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 large 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 will use his most common nickname, the Shepnees.

The Shepnees is a giant breed who is defensive of his family and home. They will need a firm owner, with strong guidance and training as a pup. He needs approximately 60 minutes of exercise every day. The Shepnees needs to be placed with a family who has a large home and access to a large and 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 thinking about 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 parents. Below you’ll find a snapshot of their history, breed purpose and main characteristics. Because this breed is a larger breed and can have some stubborn tendencies, it’s important to know the temperaments of each parent breed.  Let’s take a look at both.

German Shepherd

The 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 2^nd most popular dog breed in America. He was once a traditional herding dog 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. German Shepherds are generally medium to large-sized dogs. Shepherds are loved by many families across the world, and is a common parent breed to many mixes.

Great Pyrenees

The Great Pyrenees is not as well-known as the German Shepherd. The breed is currently ranked as the 66^th most popular dog breed in America in 2020. He is, however, just as vigilant in protecting his family home. Being a giant dog who was originally bred in Europe to scare and fight sheep-stealing wolves, he would certainly can deter intruders. When not in action 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, as well as a bit of drool (but what is a bit of doggy dribble between friends, right?). The Great Pyrenees has become common to mix with other breeds to create designer dogs like the Pyrador in recent years, because of his size and calm temperament.

Shepnees

This guide will talk 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 will be a courageous dog who will protect his 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 will need to ensure that he is both socialized and trained well. The Shepnees will bark to let you know that there is someone around. They will also be suspicious of strangers, even when his 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 will be a very affectionate dog with his immediate family. He will either join you on the sofa (yes, this guy will think of himself as a lapdog) or rest at your feet in front of the fire. You can also be sure that he will love 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 then he may be much more independent and not worry at all 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 will be muscular in stature and his tail will be thick and long. The Germanees has a longer muzzle with the potential for droopy jowls, and his ears will be large.

He will 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 in excess of 150 pounds, you need to prepare for a giant dog who will need everything in giant size.

Coat & Colors

His coat will be 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 that it won’t be very short.

As both of the Shepnees parents come from cold climates you can be certain that his double coat will be thick and dense. He will shed moderately throughout the year as well as experiencing a full blow out 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 will need between 45 and 60 minutes of exercise every day. While it doesn’t have to be intense exercise, it’s important that he gets it so to keep his intelligent mind occupied, large body healthy, and to avoid behavioral issues.

It goes without saying that the Shepnees will need room to run. And lots of it! 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 will 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 defend 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.

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

Health

The Shepnees is a relatively healthy pooch who will enjoy a lifespan of anywhere between 7 and 12 years. He could inherit the health concerns 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 it 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 pooch immediately before or after exercise, and by spreading meal times throughout the day.

Nutrition

The Shepnees will consume between 3 to 3 ½ cups of high-quality kibble every day. Because he is a giant breed, he must be fed a kibbe that is specifically designed for larger dogs, as this will cater to his unique nutritional needs. This is particularly important during his developmental puppy stage, as it will 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 will 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 will be 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 will need brushing every day to ensure that his coat is healthy and tangle free. You’ll need to invest in a pin brush and an undercoat deshedding tool to manage it effectively.

He is a relatively clean breed who will only need 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 will need checking and cleaning several times a week to avoid bacterial infections too.

Puppies

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

As Family Pets

• The Shepnees mix is a protective mixed breed.
• It will protect it’s family and estate if threatened.
• They are cautious with strangers and protective of family.
• Obedience and socialization early are key for this breed.
• He will do well with younger children when supervised.
• They are great with other household pets if socialized early in life.
• The double coat will require deshedding regularly.
• The Great Pyreness German Shepherd mix needs 1 hour of exercise daily.
• He needs to be placed into 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 will only breed healthy pups. Be sure to conduct your own research into 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 list 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 who will need firm 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.