King Shepherd: Is this the right Giant breed for you?

What is King Shepherd ?

In the 1990s, King Shepherd developed from crossing the German Shepherd Dog with the Shiloh Shepherd and the long-coated European German Shepherd lines with the Alaskan Malamute and Akita.

King Shepherd content overview

History
Different names
Appearance and Characteristics
Personality and Temperament
Health & problems
How to take care
Puppy Information
Puppy price
Things to consider adopting a puppy
Advantages & Disadvantages
Photo gallery

History of King Shepherd

When you think of a “designer breed,” you may imagine a teacup-sized purse or lap puppy—but the giant, rugged-looking King Shepherd can consider a designer breed, too.

King Shepherd bred from German Shepherds and American Malamutes and Great Pyrenees. They started breeding them in the early 1990s. However, an official breed club only established in 1995. And the rest, as they say, is canine history.

Because King Shepherds are a relatively new breed and still reasonably rare among American families, they not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club. They are, however, recognized by the American Rare Breed Associations (ARBA), World Wide Kennel Club (WWKC), and Eastern Rare Breed Dog Club (ERBDC), among other smaller organizations.

Different names or Types

King Shepherd other names

Recognition

States Kennel Club = SKC
Dog Registry of America, Inc = DRA
American Pet Registry, Inc = APRI
World Wide Kennel Club = WWKC
American Rare Breed Association = ARBA
American King Shepherd Club = AKSC
Eastern Rare Breed Dog Club = ERBDC

Appearance & Characteristics

Generally speaking, King Shepherd widely resembles the German Shepherd.

King Shepherd is quite similar in look to the renowned German Shepherd dog. However, it is much more significant as they get their size from their Shiloh Shepherd parent.

They have a robust body with a broad chest. A back is much straighter than the German Shepherd, which is a good sign for their health. They have a more boxy face and are more rough looking.

The King Shepherds large square head is one of their most defining characteristics.

Their coat is beautifully thick and may come in multiple lengths ranging from medium to long; hence the long-haired name king German Shepherd. Their coat is even weather-resistant.

With colors ranging from sable to black saddle with tan and either: gold, cream, or silver markings, there is a lot of variation in their appearance.

Breed basic characteristics

Intelligence	Highly intelligent
Temperament	Friendly, loyal and loving
Lifespan	10 to 11 Years
Size	Giant
Color	Black and tan, brown, sable, cream, silver or gold
Activity Levels	High activity levels – needs at least 60 minutes a day
Good with Children	Excellent with children
Do They Shed	Yes (Lots)
Socialization	Extremely social but can be wary of strangers
People Skills	Great with family but may be aloof with strangers
Destructive Behavior	Barking
Height	22 to 26 inches
Weight	Males are 130-150lb and females 90-110lb

Sound : King Shepherd also howls or whimpers when he is sick or hurt or in reaction to high-pitched sounds, such as an ambulance or fire truck siren. He may even try to sing along to the music.

It needs to learn appropriate reactions to various people, places, sounds, situations, animals, etc.

Behavior : Keep in mind, though, that King Size Shepherds may exhibit typical herding behavior, so you may have to spend some time training them out of behaviors such as nipping.

It is also essential to have your dog socialized at an early age. This way, he will learn the appropriate behavior in new situations.

They don’t do so well when they are bored. The dog has nothing to do, and you might find you have to deal with some destructive behaviors.

Size & Weight : Average King Shepherd size includes a height of between 25 and 29 inches and between 90 and 150 pounds.

Coat & Color

Their coat is beautifully thick and may come in multiple lengths ranging from medium to long; hence the long-haired name king German shepherd. Their coat is even weather-resistant.

King Shepherd breeders will produce dogs in selecting colors, such as saddle with silver, cream, gold or tan markers, silver with black markings or sable with black or brown markings.

Personality and Temperament

The Personality of King Shepherd

King Shepherd is revere for its friendly, loyal and loving personality – you couldn’t find a sweeter dog.

They make great playmates for children. They are full of energy and will match children’s energy levels.

These guys have bred to have gentle, patient temperaments, making them perfect family dogs.

King Shepherds have a natural desire to protect. They are not aggressive but act as brilliant watchdogs.

Temperament

A King Shepherd dog will show self-confidence. This breed is not shy and has a well-balanced nervous system, very loyal, and eager to please.

These dogs are generally confident canines, and while they may be slightly wary of strangers, they are rarely shy or aggressive about it. King Shepherds are loyal and affectionate with their families. While interactions between more minor children and canines should always closely observed, they tend to be calm and trustworthy with little ones.

Activity Requirements

King Shepherd love strenuous activity; using its high energy levels, a King Shepherd requires lots of physical activity. They need around 60 minutes of training and exercise.

This dog is secure and sturdy, and they don’t tend towards hyperactivity while they’re athletic. That said, King Shepherd designed to keep up their physique, and these dogs do want their exercise.

Leash training these dogs is essential in keeping their high activity levels in mind.

Trainability

Because of their trainability, they can even taught to work on the farm for herding tasks and as efficient guard dog.

However, you must know the basics of training a big dog so that you can adequately address his activity levels and his overprotective tendencies.

Health & problems

Health

As with any breed or combination of breeds, King Shepherds might be vulnerable to health problems. Their variation provides some protection against specific ailments. Since King Shepherds are a breed, it is essential to understand any health issues in your dog.

