The German Shepherd Labradoodle Mix|A Complete Guide to a Unique Dog

The German Shepherd Labradoodle is a mix between the German Shepherd and the Labradoodle. 

They are gaining in popularity because of their great looks and wonderful temperament. They make excellent family dogs and are good with children. 

They are also very intelligent and can be easily trained. However, they do have some unique needs that should be taken into consideration before bringing one into your home. 

In this article, we will take a closer look at the German Shepherd Labradoodle profile, including their characteristics, parent breeds, temperament, health and lifespan, nutrients needs, grooming needs, shedding, exercise needs, training, and as family dogs.

Here is a quick overview of the German Shepherd Labradoodle mix dog with everything you need to know at a glance:

Other Names	German Labradoodle
Weight	50 – 110 Pounds
Height	20 – 28 inches
Lifespan	12 – 14 years
Colors	Cream, black, gray, sable, and tan.
Health	9/10
Grooming Needs	8/10
Exercise Needs	8/10
Shedding	7/10
Kid Friendliness	9/10
Pet-friendliness	8/10
Protectiveness	8/10
Good for apartments	Maybe
Average puppy cost	$500- $1,000 USD

Now, let’s discuss in detail everything about the German Labradoodle and why they may just be the perfect dog you’ve been looking for.

The German Shepherd Labradoodle Mix Characteristics

Size: 20 – 28 inches

Weight: 50 – 110 pounds 

Colors: Cream, black, gray, sable, and tan

Coat Type: Double coated/curly or wavy.

The German Shepherd Labradoodle mix can have different sizes because it depends on which genes they inherit.

It kinda depends on the Labradoodle more than any other breed since one of the parent breeds is a Poodle so they may be standard, toy or miniature.

In general, they will weigh between 50 to 110 pounds, and naturally, their size will change through every age, till they are finally adults and reach their final weight and size.

The German Shepherd Labradoodle mix can have curly or wavy hair, it depends on whether they inherit the coat of the Labradoodle or the German.

Their color may vary between Cream, black, gray, sable, or tan, or they can be a combination of a few of these colors.    

Parent Breeds

There are three breeds involved in this amazing mixed breed, so in order to understand the temperament of this breed, you need to know more about the parent breeds.

So let’s start with the German Shepherd, they are known for their incredible guarding instincts and their strong personalities but they are much more than that.

German shepherds are loyal, affectionate, and lovely family dogs, they will protect their loved ones with their lives, that’s how much they care about their owners.

They are playful and energetic and with the right socialization can get along with everyone, however, if German shepherds are left without training they are going to be stubborn and may get aggressive.

They can adapt to any situation easily, and since they are working dogs, they need vigorous exercise daily to keep them sane inside the house.

German Shepherds are incredibly smart and are easy to train and they love to make their owners happy which makes training them even easier.

Now, let’s get to the Labradoodles, they are also incredibly energetic and playful and need lots of exercises every day to help them stay calm inside the house.

Labradoodles thrive around people, so they do not do very well when they are alone, so they shouldn’t be left alone for more than 4 hours because they may be destructive and end up harming themselves.

They love to be with their family so they can shower them with their love and affection, so try to include them in as many family activities as possible.

Even though Labradoodle is a calm and obedient breed, they still need training and socialization just like any other breed.

Labradoodles are also intelligent, eager to please, and they are quick learners.

Temperament 

The German Shepherd Labradoodle mix is a quiet and well-tempered pup, they are ideal family dogs because they get along with everyone.

They are energetic and playful and need their space to run around freely for as much as they want because you don’t want them to run around inside the house and end up destroying your furniture.

However, due to their size, they can be raised inside an apartment as long as you provide them with enough exercise every day.

The German Labradoodle may be too friendly like the Labradoodle and wants to play with everyone or they may be not friendly with everyone and only play with people they trust and know like the German Shepherd.

Eventually, their temperament depends on a number of factors such as socialization, heredity, and training.

They are joyful and the life of the party and can make any house happier because they brighten up every day with their joyful spirits just like little kids.

However, every puppy litter has different puppies and each puppy has a different personality and temperament, so perhaps before you adopt or buy them, spend some time with the puppies to decide which one has a more suitable personality for you and your family. 

Health and lifespan 

The German Shepherd Labradoodle is a healthy dog in general, however, there are a few diseases they may be prone to or they may inherit from their parents.

