Help!

5seriesM3

Hi all, just wondering if anyone knows of any German Shepard x Labrador breeder either in Ireland or even the UK.
I have been searching for weeks now, after months of planning for a dog. I would love a thoroughbred German Shepard but, my family and I have come to a compromise. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

ABajaninCork

Just curious, but why a GSD/Lab cross?

5seriesM3

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Just curious, but why a GSD/Lab cross?

I like their temperament, and it is a compromise between my Dad and I. I've done a lot of research on them, and if bread well they can be a strong, loyal gentle dog.
Do you know anyone who breeds them?

Rommie

Rescues, they are all over the rescues. No ethical breeder crossbreeds so you won't find a proper breeder of them. What you'll be likely to find is an accidental litter, most of which are then dumped at the local shelter

Rommie

5seriesM3 wrote: »

I like their temperament, and it is a compromise between my Dad and I. I've done a lot of research on them, and if bread well they can be a strong, loyal gentle dog.
Do you know anyone who breeds them?

Sorry but that is the biggest load of bull ever. You have no way of guaranteeing what the temperament of the dog will be like, whether it will be more GSD or Lab. They are both gentle breeds IF raised properly, it has little to do with the breeds themselves. However, the way GSDs in Ireland are going, you could end up with a very nervous dog on your hands

fatmammycat

5seriesM3 wrote: »

I like their temperament, and it is a compromise between my Dad and I. I've done a lot of research on them, and if bread well they can be a strong, loyal gentle dog.
Do you know anyone who breeds them?

Seriously, that is absolute nonsense. Temperament has almost nothing to do with breed and everything to do with socialisation. Dogs might have certain characteristics of breed, but that is not the same thing as temperament either.
I've a 1yr old GSD here and he's the most placid, easy going dog with other dogs and loves people, but it took time and effort to make him so, particularly with smaller dogs after he was attacked in the park by of all things some kind of ****zu cross.
My friend has two labs, absolute gems of dogs, gems, but again she socialised the hell out of them as pups 8 years ago. The sibling of those dogs is dog reactive and unfriendly towards men.
Now, out on our regular pack walks we have come up against seriously aggressive Labs, JRs, Collies, Westies, other GSDs and indeed every breed from the biggest to the smallest and everything in between. To a dog those dogs are on leads and are quite fearful and reactive. Your research is flawed if you think just by crossing two breeds of dogs you're going to have a nice dog. You could have the lab build with the GSD wariness, or a happy go lucky mutt that look likes a GDS and thus still needs to be kept on a lead and muzzled because strains of GSDs come under the ridiculous RB law. Either way you're guaranteed nothing in terms of looking at temperament until you pick your pup ( the real first step in terms of temperament) and start taking him out into the big bad world.
Frankly, if you want a mutt, the pounds are full of them. Full of terrific dogs looking for the right owner and I'd advise that route, because the GSD breeders I know would never cross breed their dogs for any reason.

ABajaninCork

Oi Fatmammycat! You leave my Shih Tzu out of it!! He's a good boy, he is!!!:D

fatmammycat

Heh, he is WELL able to take care of himself!

Magenta

Rommie wrote: »

No ethical breeder crossbreeds so you won't find a proper breeder of them. What you'll be likely to find is an accidental litter, most of which are then dumped at the local shelter

That's not a fair comment. The Guide Dog society breed crossbred GSD X Labs for their temperament. Are they not ethical? And I'd love to see a link to support your statement that "most accidental litters are then dumped at the local shelter".

5seriesM3

Alright, calm down everyone. I'm not a dog expert. If you research labrasheperds, you will see where I got my information. They are quite common in America.
And BTW, most GS crosses up for adoption are unable to be established with what breed they were crossed with.

Rommie

Magenta wrote: »

That's not a fair comment. The Guide Dog society breed crossbred GSD X Labs for their temperament. Are they not ethical? And I'd love to see a link to support your statement that "most accidental litters are then dumped at the local shelter".

Sorry didn't mean that the way it sounds. But from what I have seen most lab x litters that end up being dumped are either collie or gsd crosses, what I meant is that you're more than likely going to find a labxgsd in a shelter.
I have issues with some of what the Guide dogs do actually, far as I know they only began hipscoring all of their dogs recently. They also attempted to cross labs and bernese mountain dogs, which was a complete and utter failure. But the op isn't likely to get a pup from the guide dogs, outside of them are they likely to find an ethical breeder of crossbreeds in the country? I would love to meet them.