Though a healthy and hardy breed, they might be prone to certain health conditions of their parents like allergies, joint dysplasia, hypothyroidism, bloating and eye problems.

Although King Shepherd is healthier than the German Shepherd by all accounts, they’re still at risk for certain health conditions.

Feeding Plan

3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry dog food would need to keep your dog in good shape. You can also give it a homemade diet or even raw food in addition to its dog food, though only after consulting your veterinarian.

When choosing a food blend, you should focus on the protein and fat content. With high energy levels, they need good quality food to provide them with the proper nutrients.

Living conditions

King Shepherd not recommended for apartment life. It does best with at least a large yard.

How to take care?

Exercise

They are the very active dog, so exercise is a must. Notice the word exercising and not just walking.

If your King Shepherd is a herding dog, they will get exercise on the job. They will love being out in the fields all day running around. You likely won’t need to walk them if this is your situation.

Due to their high energy levels, they require 60 minutes of walking and exercising per day. In total, they should walk around 14 miles a week, so 2 miles per day.

Grooming & Bruising

King Shepherds demand a fair amount of grooming. Quick brushing not only improves your King Shepherd’s appearance but also increases blood circulation and makes him healthier.

His thick coat sheds a lot. But regular grooming cuts down on stray hairs around the house.

Twice a year, grooming increases to daily sessions when he sheds his seasonal coats.

Remember, due to your King Shepherds coat being so thick. They will be a consistent shedder grooming with a brush, preferably three times each week.

Dental Health check up

Their teeth should be brushed two to three times a week or looked after with dental chews and toys. If you brush, use proper dog toothpaste and toothbrush.

Love & affection

King Shepherd is a beautiful dog. They are friendly, loyal and highly affectionate.

Once you gain their trust, you’ll likely rewarded with lots of unconditional love and big wet doggie kisses.

Double Willows Mia of all shepherd, aka Mia that King Shepherd at two years old–“Mia is the best dog I’ve ever owned. She’s faithful and quite intelligent. She loves to ride in the vehicle and loves to be with all the family.

Feed Healthy food

King Shepherds should get high-quality food that’s meat-based and suited to their age and size.

Your dog’s diet depends mainly on her weight, age, activity level, and metabolism, but generally, you can expect to feed a King Shepherd between three and four cups of high-quality, dry dog food per day.

If you’re feeding him dry food, he should get three or four cups per day divided into two meals.

Depending on your dog’s age and activity level, he may require more or less food.

Best foods for King Shepherds

Annamaet Ultra 32% Dry Dog Food
Merrick Grain Free Recipe Dry Dog Food
CANIDAE All Life Stages Multi-Protein Formula

The following items should never be feed to King Shepherds

Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
Chocolate, coffee, or tea
Grapes or raisins
Moldy or spoiled food of any kind
Onions, chives, and garlic
Poultry bones
Salt & salty foods
Tomato leaves stem or unripe fruit
Yeast dough

Puppy information

Puppy Training

Training King Shepherd puppies should be a pleasurable experience for both owner and pooch. Positive reinforcement is now well known and accepted to be the best method of training.

Best tools for puppy training

If you’re searching around for the best dog toys for King Shepherds puppies and want to be sure that you made the right decision before spending your money on something your furry buddy won’t end up destroying only a few days later? Don’t worry, because you are in the right place.

We list out some best toys for your King Shepherds puppies.

Mammoth Flossy 3-Knot Rope Tug
Nylabone DuraChew
GoughNuts TuG Toy
KONG Extreme Dog Toy
WestPaw Zogoflex Tux

Crate Training

Behavioral training

Before teaching the primary command, it is essential to establish a close emotional relationship between the dog and the owner. Positive and reward-based training methods help foster mutual respect and trust between you and your dog. Behavior capture can use to teach all of the basic commands, such as “come”, “sit”, “down”, and “heel”. However, this method’s neat thing is that it is beneficial to teach the dog to perform complex or impossible activities to enforce.

Obedience training

During obedience training, your Pitsky will learn to follow the rules in your home and how to behave in various situations.

Obedience training usually refers to a dog’s training, and the term is most commonly use in that context. It ranges from elementary training, such as teaching the dog to reliably respond to basic commands such as “sit,” “down,” “come,” and “stay,” to high-level competition. Training a dog in obedience can be a long ongoing process depending on the dog, the methods used, and the skill and understanding of both the trainer and the handler.

King Shepherd Puppy price

No one promised that a King Shepherd price could be economical. A pup will put you back between $1500 and $2500, as we said, unless you understand a breeder that is generous and kind!

Things to consider adopting a King Shepherd

Bringing a dog into your home is one of the most significant decisions you could make for your family.

If you’re seriously considering adopting King Shepherd, you should know.

Before you adopt a King Shepherd, consider how much time your new family member will spend alone. Remember, a puppy requires constant attention.
You also have the advantage of knowing that your dog is physically able to “hold it” for several hours at a stretch.
Before you adopt a puppy, ask yourself if you can walk your dog several times throughout the day.
Ask anybody who has adopted an adult dog, then adopts an adult dog.
If you’re unsure whether the new dog you’ve chosen is right for your family and lifestyle, consider fostering before committing.

King Shepherd