The Labrador & Shepherd Mix is easygoing, dependable, energetic and intelligent - a great pet for families!

Temperament: The Labrador/Shepherd mix is one of the friendliest dogs you can own.  The Labrador influence contributes to the dog’s loyalty, mild temperament, and love of human contact.  The Shepherd influence adds spark to the dog’s personality.  Shepherds are well known for their devotion, love of running, tracking abilities, guarding and herding.  This energy and spunk, mixed with the inherent gentleness of the Labrador, makes Labrador/Shepherd one of the best family dogs to own.  It may take a couple of kids to wear this dog out!

Intelligence: Both Labradors and Shepherds are known for their intelligence, making this combination a great one.  As a result, Labrador/Shepherd mixes are easily trained and enjoy learning new tricks (which is fun for the pet as well as the owner). The Best Families For Them: The best families for these dogs are those with either active young couples, or couples with children.  They have a lot of energy, which if not channeled through play or exercise, can be used for destructive purposes.  These dogs need a home with a large yard in order to expel their boundless energy. Labrador/Shepherd are also great pets for those that love the outdoors.  Camping and hiking are some of this dog’s greatest joys!

Coloring: Their colors vary depending on the type of lab mixed in with the Shepherd.  The dog pictured above is a black lab mixed with a multi-color Australian Shepard.  They all have gorgeous brown eyes that give them many endearing, very expressive faces.

Size: Labrador/Shepherd mixes vary in size but are typically from 35-55 pounds on average.  This is a great size because they have “big dog" feel, but do not require an S.U.V. to take them to the vet.

Medical Issues: The purebred forms of these animals are predisposed to Hip Dysplasia. However, if you keep your pet at the proper weight and provide plenty of exercise, you are not likely to have many issues. Agility training can be particularly valuable. Begin training and providing regular exercise at any early age.

Behavioral: Labradors tend to be very "mouthy" but providing plenty of plush toys for them to carry around will lessen this characteristic. It's important to provide early training on the things they are allowed to chew (including your hand)! Shepherds tend to be highly intelligent animals and it is therefore important to provide plenty of mental stimulation for your pet. They paricularly enjoy "Smart Toys" and activities such as agility training or learning new tricks. The more you can keep them physically and mentally satisfied, the fewer problems they will have.