If you are thinking about getting a puppy, you may be considering a hybrid, often called a designer dog. The German Shepherd Basset Hound mix is one of the breeds that tops our list of perfect family dogs. Not only are they great for families, but this breed is also an excellent guard dog.
The fame of the Shepherd Hound mix spread greatly in the United States as one of its parent breeds, the German Shepherd, is the second most common dog in the US, by the American Kennel Club standard.
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If you are interested in finding out more about this unique dog breed, we have compiled a complete guide on it. Here, you would get all the information you need on the Shepherd Hound mix, including its appearance, what they eat, how to train and groom them, the diseases common to this breed, and a lot more.
Contents
- 1 What Is A Shepherd Hound Mix?
- 2 Appearance Of The German Shepherd Basset Hound Mix
- 3 Temperament Of The German Shepherd Basset Hound Mix
- 4 Health Problems Of Basset Shepherd
- 5 Grooming Requirements Of The German Shepherd Basset Hound Mix
- 6 Dietary Requirements Shepherd Hound Mix
- 7 Exercise Requirements German Shepherd Basset Hound Mix
- 8 Determining If The Shepherd Hound Mix Is For You
- 9 Final Takeout – German Shepherd Basset Hound Mix
What Is A Shepherd Hound Mix?
The Shepherd Hound Mix or German Shepherd Basset Hound Mix, more commonly known as the Basset Shepherd, is a crossbreed of two purebred dogs: The German Shepherd and the Basset Hound.
What’s there not to love about the Shepherd Hound? It is a loyal and friendly dog that gets along well with children and animals of different ages.
Both parent breeds of the Shepherd Hound are very intelligent dogs, so it’s no surprise that this breed is also alert and smart, making it a perfect watchdog.
Friendly, loyal, intelligent and charming, to mention a few, this dog breed is sure to be a great plus to any family. Let’s find out more about the parent breeds.
Origin — Overview Of The German Shepherd
Studying the parent breeds will help us better understand the characteristic of the hybrid pups. As the name already implies, the German Shepherd’s origin is from Germany, and it dates as far back as the late 1800s. Max Von Stephanitz is considered the founder of the German Shepherd breed.
Max was an ex-captain and alumni of the Berlin Veterinary College, opinion that dogs should be bred primarily as working dogs.
Although he admired the German sheepdogs’ intelligence, charisma, and diverse abilities, he never found one that fitted his description of the perfect working dog. Until 1899, he was invited to attend a dog show, and he came across a dog named Hektor.
Hektor was a complete fulfilment of what Max considered the perfect working dog. Impressed by his strength, intelligence and beauty, Max purchased him immediately and changed his name from Hektor to Horand. Max then founded the society of German Shepherd dogs.
Horand was declared the first dog of society and, soon after, became a key subject of various breeding programs. He was bred with dogs that exhibited desirable qualities and fathered several pups.
Horand’s pups were ‘in-bred’ amongst one another, and together, they formed the foundation breed of the German Shepherd. This in-breeding was done to retain the much-desired characteristics of the breed.
German Shepherds were responsible for guarding sheep and protecting the flock from predators. After the first World War, the breed’s popularity grew and spread to other parts of the world. Its courage, trainability and keen sense of smell didn’t go unnoticed, and soon after, the breed served as police dogs and sight dogs for the blind.
In 2016, the German Shepherd ranked 7th in the list of most registered breeds by the UK Kennel Club, and in 2020, it was the third most-registered dog breed by the American Kennel Club.
| Stats | German Shepherd |
| Height | Male: 60–65 cm Female: 55–60 cm |
| Weight | Male: 30–40 kg Female: 22–32 kg |
| Life Span | 9 – 13 years |
| Temperament | Intelligent, Stubborn, Loyal, Alert, Obedient, Curious, Confident, Courageous, Watchful |
| Colors | Black, Black & Silver, Black & Tan, Sable, Grey, Red & Black |
Origin — Overview Of The Basset Hound
The Basset Hound’s origin dates back to the sixth century in France. France is a country known for its many variants of Hounds. While most are long-legged, there are also short-legged strains, and these dogs were called Basset.