Op- labrashepherds are just crossbreeds, they are not a labrashepherd, or a shepherd retriever or any other name they try to give them- they are a labrador x gsd and that is that. These designer breed names are what people give them so they sound 'new and exciting' and therefore they can charge people money

ShaShaBear

5seriesM3 wrote: »

Alright, calm down everyone. I'm not a dog expert. If you research labrasheperds, you will see where I got my information. They are quite common in America.
And BTW, most GS crosses up for adoption are unable to be established with what breed they were crossed with.

They are also a mongrel, not a pedigree. So looking for a breeder is pointless, and if you happen to find one - I can guarantee you they won't be regulated. You'll also be paying for, yep, a mongrel, that you might find in the pound or a rescue.

Like everyone has said, it doesn't come down to breed as much as how you raise the pup. So it doesn't really matter what the GSD is crossed with, once you take care of it properly.

If you've done all this research on this crossbreed, then you should have a fair idea what they look like, and it shouldn't be a problem discerning what GSDs are crossed with labs in the pound. Unless of course, neither the GSD nor the lab in the parentage are actually purebred - then they could look (and behave) like anything :rolleyes:

fatmammycat

ShaShaBear wrote: »

They are also a mongrel, not a pedigree. So looking for a breeder is pointless, and if you happen to find one - I can guarantee you they won't be regulated. You'll also be paying for, yep, a mongrel, that you might find in the pound or a rescue.

Like everyone has said, it doesn't come down to breed as much as how you raise the pup. So it doesn't really matter what the GSD is crossed with, once you take care of it properly.

If you've done all this research on this crossbreed, then you should have a fair idea what they look like, and it shouldn't be a problem discerning what GSDs are crossed with labs in the pound. Unless of course, neither the GSD nor the lab in the parentage are actually purebred - then they could look (and behave) like anything :rolleyes:

Indeed, especially as they can look like pretty much anything- http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/g/germansheprador.htm

timshel.

OP would you consider rescuing? there is a 7 yr old male lab x gsd up for adoption now. i'll pm u the link. at least if you go the rescue route you know exactly what you're getting with regard to health / temperament issues rather than going for a pup that could possibly inherit problems from both breeds.

In sayin that, from the description on the rescue site, he seems to have a lovely temperament so hopefully is everything that you're looking for.

Magenta

timshel. wrote: »

OP would you consider rescuing? there is a 7 yr old male lab x gsd up for adoption now. i'll pm u the link. at least if you go the rescue route you know exactly what you're getting with regard to health / temperament issues rather than going for a pup that could possibly inherit problems from both breeds.

A rescue dog could just have easily inherited problems from both breeds too.
Dogs don't suddenly become a super-species as soon as they walk in the door of a rescue.
If you're going to push a rescue agenda at least be honest. Many dogs who come into rescues are strays of unknown parentage and the crossbreed they are described as is only a guess.

timshel.

I meant that because the dog has been in foster care potential health problems could have already made themselves known (although this is not a given) and also the foster family could tell you about the dogs temperament / personality.

afterglow

Rommie wrote: »

Sorry didn't mean that the way it sounds. But from what I have seen most lab x litters that end up being dumped are either collie or gsd crosses, what I meant is that you're more than likely going to find a labxgsd in a shelter.
I have issues with some of what the Guide dogs do actually, far as I know they only began hipscoring all of their dogs recently. They also attempted to cross labs and bernese mountain dogs, which was a complete and utter failure. But the op isn't likely to get a pup from the guide dogs, outside of them are they likely to find an ethical breeder of crossbreeds in the country? I would love to meet them.

Op- labrashepherds are just crossbreeds, they are not a labrashepherd, or a shepherd retriever or any other name they try to give them- they are a labrador x gsd and that is that. These designer breed names are what people give them so they sound 'new and exciting' and therefore they can charge people money

Check your facts before suggesting that an organisation that does the amazing work that guide dogs do are doing anything improper with their dogs. You have no right to suggest they are breeding in an incorrect manner unless you know so for certain. I have been there and seen the amount of work, care, love, and atttention that goes into breeding these dogs so I suggest you take back what you said. Just because you are a dog owner yourself, doesn't give you the right to comment on something that isn't fact just because you think its true

ShaShaBear

fatmammycat wrote: »

Indeed, especially as they can look like pretty much anything- http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/g/germansheprador.htm

Some of them don't look remotely like either breed! :rolleyes:

tk123

afterglow wrote: »

Check your facts before suggesting that an organisation that does the amazing work that guide dogs do are doing anything improper with their dogs. You have no right to suggest they are breeding in an incorrect manner unless you know so for certain. I have been there and seen the amount of work, care, love, and atttention that goes into breeding these dogs so I suggest you take back what you said. Just because you are a dog owner yourself, doesn't give you the right to comment on something that isn't fact just because you think its true

Eh you only have to look at their own Facebook page to see they regularly have dogs they've rejected from the program for either temperament or health issues - hip/elbow dysplacia as well as epliepsy for example?