Here are the diseases that the German Shepherd Labradoodle may be prone to

• Ear infections
• Elbow Dysplasia 
• Hip Dysplasia 
• Allergies 
• Degenerative Myelopathy
• Epilepsy
• Diabetes Mellitus 
• Hypothyroidism 
• Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency 
• Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus 
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Their lifespan is between 12 to 14 years, they can live even longer if you provide the right care and attention.

If you ever notice any changes in your dog’s behavior, you should take them to the vet for a checkup to make sure that there is nothing wrong with them.

For example, if your pup is outgoing and playful but suddenly they seem quieter and more shut down and don’t play as much as usual or don’t eat as much, then that’s a sign that your pup isn’t feeling very well and you should take them to the vet.

Nutritional Needs 

The Nutritional needs for the German Shepherd Labradoodle vary depending on their age because the nutritional needs of a puppy are really different from that of an adult dog.

Puppies need enough calories to help them develop and grow, that’s why they should eat 4 meals a day till they reach 6 months old then it should be reduced to 3 meals a day, and once they are 10 months old it can be just two meals a day.

The Puppies need at least 500 calories a day, if they are energetic and active, they will need more than that, they can eat up to 1,500 calories per day.

You should know that how many calories your pup needs is much more complicated than that, it depends on their activity level, age, and weight, that’s why you should consult their vet about the proper diet for your pup because they know your dog better than anyone else and will give you a specific diet for them only.

However, there is a way you can calculate how many calories your pup needs.

The resting energy requirement is a good, scientific approach to determining how much a German Shepherd Labradoodle should consume on a daily basis.

Then, depending on their life stage, you multiply this by a number that varies.

It’s the quantity of energy used to power an individual’s body weight in kilograms times ¾ multiplied by 70.

They need 18% of protein so they can develop properly, 5% of fats, vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, complex carbohydrates, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids.

Grooming Needs & Shedding

Their Grooming needs and shedding depends on which of the parent breeds has the dominant genes because if their coat is more like the German Shepherd then they are going to be heavy shedders and need daily brushing but if they are more like the Labradoodle then they are low shedders and will need brushing twice a week.

However, either way, it’s recommended to brush them regularly to maintain their coat fresh and clean because the dead hair can cause an unpleasant odor and by brushing them regularly, you are removing any excess hair making them shed less.

You can shower them once a month if they really need to but most dogs don’t need to be bathed too frequently because it strips their natural oils leaving them with dry and flaky skin that eventually causes a bad odor.

Make sure to choose the right shampoo and conditioner for your pup because the wrong shampoo can irritate their skin and lead to more shedding and possibly bald patches.

Trim their nails once a month because leaving their nails too long can cause them discomfort and they can accidentally scratch you while playing or ruin the carpet or the furniture while running around.

You should also brush their teeth regularly to prevent tartar build-up, gum diseases, bad breath, and bacteria.

One of the things that most people tend to always forget when it comes to grooming their dogs is their ears, don’t forget to wipe their ears with a cotton ball dampened in pH-balanced ear solution, their ears are a dark and moist place so it’s the perfect environment for bacteria to live, so make sure to wipe their ears after every swim, bath, or whenever they get wet.

You can check out my complete guide to cleaning your Labradoodle’s ears here.

Exercise Needs

German Shepherd Labradoodle is an energetic and playful pup that needs lots of exercise to stay calm indoors.

The three breeds that are involved in this mix are incredibly energetic, so naturally, the mix is no different.

Both German Shepherds and Labradors used to be working dogs and they love to run around all day long, which means that the German Labradoodles will not enjoy sitting around, they love to be doing something, so try to include them in as many activities as possible.

If you leave them without providing them with enough exercise, they can start to behave in a destructive way, which will lead to digging, barking, and chewing.

They need at least 60 minutes of exercise a day, and that doesn’t include their daily walk, you can take them for a run, hiking, swimming, or just play fetch, hide and seek, or even tug-of-war.

You should provide them with enough toys to keep them entertained when you are not around, get them puzzles and toys to keep them mentally stimulated. 

Training 

The German Shepherd Labradoodle is an intelligent breed, they need to be trained while they are still young because it’s just a tad harder to train them as adults.

They get along well with all people as long as they are socialized properly, and since they are eager to please, it makes training them way easier.

