A Lycan Shepherd is a brand new breed of canine, created by crossing three popular dogs, including European German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois dogs, and Blue Bay Shepherds. The result is a designer dog with a wolf-like appearance. The dog’s genetic makeup is still a subject of debate as the cross-breeding project is currently ongoing.
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Origin of Lycan Shepherds
The Lycan Shepherd’s origin is traceable to YouTuber 1st508th Airborne – a Michigan resident and the owner of Gargoyle Kennels. He spent years on the project, combining the bloodlines of different breeds such as European German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois dogs, and Blue Bay shepherds, to arrive at a domestic dog with the looks of a black wolf.
The American Kennel Club is yet to recognize the breed because it is still new and it takes 40 years of stability and consistency for the AKC to recognize a breed. Likewise, the breed is yet to appear on the DBR (Designer Breed Registry) because it is new and rare. The same goes for the ACHC (the American Canine Hybrid Club) and the IDCR (the International Designer Canine Registry)
Wolf-like appearance, obedience, and high intelligence are the characteristics for which the Lycan Shepherd was bred. The breeder’s intention was to combine the obedience of the Belgian Malinois and a German Shepherd with the mental power of a wolf. Because all the breeds that went into the creation of the Lycan Shepherds are working dogs, LSD is highly active, curious, and in need of constant stimulation and exercise.
Important Facts To Know About the Breed
- Name: Lycan Shepherd
- Height: 22 – 28 inches
- Weight: 48 – 100 pounds
- Size: Large
- Color: Blue, black
- Coat: Thick, dense, plush
- Hypoallergenic: No
- Energy: High
- Activities: Agile, intelligent, working dogs
- Shedding Level: High
- Group: Mixed breed
- Life span: 10 – 14 years
- Other names: German Wolf Dog
Is the Lycan Shepherd Part Wolf?
The name “Lycan” came from the lycanthrope resemblance to the LSD. Going by folklore, lycanthropes are werewolves that can transform into wolf-like creatures or complete wolves.
Now, some of the Lycan Shepherd’s parents come from wolves, and it is likely that the pup may display visible traits of wolfdogs but it is not partly wolves as the breeds that are used in the crossing are well known.
Lycan Shepherd Appearance
- The appearance of the Lycan Shepherd is completely wolf-like – they are large-sized pups sporting solid black fur
- Their ears are erect and triangular
- The breed comes with large heads
- Their eyes are light
- The body of the Lycan Shepherd is best described as athletic and their limbs are long. However, the bodies of the Belgian Malinois and the German Shepherd are broader
- Since they are yet to establish a breed standard for the Lycan Shepherd, the length of the coat may vary but the fur is always black
- For most of the breed, their coats are medium length and doubled just like the GSD
Lycan Shepherd Health
The LSD is still new, thus, we cannot say the health issues it may likely have, however, designer dogs are known to be generally healthy. Note that anybody that adopts a Lycan must watch out for the common ailments of the parents including;
• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Allergies
• Arthritis
• Lumbosacral Syndrome:
• Bloating
• Eye issues:
• Von Willebrand’s Disease:
• Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
• Degenerative Myelopathy
Grooming and Brushing
There is still no specific information concerning the grooming of the Lycan Shepherds but going by its thick double coats with a softer undercoat and an outer coarser fur, matting, and clumping may occur, thus, brushing should be done two to three times weekly. The undercoat sheds two times a year. You can only acclimatize your Lycan puppy to grooming by making it a positive and fun experience. An LSD in its shedding period will take a while to brush, thus, intermittent short breaks are recommended for the grooming sessions.
The LSD is an outdoor dog that calls for frequent bathing. However, you must not overdo it to prevent dry and irritated skin – once every two months can do the trick.
Training and Exercise Needs of the Lycan Shepherds
Considering its origin, the Lycan Shepherd is certainly intelligent and intelligent dogs are always open to training. However its large size has to be taken into consideration too – if it wants to put up resistance, it will prove difficult to train. But remember, punishment should be out of the question in the case of stubbornness, it must be positive reinforcement all the way.
Both the GSD and the Belgian Malinois have high exercise needs and it goes without saying that the same applies to the Lycan Shepherd. Since it was bred from working dogs, taking your LSD for walks is merely the beginning of exercise for the breed, you must keep this pup constantly engaged and active for it to be happy. Given their mental and physical prowess, constant agility training may just be right. Hiking and running are also good for the breed.
Food and Diet
Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (B.A.R.F. diet) is what the breeder feeds his Lycan Shepherds. This is also known as Bones And Raw Food. The components of this diet include:
- Bones
- Assorted raw meat
- Fruits
- Uncooked veggies
We must also consider the fact that since very little about this breed is known, their nutritional needs are still unclear. At this stage, what to feed an LSD is ultimately up to the pet parent.
Temperament
Because of their wolfish appearance, there is the tendency to mistake the Lycan Shepherd for an aggressive breed. However, reports from the breeder said that when the dog has had enough exercise outside, it will relax when it comes inside the house. Going by the breeder’s videos, the LSD does not display aggression even to strangers and other dogs. Generally, it has a great temperament and can be very calm.
In general, the dog’s behavior will always have something to do with the kind of environment it lives in and the training it has been exposed to. Socialization and training at an early age are key, as with any dog breed.
Read Also: Steps to Take While Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth
Do Lycan Shepherds Make Good Family Pets?
At this stage, it would be premature to recommend the Lycan Shepherd as a good family dog. Despite their energetic and playful dispositions, there are a lot of unknown aspects of the breed’s temperament that might make them unfit for family.
Also, it is still early days to say whether the breed should be recommended for children. Given its large size, the pup may knock over a child or a smaller household pet. We must also consider its wolf instincts that may likely lead to aggression. Thus, the breed is a no go area for children for now
Shedding, Is The Lycan Shepherds Hypoallergenic?
It has been established that the Lycan Shepherds sheds a lot, consequently, it is not hypoallergenic and is not considered suitable for those with allergies. So, if you are allergic to heavy shedders, you might want to stay away from this one.