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King Shepherd Dog Breed Introduction
King Shepherd is a large hybrid dog from the United States. They are wonderful companions living well with families. They are loyal to their owners as they have an ingrained need to protect them. King Shepherds are mostly crossbreeds of German Shepherds and other long-haired large dogs. The breed can be a mix of Alaskan Malamute, Great Pyrenees, and Akita.
The King Shepherds are available in red, black, fawn, brown, or sable colors. Mostly, they are a combination of two or three colors. Despite their size, they are known to be big dog babies that require affection and love. They are intelligent dogs a trait attained from German Shepherds and are often used as police dogs, rescue workers, or guide dogs.
This is attained by early training of the dog where it understands socialization and obedience training. Moreover, King Shepherds require a large area or yard due to their size where they can get plenty of exercise and room to stretch their legs. In addition, they are known to be healthy generally but they may be prone to sloped angulation as German Shepherds.
Origin
The King Shepherd hybrid dog was first created in the 1990s but was established in 1995. The breed has advanced more to the present day. The dog was initially bred to be larger than German Shephard but with few genetic medical conditions. The breed was initially developed by Shelley Watts-Cross and David Turkheimer with a vision of creating a large canine breed with more German Shepherd-like features. With time, some breeders use large-haired dogs like Alaskan Malamute, Great Pyrenees, and Akita to come with a big King Shepherd.
King Shepherd Lifespan
The King Shepherds have a lifespan of 10 to 12 years.
Grooming
They have a dense medium coat that is easy to maintain. They require brushing twice a week using a slicker brush which will decrease the amount of hair falling around and also provide a neat and shiny coat. Owners are also advised to vacuum the dog when they are shedding heavily. They have oily skin that keeps their coat shiny and bathing should be done after every three to four months. The King Shephard requires a mild canine-formulated shampoo and conditioner with lukewarm water filled several inches while bathing.
Trimming or grinding the King Shepherd’s nails every month is important as overly long nails can cause pain and structural issues. Some of their nails are worn out naturally. Ensure to brush the teeth of the dog with a canine-formulated toothbrush and toothpaste to give the dog healthy and strong teeth free of tartar. The ears of King Shepherds have hairs that can trap moisture causing ear infections thus, they require ear cleaning once a week with a damp cotton ball and ear cleanser.
Shedding
They shed a lot as due to their thick double coat. They will shed a small amount of hair daily and high as the season changes. During these seasons, the owners may have a lot of hair just from petting the dog thus, frequent brushing is recommended in Spring and Fall to prevent matting and knotting.
Coat
The King Shepherds have a dense medium double coat consisting of a rough, weather-resistant top coat and a soft, insulating undercoat.
Short Hair
To attain a King Shepherd with short hair, breeders can choose a German Shepherd with short hair and breed with either an Alaskan Malamute, Great Pyrenees, or Akita. The puppies have the possibility of having a King Shepherd with short hair.
Long Haired
The King Shepherds have the possibility of having a long coat if long-haired German Shepherds are bred with Great Pyrenees or an Alaskan Malamute.
Hypoallergenic
King Shepherds are not hypoallergenic dogs as they are known to be heavy shedders. As they shed, they leave dander around which causes inflammation in allergic people. Their saliva, urine, and mucus also contain protein allergens that allergic people should avoid. Thus, this breed is not suitable for allergic people. The dog is also likely to drool sometimes.
Training
King Shepherds are smart dogs that thrive on positive reinforcement. With positive reinforcements, they are eager to please their owners or trainers. They are highly trainable due to their quick wits and maintaining training endeavors. Since they are born loyal and need to protect their owners, the breed requires early socialization. With proper socialization, King Shepherd can understand interactions with other humans, other animals, places, and various sounds.
The breed requires obedience training as soon as they join a new home from the breeder. King Shepherds are always ready for play sessions as they have high energy. Also, the breed has an impulsive appearance that makes them good guard dogs, thus enrolling the dogs in puppy class early is required mostly from eight weeks. Let the King Shepherds be in a position to respond to commands like “sit,” “fetch,” “stay,” “stop,” and “heel”. King Shepherds should be raised in the household and exposed to the family’s activities. In addition, effective housetraining should be introduced to the dog early. It is achieved through potty training, feeding schedule, and crate training.
King Shepherd Temperament
- Loyal.
- Goofy.
- Playful.
- Watchful.
- Protective.
- Intelligent.
- Stubborn.
- Alert.
- Obedient.
- Confident.
- Curious.
- Courageous.
- Brave.
Exercise
The King Shepherds are a playful and very active dog that requires lots of exercise for their physical and mental well-being. Exercise curbs undesirable behaviors. When the King Shephard is a puppy, it should be introduced to short daily walks and play in a fenced area for at least an hour. The senior or adult King Shepherds require an hour of strenuous activity which is a must per day. The exercise requires a lot of running, walking, exploring, and also playing. Additionally, ensure the dog participates in canine activities like herding, agility, tracking, and dock diving to ensure they have good physical and mental exercise. This produces positive rewards to the owners and the dog.
Barking
The King Shepherds barely bark a lot. However, when they are young, they might bark frequently, a habit they outgrow as they mature up. They are not known to be violent but once threatened they can give a bark that can send an intruder or animal away.
Apart from King Shepherds, other dog breeds include:
King Shepherd Size
Female King Shepherds stand at a height of 25 to 28 inches (approx. 64 to 71 cm ) and weigh 75 to 110 pounds ( approx. 34 to 50kg ) while male King Shepherds stand at 27 to 32 inches tall ( approx. 69 to 81 cm ) and weigh 90 to 150 pounds ( approx. 41 to 68 kg ).
