Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Labrashepard / Sheprador .. comments

Been thinking about getting another dog, been a while since we had one. Hard to get wife to agree to another after the last one died. (German Shepard)
I like the German Shepard and the Lab....

Is the cross the best of both worlds?
Have plenty of room for him/her to run.
Wife works from home, wouldn't be left alone much.
Would be outside most of the time. Not in a kennel, or on a chain. I hate that !!

Don't need a "guard dog" per se, but a little noise wouldn't be bad.

Male or female ? Would fix either one.
Just thinking at this point.
Comments ?

I think labs are the greatest... hunt, companion, family, watch, etc... Shepherds add the watchfulness, and feeling of responsibility for their charges... which can be a little tricky for non-dog people (who don't take command and set boundaries.) I'm biased, I'm 100% Lab guy, but I don't want to pay THAT close of attention to keeping myself in the Pack Leader position.

"Is the cross the best of both worlds?" That is never a guarantee even when breeding, for example, one National level Lab to another. You can check health clearances any number of generation back, compare Hunt and Field titles, etc.. and still there is no guarantee. In our minds we want the attributes of one PLUS the attributes of the other.. and it's never that straight forward.
Crossing breeds? Even less so.
Regarding male vs female - and with the caveat that my experience has been with Labs - females are more tractable and are more eager to please you.

They have free mutts at the pound.

Female labs seem to REALLY get attached to their male owners.

Bingo!

Sounds like they'd be a good mix, but I'm all in on the German Shepherds. Great companions, love to hit the woods, fields, water, and are wonderful protectors.

These are Harley and Rocky.

Check out the German Shepherd rescue org. They usually have a lot on hand and can match you up with a good one that has been vetted well. Some are cross breeds.

Heck, people adapt dogs based on a picture and a short personnel history.

You will be vetted too.

If you want a biting Lab that doesn't hunt.

Sounds like a chessie,without an attitude…

Whatcha want 'em to hunt for ya? A German Shepherd dog will flush some birds and track a deer.

I had a Sheplie. Or a Collherd. He was half GSD half Collie. Best damn dog I ever owned.

You never know what that ; or any cross would be when grown. But I’ve had one when I was growing up and he reminded me of old yeller except he was black. This was in the 60’s early 70’s. Dad named him Remus , after Uncle Remus from “Song of the South” Dad would never be called politically correct but the dog was black as the ace of spades and looked like a big lean lab with heavy shoulders and a thicker mane than a lab. Hunted anything I wanted and got along with our neighbors and family but he damned near killed any other dog that came around. I have no doubt it would have been bad for anyone sneaking around at night.

Great dog to grow up with. Hope to see him again

I adopted a Mastador (black labrador / mastiff) puppy about 6 weeks ago from a rescue group. I didn't even know there was such a thing. We've had a couple labs over the years, so naturally I wanted another one.

The most notable difference at this point is she definitely doesn't have a "soft mouth" like our other labs! She seems smart enough, but doesn't seem as devoted to "please", yet she is more attached to me and separation anxiety may become a thing. An added bonus is she does not shed.

It's been a hoot so far. She trains easily and crates herself at night. I do close the door now after she got stuck under my bed, with the hiccups, in the middle of the night. She's growing incredibly fast, adding a touch over 3# a week.

Thanks for the replies / info, appreciate it!

There is something wrong with the top one.


It's not fugged up in the back end.