75-120 lbs
22-32"
United States
What do you get if you cross a German Shepherd with a great Pyrenees? The result is the hybrid breed called ‘A Germanese’.
Big, kind and dense of coat, the Germanese — also called a Shepnees on occasion and sometimes spelled as ‘Germanees’ instead — is a proud and hard-working dog. Here, we’ll explain all there is to know about this colossal dog, not least of which:
Despite being a cross between two European dogs — a Great Pyrenees and a German Shepherd — the Germanese dog breed hails from the United States, where it’s not all that common. A big, friendly, intelligent dog that likes the cold weather, the Germanese will be protective of its human family and may be suspicious of anyone it doesn’t know.
Knowing all about the Germanese/Germanees will help you work out whether or not this is the right dog for you. Here we’ll talk about its exercise needs, its insurance costs, its diet, and much more. Think you’re ready to bring one into your life? Read on and find out.
As is often the case with designer breeds, we don’t in fact know a great deal about the Germanese’s origins so we must look to the history of its ancestors for enlightenment.
The German Shepherd is a hugely popular dog, especially in the States. Unsurprisingly, it’s a sheep herding dog that originates from Germany. Not only was it able to herd sheep but to fight back against predators; it’s strong, smart and has a powerful bite force. This breed dates back to the early 19th century and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908.
By contrast, no one is exactly sure where the Great Pyrenees came from originally - possibly Siberia or Central Asia. What’s a little clearer, however, is that in approximately 3000 BC this breed traveled with shepherds and sheep into the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain and France.
It’s similar to the German Shepherd in being big, powerful, and designed to herd and protect sheep. It was in 1824 that it made its way to the US and in 1933 that it was registered with the American Kennel Club. (Though the German Shepherd and the Great Pyrenees are recognized by the American Kennel Club, the Germanese isn’t.)
The Germanese inherits the characteristics of its two parent breeds, of course — breeds that in this case are actually not too dissimilar at all.
A large dog, the full-grown German Shepherd Pyrenees mix can weigh as much as a woman or a man who’s a bit on the small side. It tends to be bigger than the average German Shepherd and it’s unmistakably strong, thanks to its ancestral days of manual labor.
In color it tends to be black, white or fawn, and it has a long muzzle and potentially droopy jowls. The color of its will often be dark brown but it will tend to have black lips, nose and eye rims. The tail of a Germanese is often busy and carried low on the body.
The coat is dense, with medium to long hair, and it might be water resistant — taking after the Great Pyrenees. Some dogs have a mane-like ruff around the neck area.
The Germanese is a terrific dog but there are other breeds that share many of the same characteristics. If you like the Germanese, therefore, you may also like:
Now you know much more about the Germanese, make sure you have a solid pet insurance plan in place — it’s a key responsibility of any pet parent.
Here, you can compare the best insurance providers to find the right quote for you and your dog. And, while you’re there, why not consider a wellness plan, which will cover the cost of your pup’s routine vet treatment and checks?
Experts advise that someone looking to bring a Germanese into their house should have had some form of dog experience already. Why? Well, they take a fair amount of work to look after, thanks to their training needs, exercise needs, and temperament.
Really you should only be thinking of bringing this mixed breed into your home if it’s large enough to give it room to roam. This is a dog whose ancestors herded sheep in the mountains, so they need about an hour of exercise a day — at least as much as the average dog, and more than many.
Germaneses tend to shed relatively heavily so need their coats tending to every 24 hours if possible. Use a pin brush to dislodge clumps of fur and any loose hairs. The length of a Germanese’s coat will vary but it’s a good idea to check your dog’s ears more regularly if its coat is thick.
Make sure you’re checking the dog’s nails regularly and please remember to brush their teeth a few times a week. If you can do it every day, that’s perfect.
At between 10 and 14 years, the typical Pyrenees-Shepherd mix lifespan is perhaps on the lower end of the spectrum for dogs. We hope you have 14 or more years with your pup but, of course, illness factors into any living creature’s life.
You should be aware of the specific conditions to which the Germanese is a little more susceptible. As well as relatively common conditions like elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia, be mindful of:
A dog’s hearing loss can be congenital or it can be acquired. There are multiple reasons that a pup might be deaf: infection, old age, or a problem at birth. If you notice that your Germanese isn’t responding to things like dogs barking or having its name called, or is barking more than normal or startles easily, it might be time to take it to the vet to be assessed for deafness. The vet will see if there are any blockages like ear wax and assess your dog for possibilities like an ear infection.
