Why Are Lycan Shepherd Dog So Popular?
26.02.2021.
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Dog lovers across the US are working to create unique dog breeds with special characteristics their creators deem worthy. One of these projects is the Lycan Shepherd. It sounds like an exciting project, and if you love shepherding dogs, you will love the stunning Lycan Shepherd. Here is what you should know about them.
What is exactly a Lycan Shepherd?
The Lycan Shepherd is a project currently being developed. It is a mix of three breeds and is based on the Blue Bay Shepherds. If you want to know more about Blue Bays, check out this article - Blue Bay Shepherds.
Height:
22 - 26 in
Weight:
55 - 80 lb
Origin:
USA
Life Expectancy:
9 - 11 years
Unlike Blue Bays, the Lycan Shepherd includes another breed - the Belgian Malinois. The third breed is, of course, the German Shepherd. The goal is to create a superiorly intelligent dog breed with a stunning, wolf-like appearance. Like any project where a new breed is being made, it takes time and many trials and errors.
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Based on dogs produced by now, the results are pretty impressive. The breeders that are a part of that project have created stunning dogs with significant wolf-like characteristics.
Breeds used for Lycan Shepherd creation
Most dog breeds created by crossing different breeds had one breed that was their starting line; for Lycan Shepherds, that were the Blue Bay Shepherds. Little by little, the creators started to include working German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois. Here is what you need to know about these breeds.
Blue Bay Shepherd as a base
The Blue Bay Shepherd project was an ambitious project of one breeder - Vicki Spencer. She spent over 20 years developing this breed in her home in Palm Bay, Florida. She used her wolfdogs as a foundation for creating a fantastic new breed that would be moved from the wolfdog stigma.
Her goal was to make a breed that would keep the physical appearance of a wolf but get rid of the shyness and fearfulness those animals had. To achieve that, she searched for working lines of European German Shepherds, and when she found two GSDs with rare blue markings and smaller ears, she added them to her wolfdog lines. The wolfdogs used for breeding were 5-generations away from the wild animal, and Spencer had to carefully pick which puppies she would breed. She didn’t want to promote aggressive traits in her dogs.
German Shepherds for the character
The German Shepherd is the best-known working breed in the world. These dogs make great all-around service dogs, and they can perform any duty dogs usually perform. They make amazing police dogs, military dogs, detection, search and rescue dogs, guide dogs, or shepherding dogs.
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They are one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world, so it is no wonder the creators of the Lycan Shepherds wanted to include a working GSD line in their new breed. Working dog lines have fewer health issues, and their high-drive temperament makes them want to satisfy their owners at all costs. If you want to know more about the German Shepherds, check out the full GSD breed profile.
Belgian Malinois for the drive
The Belgian Malinois is smaller and lighter than the German Shepherd, but their working skill is very close. These dogs are more athletic, and if you ever had the pleasure of meeting one, you noticed how active and energetic they are. This is a breed that can run 24 hours, every day of the week. Malinois are very intense dogs that need plenty of daily exercises to be truly happy.
The main goal of adding these dogs to the Lycan Shepherd breed is to promote protective instincts. Belgian Malinois are one of the best protection dogs. They will do anything they can to keep their family and handlers safe.
If you want to know more about their temperament, check out this article - Belgian Malinois temperament.
The Lycan Shepherd project
The breed’s creator is a former animal warden and a former military man who has worked with dogs for over 30 years. He has successfully created another breed called the Renaissance Bulldogge and started the Lycan Shepherd project with three clear goals;
- Creating a dog with a wolf-like appearance - The ideal Lycan Shepherd should have long limbs and an athletic body.
- Creating an intelligent breed - That is somewhat an understatement. The idea is to create a dog with a superior intellect capable of solving complex problems.
- Creating an obedient breed - Being intelligent won’t do these dogs any good if they can’t channel that intelligence into something constructive. The goal is to create an obedient dog with superb working ability.
Dog Breed Characteristics
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Characteristics of the Lycan Shepherd
The ideal characteristics can only be guessed, and there aren’t any standards written about these dogs. The Lycan Shepherd has a long way to go to be registered. In fact, it is so rare that it hasn’t yet been recognized by the United Kennel Club, American Canine Hybrid Club, or Designer Breed Registry.
