breed resulting from the crossbreeding of the German Shepherd and the American Pit Bull Terrier. This dog breed inherits characteristics from its parent breeds and is great at guarding. Their appearance varies, but they have muscular builds, strong jaws, and a short to medium coat with various color possibilities.
With training, German shepherds can be loving and loyal, but they may be aggressive without training. These dogs are intelligent, energetic, and protective of their owners, making them good companions. But they need to be socialized and trained to behave well, particularly with children.
German Sheppits’s grooming needs involve regular brushing due to their shedding tendencies, and bathing can be done as required. Training is essential to address challenges like excessive barking and territorial behavior. These dogs require a substantial amount of daily exercise to prevent weight gain and obesity.
They need a balanced diet designed for medium- to large breeds. Consult a vet for regular health checkups, as German Shepherd Pitbull Mixes may inherit certain health conditions from their parent breeds, such as skin irritation, allergies, hip dysplasia, etc.