‘Bas’ is a French word meaning low, ‘et’ suffix then translates the word Basset to mean ‘very/rather low’.
The long-legged strain of Hounds (now modern-day Bloodhound) and the Basset are believed to be descendants of Hounds that belonged to St Hubert of Belgium. St Hubert, a churchman, developed a new Hound variant that resembled the already-existing Bloodhound. However, a genetic mutation in St Hubert’s strain occurred.
That deviation is believed to have resulted in short-legged, dwarfed hounds later called Basset Hounds. The first appearance of the name Basset was in La Venerie — an illustrated text on the Art of Hunting, written by Jacques Du Fouilloux and published in 1562.
Before the French Revolution in 1879, hunting from horsebacks was the norm for kings and large noble families. The slow movement, dwarfed form, and sharp sense of smell of this breed proved helpful in foot hunting.
The ability of this breed to pick scents even made it more valuable, as its sense of smell is considered second best to that of the Bloodhounds.
With its long, floppy ears that help to stir up scents, packs of Basset Hounds were used to drive prey such as hares, rabbits and badgers from thick undercovers to open terrains, where hunters can easily swing in on them with guns and other hunting tools. This breed is still used in France and some parts of England for pack hunting.
| Stats | Basset Hound |
| Height | Female: 28–36 cm Male: 30–38 cm |
| Weight | Female: 20–27 kg Male: 23–29 kg |
| Life Span | 10 – 12 years |
| Temperament | Sweet-Tempered, Tenacious, Devoted, Friendly, Affectionate, Gentle |
| Colors | Tri-color, Black & Brown, Black & White, White & Chocolate, Lemon & White, Red & White |
Appearance Of The German Shepherd Basset Hound Mix
The Shepherd Hound, as expected of a crossbreed, takes on characteristics from both of its parent breeds. While it has the build of the Basset Hound with short legs and a long body, it has the facial looks and colourings of the German Shepherd, with a tan coat covered with a blanket of black at its back.
The floppy ears of the breed also resemble that of the Basset Hound, but it’s much shorter in length. A dark, protruding muzzle with deep brown eyes that speak of vast depths of intelligence completes the outlook of the Shepherd Hound.
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Coat & Colour Shepherd Hound Mix
One of the features that particularly stands out in this dog breed is its beautiful coat! You can find coat colours ranging from black and tan to brown, red and pale arranged in lovely patterns.
The coat of the Shepherd Hound Mix is thick with long hairs; as such, this dog breed can survive cold climates but thrives better in mild ones. Its thick coat, however, would require more grooming effort. We will find out more about this shortly.
Size Of The Shepherd Hound Mix
The Shepherd Hound breed are small to medium-sized dogs that can stand up to 12-20 inches. You can expect its weight to be anywhere around 55-70 pounds, but of course, this largely depends on its diet and food quality. As expected, females are comparatively smaller than males, but the difference is not far apart.
Temperament Of The German Shepherd Basset Hound Mix
Dogs of different breeds usually have varied characteristics. As such, when you combine the traits of two different dogs, you are bound to have a crossbreed with a wide range of personalities. It’s never an easy task to pinpoint precisely what traits your dog may or may not have.
However, Shepherd Hounds are courageous dogs with an even temperament from a general perspective.
Despite their hunting history, they are relatively calm and get along well with humans and animals of different ages. The Shepherd Hound can sometimes be stubborn, but it is easily trainable and non-aggressive.
However, you must never forget that early socialisation is vital irrespective of the breed or traits when obtaining a new dog. Allowing your dog to spend time among children and other animals from an early age would help it grow up into its best self.
Health Problems Of Basset Shepherd
Designer dog breeds are generally known to have a stronger immune system. They are less prone to suffer from common diseases that affect their kind. However, due to their mixed parentage, they are susceptible to a wider range of diseases when compared to a purebred dog.
You need not worry, though, as the Shepherd Hound is one of the healthiest dog breeds you will encounter, with a life expectancy of 12-14 years. Some of the health concerns this dog breed could suffer from includes Degenerative myelopathy and Joint dysplasia (particularly in the elbow and hip). Other minor concerns such as Cataracts, ‘Cherry’ eye and Cervical vertebral instability could also arise.
