The King Shepherd dog is a regal, relatively new breed descended from the German Shepherd. The striking guard dog looks like a giant German Shepherd and can have a smooth or rough coat. King Shepherds were bred to have fewer health issues than German Shepherds, with special care to reduce the cases of hip dysplasia in the breed. These gentle giants make excellent family pets and are calm, loyal, and protective.
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King Shepherd Dog Breed Rundown
Height: 27 inches and taller (males), 25 inches and taller (females)
Weight: 110 to 145 lbs. (males), 80 to 110 lbs. (females)
Lifespan: 11 years
Origin: United States
Personality: King Shepherds are intelligent, loyal, calm, protective, confident, and affectionate with their families.
King Shepherd Appearance
King Shepherds often get mistaken for huge, long-haired German Shepherds. In fact, they look like giant shepherds and have similar coloring and pointed ears. Since their ancestors include (mainly) German Shepherds and Shiloh Shepherds, they are big-boned dogs with thick fur. They often have the markings of German Shepherds. The goal of the King Shepherd breeders was to produce a healthier dog than the German Shepherds with a sound, strong, and calm temperament.
King Shepherds are categorized as a rare breed, and they are not currently recognized by the American Kennel Club. According to the American King Shepherd Breed Standard, King Shepherds are large and slightly longer than tall. The minimum weight for female King Shepherds is 80 pounds, and the minimum for males is 90 pounds. They have heavy bones and strong muscles, according to the standard.
The King Shepherd’s coat is ideally rough but may also be smooth, with longer hair on the neck and back of the legs. The standard says King Shepherds should not have silky or soft fur, differentiating them from long-haired German Shepherds. Their coats can come in various colors, including black and variations of black and tan, red, or cream.
King Shepherd History
The King Shepherd dog is a relatively new breed, dating back to the 1990s. Shelley Watts-Cross and David Turkheimer began developing the breed to create a larger, healthier German Shepherd with a calm disposition. Founders bred the American and European German Shepherds with Shiloh Shepherds, Alaskan Malamutes, Akitas, and Great Pyrenees Mountain Dogs to create a large, powerful dog with a German Shepherd’s intelligence and general markings.
A King Shepherd dog breed club was founded in 1995 in the U.S. The hybrid breed is still considered in development and is not currently recognized by the American Kennel Club.
The King Shepherd is recognized by:
American Rare Breed Association (ARBA)
King Shepherd Club of America (KSCofA)
American King Shepherd Club (AKSC)
American Pet Registry, Inc. (APRI)
Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA)
Eastern Rare Breed Dog Club (ERBDC)
States Kennel Club (SKC)
World Wide Kennel Club (WWKC)
King Shepherds are most often companion dogs and pets, and they do well in obedience, protection, therapy, rescue, and police work.
King Shepherd Personality
King Shepherds are confident, calm dogs who are affectionate with family and reserved with strangers. Although they make excellent guard dogs, King Shepherd dogs should not be aggressive. These gentle giants are intelligent and eager to please and can do well in many areas, ranging from therapy to police work.
As with all dogs, small children should be supervised when playing with King Shepherds. They are generally excellent with kids and have stable, easygoing temperaments. The King Shepherd dog has a medium energy level and is athletic and powerful. These pups can excel in agility, obedience, herding, and tracking. They have plenty of endurance and make excellent working dogs.
King Shepherds usually get along well with other dogs. As with all dogs, King Shepherds need proper socialization from an early age to ensure they know how to interact smoothly with other animals and people.
Training King Shepherds
King Shepherds are intelligent and usually eager to learn, making them easier to train than many breeds. These large pups need socialization and obedience training to show them the ropes and keep their active minds busy. A King Shepherd does not do well being left alone in a yard or home without mental stimulation.
King Shepherd dogs, like the related German Shepherd, need plenty of activity to keep them happy and thrive with regular training and exercise. Agility, tracking, herding, protection, and rescue work are all great ways to train your King Shepherd.
Although they are not hyperactive, King Shepherds need about an hour and a half of exercise daily, and then they will be calm in the house. A neglected King Shepherd may resort to problem behaviors such as barking or digging. Keep your pup busy with training and activities, and they will flourish.
King Shepherd Health
King Shepherds are generally healthy dogs, bred to have fewer health issues than the popular German Shepherd breed. They can, however, be prone to certain health conditions to watch out for, including Von Willebrand’s disease, hypothyroidism, joint dysplasia, eye issues, degenerative myelopathy, allergies, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).
As with all large dogs, King Shepherds may be prone to bloat, so it’s essential to take care in feeding them, breaking up large portions into smaller meals, and allowing their food to fully digest before exercising.
Where to Get a King Shepherd Dog
If you’d like to adopt a King Shepherd dog, they are not always easy to find since they’re a rare breed. Due to high demand and the high cost of King Shepherds from breeders, some unscrupulous breeders are breeding and selling King Shepherds without doing health checks and taking proper care of the dogs.
Do your research and ensure a breeder has health information and allows you to visit their location to see all the dogs and their living conditions. Also, check with rescues, as beautiful and loving King Shepherds can end up in rescues. Here are some resources to help you adopt a King Shepherd to welcome into your family:
American King Shepherd Club is a breed club and resource for everything King Shepherd-related. They also have a directory of breeders.
King Shepherd Club of America has a listing of King Shepherd breeders. However, they say they are not responsible for the breeder ethics or any issues, so, do background research on any breeders you find through their site.
King Shepherd Rescue has resources and links to King Shepherd rescue organizations.
There are also dozens of German Shepherd rescues nationwide, and many have King Shepherds. You can check dog rescue sites like Petfinder for local German Shepherd rescues in your area.
King Shepherds make loving, loyal companions and excellent family pets. If you’re adopting a King Shepherd dog, check out our 10 Tips to Prepare Before Adopting a Dog to ensure you’re ready to welcome your new furry family member.
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