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The German Shepherd Chow mix is a combination of the German Shepherd breed and the Chow Chow breed. While most people commonly like pure breed dogs, others equally find mix breed dogs fascinating and lovable too. A German Shepherd Chow crossbreed is a medium-sized dog that has admirable traits from their famous parent dogs. Let’s get into this guide that tells you more about the mixed breed before considering owning one yourself.
Choosing the dog breed that aligns with your lifestyle is the most important decision you can make. Every year tens of thousands of dogs are abandoned or put up for adoption because the owner was irresponsible and didn’t do their research before choosing a dog that isn’t a great for their lifestyle.
Not sure the Chow German Shepherd aligns with your lifestyle? Consider adopting one of 50+ popular German Shepherd mixes or Chow mixes.
Doggypedia has conducted the most in-depth research into the most popular German Shepherd Mixes in America:
| Height | 19 to 26 inches tall |
| Weight | 60 to 95 pounds |
| Body Type | Medium to large size; similar Body type to the Chow Chow |
| Facial Features | Similar muzzle and ears to the German Shepherd |
| Coat Type | Long, thick and fluffy. It is more likely to inherit more of the Chow Chow appearance than the less fluffy German Shepherd side. |
| Coat Color | Red, tan, dark brown, black, light brown, blue, or white. |
| Life Expectancy | 10 to 15 years |
| Family-Oriented | Yes |
| Indoor Pet | No. The dog requires some outdoor space to loosen up when bored. |
| Excessive Barker | No |
The appearance of a German Shepherd Chow mix depends on which parent gene becomes more dominant. Majority of German Shepherd Chow mix owners have dogs that resemble the look of a Chow Chow more than a German Shepherd. Not only does the dog typically captures the bodily appearance of a Chow Chow, but also has a curved tail that is unlike the tail of a German Shepherd. The dog is also seen to inherit the long muzzle of the German Shepherd parent dog side along with a black accent on its face and pointy ears. This makes the German Shepherd Chow mix resemble the facial appearance of a bear or a lion.
This dog is a quick learner, making it easily trainable even as a puppy. Part of its personality that you should try to address while training your dog is its stubbornness which originates from the nature of its Chow Chow parent dog side. Obedience training should be your initial and primary training method on the dog.
Unlike the stubbornness of a Chow Chow, the German Shepherd Chow mix find great pleasure in exhausting itself with constant play time and attention by its owner. Without any form or source of mental or physical stimulation, the dog can easily become bored and may end up acting more aggressively or destructively to release its restrained tensions. The dog is prone to chasing things that run by it, so make sure it is always kept on a leash once the dog is taken for a walk or any other outdoor activity.
A life expectancy of fifteen years is a good age range, but you can also prolong the dog’s lifespan by taking it to the vet for vaccinations and providing it with a variety of whole foods and nutritious dog food.
Before buying a German Shepherd Chow puppy, you need to consider your budget and the costs involved after paying for its ownership. About more than a thousand dollars is required for purchasing the puppy and providing it with medicines and vaccinations. The typical price of a German Shepherd and Chow Chow offspring range from two hundred and fifty dollars to seven hundred and fifty dollars.
The best way of looking for this puppy is by checking out dog breeders who specialize in breeding German Shepherd Chow offspring. To guarantee the quality of your puppy, you should consider reputable dog breeders because the parents of the puppy are surely healthy with offspring that are less likely to inherit “bad” or unhealthy genes. Besides crossing out possible health issues from parent dogs, your other concern when looking for quality breeders is the price of their puppies.
Another budget-friendly method is by looking at adoption centers or German Shepherd Chow mix breeders who are open to adoption. You should expect to be interviewed by the staff since they need to ensure their dog’s overall wellbeing once it’s released to you. An excellent and responsible dog breeder is someone who makes as many background checks on the buyer as possible. Below are some adoption sites and dog centers to get a German Shepherd Chow puppy:
You can also buy the puppy online for as long as you take the responsibility of double checking the background of the seller just as you would with a dog breeder. You could also attend professional dog shows, contact or join dog clubs, or talk with a veterinarian who may know or refer a German Shepherd Chow mix breeder to you.