**Vai**

Christ, this happens on nearly every thread nowadays. Start a new thread for your agendas folks.

OP you can find plenty of crossbreeds in rescues, pounds etc. You will not find a GSD/lab cross in the same places as a purebred GSD or lab. All you have to do is google what you're looking for, make sure its healthy as much as you can and dont pay a penny for it unless its to pay for the healthcare the rescue has already given the dog.

Magenta

timshel. wrote: »

I meant that because the dog has been in foster care potential health problems could have already made themselves known (although this is not a given) and also the foster family could tell you about the dogs temperament / personality.

Not all rescues do foster care. And many dogs are too shellshocked and overwhelmed in rescues to show their true personality.

tk123

IMO.... a GSD x Lab is risky health wise because of the crap genes for both in Ireland. Labs with bad hips and GSDs with bad hips and sloped backs. If you want the healthiest pup possible pick either one or the other and find to a reputable breeder with health certs for the dogs. If you want a cross then you'll either have to rescue or line a puppy farmer's pockets - I know which I'd choose.

borderlinemeath

Magenta wrote: »

Not all rescues do foster care. And many dogs are too shellshocked and overwhelmed in rescues to show their true personality.

I would say that dogs are far more shellshocked in a pound situation rather than a rescue. Any reputable rescue should have a team of regular dedicated fosterers, people they know that can honestly assess the dog to some degree. They also know when is too much and don't overwhelm themselves with too many dogs to ensure that there's a bit of time to dedicate to each animal in their care. There are some that do say 'NO' and have to turn dogs away when they're at capacity and then there are other 'rescues' that take in far to many dogs than they are capable of caring for. It's this type of situation where the dogs are literally on a conveyor belt, shipped in - shipped out to make room for the next batch of dogs that their personalities can get overlooked.

OP, you won't find a reputable breeder of a crossbreed. They don't exist. Nor can you say with any certainty that a GSD/Lab cross is going to have a good temperament. A dogs temperament is partly nature, partly nurture, ie you have to play your part in the socialisation and training of the dog that will develop his personality.

The likelyhood is if you buy a dog that is sold as a 'designer' dog - ie a cross/mongrel but given a portmanteau for a name then the 'breeder' is highly, highly unlikely to have given two cents as to the temperament of the sire or dam. So that's the nature part out the window for you.

You have as good a chance getting a decent dog in a rescue as you do of finding a decent cross to purchase.

timshel.

Magenta wrote: »

Not all rescues do foster care. And many dogs are too shellshocked and overwhelmed in rescues to show their true personality.

I am aware of that but the dog I suggested IS in foster care.

boomerang

OP if you do your research and get a Lab or a German Shepherd from a great breeder, the dog will be everything you are looking for, and more.

I can't imagine you will find a GSD x Lab unless an accidental litter comes along and if that's the case, the temperament or health of the pups can't be guaranteed. Anecdotally, so many German Shepherds now are genetically predisposed to nervous aggression and it is such a shame for such an amazing breed. Please someone correct me if that sounds like baloney, but I don't think it always comes down to socialisation or lack thereof, when it comes to collies and sheps. Just my personal experience.

DBB

You're right Boomerang: fearfulness has been shown to be the most inheritable behavioural trait in dogs. If one of the parents is nervy, you've got your work cut out to get at least a proportion of the pups properly socialised, if indeed you can ever really succeed in comparison to an emotionally stable pup.

As for the ubiquitous GSDxLab, I know nobody, and have heard of nobody, other than the IGDA deliberately breeding them, and afaik they're only used for their autistic kids scheme, not as guide dogs. Even at that, I'd very much like to know how many of them make it to working grade, given that all dog units from Irish law enforcement agencies seriously struggle to source GSDs sound enough of temperament and health to make it to working grade. Indeed, they're having some trouble in the Lab department too.

**Vai**

Just looking through adverts new section and came across this fella. GSD lab cross.

<snip>

Vai there is no linking to site advertisements as per the charter. Here.

SparkySpitfire

I used to have a GSD X Lab, and she was the most gentle giant of a dog ever. Miss her so much

And if it helps, she did come from an accidental litter of my great uncle's dog, not a breeder.