Breeds / Large
Sheprador puppies
The Sheprador is a loyal, loving and very energetic German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever cross. How they behave with new people and animals depends largely on their training and socialisation.
The facts
- Size class Large
- A cross of German Shepherd Dog and Labrador Retriever
- Country of origin Not published
- Adult weight 22.7 to 40.8 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 50 to 90 lb
- Adult height Not published
- Energy level Very high
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Not published
- Typical lifespan 7 to 13 years
- Good with children Not published
- Good with other dogs Not published
About the Sheprador
The Sheprador crosses the German Shepherd with the Labrador Retriever, two of the most popular breeds in the United States, and there is no separate breed standard for the cross. PetMD gives adults as 22.7 to 40.8 kg, a medium to large dog with a great deal of energy and intelligence and a lot of shedding. It expects the Sheprador's lifespan to be similar to the parents', which it gives as 7 to 10 years for the German Shepherd and 11 to 13 for the Labrador, so this page shows 7 to 13.
PetMD recommends the Sheprador for experienced owners who are confident with socialisation and positive reinforcement training, and for a very active household. Give them jobs that use their instincts, such as swimming, retrieving and tracking. Supervise them closely around small children, who are easily knocked over by a big, boisterous dog. Brushing two or three times a week keeps the shedding under control. Ask to see hip and elbow scores for both parents, plus DNA results for degenerative myelopathy and exercise induced collapse.
A cross, not a breed. The Sheprador is a cross rather than a standardised breed, so size, coat and temperament vary and can favour either parent, and puppies from one litter can differ. The two parent breeds have quite different life expectancies, which is why the lifespan range here is so wide.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Sheprador puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow scoring radiographs of both parents
- Inherited eye disease, including pannus from the German Shepherd side and progressive retinal atrophy from the Labrador side, found on eye examination
- Bloat (gastric dilatation and volvulus), an emergency in a deep chested dog
- Tricuspid valve dysplasia, a congenital heart defect whose signs usually appear by one or two years of age, confirmed by echocardiogram
- Degenerative myelopathy, a progressive spinal cord disease that usually shows after eight years of age, with a DNA test available for the parents
- Exercise induced collapse from the Labrador side, detectable by DNA test and suspected from hind limb weakness after hard exercise
Your Sheprador puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Sheprador.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 22.7 to 40.8 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 42 inch (42 x 28 x 30 in, 107 x 71 x 76 cm) for an adult of up to 40.8 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other large breeds
More on the Sheprador
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- petmd.com for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- Health notes from Sheprador breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/sheprador. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
No published figure for adult height, coat type, the good with children rating, the good with other dogs rating and country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.
Photo: Mitch Barrie from Reno, NV, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.