Unfortunately, if your dog is going deaf due to old age, there will be very little the vet can do. Infections and obstructions are comparatively easy to solve, so fingers crossed this is what is affecting your dog — otherwise it may need a hearing aid (which dogs don’t tend to like); it may need surgery if the deafness has been caused by a tumor; or it may simply have to live with the fact that it will gradually completely lose its ability to hear.
Having said that, deaf dogs can be perfectly happy dogs, and there’s no need to despair. The accommodations you will need to make in your life are not severe. You will need to take particular care when taking your old Germanese into environments where there might be cars — your dog will no longer hear any warning signs so will be more reliant on you than ever before.
Atopy is an unpleasant little condition characterized by itchy, red and irritable patches of skin. As many as one in eight dogs might be affected by the problem. Strictly speaking, atopy is simply an allergy to something a dog has inhaled through the air — but that something will depend on the specifics of your individual dog. Once the allergy has been registered with the body and the itching begins, it will often lead to secondary problems — skin infection, scale formation, and alopecia, among others.
Difficult to diagnose because of its overlap with similar conditions, atopy can last the entirety of a dog’s life. A vet can prescribe immunotherapy — putting the allergen into the body, gradually increasing the doses, to help the dog’s immune system cope with it — or supportive treatments that really only treat the symptoms: avoiding a known allergen, for example, or using creams on the skin to combat the itching. Immunotherapy is the only approach that has any hope of actually curing the allergy, not just alleviating its symptoms.
A condition that is always inherited and never acquired, von Willebrand’s disease affects Germaneses as well as their German Shepherd parents. It’s a slightly scary bleeding disorder that will see a pup lose blood far more copiously than normal, often as the result of surgery. This is a serious disease that can cause a dog to feel nauseous, weak, faint, and then even die.
It may be that there is a connection between stress and von Willebrand’s disease. So, if you know your dog is already at risk, obviously attempt to minimize particularly significant sources of stress for your dog.
The disease can’t be cured, but it can be managed: if you’re the pet parent of a dog with the condition, you should be careful when it’s playing because particularly rough play can produce bruises; and you should be aware that there are medications (some antibiotics; antihistamines; ibuprofen) that can make a bleed more likely.
It’s very possible that if your dog has surgery and you know about the condition beforehand, he or she may need clotting agents and potentially a blood transfusion.
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Because of its size and its active lifestyle, the Germanese needs to be fed a lot. It ought to go without saying but this food should be in the form of high-quality, nutrient-rich food full of animal proteins that will keep your dog healthy and full of energy. Experts recommend about three cups of food a day for this huge breed.
Do your research and avoid harmful ingredients and things like fillers and E numbers. If you can afford it, favor dog food brands that are transparent about how they source their ingredients and what goes into each packet. Try, if possible, to avoid giving it scraps from your plates — food tailored to dogs will always be preferable.
And, if you want comprehensive information about the best dog foods out there, check out our friends at Dog Food Advisor — they have in-depth brand reviews that include ingredient analysis, so you know exactly what you’re feeding your pet.
The Germanese possesses many of the fabulous qualities one looks for in a dog: it’s loyal, protective, intelligent and kind. You should never feel unsafe with a Germanese; protecting you is in its DNA and it will be constantly on guard for threats to the safety of you, its family.
Of course, this fierce loyalty has drawbacks: perceiving strangers as potential threats, the Germanese isn’t necessarily the easiest breed to introduce to people you don’t know. As with most dogs, socialization is not so much a great idea as imperative. Start as soon as possible.
But you have nothing to worry about when you’re spending time with your dog in the home. You’ll get a good deal of affection from this breed, who will always want to make you happy.
You never really know which traits Germanese puppies will inherit from their ancestors but the breed might struggle with being alone if it’s been handed down separation anxiety from the German Shepherd side; or it may be perfectly happy with independent alone time if it has more Pyrenees in it.
Your Germanees will be an ideal candidate for obedience and agility trials. Though he can sometimes be stubborn, his eagerness to try new things will overrule the trait. Enrolling him in a class or activity of some type will help to fulfil his craving for work.
In addition to the training, a chance to socialize at the dog park is always welcomed. Be sure that you are working with your dog at all times, using consistency with training in order to allow him to be the best he can be.
Daily dog walks are a must. Cool weather is the best for exercising this hybrid — in warmer weather keep the walks to the coolest times of the day. A backyard is a good environment for play; make sure there is plenty of shade and keep your dog company while he is outside.
Written by Ralph Jones
Published: 11/09/2017, edited: 03/01/2024
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