German Shepherds are amongst the most popular dog breeds of all time. These dogs have been consistently making it to the top ten popular dog breeds for the last ten years. And they also rank in the top three smartest dog breeds.

All of this love is for a reason! These canines are strong, intelligent, and super affectionate.

Even more, this breed has been generous enough to share all of its wonderful traits with other breeds. So much so that we now have more than 25+ German Shepherds crossbreeds.

In this post, we’ve reviewed the top six of these crossbreeds. Read on! 

Golden Shepherd

Evident by the name, Golden Shepherd is the mix of the top two most-loved dog breeds, including:

  • Golden Retriever
  • German Shepherd 

Physically, these dogs have the physique of a German Shepherd. They are muscular and bulky. You can expect them to grow up to weigh around 60-95 pounds. And their shoulders can measure up to weigh 20-27 inches. Hence, they’re packed with energy and athleticism.

The coat, however, resembles more like Golden Retriever. It’s got a signature soft gold coat. However, some may come with a shepherd’s signature brown, red, and tan coat. Playfulness and affectionate behavior are the attribute that Golden Shepherd acquires dominantly from Retriever.

Chow Shepherd

It’s a mix of the Chinese Chow Chow and German Shepherds. Although they grow up to be as big as German Shepherds, they are much fluffier. They have a flowing, dense coat that may require more maintenance than a German Shepherd. Chow Shepherds are as friendly and affectionate as German Shepherds. They may not get along well with children, but they’re natural with other dogs and pets. Plus, they inherit intelligence and curiosity, so you can train them as desired.

However, unlike German Shepherds, these are not guide-dogs. They can neither protect well nor put up a fight. It’s best to keep them indoors.

Heeler Shepherd

Heeler Shepherd is also known as Australian cattle dog German shepherd mix. It is a mix of:

  • Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler)
  • German Shepherd

Both the parent dogs are energetic guard dogs that you can trust for company and security. They’ll never let you down!

As a result, the Heeler Shepherd is a dog with all the good traits intensified and multiplied. Perhaps, this explains why the Heeler Shepherd may be a little more aggressive than the parents. It’s playful, affectionate, and intelligent. If trained well, it's highly obedient too. However, this mix isn’t apartment friendly. So, you can estimate the energy levels!

Sheltie Shepherd

If you’ve seen a point-face Persian cat, you can conveniently visualize a Sheltie Shepherd. And that’s true for both looks and personality.

The dog is a mix of Shetland Sheepdog and German Shepherd. Hence, it’s not only affectionate, playful, intelligent, and responsive but also alert and reserved. Unlike the German Shepherds, this breed will take its time to adjust to any new company. 

Mastiff Shepherd

Mastiff Shepherd is a mix of German Shepherd and Mastiff. And so, needless to say, it is huge.

Typically, these have a large abdomen, large paws, large muzzle, and folded ears. They grow to a height of 3 ft with 1.9 ft being the shortest. As for weight, they are too heavy to be lifted once they’ve grown up completely. They weigh about 130-190 pounds. Their coat colors can vary from brown, red, black, and gray.

A Mastiff Shepherd’s personality is again a combo of its two parents. The dog is loyal, intelligent, affectionate, and active. However, it is even more courageous and much more of a better guarding dog.

German Ridgeback

German Ridgeback is popular for its masculine looks. It is a mix of Rhodesian Ridgeback and German Shepherd. Like Mastiff, it is also huge. It’s good for guarding purposes and behaves well indoors too. However, we’d like to highlight, in terms of temperament, that it is much softer and gentle. It’s got good compatibility with children and other pets.

Final Thoughts

Now that you’ve browsed through the top six popular crossbreeds of German Shepherds, we suggest you pick one that best resonates with you. Always consider a dog breed’s personality and its compatibility with your living conditions before bringing it in.