This blog will examine the German Shepherd Great Pyrenees Mix breed. Relevant topics like the appearance, personality, and temperament of this dog breed will also be covered. Finally, a guide on how to take care of this dog will also be elaborated.
German Shepherd Great Pyrenees Mix
The German Shepherd Great Pyrenees Mix, more popularly known as the Germanees, is the offspring of a German Shepherd and a Great Pyrenees. The Germanees is a designer breed because both parents are purebreds. This dog is a large to giant size dog. The coat is expected to be dense and medium to long in length. With a strong herding background, this hybrid is always ready to work and is inquisitive and smart. He is a good watchdog and is very agile in his movements. A protector at heart, this kind and independent dog is a joy to own.
The Germanees will be a large dog with a fluffy coat. They can grow from 25 to 32 inches tall, weighing anywhere from 80 to over 100 pounds. A Great Pyrenees and German Shepherd mix is loyal, intelligent, and protective. It is best suited to families who have plenty of time to dedicate to training and socialization.
The Great Pyrenees German Shepherd mix goes by many names, including the Shepnees, Shep Py, and Germanees. These dogs are large bundles of energy bred from two guarding breeds. They are well-suited to farm life and large backyards due to their history.
They’re also incredibly intelligent working dogs and need lots of attention, including mental stimulation and daily exercise.
The German Shepherd
In terms of appearance, German Shepherds are medium to large sized working dogs that are known for their loyalty and devotedness to their owners. They are also perfect for house tasks and guard duties because of this obedience that is hardwired into their systems. In fact, historical narratives will tell you that they have been employed as service dogs, police dogs, military dogs, etc.
The German Shepherds are also among the top ten breeds of dogs in the United States of America and one of the world’s most recognized dog breeds. These dogs are very active and require their owners to keep them busy. They like to be busy learning new things, engaging in activities, protecting their owners, and performing other tasks.
If you spend too much time away from home, then these dogs are not for you. If this is the case, chances are they develop negative behaviors such as chewing, barking, and digging holes. German Shepherds require their owners for them to engage in activities such as walking them in parks where they can see other dogs because they need to be socialized at an early age so that they can mix up with other dogs.
They are also fantastic watchdogs and are wary of strangers. If trained at an early age, German Shepherds are great with children and other pets as well. They make excellent family dogs.
The Great Pyrenees
Some breeders believe that the Great Pyrenees dog is an ancient breed that originated in Central Asia or Siberia. Historians think that they migrated with their shepherds and herds into the Pyrenees Mountains about 3000 B.C. They are named after this mountain range. In France, these dogs are called Le Chien des Pyrenees, which essentially translates to dog of the Pyrenees. These dogs are very hard-working dogs and are brave dogs who gallantly protect the sheep from predators. They would bark to alert the shepherd of the danger to the flock. Brought to North America in 1824, the breed entered into a kennel in Massachusetts where further breeding strengthened this majestic breed. They were registered with the American Kennel Club in 1933 in the Working Group.
The Appearance of the German Shepherd Great Pyrenees Mix
A Great Pyrenees German Shepherd puppy will take traits from both parent breeds, forming a unique look from other puppies, even those from the same litter. These are big dogs, standing anywhere from 22-36 inches tall. They weigh 75-160 pounds when fully grown and definitely aren’t lap dogs!
They’re also very muscular. Both of the Shep Py’s parent breeds have a history of withstanding cold environments. Therefore, your pup will have a dense coat. Their fur may be medium-length or long, depending on which parent breed they take after. If they take after the Great Pyrenees parent, their coat may be water-resistant.
As for colors, Germanees’ fur can come in any Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd color combinations. These include white, black, grey, and brown, among others. The Germanees is a long dog with a dense medium to long coat which may be water resistant like the Great Pyrenees parent. There could be a mane-like ruff around the neck area and the texture will vary between wavy and curly with colors of black, white or tan. The Germanees will be a strong and muscular dog who may be quite long in the body as both parents have this tendency. The ears may be erect or drop ears.
The head will be wedge-shaped and well-proportioned to his body. He may have a long and strong muzzle with eyes that are almond-shaped and dark brown. The eye rims, nose and lips may be black. The tail may be bushy, plumed and carried low. He will have an expression that shows his intelligence and eagerness to learn.
One important thing to note before buying any mixed breed is that their appearance can be unpredictable. This is because a puppy can inherit any combination of its parents genes. So, your mix may be more like a Great Pyrenees, or more like a German Shepherd, rather than a perfect blend of the two. The best way to predict what a puppy will look like, is to examine his parents.
