Smaller Breed Of German Shepherd

What Is A Miniature German Shepherd Anyway

German Shepherds have a lot of appeals. Theyre loyal, easy to train, yet love to play. Their size can put off many potential owners, however. A full-size German Shepherd needs a lot of room to play and run something a lot of people just dont have.

Thats where the miniature German Shepherd comes in: all of the beauty, loyalty, and intelligence but in a smaller size.

Before you start searching for miniature German Shepherd puppies, however, make sure you know what youre getting.

There is no such thing as a purebred miniature German Shepherd.

A mini German Shepherd is usually the result of crossbreeding a German Shepherd with a smaller dog breed.

The German Shepherds dominant genes usually come out in the form of their coat colors and patterns as well as some physical characteristics like the ears. This is why mini German Shepherds often look just like small versions of their purebred mom or dad.

The type of small dog bred with the German Shepherd will impact what a miniature German Shepherd will look like.

Grooming Tips For A Tiny German Shepherd:

Grooming of a tiny German shepherd is essential to keep it healthy, active, and good-looking. It is necessary to take care of its hair, nails, teeth, ears.

• Brushing the hair with a soft and gentle brush a few times in a month is helpful for the breeds hair and coat.
• To make the tiny breed bath excessively can make their skin dry and flaky. If the miniature is found with the fleas, it is essential to use anti-flea shampoo.
• Avoid the plaque it is good to use a dog-friendly toothbrush. Brushing the teeth of the breed roughly will damage their teeth and gums.
• It is essential to trim the toenails of the mini German Shepherd once every week.
• Remove the excess wax and remains from the ears, it is beneficial to use ear drops rather than cleaning it with water, as water can cause infection.

The Furminator Deshedding Comb

We like the Furminator deshedding brush for dogs like the Miniature German Shepherd. This brush is specifically designed for dogs with a dense undercoat like German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes.

The Furminator Deshedding Comb also has a release button so you can clean the brush by automatically removing the collected hair so you can easily keep brushing. This helps to make the grooming process easier and more efficient for everyone.

Along with brushing and bathing, your Miniature German Shepherd will also need his ears cleaned and checked regularly to keep them clear of debris, moisture, and waxy buildup that can lead to ear infections.

His nails should also be ground or trimmed down regularly to keep them from cracking or splitting during play or exercise, and his teeth should be brushed with a dog-safe toothbrush and a toothpaste specified for canine use.

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Exercise For German Shepherds Vs Smaller Dogs

German Shepherds are highly energetic dogs who need a lot of exercise. Your new tiny furry friend might not need a lot of movement, but a German Shepherd craves it.

Typically, GSDs need at least 45 minutes of exercise a day. German Shepherds are workhorses. They were bred for herding sheep and yearn to be on the move.

A smaller breed or a puppy might need less than 30 minutes of exercise a day, and less overall stimulation.

Without enough exercise, German Shepherds might use that pent up energy in undesirable ways. Add a small dog into the picture, and that could be a dangerous situation.

White Swiss Shepherd Dog

This gorgeous breed is quite closely related to the German Shepherd. In fact, you could argue they are one in the same.

The White Swiss Shepherd dog descended from White Shepherds in the 1960s.

Because of their striking difference in appearance their variety was given a different breed name. However, they soon gained popularity in the US, Canada, and Switzerland.

While they share many of the characteristics of a German Shepherd, it is generally said the White Swiss Shepherd is a little bit better behaved. They tend to be more eager to please. However, they may also be more sensitive, and do not respond well to scolding.

Shayla McConnell

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Miniature German Shepherd: Do These Pocket Sized Dogs Exist

A German Shepherd is a bold, intelligent, loyal and active breed. But, what about a Miniature German Shepherd?

A Mini German Shepherd will only stand at 15 to 20 inches and weigh a maximum of 50 pounds compared to the 25 inches and 75 pounds of a full size German Shepherd not quite pocket-sized, but they do exist!

This breeds athleticism and petite beauty will attract many people to them.

Though not a purebred dog, this mini cross breed is a German shepherd mix with either a poodle or a Border Collie, creating a combination of a household and working pet.

Let us guide you through this breeds temperament, personality, appearance and care requirements in our owners guide.

A Miniature Dog With A Big Appetite

While they may not require quite as much food as a large German Shepherd, the miniature variety is still very active and thus requires decent quality kibble that is high in protein and preferably corn-free.

These dogs will need around 1500 calories per day or about 3 cups of kibble daily. Split into two meals to properly sustain your dogs energy levels throughout the day.

