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Panda German Shepherd: Breed Guide

Panda German Shepherd: Breed Guide

Have you heard about the Panda German Shepherd? It’s actually a piebald colored German Shepherd, but he got his name due to his resemblance to a panda. The piebald coloring is found only in one single GSD bloodline. The Panda German Shepherds are rare and absolutely stunning. To learn more about them, keep on reading.

Appearance

When it comes to their coat color, Pandas are 35% white, while the remanding colors are black and tan. That’s why they are considered to have a panda pattering.

Besides black and fan, they can also have white markings. This white pattern gives them more of a piebald look.

Just like a regular German Shepherd, the Panda has a sturdy, muscular, slightly elongated body frame. They have wide and pointed ears, thar are upright and turned forward. Their nose is most commonly black while their eyes are almond shaped and dark. However, some rare Panda GSD can also have blue eyes.

They are a large dog breed with a muscular and elegant frame. Males will weigh between 75 to 95 pounds and stand up to 26” tall. Females are always slightly smaller and will weigh anywhere between 55 to 73 pounds and stand no taller than 24”.

Origin

Cindy Whitaker unintentionally bred the first-recorded Panda German Shepherd back in 2000 in the US.

The father was a black and tan GSD, while the mother was a solid black Shepherd.

Thanks to DNA testing, the AKC proved that the first Panda GSD was indeed a purebred dog. The name of the first Panda German Shepherd was Franka.

Franka was the only Panda offspring of her parents despite three more breedings. However, many of Franka’s puppies expressed panda patterning. While many believed otherwise, the panda gene didn’t cause any embryonic lethality.

Later research revealed that the panda pattern is relatively recent spontaneous mutation.

Panda GSD with one blue eye
In some rare cases the Panda GSD can also have blue eyes.

Having this in mind it’s clear that a Panda German Shepherd is not considered to be a separate dog breed. He is just as much of a GSD as he would be with a black/tan coat. That’s why these dogs share the same personality traits as the other German Shepherds.

That means that they were originally bred to be working dogs. Because of that, Panda Shepherds will make amazing watchdogs, police dogs, guard dogs or any other type of service dog.

Due to the fact that a Panda German Shepherd is very rare, the price of a Panda Shepherd puppy will be considerably high. Depending on where you live and from which breeder you buy from, you will have to pay between $1,500 to $2,500.

Grooming

Any German Shepherd dog will have one of two coats — a medium coat or long coat. They are both double coats, having a more dense guard layer with a softer undercoat which helps to keep them warm in the colder months.

Just like with any other dog breed that has a double coat — GSD shed a lot! So if you are struggling with allergies — this isn’t the dog for you.

Regular brushing can help control the shedding. However, definitely still get your hands on a good quality vacuum.

A bath every two to three weeks will be more than fine. You can either do it yourself at home or take your pup to the dog salon.

Additionally, don’t forget to clean your dog’s ears, brush his teeth — and of course, shorten his nails.

Personality

German Shepherd dogs are known to be loyal, affectionate and family oriented pets. And the Panda German Shepherd definitely is no exception. Historically speaking, GSD are working dogs. They believe it’s their job is to protect you, and the rest of their family. They are known for being alert and watchful, sometimes barking if they feel like they are in danger.

But, on the other hand, these dogs are very playful and active and love to be outside getting physical exercise. They also need a lot of mental stimulation as they are very intelligent and do not like to be left alone. If they are left alone for long periods of time they can become bored and begin to exhibit destructive behaviors. One thing that is often overlooked is how prone GSD are to separation anxiety. So if you are busy and don’t have to much free time to give to your dog — German Shepherds aren’t for you.

Health and life expectancy

These are healthy dogs with a relatively long life expectancy. The average life expectancy of a Panda German Shepherd is somewhere from 9 to 14 years.

The most common health issues for the German Shepherd dog breed are elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia. Due to their large size, their joints can become very painful and become stiff over time.

German Shepherds can also be prone to other health problems, due to the fact they are bred from a single bloodline. That means that they are also prone to some genetic mutations.

Some other dog breeds you might find interesting as well: 

My name is Katy and I am 27. I love to travel and you would be surprised how good I am at karaoke. 🙂 Passionate dog lover and a "mother" to a beautiful toy puddle named Zara. I work as a volunteer in a local shelter and I am a veterinary assistant helping our four-legged friends every day.