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All you need to know about Panda German Shepherd

Panda German Shepherd

I won’t be surprised if you have never encountered a Panda Shepherd ever in your life. Even I have seen it just once. One day while I was jogging in the street, a very cheerful and different dog attracts me. I could not resist myself and just straight went to that white, beautiful and large guy, which looks similar to a GSD but has a tricolor.

Panda Shepherd is one of the rarest breeds all around the world. It is also one of the most beautiful dog breeds one can raise. These white dogs are not just known because of their coat color, but because of their intelligence, smartness, and versatility.

In this detailed article, we will discuss everything you need to know about Panda German Shepherds. How to properly care for them, what type of foods do they like and how to get them to exercise. You will also learn about their history and where to buy one in this ultimate Panda German Shepherd dog guide.

Article Published on 21st October 2020 » Updated on 14th January 2022

aditi chef editorWritten By Sergey Uhanov Certified Veterinarian.
Sergey Uhanov is a certified veterinarian for dogs over 10 years, breeding 3 dogs. He loves dogs and has his own pet clinic in Israel. He likes to help other people with their dogs by sharing his experience and knowledge.


Panda Shepherd dogs have a tricolor coat, with around 35% of the white coat, which makes them stand out from other dog breeds. It is a mix of a German Shepherd blue when bred with other GSD with a white coat. Although it is a unique color combination is pretty hard to design. But, still, these dogs fall under the category of purebreds and not the designer ones.

If you are interested in knowing more about a Panda Shepherd, we have come up with a few basic things you might be interested in learning about them in detail, even if you are interested in raising this dog breed.

What Is the Breeding History of a Panda Shepherd?

Like any other GSD, Panda Shepherd also has its origin from the great Beowulf, who is the great grandfather of many of the dog breeds we know nowadays. Then comes the German Shepherds, which becomes the father of many mixed breeds that we raise.

Panda Shepherd belongs to the Shepherd dog category that is the result of crossbreeding two different shepherds. In the year 2000, the first Panda German Shepherd came into existence after the crossbreeding of two other GSD, a black and tan dog and another a solid black colored dog. The name of the first Panda German Shepherd was Franka.

Its breeder tried crossbreeding its parent thrice after the birth of Franka to produce a similar breed again, but their experiment failed all three times. But many of Franka’s puppies inherited this Panda print on them via their mother.

Thus, Panda shepherd is a unique dog breed, and it is quite hard to yield one even with the same parent again. Therefore, you can rarely find them, and they are also available at a very high price compared to other purebred dogs.

Are Panda Shepherds Rare?

No doubt, Panda Shepherds are the rarest dog breed to find. It is pretty hard to give birth to this breed with the breeding of two shepherds. They have a single GSD bloodline, and thus it is not a designer breed.

It has a piebald color mainly with 35% white marking on its body and the remaining 65% a combination of black and tan color. The color of the coat of a dog depends on the genes and the code of the doggie. Thus, the mutation of genes alone can’t change their coat color to too much extent. However, you can find small changes in the dog’s coat color due to genetic mutations.

Piebald refer to the white markings on a panda GSD. In a Panda German Shepherd, the piebald gene determines the proportion of white marking in a Panda German Shepherds. That means a copy of the piebald gene is crucial in a dog with a white color in its coat, and that too only a single copy of that as two copies will increase the white markings on a Panda German Shepherds drastically.

This piebald gene is quite rare to find in the dog, and so it is hard to find a dog breed with a coat resembling that of a Panda.

Are Panda Shepherds Purebreds?

Yes, Panda German Shepherds are purebred dogs. They only have a mutation in their Kit gene due to which the color of their coat becomes white up to 35%, else it is of a single German Shepherd dog’s bloodline.

The American kennel club performed a few tests on the Franka, the first panda Shepherd, and found out and accepted it as a purebred GSD.

The pattern of its coat varies; otherwise, it has all the features and genetic configurations similar to a GSD. And the mutation is only seen in the KIT gene.

Although white German Shepherd is not considered a pure breed by many rescue groups, Panda Shepherds have all the features similar to that of pure German Shepherd dogs. Like they are a little bit shy and timid, they are good watchers and perfect for search and rescue, drug detection, are agile. They have health issues similar to that of German shepherd dogs like elbow and hip dysplasia, Skin allergies, blood clotting, stomach issues, and even cancer.

Where Can One Buy A Panda Shepherd?

Although it is rare to find Panda Shepherds because of their unique color combination, which can be achieved by crossbreeding a white German Shepherd and a blue German shepherd only, it is also hard to find this dog’s breed easily.

If you know a breeder in your neighborhood who raises either of the German shepherd White or blue German shepherds, then there might be a probability of finding Panda GSDs there.

Otherwise, you can search for one on the internet. On websites, not just you will find better price point and options, you will also choose the dog’s breed that attracts you the most. But before bringing any dog home, do check his temperament and health issues, as once bought, you won’t be able to change the same.

