German Shepherd Great Pyrenees Mix: Shepnees Breed Information

Ever wondered what it’s like to own a German Shepherd Great Pyrenees mix? These two large protective breeds are mixed to create an equally sizeable watchful pup. This mix is sweet, loyal, intelligent, and fierce when required to be. You may know him by another name, such as the Germanees or the Sheppy, but throughout this guide, we use his most common nickname, the Shepnees.

The Shepnees is a giant breed who is defensive of his family and home. These loveable large dogs need a firm owner with solid guidance and training as a pup. He needs approximately 60 minutes of exercise every day. The Shepnees must be placed with a family with a large home and access to a large, reinforced backyard.

Those are a few of the non-negotiables when it comes to the Germanees. There’s quite a bit more that you need to learn about this popular Great Pyrenees mix if you are considering welcoming him into your home. We’ve compiled everything you need to know in this comprehensive guide about your future Shepnees family addition. Let’s dive in and see if this mix is the perfect pup for your family.

Parent Breeds

The only way to understand the Shepnees is to learn about both of his parent breeds. Below is a snapshot of their history, breed purpose, and main characteristics. Because this breed is larger and can have some stubborn tendencies, it’s essential to know the temperaments of each parent breed. Let’s take a look at both.

German Shepherd

The purebred German Shepherd is the most recognized police and protection service dog in the world. They are ranked by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as the 4th most popular dog breed in America for 2022. They were once traditional herding dogs bred in Germany. But soon, people came to realize that his utmost loyalty and adoration of his master, intelligence, tenacity, strength, and courageousness meant that he was fantastic at protecting us humans.

So whether you employ a German Shepherd as a protection dog or not, you can still expect these characteristics from him. He weighs between 50 and 90 pounds and measures between 22 to 26 inches tall, from paw to shoulder. Purebred German Shepherds are generally medium to large-sized dogs. Shepherds are loved by many families across the world and are a common parent breed to many mixes.

Great Pyrenees

The Great Pyrenees breed is not as well-known as the German Shepherd. The breed is currently ranked as the 69th most popular dog breed in America in 2022. He is, however, just as vigilant in protecting his family home. Being a giant dog originally bred in Europe to scare and fight sheep-stealing wolves, he would undoubtedly deter intruders. When not fulfilling working dog duties, he has a very calm demeanor in the family home. The Great Pyrenees is often described as a sweet and gentle giant.

This breed measures between 25 and 32 inches in height and weighs 85 pounds and above. It’s common for them to exceed 150 pounds. His coat is one of the thickest and fluffiest in the canine kingdom. Expect a lot of hair around the home and a bit of drool (but what is a bit of doggy dribble between friends, right?). In recent years, the Great Pyrenees have become common to mix with other breeds to create designer dogs like the Pyrador because of his size and calm temperament.

Shepnees

This guide talks you through what you can expect from a typical Shepnees, but being a mixed breed dog, especially a rare one such as this guy who is likely to be a first-generation pup, you need to expect that he could inherit traits from either parent. For this reason, you need to love both the German Shepherd and the Great Pyrenees.

Temperament

The Shepnees are courageous working dogs who protect their family and estate at all costs. If you are looking for a four-legged family protector, look no further than this loyal mix. As a dog owner, this trait comes with responsibility. You must ensure that he is both socialized and trained well. The Shepnees barks to let you know that there is someone around. They are suspicious of strangers, even when their master invites them into the family home, always keeping an eye on them.

When he is alone with his family and doesn’t have any outsiders to worry about, he is a very affectionate dog with his immediate family. He will either join you on the sofa (yes, this guy thinks of himself as a lapdog) or rest at your feet in front of the fire. You can also be sure that he loves a belly rub and snoozes too, enjoying the quieter life inside.

If he takes after his German Shepherd parent, then he may suffer from separation anxiety. If he takes after his Pyrenees parent, he may be much more independent and not worry when you leave. Either way, it is always a good idea to prepare for either eventuality and invest in an XXL crate that he can call his own safe space, especially if there are young children in the home that he may need some time out from.

Size & Appearance

The Shepnees could look like an equal split of both of his parents. They may also look much like one over the other or anywhere in between. Even puppies within the same litter can look wildly different from one another. He is muscular in stature, and his tail is thick and long. The Germanees has a longer muzzle with the potential for droopy jowls, and his ears are enormous.

The German Sheperd Great Pyrenees mixes are, without a doubt, large dogs. they likely measure anywhere between 24 and 30 inches tall, from paw to shoulder, and weigh upwards of 70 pounds. Considering his Pyrenees parent can weigh more than 150 pounds, you need to prepare for a giant dog who needs everything in huge size.

Coat & Colors

His coat is influenced by his German parent’s coat. He may be short-haired or long-haired, but thanks to the Pyrenees coat, you can be sure it won’t be very short.

As both of the Shepnees’ parents come from cold climates, you can be certain that his double coat is thick and dense. He sheds moderately throughout the year, as well as experiencing a complete blowout during shedding seasons. His coat may even be water/snow resistant if it takes after his Pyrenees parent’s coat.

He could take the classic black and rust colors of his German parent, or he could take the solid white or cream color of the Pyrenees parent or a mixture of both.

