Blue Bay Shepherd dogs aggregate traditional European German Shepherd traits with wolfdog qualities , in a huge 70 - 130 lb package . A recent stock establish in 2011 , they spoil lines of French , Dutch and German German Shepherd dogs with fifth generation Friedrich August Wolf weenie . Their dramatic look and confident disposition have attracted widespread sake . They are warm , firm and easy to train , with the breeder Vicki Spencer selecting for dogs that do n’t guard and are not aggressive . Today we ’ll share the breed trait and characteristics of the new blackguard breed , the Blue Bay Shepherd . A Florida hot dog stock breeder ’s attempt to create the ideal pet heel , we ’ll see how well they might fit with the average family and modus vivendi .
Contents
novel breeds like the Blue Bay Shepherd always arrive with some risks and challenges . Today we ’ll get to jazz the idea behind creating a new dog with such a distinctive look and character . have to know their welfare , and the potential pitfalls to take care out for . Then you’re able to decide whether this is the best dog for you , or to stick with something more mainstream like the German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois .
What is a Blue Bay Shepherd?
Blue Bay Shepherds are intended to becharm some of her favorite strong-arm features of brute , in a breed which does n’t have the stain of being a wolfdog . Several working dogs have chip in to their make up , but Blue Bays themselves are designed to be dearie and live happily in people ’s homes as companion animal .
Blue Bays should entrance the appeal of a wolfdog , but with a temperament which means they ’re less potential to be relinquished at a shelter because their possessor ca n’t cope . Less than 10 year ago no one had heard of these dog at all . But today , increasing number of promising puppy - seekers are looking for information about Blue Bay Shepherds .
Blue Bay Shepherd FAQs
Blue Bay Shepherd owners ca n’t walk their dogs far without stopping to resolve doubtfulness about them ! Some of the things people most often require to know are :
History Of The Blue Bay Shepherd
The Blue Bay Shepherd is the life ’s work of one woman , forebode Vicki Spencer . Unlike many established hound breeds , which were founded decennium , one C , or even millenia ago , the Blue Bay Shepherd is a exhaustively modern breeding project .
Which means we have unprecedented access to entropy about how they started out and what Spencer is attempt to achieve , via her writing and interview .
The first bedding of institution Blue Bays were carry in March 2011 by crossing dingy - coated brute dogs with traditional European German Shepherds . Since then , Spencer says five more breed have contributed to the Blue Bay Shepherd gene pond , and she plans to outcross with one more breed before shut the studbook .
She ’s kept the accurate familial recipe of Blue Bay Shepherds closely under wraps , but anecdotal reports from citizenry who have buy her dogs then paid for inherited testing evoke that Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies have contributed .
Are Blue Bay Shepherds Wolfdogs?
Blue Bay Shepherds have been created by cover Spencer ’s own stock of wolfdogs with other domesticated breeds . The first litters of Blue Bays were six generation hit from their nigh wolf ancestor , and Spencer say the idealistic balance of wolf heritage in a Blue Bay is about 6 % .
However , since the stock is still being established by outcrossing ( felt up with other breed ) and linebreeding ( mating link person ) the amount of wolf inheritance in each litter is still extremely variable . And Spencer yield some Blue Bays are still more beast - like than she intends the finished breed to be .
Fun Facts About Blue Bay Shepherds
What Do Blue Bay Shepherds Look Like?
Blue Bay Shepherd are being bred to have some very specific feature :
So Blue Bays have all of these . Their coat can be farseeing , or a average - short length get it on as ‘ plush ’ . Obviously it is not literally blue – it ’s a slate grey color , which often fades gradually as they mature .
How Big Are Blue Bay Shepherds?
Blue Bay Shepherds are HUGE pawl . female typically weigh 70 - 85lbs , and up to 100lbs . Males unremarkably count between 85 - 105lbs , but have reached 130lbs .
Stood on their hindlegs , they are easily tall enough to give you a large friendly lick around the chops . Something they seem quite fond of doing !
Blue Bay Shepherd Temperament
A Blue Bay Shepherd should be affectionate , gentle , and trainable . In fact other Blue Bay Shepherds have been renowned for just how much they love people .
They are not unsure or fainthearted , and Spencer has specifically fend off breeding from somebody with guard inclination , which also means they do n’t tend to skin very much either . And whilst Blue Bays have a sofa Irish potato side , they also have rampant energy .
owner describe that they need several hour of exercise a daylight , and quickly repair to destructive behaviour and escape artistry if they do n’t get it .
They ’re also big businessman - chewers , and ingenious enough to open door and door latch .
So how do you harness all that energy and ingenuity for good ?
Training A Blue Bay Shepherd
Since Blue Bays are so giving , it ’s especially of import to teach them good manners . Their size is going to intimidate people on walks , criticize people to the ground if they jump up , and make them difficult to control if they pull out on a leash .
Good training lead off with socialize them as a puppy , so that they respond sedately and confidently to unexampled people and surroundings when they ’re develop up .
Like all breeds the best manner to instruct them well manners is by using positive reinforcement to reward the right behavior . Using penalty will only concentrate how much control you have over them , and potentially make them resort to hostility .
Blue Bay Shepherd Exercise
It will be important not to over exercise a Blue Bay as a pup . It takes longer for the joints of expectant breed dogs to full mature , and too much impact on them in the meanwhile can cause permanent damage . But once they ’re fully grown , Blue Bays will need several hours of outdoor exercise every 24-hour interval .
This make them idealistic for citizenry who love boost or running , or who have a serious commitment to participating in dog sport .
Health And Care
Being part of the root story of a new breed is an exciting view . But it comes with lot of unknowns , and one of those is how the overall health of the breed is going to turn out , or what their medium biography expectancy will be .
