German Pit Overview
- Parent Breeds:
- German Shepherd & Pitbull
- Breed Nickname:
- German Pit
- Size:
- Medium to large
- Height:
- 17 to 26 inches
- Weight:
- 30 to 90 pounds
- Life Span:
- 10 to 12 years
- Coat Colors:
- Black, brown, white, gray, fawn, and tan
German Pit Characteristics
About The German Pit
What Is A German Shepherd Pitbull Mix Called?
A German Shepherd Pitbull mix is called a German Pit, although it is also often referred to as a German Sheppit or a Shepherd Pit.
While these dogs are considered a designer breed, they are often found in shelters due to owners underestimating the work needed to put into them.
Both parent breeds have a stigma around them for being too ferocious or strong. This extends to their offspring, the German Pit. Due to this, you must learn about the breed before deciding to welcome one into your family.
Let’s help you make this decision by looking into the world of German Pits.
German Pit Breed History
First bred in the 90s in North America.
Created as a guard dog and companion.
German Pits get the best traits from both parents.
The German Pit has been seen throughout history due to natural breeding. However, designer breeders began intentionally breeding the two parent breeds – German Shepherds and American Pit Bull Terriers – in the 1990s.
Although uncertified, the breeding likely began in North America.
The German Pit was bred to create a guard dog that was also an effective companion breed. However, the mix is now declining in popularity due to the bans placed on Pit Bulls around the US.
The German Shepherd was created in Germany to be used as a traditional herding dog in 1899. They’re incredibly agile, intelligent, and protective of their owners. They are now commonly used as service dogs.
Pit Bulls were originally bred in the United Kingdom in the 1800s, and are the result of a Bulldog and a Terrier. They were created for hunting and restraining prey. It was also often used for dog fighting.
German Pit Personality & Temperament
Loveable and aloof.
Unlike the bad reputation Pitbulls get.
Can easily get bored.
German Pits get a bad reputation due to the stigma surrounding their parent breeds. However, at heart, they’re extremely loyal and protective of their loved ones. They thrive in social settings and therefore are suited to big families.
There can never be too many people to love!
German Pits require a lot of exercises so will be best matched to families with big houses and plenty of space outside to run around in. Without this, they can get bored very easily and turn to destructive behaviors.
It’s also essential that you socialize your German Pit properly during puppyhood. If this is not done, they might grow up to be short-tempered and aggressive.
However, as long as they have been properly trained and socialized, German Pits are friendly and great with strangers. They’re also good with other dogs!
Thanks to their German Shepherd traits, this mixed breed is very adaptable and intelligent, making them a breeze to train.
German Pits are good for people who will be home most of the time. They’re not good when left alone for long periods and will turn to bad behaviors when feeling lonely. They need to be exercised throughout the day and given lots of love and cuddles.
German Pit Health
Can suffer from the same issues as parent breeds.
Generally considered healthy.
Life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.
German Pits can expect to be predisposed to certain health conditions that German Shepherds and Pit Bulls face. Mixed breeds tend to have fewer health conditions than purebred dogs, but they can still face the following health concerns.
- Skin irritation
- Allergies
- Hip Dysplasia
- Bloating
- Heart Disease
- Hypothyroidism
Most German Pits are healthy dogs. However, it is always advised to keep up with their routine checkups and always consult a veterinarian if you spot anything out of the ordinary.
German Pit Training
Train them as early as possible.
Use positive reinforcement.
They’ll need to learn new things constantly to be mentally satisfied.
German Pits are very easy to train and will pick up new skills well. They need training from very young to ensure that they don’t develop any anti-social behaviors. Socialize them early by taking them on walks and allowing them to meet new dogs and strangers.
German Pits will never stop learning, so you need to find new ways to train them constantly. Use positive reinforcement and affection to get them to learn preferred behaviors.
As long as you set the tone of your relationship right away, you shouldn’t have a problem with power dynamics between you and your German Pit. They’re adaptable and eager to please their owners.
German Pit Exercise Requirements
Train them as early as possible.
Use positive reinforcement.
They’ll need to learn new things constantly to be mentally satisfied.
German Pits need a lot of exercise, so are best suited to people who love going on hikes and new adventures. Take this breed along for any new sport you try – they won’t have any trouble keeping up!
It’s recommended that German Pits get around three hours of exercise a day. They love all exercises – as long as it gets them moving, they’ll be happy. Examples include swimming, agility training, running, walking, and more.
Provided that you have a large outside space for them to run in, playing in the yard is also a good form of exercise. It can also serve as a bonding experience for you both.
German Pit Diet & Feeding
Choose a food formulated for high-energy dogs.
Avoid filler ingredients like grains.
German Pits need to follow a medium to large breed diet. They have very high exercise requirements, meaning they also have big diets. You will likely find that they need much more food than other breeds due to the amount of exercise they do a day.
Their dietary requirements will change as your German Pit turns from a puppy to an adult. This will then change again as they turn into a senior dog.
You need to make sure that they are getting the correct nutritional requirements.
German Pits will grow exponentially between 4 and 7 months old, as they reach adolescence. Without ample amounts of protein, they might be prone to bone disorders. Feed them a low-calorie diet that has plenty of protein, healthy fats, and vitamins.
As they become adults, they’ll still need a diet consisting mostly of protein, small amounts of fats and carbs, and plenty of nutrients.
German Pits are susceptible to overeating, so make sure you talk to a veterinarian or professional dog nutritionist to get the portion sizes right.
Obesity can lead to several issues such as depression and health conditions, so you must keep an eye on how much your dog is eating.
German Pit Cost
Cost between $500 and $1,000.
Ongoing costs include plenty of food, sturdy toys, and vet checkups.
German Pits are very expensive dogs, often costing between $500 and $1,000 per puppy. This is because they’re designer dogs and there’s a high demand for them due to their cute looks.
However, it’s worth checking out the shelters near you as many German Pits are given up while they’re still young. They’ll cost much less when you adopt.
Make sure that you choose a reputable breeder when choosing your German Pit.
The price will be higher, but you won’t have to worry about potential health concerns and neglect suffered. Puppies from a reputable breeder will also likely be socialized better, too.
Once you have your puppy, you also need to consider the ongoing costs. German Pits eat more than the average dog so food will cost more.