A good vitamin supplement can also be used to keep their bones and muscles strong and healthy.

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American Akita Vs German Shepherd Which Dog Should You Get

When comparing the American Akita and the German Shepherd, you will find that they are naturally protective and loyal to their families. Plus, these dogs are both distinctive-looking and large. Akitas are classed as members of the working dog group. German Shepherds are classified as members of the herding dog group.

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Health Concerns Associated With The Mini German Shepherd

Any crossbreed dog is susceptible to the health conditions that their parent breeds are predisposed to.

Since there are numerous breeds that can be crossed with the German shepherd to make the mini German shepherd, we should analyze the health concerns depending on the individual breeds that can be crossed with the German shepherd.

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Miniature German Shepherd Puppies Before You Buy

Miniature German Shepherds can vary fairly widely in appearance and size, depending on what breed the German Shepherd was bred with. While they do often resemble a smaller German Shepherd, remember that due to their mixed genetics, they will not have the same temperament and characteristics as a standard German Shepherd.

Many people are tricked into thinking that these dogs are true pint-sized German Shepherds, so youll need to visit the breeder and view the parents to make sure of the genetics and ensure that they are healthy and happy and that the parents have all the relevant paperwork.

How Much Should A 6

Again, when considering the weight of your 6-month old German Shepherd, dont worry if your pup is slightly out of the recommended range. Every puppy will grow at a different rate, and these figures are average guidelines.

A 6-month-old German Shepherd should weigh between 49-57 lbs for males and 44-49 lbs for females. Similar to most large breeds, GSDs have their most intense growth spurt between 2 to 6 months of age. At 7 months, their growth rate slows down considerably until they reach full adulthood at 3 years.

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Training A Miniature German Shepherd

You are lucky that this Mini GSD is very intelligent and therefore your puppy should learn new commands quickly.

Just like their parents, they make excellent students. In fact, your puppy will learn those basic sit, stay, no commands in no time. There are plenty of puppy training tips for your miniature German shepherd. Obedience training and household training should be simple and take no time at all, once again making them a perfect family pet.

The key to training your puppy is to keep the training simple and consistent. Whilst being fun, be patient and encourage positive behaviors through positive reinforcement training.

It is important that you cover all of the bases when it comes to training. So be sure to incorporate mental stimulation and socialization too:

• Mental stimulation is important as it diminishes any unwanted behaviors from arising. Such as boredom which may lead to unwanted chewing and barking in any pup.
• Begin socialization at an early age and be sure to introduce your pup to changes in environments, new objects and a range of people.

Once they are old enough, try out puppy classes and doggy day care so they can befriend fellow canines.

Being a smart breed, their brains need to be kept engaged. You can provide stimulation through exercise, training, bonding and games.

How Do They Reproduce

Miniature German Shepherd belongs to the designer breed of dogs. They were bred by mixing a purebred German Shepherd with another smaller herding dog breed where the dominant genes of the GSD breed give them the German Shepherd look just a little smaller in size. In these modern times, most breeders used live artificial insemination to developed the mini GSD breed. But they can be bred naturally as well when they reach their sexual maturity at seven months but it is advised to wait two years before breeding your mini German Shepherd dog until they reach full emotional maturity. The gestation period for these dogs is around 60 – 65 days, after which a female gives birth to six to eight miniature German Shepherd puppies per litter.

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Dog With A Magnificent Double Coat

Its coat can be heavily influenced by its other parent, but they typically have a thick and double-layered fur thats medium-length.

Its texture and colors can range. It could be curly like the Poodle, wiry like the Terrier, or silky and straight like the Collie.

They can be found in the standard black and tan shade of the German Shepherd, or you may even find this breed in red, black, white or silver.

This German Shepherd Chihuahua mix is one example:

How Does A Miniature German Shepherd Look

The appearance of a small German Shepherd will depend on what the German Shepherd is crossbred with. The mini German doesnt need to possess all the characteristics of the purebred Shepherd. Although there are some standard features which you can find in the miniature Shepherd, Like the natural color and markings, the body type, ears but with a rare coat of white, black, or golden. In this case, the pup will have the same color combination which a purebred German shepherd has, i.e., black, red, or tan and black.

The female German Shepherd is crossbred with another smaller breed dogs, to develop a mini German Shepherd Breed. Some of the popular breeds are used to produce miniature German Shepherd:

• Collies
• Yorkshire Terrier

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German Shepherd Health Concerns

The German shepherd is the dominant parent breed, which means that all miniature German Shepherds are susceptible to the genetic problems that are common within the German shepherd breed.