Height
Female King Shepherds stand at a height of 25 to 28 inches (approx. 64 to 71 cm ) while male King Shepherds stand at 27 to 32 inches ( approx. 69 to 81 cm ) from the withers.
Weight
Female King Shepherds weigh 75 to 110 pounds ( approx. 34 to 50 kg ) while male Shepherds weigh 90 to 150 pounds ( approx. 41 to 68 kg ).
Giant
Giant King Shepherd dogs are dogs that have a height of 26 to 31 inches and weigh 75 to 130 pounds. To attain a better Giant dog breed, the owner should cross the German Shepherd with one of the large dog breeds.
Full Grown
King Shepherds attain their adult size from 18 to 24 months. Fully grown King shepherds have a height of 26 to 31 inches and weigh from 75 to 150 pounds.
Female
They are naturally more maternal and reactive than the males.
Male
They are pushier, bolder, and more aggressive than the females.
Aggressive
King Shepherds are not aggressive dogs. On the contrary, they make great companions to families and are also good with children. However, they may be aggressive if poorly socialized, when their life is threatened or provoked, or need to protect their loved ones.
Bite Force
King Shepherds have a biting force of 654 PSI.
Health Issues
Although they are healthy dogs, King Shepherds may attain health conditions from their breeding parents including Hip and elbow dysplasia, allergies, bloating, Hypothyroidism, and eye problems. In addition, they may suffer from a deficiency of von Willebrand factor which is known to be a blood clotting protein.
Names
Some of the names that owners give to their King Shepherds include:
- Malik.
- Anax.
- Luki.
- Danali.
- Zeus.
- Queen.
- Thor.
- Duke.
- Appollo.
- Max.
Food
King Shepherds eat cooked or commercial food either dry or wet. The breed is required to feed on a diet with plenty of protein to enable its growth. For the dry or wet food, they require three to four cups a day for the senior or adult dogs. Ensure the dog neither feeds an hour before or after exercise since it is prone to bloating. The puppies of King Shepherds consume three meals a day until they reach full growth at around 18 months.
This is due to their activeness and metabolism. Some treats like small pieces of biscuit or the dog’s kibble are also given to the dog. Provide the King Shepherds with vitamin and mineral supplements. Moreover, owners can add small quantities of yogurt, cooked vegetables, or eggs to the food. This is done after the owner is educated on the safe foods they can feed on. Additionally, ensure the dog has clean and fresh water always.
Colors
The King Shepherds are available in red, black, fawn, brown, or sable colors. Mostly, they are a combination of two or three colors.
White
White King Shepherds can be attained by crossbreeding a White Shepherd and with a Great Pyrenees or Alaskan Malamute. The puppies produced have a higher chance of having a white coat color.
Black King Shepherd
Black King Shepherds are rare as their coat is primarily determined by genetics, diet, and overall health. A black King Shepherd can be attained by breeding a black German Shepherd with black Akita or black and white Alaskan Malamute. Moreover, the black King Shepherds have their nose, paws, and nails black. However, some may have tan colors around the inner parts of the leg, around the eyes, and the inner part of the ears.
King Shepherd Cost
The King Shepherds average price ranges from $1500 to $2500 depending on the pedigree, location of the breeder, age, and size.
Puppy
A King Shepherd dam can have an average of eight puppies per litter. The puppies may weigh 1 pound and 6 oz at birth. After one week, the litter’s weight increases twice the birth weight. As they are young, the puppies have a lot of energy and also play more. When the puppies attain 18 to 24 months, they are said to be adults who are fully grown.
King Shepherd And German Shepherd
- German Shepherds are pure breeds while King Shepherds are hybrid dogs.
- The German Shepherds originated from Germany while King Shepherds are from the United States.
- German Shepherds are prone to several health issues while King Shepherds have few health issues.
- German Shepherds weigh between 50 to 90 pounds while King Shepherds weigh from 75 to 150 pounds.
- The German Shepherds have a height ranging from 22 to 26 inches while the King Shepherds have a height of 26 to 31 inches.
- German Shepherds have a lifespan of 12 to 14 years while King Shepherds have a lifespan of 10 to 12 years.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Is A King Shepherd
King Shepherd is a hybrid dog that is bred by crossbreeding German Shepherds and breeds like Akita, Alaskan Malamute, or Great Pyrenees. These dogs originated from the USA and have a long snout, pointed ears, and also a thick fur on their strong body. Moreover, the King Shepherds have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.
Is A King Shepherd A German Shepherd
No. King Shepherd is not a German Shepherd but a mixed breed of German Shepherd with breeds like Alaskan Malamute, Great Pyrenees, or Akita.
How Long Do King Shepherds Live
Healthy King Shepherds have a lifespan of 10 to 12 years.
How Big Do King German Shepherds Get
Female King Shepherds stand at a height of 25 to 28 inches (approx. 64 to 71 cm ) and weigh 75 to 110 pounds ( approx. 34 to 50 kg ) while male King Shepherds stand at 27 to 32 inches ( approx. 69 to 81 cm ) and weigh 90 to 150 pounds ( approx. 41 to 68 kg ).
What Is A King Shepherd Mixed With
King Shepherds are a mix of German Shepherds and Great Pyrenees, Alaskan Malamute, or Akita
What Breeds Make A King Shepherd
To attain a King Shepherds breeders or owners crossbreed German Shepherds with breeds like Alaskan Malamute, Great Pyrenees, or Akita.
King Shepherd Quick Facts
- The King Shepherds require an active lifestyle.
- King Shepherds require owners who are often at home and not working for long hours due to separation anxiety.
- King Shepherds require a large area or yard where they can exercise freely.
