German Shepherd American Pit Bull Terrier Dog Breed

A German Shepherd-Pit Bull mix, as a crossbreed, is not an official member of any breed group. And not much info is known about these hybrids' true origin; breeders began developing Pit Bulls mixed with German Shepherds decades ago to create a strong, intelligent guard dog, though no breeder or breed club has claimed the actual creation of the Pit-German Shepherd mix. These athletic, loyal, intelligent hybrids make fantastic watch- and guard dogs--and they can be great pets for families willing to provide them with training and socialization.

A few facts about the Pit Bull and German Shepherd mix: they range in size from medium to large, and average 21 inches at the shoulders in height and 70 pounds in weight; they normally have short, thick coats that shed quite a bit; and they're highly energetic and will need a lot of exercise.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning a German Shepherd mix-Pit Bull:

A Pit mixed with German Shepherd is the offspring of two breeds that are strong, confident and protective. Physically, they're capable of holding their own against practically anything or anyone; depending on inherited traits, though, these hybrids will have sweet, friendly demeanors--which can make them perplexing dogs to own.

For one thing, the APBT parent breed has the unfortunate (and undeserved) reputation of being a vicious, aggressive breed--so Pit Bulls (and Pit Bull mixes) are banned in many places. The GSD is not known to be aggressive, but the breed can be forceful and overbearing, especially if it feels threatened. This means owners must, must begin training and socialization as early in a German Shepherd-Pit Bull's life as possible to avoid any unfortunate behavior.

On the flip side, these hybrids are very sensitive, and will need frequent companionship. Breed owners say a GSD-Pit mix suffers intense separation anxiety if left alone--and the dog will express its dissatisfaction through barking and chewing things. "Constant company" is key in keeping these dogs happy, the owners say.

A German Shepherd-Pit Bull mix will also be extremely strong and energetic. Outdoor exercise on a daily basis is an absolute requirement for keeping these dogs healthy and peaceful.

A Pit Bull-German Shepherd mix will be powerful and athletic--and its overall appearance will certainly embody that. Muscular, streamlined, and usually pretty big, these hybrids will look like the commanding dogs they are.

The head will usually be oval-shaped, and the ears medium-sized and erect. The muzzle will be of medium-length, eyes almond-shaped, and neck long and thick. The chest is deep and wide, legs long and straight, and tail fairly long and sabre-like.

One variable in determining this hybrid's appearance is whether it's a Blue Nose Pit Bull mixed with German Shepherd, or a Red Nose Pit Bull-German Shepherd mix. A Blue Nose Pit Bull-German Shepherd mix will likely have more neutral body coloring (darker coats and eyes, and noses that aren't actually blue but a diluted black); a Red Nose Pit Bull mix with German Shepherd will often have lighter coloring: lighter-colored coats, eyes closer to amber, and a pinkish nose.

These hybrids' coat length and texture can vary from short and smooth like the Pit Bull's, to longer and thicker like the GSD's--or often somewhere in between.

Friendly, intelligent, protective, sensitive, and at times dominant, the German Shepherd-Pit Bull mix temperament is one of loyalty and confidence. These hybrids will be very loving and affectionate with their family members, and they'll be extremely protective of their loved ones. This protective instinct means a German Shepherd-Pit Bull mix will need socialization--exposure to many different types of people, places, and situations--starting during early puppyhood if possible. If properly socialized and trained, these hybrids can get along well with kids and other household pets, though they might inherit the Pit Bull trait of natural dominance over other dogs. It's best if your German Shepherd-Pit Bull mix grows up alongside any children or other pets, so they learn to be accustomed to one another.

In regards to training: these hybrids are smart and willing to please, so they normally learn commands and tasks without too much trouble. As with any breed, positive, consistent, reward-based training methods are best.

And unsurprisingly, a German Shepherd-Pit Bull mix will have exceptional watch- and guard dog skills. These powerful, courageous, alert hybrids are sure to bark at and investigate unknown sights and sounds--and they have the physical capability to neutralize almost any potential threat.

A German Shepherd-American Pit Bull Terrier mix, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits of its parent breeds), is very healthy. Even so, these hybrids can suffer ailments common to the parent breeds including hip and elbow dysplasia, heart disease, and various allergies. These big, deep-chested dogs are also prone to gastric torsion (commonly called bloat) if they're allowed to "wolf" their food too quickly. Potential owners are advised to ask breeders for health screenings for the dog and/or its parents, or they can have their own veterinarians do the screenings.

Life expectancy for these hybrids is 11-15 years.