The top three health problems to be on the lookout for include:

A. Hip Dysplasia: This is the number one health problem that German shepherds are genetically predisposed to. It is caused by the malformation of the hip joint at birth.

B. Degenerative Myelopathy: This is a neural disease that results in the degeneration of the spinal cord and other parts of the nervous system.

C. Endocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency : This is a digestive disorder that can be easily treated if diagnosed early. If it goes undetected, it can have fatal outcomes for your dog.

Miniature German Shepherd Health

The German Shepherd breed has an average lifespan of 7 to 10 years. They are at risk of a number of health conditions you should be aware of. Like many breeds, the GSD is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia. This is a disease in which the ball and socket joint is malformed. Consequently, the German Shepherd Dog Club of America recommends hip and elbow evaluations of the puppys parents. This helps to reduce the risk of passing along joint problems.

Degenerative myelopathy is an incurable disease of the spinal cord. It begins with a loss of coordination in the hind legs. Then it gets progressively worse until the dog is unable to walk.

Bloat is a sudden, acute swelling of the abdomen that can be life-threatening if prompt treatment is not received. Another joint disease which affects the GSD is osteochondritis dissecans . This is caused by an abnormal growth in the cartilage.

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The Intelligent Border Collie

This breed is world-renowned for its smarts. In fact, its regarded as the most intelligent dog breed in the world.

A lovable family doggo with talents for competition and herding, it contributes desirable personality traits to make a German Shepherd Collie mix.

It can weigh up to 44 lbs with a height of 22 in and has a lifespan of up to 17 years.

Some health concerns to be aware of with this breed include bloating and an eye anomaly that causes partial or complete blindness.

Are Mini German Shepherds Easy To Train

When contemplating this crossbreed, you might want to consider how smart they are and their trainability factor.

Mini German Shepherds are easy to train due to their high intelligence. They respond extremely well to positive reinforcement training, more so, if they have been properly socialized.They are also extremely alert and agile dogs who love to please their owner.

These dogs usually assume the German Shepherds outstanding trainability. The GSD is ranked the third breed for intelligence behind the Border Collie and the Poodle. So, if it is crossed with either of these two, then you will have a super-intelligent pup on your hands.

Rewards-based training is the way to go with mini German Shepherds, along with repetition and consistency. Use small training treats as these work well, and keep sessions short and fun.

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Miniature German Shepherd Adoption

It can be difficult to find breeders who specialize in specific crossbreeds. Choosing to adopt a dog from a shelter has the advantage of allowing you to see exactly what kind of dog youre getting. This can also be less expensive than buying from a breeder, and some of these dogs will already be trained.

Who Do Miniature German Shepherds Live With

A Miniature German Shepherd dog, like its larger breed, lives in packs. They were bred to become the best family dog you could ask for. As a puppy, if trained well, they will consider their family as their pack and their master as their leader. They are highly intelligent, loyal, obedient, and eager to please their master and get along well with other dogs as well with appropriate training of course. That’s why along with great family dogs they are a great working dog as well. Because of their fearless and alert nature, they are great guard dogs as well.

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Which Type Of German Shepherd Is Right For You

Ask yourself this

Your answer lies where the two needs meet

Next, you need to find a breeder that understands their lines and breeding programs.

You don’t want someone who breeds for the sake of breeding.

All lines have some issues, and thats true for any other breed of dog too.

But if you know exactly what you want, go to the right breeder and let them know, you will get the right German Shepherd breed type for your family.

Do Miniature German Shepherds Exist

Yes, the mini German Shepherd is a real dog breed. But, unlike other miniature breeds , it is not a purebred dog. The miniature is a mix between a German Shepherd and another medium to small sized dog.

Most commonly, Border Collies are used to create this mix.

Poodles are also a popular breed to create this breed. The Poodle contributes its family-friendly personality to create a dog that is more suitable for households with children. These puppies not only excel as great companions and family pets, but they are low-shedding too.

A handful of other dog breeds can also be used to create this breed:

• Golden Retrievers
• Corgis
• Pugs

You may be wondering if dwarf German Shepherds are the same as miniatures. The short answer is no.

While both dogs are small, dwarves are the result of a genetic mutation. For a dwarf to be born, both parents must have pituitary dwarfism. It can be present at birth or show up during early puppy growth periods. Dwarves have a smaller body, short limbs with deformities, and many health problems.

Miniature German Shepherds are purposely bred and do not suffer from the same health problems.

The mini German Shepherd is just as fierce, brave, loyal, and energetic as any standard Shepherd. They also keep the Standards attributed hard-working personality too.

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