Racial Purity of GSD/Lab Mix?

[onyx'girl]

Originally Posted by WDC

So, I just got back from the vet.

In line to see the vet, I actually ran into a former show shepherd breeder who said that he was definitely part shepherd. She told me that I should start taping his ears soon if they don't rise on their own.

The vet and nurse both agreed, also saying that he may be part rotty, lab, or even doberman.

He got his vacs, and we scheduled his neutering. We are also starting him on heartworm prevention, and switched his food. Beneful is apparently like poison for dogs.

This was good reassuring news. It was nice to hear from a breeder that he was part GSD. The vet even said that he is probably mostly shepherd based on what she can see.

I hope you aren't neutering him due to pressure from your vet? Males need to have intact hormones to grow properly. I'd wait til he's a year if you are responsible enough to prevent oops litters.

[WDC]

Originally Posted by Emoore

Many vets have no clue. Many of them think my purebred East German bloodline German Shepherd is some sort of wolf or coyote mix. They have no idea, but they sure would like you to think they do.

Well of course I am sure he is not a pure bred Shepherd, but I think a testimony from both a vet and a retired breeder is pretty good to get a sense of things. I didn't take very good pictures because my camera is busted, so you may not have the full idea of what he looks like.

Originally Posted by vicky2200

Honestly, he could have other breeds in him. With mixed breeds it is impossible to tell. He could be mostly shepherd, or he could barely have any and just came out looking more like a shepherd. He may not even be part Lab. When he is older, it MAY be easier to tell. There is DNA testing you could do, but I'm not sure about the accuracy of it.

Expect: A high energy dog for at least the first 7 years. Possible health issues since he is a large breed (look at GSD/Lab common health issues for an idea of what to look for). Smart dog, but possibly stubborn. Friend for life.

If you expect what is above, you will either be happy when you get something better, or informed when his high energy and possible stubborn streak shows up.

He definitely has a few breeds in him, for sure. Either way, he's still a good dog and I am happy to have him. When he matures, he will either get the Shepherd face structure, or not. It should be fairly clear.

[WDC]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

I hope you aren't neutering him due to pressure from your vet? Males need to have intact hormones to grow properly. I'd wait til he's a year if you are responsible enough to prevent oops litters.

It's not a pressure thing, it's more about the typical growth patterns that show through when neutered and un-neutered. From what I have gathered from this site and others, neutered puppies typically grow taller, and un-neutered puppies typically grow beefier and wider.

[onyx'girl]

Yes, males don't grow up to be "male" in structure when they are neutered early...their heads stay smaller as well.

[WDC]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

Yes, males don't grow up to be "male" in structure when they are neutered early...their heads stay smaller as well.

We keep a close eye on him, so it really is not about the risk of puppies. He may be a bit more feminine, but it is the decision that my uncle, grandmother, and I have reached. At first I was against neutering as well, but I am a fan of more regal and tall looking dogs.

[Magwart]

The world has a funny way of sending you the right dog at the right time, even when you would have never in a million years thought that would end up being the right dog.

I've had several GSDs over the years. Our regal, gorgeous female passed away of old age last year, and I thought we would replace her with another classic GSD. While volunteering a shelter, I took home a puppy to foster that had a purebred dam, and the family who surrendered the dogs said that sire was too. She was too young to tell if she was really purebred. I ended up adopting her -- even though she stopped growing at 45 pounds. We fell in love with her--I like to joke that she's mixed with "angel." She's the smallest dog I've had in years -- and she's the wisest dog too (even as a youngster). She's magical, wonderful, and exactly the dog I needed. No, she's not the athletic, powerful dog she replaced, and her bark is shrill because she's small, and her ears will always wiggle, and she'll always be a tiny squirt -- but she's perfect, for me. I know in my heart we were meant to be together.

Open your heart to the reason King was sent to you -- as that reason slowly unfolds, your bond and friendship will become very special. What he's mixed with doesn't matter, as long as you love him and he loves you.

[WDC]

Originally Posted by Magwart

The world has a funny way of sending you the right dog at the right time, even when you would have never in a million years thought that would end up being the right dog.

I've had several GSDs over the years. Our regal, gorgeous female passed away of old age last year, and I thought we would replace her with another classic GSD. While volunteering a shelter, I took home a puppy to foster that had a purebred dam, and the family who surrendered the dogs said that sire was too. She was too young to tell if she was really purebred. I ended up adopting her -- even though she stopped growing at 45 pounds. We fell in love with her--I like to joke that she's mixed with "angel." She's the smallest dog I've had in years -- and she's the wisest dog too (even as a youngster). She's magical, wonderful, and exactly the dog I needed. No, she's not the athletic, powerful dog she replaced, and her bark is shrill because she's small, and her ears will always wiggle, and she'll always be a tiny squirt -- but she's perfect, for me. I know in my heart we were meant to be together.

Open your heart to the reason King was sent to you -- as that reason slowly unfolds, your bond and friendship will become very special. What he's mixed with doesn't matter, as long as you love him and he loves you.

That's a very cute puppy, and some wise words.

[longhairshepmom]

I absolutely see German Shepherd in him. And I've grown up in Germany where you would see shepherds on every street corner, also having had a few and fostered a few more.
There is something about the shape and placement of the eyes in relation to the skull/face. Now I'm sure there are some that will say I'm wrong and how would I know, etc. But IMHO there is a high percentage of german shepherd in this pup.
Very attractive pup by the way !!

[WDC]

Originally Posted by longhairshepmom

I absolutely see German Shepherd in him. And I've grown up in Germany where you would see shepherds on every street corner, also having had a few and fostered a few more.
There is something about the shape and placement of the eyes in relation to the skull/face. Now I'm sure there are some that will say I'm wrong and how would I know, etc. But IMHO there is a high percentage of german shepherd in this pup.
Very attractive pup by the way !!

Yeah, I've definitely noticed the eye placement in every pup I've seen. They seem to be fairly consistent across the board!

[BowWowMeow]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

Yes, males don't grow up to be "male" in structure when they are neutered early...their heads stay smaller as well.

This is not always, or even often, the case. Basu was neutered at 6 months (4 years before I adopted him). He had a very large WG gsd head and a very masculine structure. No one mistook him for a female. That's just one example but I have seen many others.

If you can 100% guarantee you can keep your dog from impregnating a female then I think leaving them intact until they've had the full benefit of hormones is ok. However, if you can't give that 100% guarantee then I think the responsible thing is to speuter them once they're sexually mature.