The expression “dog is man’s best friend” has already snapped, but for a long time this phrase carries a grain of truth. It is the dogs that are capable of sincere loyalty and devotion. And it is not at all necessary that the best purebred puppy should be the best friend, because friends are not bought. A half-breed mongrel with a shepherd dog can be a great companion and friend for the whole family.
Advantages and disadvantages
Perhaps, of all the varieties of mongrels, it is the cross with the shepherd that is most often found. Such dogs can be found on the dog’s site on a leash with the owner, and can be seen in the stray dog pack. According to the description, the dog is still more like an unknown parent than a shepherd. Compared to a purebred pet, mestizos have their advantages:
- puppies of a shepherd and an unknown breed are stronger and healthier;
- mestizos are resistant to genetic diseases;
- such puppies have stronger immunity;
- they began to manifest intelligence earlier;
- the cost of non-purebred puppies is much lower;
- mestizos are less likely to need special expensive food.
Before you get a mixed breed puppy, it is important to familiarize yourself with its disadvantages:
- it is not known what size the pet will grow;
- non-purebred animals have no documents and no pedigree;
- cannot participate in the exhibition;
- you cannot know in advance what character the dog will grow up with.
Differences
If the owner certainly wants to have a purebred puppy, then he should be careful when choosing a breeder. Not all of them are decent, under the guise of a purebred puppy, you can sell a mestizo shepherd and mongrel. You can distinguish a purebred shepherd from a mestizo according to the following characteristics.
- As early as 2 months old, a purebred shepherd calf is larger than its unclean counterparts.He has more powerful and stronger legs with strong joints and no curvature.
- On the curly forehead you can see a distinct furrow that the shepherd does not have.
- In a thoroughbred dog, the bite is always scissor-like, and in a mongrel it can be anything.
- As the shepherd grows older, the ears become hard and stand on the head, while in mixed-breed dogs, the ears remain hanging.
- The mixture of a mongrel with a shepherd dog has a barrel-shaped chest, while a purebred puppy has a wide and massive chest.
Character
Due to the genetic connection with shepherd dogs, Mestizo puppies have high intelligence and therefore lend themselves well to training. Such a dog will easily execute even the most difficult teams. She quickly becomes attached to the owner, characterized by loyalty and complaisance. Such a puppy is perfect for keeping in a family with children.
In general, these are active and active dogs that love long walks, field trips, swimming. Well, such dogs have pronounced protective qualities, they do not differ in aggression, but they will be able to warn the owner about the approach of an outsider by barking. Mestizos get along well with other animals, it can be dogs, cats, and other pets.
From the shepherd dogs, the poochs also adopted sincere devotion to the owner. There are many cases where the mestizos until the last remained faithful to their man and remained to wait for him in one place. With proper upbringing, a four-legged friend who is not inferior in quality to a thoroughbred relative can turn out from a mestizo.
Maintenance and care
As already mentioned, dogs of mixed breeds are distinguished by good health, therefore such puppies rarely need special care. For their maintenance, a spacious street aviary is quite suitable. Such dogs live well on booths with a daily walk around the territory. The mongrels and the rules of conduct at home or in the apartment are well remembered. These are dogs who love outdoor games and jogging, therefore it is best to keep a pet on the site.
If the dog is taken from the street, then the first place he should visit is a veterinary clinic. The specialist should inspect the puppy, conduct tests, treat it from parasites. If there are other animals in the house, then it is recommended to leave the foundling in a hospital or in a temporary overexposure for the period of quarantine. Do not forget about the mandatory annual vaccinations and treatments for worms.
Despite the strong immunity, the dog can become a victim of infection if timely vaccination is not passed.
When housing the dog must provide its place. Let it be a bed, remote from drafts and heating devices. Mandatory attributes - bowls for food and water, toys, special bones for brushing teeth, a leash and a collar. Do not forget that puppies grow quickly, especially the shepherd mestizo, so check periodically for collar pressure and change it if necessary to a more spacious version.
The dog does not need frequent bathing, just wash it once a season at a water temperature of 25-35 degrees Celsius. During washing, use a special shampoo. Walking should be at least 2 times a day, each walk - at least 30 minutes.
Do not forget to put on a muzzle before walking on the dog. This is necessary not only within the framework of the rules for keeping large animals, but also for safety reasons for the dog itself: there are doghunters everywhere, and poison can be found in any yard.
On how to properly educate a mongrel, see the next video.