Exercise & Living Conditions

The Shepnees needs between 45 and 60 minutes of exercise every day. While it doesn’t have to be intense exercise, it’s vital that he gets enough of it to keep his intelligent mind occupied and large body healthy and to avoid behavioral issues.

It goes without saying that the Shepnees need a large amount of room to run. So, ideally, he needs to be placed with a family that has a larger home with lots of outdoor space. Both of his parents love the outdoors and fresh air, so you can be certain their mix does not appreciate being cooped up all day.

His outdoor space should be reinforced to ensure that he doesn’t escape. Not only is he protective of his estate and defends it if he feels the need to, but his Pyrenees parentage roams the mountainous wilderness of Europe. If he gets a taste for freedom, he may never come back.

The Shepnees are suited to families with young children. Just be sure never to leave him alone with them simply because of his sheer size and the risks that can present. If socialized well as a pup, he may be suited to homes with other family pets. However, due to his parentage, he may not. This is a big consideration if you are a multi-pet household.

Training

The Shepnees must be socialized from the earliest age possible. If this isn’t done early, you risk that he might become too overprotective of his family and estate. This can often lead to behavioral issues. Exposure to a variety of animals of all shapes and sizes is important, as are introductions to unfamiliar humans, both inside and outside of the family home.

Thankfully though, the Shepnees is an intelligent dog who should take to consistent training quickly. Be sure to utilize the positive reinforcement training method. This mix thrives on consistent praise from his master.

Remember that his Pyrenees parent is an independent dog (read stubborn). This means training can be a little tricky for a novice dog owner. If you find that he is a little stubborn, consider enrolling him in an obedience training class. With this mix, it’s essential to instill discipline and a sense of pack hierarchy into guarding dogs from an early age.

Health

The Shepnees is a relatively healthy pooch that enjoys a lifespan of anywhere between 7 and 12 years. He could inherit the health problems of either parent. Here are the main ones to look out for:

Hip & Elbow Dysplasia: This affects many dog breeds, both of his parents included, and is caused by the abnormal formation of the hip and elbow joints. Over time, this can lead to arthritis and paralysis.

Patella Luxation: This is where the kneecap is dislocated from its original position from the thigh bone and can cause a lot of discomfort.

Bloat: This is a life-threatening condition whereby the stomach suddenly twists. You can decrease the chances of this happening by not feeding your pup immediately before or after exercise and by spreading meal times throughout the day.

All dogs are at risk for developing health problems like periodontal disease and obesity. The risk of these conditions is lessened by feeding doggies a healthy, top-quality diet.

Nutrition

The Shepnees consumes between 3 to 3 ½ cups of high-quality kibble every day. Because he is a giant breed, he requires a kibbe specifically designed for larger dogs. The large breed formula caters to his unique nutritional needs. This is particularly important during his developmental puppy stage, as it helps control his rapid bone growth.

The Pyrenees genes might make him partial to unhealthy snacks, but it is important to ensure that he does not become overweight because this may cause unnecessary strain on his joints and lead to other weight-related health concerns. Head over to our nutritional guide for the Great Pyrenees or the German Shepherd, where you can find recommendations on the best kibbles for this mix.

Grooming

The Shepnees’s coat is extremely thick and fluffy. If you don’t like dog hair in your home, then this gorgeous boy is not the breed for you. He requires brushing daily to ensure his coat is healthy and tangle-free. You’ll need to invest in a pin brush and an undercoat de-shedding tool to manage it effectively.

He is a relatively clean breed who only needs a bath once every 2 to 3 months or so, and be sure to check out the very best shampoos for heavy shedders, of which the Shepnees is for sure. His large ears also need checking and cleaning several times a week to avoid bacterial infections. Do not forget about teeth cleaning, which keeps a dog’s breath fresh and reduces the risk of dental disease.

Puppies

A Shepnees puppy from a reputable breeder starts at around $1,000. Designer dog breeders that specialize in only breeding the Shepnees can charge even more than that. It’s not uncommon to see designer dog breeders charging more than $3,500 for one of these pups, depending on the parent breed.

As Family Pets

• The Shepnees mix is a protective mixed breed.
• They protect the family and estate if threatened.
• These dogs are cautious with strangers and protective of family.
• Obedience and early socialization are key for this breed.
• He does well with younger children when supervised.
• They are great with other household pets if socialized early in life.
• The double coats require de-shedding regularly.
• The Great Pyrenees German Shepherd mix needs 1 hour of exercise daily.
• He needs a large home with access to plenty of outdoor space.

Finding a Shepnees Breeder

The Shepnees is a new and relatively rare designer dog. As such, you can expect to travel to find a reputable breeder who only breeds healthy pups. Be sure to research breeders, and do not work with those who cannot show you the pups, the parents, or their health certificates.

Rescue & Shelters

For your best chance of finding a Shepnees in a rescue center, you should focus your efforts on dedicated breed rescue centers. The American German Shepherd Rescue Association lists approved centers state by state along with contact details, as does the Great Pyrenees Rescue Club of America.

Final Thoughts

The Shepnees is a giant dog that needs firm training, love, a lot of space, and guaranteed exercise every day. Without it, he may develop behavioral issues and become overprotective.

If you think that you can offer him all that he needs, then you might have just found yourself an amazing designer dog. This mix can offer you the security you and your family need, along with the canine love and adoration that we all love.