They are gentle and easygoing but need crate training when they are still young, it will make a huge difference to you, so you can leave them alone for short periods without worrying that your house will be destroyed while you are away.

They respond well to positive reinforcement so make sure to praise them in an upbeat voice whenever they do something correctly and reward them with their favorite treat.

You should be consistent and patient when you are training them, and avoid raising your voice at them. 

It’s also really important to take them to obedience training when they are puppies, it will make s big difference when you are training them, and if you can’t train them then you can take them to a professional trainer, however, if you want to take them to a professional trainer because you don’t have the time to do so.

You should know that even if you take them to a professional trainer, you will still attend the training so your pup learns how to respond to you properly and for you to learn how to command them.

As Family Dogs 

The German Shepherd Labradoodle is an ideal family dog, they get along with children, grown-ups, and other pets.

They need socialization so they can learn how to act around strangers. You don’t want them to be too friendly that they jump on every person they meet because it can make some people uncomfortable and you don’t want them to be very wary around people that they don’t want to meet new people at all.

However, it’s not just about how your pup behaves around people, it’s also about how people behave around your pup, especially children.

If you have children then it’s incredibly important to teach them how to treat the dog properly and what they should not do, for example, they should never pull their tail or ears.

Also, they should never try to sit on the dog or try to ride them because the pup may snap at them and they will end up getting hurt.

It’s important that you supervise any interaction between them so no one gets hurt.

As Guard Dogs 

The German Shepherd Labradoodle is an amazing guard dog, they are loyal and protective of their family.

They will bark at strangers that come near the house or try to enter the property, and they will also protect you if they sense that you are in danger.

However, it’s important to note that they need to be trained properly in order to be an effective guard dog, if not they may become too friendly with strangers and not bark at them, or they may be too aggressive and bark and attack people for no reason.

The key is to find the right balance when you are training them so they can be effective guard dogs.

Where to find them? 

You should go to your local animal shelter or rescue group, and even if you didn’t find a German Shepherd Labradoodle, you may find another amazing dog that needs a loving home.

If you are interested in getting a German Shepherd Labradoodle, then you should look online. There are many breeders that have websites where you can see pictures of the puppies and read about their parents.

Just make sure that the breeder has good reviews or a breeder with a trusted friend’s recommendation.

You can also find them at dog shows, however, it’s important to remember that not all breeders that are at dog shows are reputable, so you need to do your research before you commit to buying a pup from them.

The German Shepherd Labradoodle is an amazing breed of dog, they are loyal, protective, and make great family dogs. 

If you are thinking about getting a German Shepherd Labradoodle, then be sure to do your research so you can find the perfect pup for you and your family.

All About the German Shepherd Labradoodle Mix, in a nutshell, 

The German Shepherd Labradoodle is an ideal family dog because they get along with children and other animals, they are loyal, protective of their family and can make wonderful guard dogs, they are intelligent and easy-going, they need socialization, but training them won’t be a problem.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is the German Shepherd Labradoodle Mix A Good Family Dog? 

Yes, the German Shepherd Labradoodle mix is a good family dog, they are loyal and protective of their family. They will bark at strangers that come near the house or try to enter the property, and they will also protect you if they sense that you are in danger.

Is the German Shepherd Labradoodle Mix easy to train? 

Yes, the German Shepherd Labradoodle mix is easy to train, however, they will need socialization so they can learn how to act around strangers. You should also take them to a professional trainer so you can learn how to command them properly.

Is the German Shepherd Labradoodle Mix good with kids? 

Yes, The German Shepherd Labradoodle mix is good with kids, they are patient, loving, and protective. However, it’s important to remember that they need socialization and training so they can learn how to act around people and children. The German Shepherd Labradoodle mix is good with other animals as well.

How much is the German Shepherd Labradoodle Mix? 

The German Shepherd Labradoodle Mix is a great family dog because they are loyal and protective. They are also easy to train and good with kids. The German Shepherd Labradoodle Mix typically costs between $500 and $1000. You can find them at your local animal shelter or rescue group, online from a reputable breeder.

Is the German Shepherd Labradoodle Mix smart? 

Yes, the German Shepherd Labradoodle Mix is a very smart breed of dog, they are typically intelligent since poodles are the second smartest dog breed and German Shepherds are the third smartest dog breed. They are easy to train and make great family dogs.

Helpful Resources 

German shepherd breed standard

Labradoodle Breed Standards

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