A German Shepherd Chow mix would need constant grooming for its coat. Since the dog would appear like its Chow Chow parent dog, its long hair can result in excessive shedding. You should brush the dog’s coat about two to three times a day. Having a vacuum around can help you clean up the mess in your surroundings. You should shampoo the dog only when necessary such as flea or skin problems or in cases when it starts to smell unpleasing using shampoo products made for long coats Chow Chows. Below is a list of dog shampoo products:
Do not forget about maintaining the nails of the dog. Just like many dogs, the German Shepherd Chow mix also needs its nails trimmed once in a while using specialized nail clippers for dogs.
Just like the German Shepherd and the Chow Chow, the German Shepherd Chow mix is prone to the same vulnerabilities too such as:
The German Shepherd Chow mix does not necessarily have any health issues or illnesses that were specifically pointed out. Nevertheless, the sicknesses and health problems that were mentioned above can still be passed on to the offspring derived from the genes of both parent dogs.
A proper diet for a German Shepherd Chow mix is essential to their health. Healthy supplements including chondroitin, fish oil or omega three acids and glucosamine should help in preventing or reducing hip dysplasia problems. According to the American Feed Control Officials, a German Shepherd Chow mix puppy should eat protein at about twenty-two percent, while an adult German Shepherd Chow should consume only eighteen percent of protein. Protein from whole meats including beef, fish, and chicken are recommended in its diet. Below is a list of recommended dog foods:
Feeding your German Shepherd Chow mix should have a balanced diet just like any other dog. You should consult with your veterinarian about these dog foods and devise a holistic dietary plan. Too much protein is too much calorie for the dog and may result in too much weight.
If you want to obtain the best food for your sweetheart, this is a place to start. Here’s a little guide for you. Don’t give your canine food that could be harmful to their health, such as the worst dry dog food. Look for the best dry dog food, for example, Wellness Core Dog Food, Dog For Dog Food, or Nutra Thrive dog food supplement.
Senior dogs have specific nutritional requirements and you should search for their food in the best senior dry dog list. In case you have welcomed a puppy into your home and the little munchkin is just getting used to a regular diet, take a look at the list of the best puppy food brands. Your sweetheart comes from two different parents, which makes your pups more likely to grow to love dry dog food for small dogs or best large breed dry dog food. Don’t make any big modifications in their diet without talking to your vet first!
Both the German Shepherd and the Chow Chow are dogs with high levels of energy and intellect. The same is expected from its offspring too. Hence, the German Shepherd Chow needs a daily dose of mental and physical stimulation to stay on the right track of things. Because of its intelligence, the dog could easily become bored when it remains inside the house or isn’t doing anything stimulating. Aside from doing activities with the dog including running, hiking, jogging and cycling, training is also another way of stimulating since German Shepherd Chows enjoy pleasing their owners. Below are some activities that you should do with the dog:
Training your German Shepherd Chow mix should be done as early as possible. The Chow Chow parent dog side of the dog is known to be independent due to its stubborn nature and may choose not to obey you when you tell it to do something. But it isn’t too difficult to train the mix breed since it inherits the genes of its German Shepherd parent dog which is known for its loyalty. Here are some training methods that you could apply to the dog:
German Shepherd Chows can be the spark of the family. They are playful towards any member of the family and is also easy for anyone to get along with as long as the person is introduced to the dog properly and not spontaneously. It is generally a peaceful dog that barks less unless provoked or neglected of attention.
Some traits that make German Shepherd Chows great family pets are loyalty, protectiveness, and loving. It is also a perfect watchdog because the dog when faced with a stranger or someone not belonging with the family, becomes wary and can show intimidation as a warning sign to potential intruders.
When it comes to the dogs “room” or living space, an ideal family home for the German Shepherd Chow should have a backyard. This is not just an energetic dog, but it is also a larger dog breed in size. Small confinement such as an apartment space may not be the best place for the dog’s health and overall wellbeing. In terms of lifestyle, the dog does very well with owners who are also active outdoors. The family does not necessarily need to have an energetic attitude towards the dog since it can be stubborn too, but owners should set daily activities that include the dog in their routine.
Overall, the German Shepherd Chow mix is an excellent dog breed and family pet to own. With the parents of two dog breeds that are geographically far apart, a combination of the German Shepherd and the Chow Chow seals the deal.
