The King German Shepherd - Is Bigger Always Better?

The King German Shepherd, also known simply as King Shepherd, is an exceptionally large breed of dog with a thick double coat, a long, muscular build, and colourings similar to that of the German Shepherd. The breed was developed only about 20 years ago in the United States by Shelley Watts-Cross and David Turkheimer. They were bred for both size and working ability by cross-breeding the German Shepherd with Alaskan Malamutes and larger Great Pyrenees dogs. While an Alaskan Malamute might typically weigh between 70 and 90 lbs, the King Shepherd can weigh anywhere from 90 to 150 lbs.

Having been developed from some of the hardest working breeds, the King Shepherd is highly energetic, and predisposed to life as a working dog. However, while one may hope that the combination of breeds would result in the best qualities of each, this cannot be assumed. The breed, while based heavily off of the German Shepherd, is unique in its temperament and working ability. Having only been developed in the past 20 years, the breed is still young and still changing. It may be some time yet before its abilities as a working dog can be solidly determined. That said, the breed has so far shown great promise as a shepherd dog, and its intimidating size make it an excellent candidate for work as a guard dog. However, work as a protection dog requires solid nerves and a great deal of agility. Considering the size of King Shepherds, they may not be as agile as their German Shepherd counterparts. Whether or not the breed has retained the nerves and temperament required of true protection work has yet to be determined.

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