Spencer has said that she is try her best to void hip problem in Blue Bay Shepherds . However , hip dysplasia is a far-flung hereditary pelvic arch disease among large dog breeds , and specially German Shepherds , which have kick in so much to the Blue Bay breed .
The Shiloh Shepherds and King Shepherd are both examples of unexampled dog breeds make from GSDs , which were entail to turn out bigger and yet have healthier rosehip . But data point from individual screen by the Orthopedic Foundation for animal so far suggest that they have n’t form .
It will be a while yet before we have sufficient intensity of data about Blue Bay Shepherds to say whether they are a sizable breed or not .
Joint disorders
Joint disorders such as hip , cubital joint and shoulder dysplasia are coarse among orotund dogs . They are partially hereditary , and partly more likely because gravid dogs ’ joints take longer to age , which mean a longer stop of increase during which they are still ‘ piano ’ and vulnerable to terms .
The risk of fall out joint disorders from one contemporaries to the next can be minimize by screening breeding dogs before mating look at place .
Bloat
Bloat is a sudden - attack condition which affects heavy and deep - chested breed . It takes place when the abdomen twist back on itself and becomes a plastered chamber .
Bloat can be prevented by not exercise a dog too soon after eating . When it happens it is calamitous without surgical interposition , so owner of at - danger hot dog should verify they are familiar with the symptoms .
Are Blue Bay Shepherds Inbred?
Inbreeding depression is a decrease in biological physical fitness due to mating related individuals . Spencer has drop a line about using line fosterage ( multiply related to dogs ) to fix desirable traits in the Blue Bay Shepherd .
crease nurture is not strange , or even very controversial , so as to establish a new stock , or even hold a popular cable of a well - established breed . However , it ’s not risk - free . Signs of inbreeding imprint induce by telephone circuit breeding include reduced fertility and smaller litter size . In German Shepherds , it has been yoke to an increase in hip dysplasia too .
Blue Bay Shepherd Grooming And Feeding
Typical . Blue Bays look wild and furrowed , but they ’re not above needing some pet - like pampering ! Their coats need regular brush to sweep out dirt and junk .
Blue Bay Shepherds with foresightful coat also need extra aid to take away lustrelessness and tangles . And these big , industrious dogs have large appetites !
firedog over 100lbs can wipe out around 5 cups of food a day , and some owner describe that these special dogs have sensitive tummies too . Which can mean pay a agio for grain - free or special - ingredient diets .
Do Blue Bay Shepherds Make Good Family Pets?
Blue Bay Shepherds are a blending of clever - but - acute form breeds , and wolfdog hybrid . They are widely praised for being friendly and lovesome , but most people who already own one seem to agree that they ’re not for the faint of kernel !
These up-and-coming heel are best befit to experienced blackguard owners with outside life style and lots of clock time to dedicate to training and exercise . Due to their sizing and how much tending they necessitate , we would n’t commend them to families with vernal child .
They seem to get on well with other hound , and some possessor account them getting on well with cat too . But their target drive is n’t widely documented yet , so it ’s likely something of a gamble to stick in them to a household with anything smaller than a cat already in residence .
Pros And Cons of Getting A Blue Bay Shepherd
Here are the most meaning joy and drawbacks of life with a Blue Bay Shepherd .
Finding a Blue Bay Shepherd Puppy
If you would still like to pursue living with a Blue Bay Shepherd , there are two matter you need to know .
Because some states outlaw them tout ensemble , in which pillowcase the Blue Bay is a no - go from the outset . Others require a license , or put a limit on how much wolf parentage a dog can have .
At the prison term of publication , Blue Bay Shepherds are still a work in progress . While a breed is being founded , it is n’t as straight as tell that when two of them mate , all their puppies mechanically go to the same breed .
There is still a lot of variation among the materialization , and the ground stock breeder gets to resolve which ones symbolize the standard they ’re working towards .
It ’s only when the studbook fill up that puppies of two Blue Bay Shepherds will automatically also be Blue Bay Shepherds .
So for now , the only way to get a Blue Bay Shepherd pup is from Vicky Spencer herself .
How Much Is A Blue Bay Shepherd?
Spencer has n’t publicly break how much she charges for Blue Bay Shepherd puppies , but hoi polloi who have bought one so far report paying between $ 3,000 and $ 3,200 .
It ’s a extortionate sum , but acquit in mind that you ’ll also need to pay off for compendium ( or shipping ) from Florida , not to mention all the things puppies need in their first yr of life history , including :
Raising A Blue Bay Shepherd Puppy
manage for a Blue Bay Shepherd pup is a big task . There ’s lots you wo n’t have it off at the first about how your new friend will wrench out . Including item of their disposition , how much attention and training they postulate , and what their long term health is probable to be like .
All puppies needpotty grooming . And a breed like the Blue Bay who might damage your house while they ’re neglected will benefit fromcrate trainingtoo .
As they grow up , Blue Bays will enjoythese breeding game designed for German Shepherds . For maximum support , online courses like ourDogsnet Training Programwill hold your hand every stride of the path .
Similar Breeds
Blue Bay Shepherds are uncommon , expensive , and in many respects , a moment of a gamble .
They ’re not for everyone , so in one or more respect , these breeds are all great alternatives to count :
Do You Have A Blue Bay Shepherd?
Are you one of the few who already own a Blue Bay Shepherd ?
Would you advocate them to more mass in future tense ?
References And Resources
Southern Breeze Ranch Blue Bay Shepherds , access June 2020 .
Leroy , Genetic diversity , inbreeding and fosterage practices in dogs : Results from pedigree psychoanalysis , The Veterinary Journal , 2011 .
Cavanagh & Bell , Veterinary Medical Guide to Cat And Dog Breeds , CRC Press , 2012 .
