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he´s a very lovable dog he´s calm and a good guardian
Shepweiler Breed Maintenance
The thick coat of a Shepweiler might make them pleasant to stroke, but it does require a little bit of care. As a heavy shedder, a daily going-over with a slicker brush will stop their fur getting all over your home and keep their coat looking shiny and healthy, too. They can be bathed when needed, but don’t do this too often as it will dry out their skin and potentially cause rashes or irritation.
Other essential maintenance tasks include brushing teeth regularly to prevent dental disease, trimming nails to stop cracking or splitting, and checking ears for signs of irritation and wiping them clean of dirt or debris.
Shepweiler Health Risks
Like the vast majority of dog breeds, the Shepweiler is more likely to be affected by certain health conditions at some point in their lives. These tend to be afflictions suffered by their parent breeds, and typically include:
Some of these are hereditary, which makes it all the more important to only deal with responsible breeders who carry out screening on their animals and remove genetic carriers from the breeding pool.
Elbow and Hip Dysplasia
As larger dogs who love to run around, the Shepweiler is one of several canine varieties more predisposed to developing Elbow or Hip Dysplasia. This occurs when the elbow or hip joint bone fails to develop correctly and begins to move against the corresponding socket with friction. This leads to limping, limited movement and pain.
Thankfully, vets have a raft of treatment options available and the worst symptoms can often be alleviated. Sometimes, weight loss and medication will do the trick, but more severe instances might require physiotherapy or surgery.
Degenerative Myelopathy
This is a disease that causes a dog’s spinal cord to degrade over time and is particularly associated with German Shepherds. It has similar symptoms to Hip Dysplasia or Arthritis, but the distinguishing feature is weakness in the hind quarters — this might take the form of a wobbly walk or difficulty rising from a sitting position.
Degenerative Myelopathy isn’t curable, but vets will be able to provide ways for your dog to deal with the pain — this includes medication, physiotherapy and recommendations for home modifications (such as ramps and mattresses).
Gastric Dilatation Volvulus
Also known as bloat, Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) occurs when the stomach fills with air, usually after eating. Often, this is as far as it progresses, but sometimes, the organ can inflate so much that it begins to twist upon itself and cut off circulation to parts of the body. This can quickly prove fatal.
There are some symptoms parents need to be aware of so they can call for timely veterinary attention — these include retching, drooling, a firm abdomen and obvious distress. If given enough time, a vet can attempt to deflate the stomach and perform surgery to return it to normal condition.
GDV tends to affect dogs with deep chests, which will be the Shepweiler in many cases. There are preventive measures parents can take to lower the risk of serious cases of bloat. These include spacing out a dog’s meals to stop overeating, stopping them from exercising immediately before or after mealtimes, and introducing some wet food into their diets.
What to Feed a Shepweiler
As a large dog who loves nothing more than to be running around in the great outdoors, the Shepweiler has a sizable appetite and this should be satisfied with high-quality dog food.
Ideally, the chosen product should have high protein levels sourced from real meat or fish, as this will keep their muscles in a healthy way. Be sure it includes all of the vital vitamins and minerals that the AAFCO recommends.
There are a few other things to take into consideration. As we’ve covered already, the Shepweiler is prone to Elbow and Hip Dysplasia, which are both made worse by obesity — avoid carb-heavy dog food or filler ingredients.
What’s more, there are some pet experts who recommend that dogs prone to bloat are fed wet food in some proportion as dry food can cause blockages. This could also mean moistening dry dog food as well.
Choosing the right type of dog food can be an overwhelming experience, which is where an expert’s opinion comes in particularly useful — our partner Dog Food Advisor’s list of the best dog food for large breeds should help Shepweiler parents, for instance.