Both parent breeds are well proportioned dogs that will have muscular bodies.
German Shepherds are often bred to have a curved ‘banana’ back shape, but this can cause health issues. So GSD parents like this should not be bred from. Both dogs have relatively long snouts, and healthy facial conformation. A mix will likely inherit the same V-shaped ears as either parent. But ears may also stand upright or lay flat against your dog’s head.
In terms of size, both parent breeds are quite large dogs. So, you can expect a Great Pyrenees German Shepherd mix to be large too. As an adult, the Great Pyrenees grows to between 25 and 32 inches tall. They usually weigh from 85 pounds to over 100 pounds. A German Shepherd is the smaller of the two breeds. These dogs will generally grow to be around 24 inches tall, weighing from 80 to 90 pounds. In both breeds, females tend to be a little smaller than males.
Both parent breeds have dense, double coats. So, a Great Pyrenees German Shepherd mix is likely to inherit this. It will usually be either straight or slightly wavy. And, a puppy may inherit the Great Pyrenees’ feathering. In terms of color, there’s quite a variety that your puppy could have. This includes: white, cream, black, tan, and a mixture of shades.
As we mentioned earlier, the best way to predict how an individual puppy will look is to examine the parents. But, you might just need to wait until you see your puppy in person to know exactly what they’ll be like.
The Temperament of the German Shepherd Great Pyrenees Mix
German Shepherds are known to be dogs that are energetic, playful and highly intelligent. They also tend to be protective, fearless, suspicious of strangers and can be territorial with other dogs. The breed loves to please his owners and is easily trained. The German Shepherd is a barker and can be aggressive. Most German Shepherds are good with children. Early training and socialization is recommended.
On the other hand, the Great Pyrenees is a sweet, intelligent, loyal and gentle dog. He is usually not a dog aggressive canine and is known to nurture other animals. The Great Pyrenees can be a little stubborn and not as easily trained. The breed is usually good with children. They too are protective of their family and are known to be barkers. Both breeds can be a little slow to mature. Therefore, consistent regular training and patience is required. Your Germanees will like to have a job to do whether it is guarding or protecting, or helping to herd the family cat.
More about the temperament of the German Shepherd Great Pyreenes Mix is talked about by this article from Wag!
Conclusion
This blog examined the German Shepherd Great Pyrenees Mix breed. Relevant topics like the appearance, personality, and temperament of this dog breed were also covered. Finally, a guide on how to take care of this dog was also elaborated.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): German Shepherd Great Pyrenees Mix
How big will a German Shepherd Great Pyrenees mix get?
The Great Pyrenees German Shepherd mix is a cross between a purebred German Shepherd and a purebred Great Pyrenees. This mix will be a large dog with a fluffy coat. They can grow from 25 to 32 inches tall, weighing anywhere from 80 to over 100 pounds.
Are Great Pyrenees good inside dogs?
While energetic, with enough exercise, the Great Pyrenees is a calm companion indoors. A Pyr with enough exercise and attention is likely to curl up on the softest bed in the house to doze the day away. The Great Pyrenees is likely to bark at sights and sounds, or just because.
Are Great Pyrenees aggressive dogs?
The Great Pyrenees can be aggressive if not properly trained and socialized. They will attempt to defend their home from intruders, even if they happen to be one of your friends or family members. They are aloof and reserved, not aggressive. With that said, some Great Pyrenees are more aggressive than others.
References
Wag! “Germanees: Dog Breed Facts and Information – Wag! Dog Walking.” WagWalking, Wag!, 9 Nov. 2017, wagwalking.com/breed/germanees#:~:text=The%20Germanees%20is%20the%20offspring,medium%20to%20long%20in%20length.
Austwick, Meg. “Great Pyrenees German Shepherd Mix – Guard Dog or Perfect Pet?” The Happy Puppy Site, 2 Sept. 2020, thehappypuppysite.com/great-pyrenees-german-shepherd-mix/.
Sobus, Katelynn. “Great Pyrenees German Shepherd Mix – A Complete Guide.” Dogsnet.com, 13 Feb. 2020, dogsnet.com/great-pyrenees-german-shepherd-mix/.
“Great Pyrenees.” All About Dogs, www.orvis.com/great-pyrenees.
Team, Happy Puppy. “Great Pyrenees Temperament – Learn More About This Big Breed.” The Happy Puppy Site, 11 Mar. 2019, thehappypuppysite.com/great-pyrenees-temperament/.