To avoid the frequent occurrence of these health challenges, be sure to feed your Shepherd Hound with a healthy diet and ensure it’s properly exercised. It would be best to take the dog to the veteran for regular check-ups where physical examination, X-rays and tests on its eyes, spine, hip and elbow would be carried out.
Grooming Requirements Of The German Shepherd Basset Hound Mix
Yes, this dog breed has a beautiful coat, but its coat is also thick with long hairs, and that would require extra grooming effort. Both parent breeds of the Shepherd Hound shed moderately too heavily, so this breed tends to shed a lot. Regular maintenance is required to retain the shine of your pet’s fur and keep it feeling great. You would want your dog to end up with a matte coat.
You should bathe and brush your dog at least twice weekly. Ensure you use a dog shampoo and conditioner while bathing them to keep their strands silk and shiny. Rather than leaving them to dry out naturally, I’d suggest you use a hairdryer instead. This is because its long hair and thick coat prevent it from drying out quickly.
You should also pay more attention to its ears while drying. Its long, floppy ears could often trap in moisture, and if not dried out properly, it could lead to infection and irritation. More so, when bathing them, you should properly examine the skin beneath the fluffy coat of your dog to be sure there are no infections like skin rashes or eczema.
Ideally, you’d want to take time to trim your dog’s nails every few weeks to keep its feet healthy and comfortable. If you happen to hear your dog’s nails clicking the floor as it walks, it’s time to grab that nail trimmer! If you notice anything unusual while grooming your dog, ensure you visit a veteran as soon as you can.
Dietary Requirements Shepherd Hound Mix
One crucial element that shouldn’t lack in the diet of this breed is protein, as it is necessary for building its muscles, skin, nails and maintaining the shine of its coat. Calories are also necessary, particularly in the growing years of your pup. Shepherd Hound puppies usually require an average of 22% protein and 8% fats in their diet. On the other hand, adults require only 18% protein and 5% fat.
To ensure that your pet gets these essential nutrients in the right quantity, I’d suggest you opt for commercially manufactured food. You should also feed him natural food items like fruits, vegetables, grains, and fibre.
Exercise Requirements German Shepherd Basset Hound Mix
Historically, both parents breeds of the Shepherd Hound were used as hunting and working dogs. As such, it’s only natural for this dog breed to have high energy levels that its needs to let off productively. There are many fun ways to keep your dog properly exercised, such as jogging, long walks, visits to dog parks, hiking and many more.
Whichever works best for you, be sure to give your dog a decent amount of exercise every day. If not properly exercised, the Shepherd Hound, like its parent breeds, becomes restless and eventually picks up destructive tendencies and, even worse, be overweight.
Training Requirements Shepherd Hound Mix
Having the intelligent trait of the German Shepherd, this dog is quite easy to train. They grasp things very quickly and are devoted to their owners. Focus on teaching them basic commands and how to be obedient. However, you should begin socialising and training from its pup days to keep their aggressive side in check.
Determining If The Shepherd Hound Mix Is For You
This breed has high energy levels and would require regular exercise to keep it agile and fit. If you have an active family and love being outdoors, this breed would be perfect for you as it would require regular outdoor activities. More so, the Shepherd Hound is a high maintenance dog. High maintenance translates to the extra attention and more grooming costs.
On the plus side, this dog breed is easily trainable. They have an even temperament, and they are non-aggressive. They also warm up to strangers quickly. If you have young children or other smaller pets, you need not worry about having the Shepherd Hound around them.
How Much Is The Cost Of A German Shepherd Basset Hound Mix Puppy?
You should expect to pay between $600 to $1500. However, factors like the puppy’s quality, availability of the puppy, residential location, and the breeder can influence the price.
Final Takeout – German Shepherd Basset Hound Mix
Having gone through this guide, you would agree that pretty much all the traits of the Shepherd Hound Mix are desirable. They are loyal, intelligent companions who desire nothing more than to see their owners pleased. Plus, they are beautiful dogs and are great with families. As long as you provide it with all the care and attention it requires, this is, without doubt, one of the best dog breeds you can raise.
