Reasons To Get A Shepador
What Exactly Is A Shepador?
I have a dog named Chloe. Chloe is a mix between a Labrador Retriever, and a German Shepherd Dog, because of that we call her a "Shepador." Makes sense, right? When we first got Chloe we had a lot of questions about what that kind of mix would be like, and after numerous Google searches, we eventually just decided we would have to wait and see. I'm writing this now to tell people what Chloe is like, so people who have questions, like we did, can get some answers, and give fellow Shepador lovers something to read.
That's A BIG Dog
Even people with little knowledge of dog breeds know that labs and german shepherds are large dogs, but Chloe exceeds even the higher end of the breed standard for both of these breeds weighing in at a lean 90lbs. The funny thing about it is, she doesn't seem to realize how big she is. You see, in our house we grow mutant dogs. Chloe's older sister is a giant yorkie named Ginger. Ginger weighs 16lbs, which is huge for a yorkie, but very small compared to Chloe. Don't tell them that though, because Ginger is the boss, and Chloe knows it! People often inquire about how they get along and whether or not Chloe would hurt Ginger, to which I tell them, "No way. They're totally sisters. They love each other!"
The Best Of Both Breeds
Chloe is, in my opinion, a great mix of to awesome dog breeds. She is a wonderful family dog, who loves to play fetch and frisbee. She is smart and easily learns commands and tricks. However, she also has a protective instinct that makes me feel safe, especially on nights when my husband works late. She has no problem laying in the hallway outside of my bedroom to ward off any would-be intruders, and, to me, that is really a quality that I want in a dog. She's great with our 2 young boys, even letting our 2 1/2 year old try to ride her regularly, and she just loves new people. I don't think anything gets that dog more excited then a new person to lick. It can be overwhelming sometimes.
Big Dogs Need Big Spaces
As I said before, Chloe is a great family dog, and we love having her in the house. A lot of the time though, that is simply not where she wants to be. We have a large backyard with a fence for her to roam, and play and chew things to her heart's content. She would not be well suited for life in an apartment, or house in the city with no yard. She needs room to run.
Hair Hair Everywhere
The biggest thing I wish I had realized before we got Chloe, is how much she was going to shed. Due to the fact that the only other dog I've ever had is a yorkie, I had no idea how much a Shepador would shed. It's a lot. I have to vacuum almost every day, and that is with her spending a large portion of the day outside. This hair is out of control, and in places it is close to two inches long. Good thing none of us have allergies! If you're planning on getting a Shepador, you can say goodbye to wearing anything black!
Summary
If you want a big, lovable, adorable, intelligent, fun loving, energetic, family dog a Shepador would be a great choice for you. However, if space, excess dog hair, and lots of energy are issues for you, you might want to look into other breeds.
Check out this link to read about our "Giant Yorkie" Ginger!
- Why My Giant Yorkie Is Better Than Your Teacup Yorki...
I have a giant yorkie named Ginger, and she is a pretty awesome dog. You can read about her here.