As Panda Shepherds are also recognized by the American Kennel Club and other dog clubs, you can also adopt a dog from there. Not just will you find this rare dog at a pretty affordable price. You will bring a Panda Shepherd home only if you like it. The clubs can also inform you as soon as they find one if they don’t have one available at that moment.

But if this cute little dog has attracted you to that much extent, waiting a little bit for him is worth totally.

What Does Panda Shepherd Eat?

Like a German Shepherd dog, a Panda Shepherd also loves eating pork, chicken, duck meat, and beef. If you feed them with fast food once, they will get addicted to it as well.

It can also eat green vegetables, fruits, bread, pizza bases, beans, spinach, and all other raw food. Dog food is even more suitable for them.

In the meal of a GSD, nutrients are very crucial for their all-around growth. Although it will eat everything, you will give him to eat. Thus, it depends on the owner solely to decide what is right for its dog and what is not.

Too much spicy or sugary food is not suitable for their health. Also, too much fast food and meat can harm their digestive system. Dog food includes all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that a dog required. Thus, it will be best to feed them with dog food; otherwise, try to give them natural food like vegetables and fruits to eat if you don’t want them to have health issues.

Panda shepherds are prone to digestion-related diseases, and thus, it becomes crucial to keep proper care on their diet.

Are There Any Rescue Groups for Panda Shepherd?

Indeed, there are rescue groups for Panda GSDs as well. It is a purebred dog with 35% of white color in its coat, giving it a different overall appearance, yet it has similar qualities and builds as a GSD.

Rescue groups like the American Kennel Club or German Shepherd rescue group of the orange country are the ones that look after the abandoned Panda GSD. Though it is a rare dog breed, and people usually don’t abandon them, but even if this exists, these rescue groups are there to look after this exclusively unique shepherd dog breed.

What Needs to Be Considered for Grooming and Care?

Grooming is an everyday need for almost all dog breeds. Whether they have smaller hairs or long hairs, everyone needs regular grooming. Similar to the German shepherd dogs, these shepherd dogs require proper grooming and care.

Because they have large hairs that shed a lot, especially in the spring season, it is crucial to brush their hair daily. Apart from this, their white coat is more prone to dust and dirt, thus bathing them on a regular interval to keep their unique coat shining all the time.

While bathing them, make sure to use the dog’s shampoo and condition their hairs right after washing them with shampoo. Also, dry their coats with a hairdryer after washing, as it will take a lot of time for its fur to dry naturally.

Size, Weight, Typical Colors Of Panda Shepherd

This dog breed’s average height can vary from around 22 to 26 inches, similar to a GSD. Thus, it is a medium-sized dog breed with a weight ranging from about 90 to 110 pounds.

The reason why it gets Panda in its name is because of the white color in its coat. That means apart from the classic, black, and tan or brown color. These dogs have a combination of white with black and tan, brown, or any other color.

Although a Panda GSD’s white color is because of the KIT gene in these dogs, they have all other features similar to their German shepherd parents only. These are smart, intelligent, and active dogs with a face looking exactly fearless like a GSD and a good watcher like them.

How Much Does Panda Shepherd Eat on Average Daily?

Panda Shepherds are pretty large, and so is their food requirement. When talking about the food requirement of a Panda Shepherd, they require at least three bowls full of food per day to keep them energetic and lively all day long.

You can divide their food into two or three parts. You can also prepare a proper food chart for your partner to feed it something different each day. In this way, your companion will be pleased, and you will also be able to decide what to give him for a meal.

Male Panda Shepherds need at least 1935 calories per day in their meal to keep them active and cheerful all day long. On the other hand, females require at least 1700 calories per day, depending on the weight and height of your dog. Veterans have a particular health and height chart for dogs to determine how many calories their body needs daily. Thus, you can check that out as well.

You can also consult a veteran in terms of the meal of their dog. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, then you can directly hit a veteran and ask him for a perfect diet chart, full of nutrients for your Panda Shepherd.

Conclusion

Don’t tell me you are not into dogs, and even if you are not into them, the cuteness and charm of a Panda Shepherd are going to attract you the most. Their unique white coat color is the most eye-catching. So, have you decided to bring a Panda Shepherd dog home?

Then you might need to start searching for them as soon as possible; otherwise, you will have to wait for a long to get them. These adorable dogs are not just energetic and cheerful, but they are also good watchers. They are even more perfect pets. You can never doubt the loyalty and love they have for the family they serve.

So, before bringing a Panda Shepherd home, you might need to think upon a few points, like are you ready to take care of a dog? Do you need a pet? Will you be able to groom and take care of the dog regularly? And most importantly, will the dog be able to find a suitable living condition at your home.

As they have built and qualities similar to that of a GSD, they require attention and grooming the same as that of a German shepherd dog wants. So, if you have kept a GSD before, you will not have any problem raising this wonderful pet breed.

sargey

Sergey Uhanov, a certified veterinarian, has authored all of the content here. With over 20 years of experience in dog care and breeding three dogs of his own, he has a deep passion for these furry friends. Sergey owns a pet clinic in Israel where he provides care and treatment to dogs. He enjoys sharing his expertise and knowledge to assist others in caring for their dogs.

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