The ideal Lycan Shepherd should have a dark, thick, double coat that should be exclusively black. They will probably shed quite a bit since that is a trait of all breeds these dogs are based on. Lycans will most likely be very active and demanding dogs that will require an experienced dog owner that could handle them. Based on dogs the founder has already produced, Lycans can get 22 - 26 inches tall, and they will weigh about 55 - 80 pounds.
Care & grooming
Lycan Shepherd dogs have a double coat, with a dense undercoat and a coarser topcoat. These dogs shed moderately throughout the year, and they will shed massively during shedding season. Regular brushing is required at least 2-3 times per week to keep your dog looking good. During shedding season, daily brushing is a must.
Regular brushing will keep their hair healthy but is will also distribute natural oils to keep their coat healthy and the best possible. Bathing is required only a few times during the year unless your dog rolls into something dirty or smelly.
Nail trimming, ear cleaning, and dental care should also be part of your dog grooming routine.
Exercise
These are very energetic and athletic dogs, and this should come as a surprise considering the breeds used for the creation of the Lycan Shepherd. They need a significant amount of daily activities and proper mental stimulation for these dogs to be satisfied. Regular activities will prevent boredom and destructive behavior.
Lycan Shepherd dogs will mostly enjoy in a house with a big yard where they can roam around, but if you live in an apartment, you can also make this work; you have to ensure your dog receives the proper amount of activity.
Walks, running sessions, hiking, playing fetch, and playing with other dogs could all do the trick and ensure required daily activities.
These dogs are very intelligent so you can try and enroll them into a dog sport such as agility, herding, and obedience, as they can be very good at these sports.
Best food for Lyan Shepherd
Ensuring your dog gets the best possible diet should be one of your biggest priorities. Choosing the perfect dog food for your dog can be tricky if you don't know what to search for. Lycan Shepherd dogs thrive on food with many proteins, minerals, and vitamins because they are so active. If you provide your dog with the perfect formula, you can be sure that nothing will miss in his diet.
Here are our top 3 picks for the best dog food for Lycan Shepherds.
Many dog owners recommend Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein dog food. This dog food gets most of its protein from salmon, one of the world’s healthiest protein sources. The best thing about using salmon as a protein source is that it is packed with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. These fatty acids will do wonders for your dog’s skin, coat, and joint healths. It is one of the best things you can do for dogs with arthritis. This dog food has other recipes, and they are all rich in protein. Still, the salmon recipe offers plenty of additional nutrients your dog can benefit from. It includes antioxidants, probiotics, omega fatty acids, and minerals. This is a top choice and an excellent recommendation.
- Salmon-based
- Rich in omega fatty acids
- Includes probiotics
- Grain-free
- Includes sweet potatoes
The first ingredient is real chicken, which provides the meaty flavor he craves and exceptional nourishment. Protein and fat levels in each serving are just right to help keep your dog's muscles and overall health in tip-top shape. Probiotics and prebiotic fiber, sourced from wheat bran, are added to this high-protein dog food composition to promote his digestive and immunological health. It's easy to relax knowing he'll get the nutrition he needs at mealtime with our super-premium dry adult dog food product. The combination of hard kibble and tender shredded bits in this dry dog food for large breeds provides a satisfying texture that dogs enjoy.
We are huge Wellness fans, and we simply had to include Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food for Large Breeds on this list. However, this is not only because we love it; it is also because owners seem to be very happy with this dog food. It uses chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal as its primary protein sources. Our dry matter analysis says this food contains 34% protein and 12% crude fats, which means your dog will develop and maintain a healthy muscle mass and have plenty of energy for an active lifestyle.
Socialization
As with any dog, early socialization is necessary for Lycan Shepherd dogs. If they are not properly socialized, they could become problematic once they grow up, and you certainly don't want that. In the wrong hands, these dogs could even become dangerous. Proper socialization will ensure that your dog will develop into a well-rounded pet that will know how to properly react in many different situations.
Lycan Shepherd and kids
These dogs can get along with kids if they are properly introduced from a young age. They will be extra protective toward their kids, so you must watch your dog if kids are playing in your yard. Due to their big size, they could unintentionally injure kids during play, and because of that, you should set boundaries and always supervise their playing time.
Lycan Shepherd and other pets
These dogs have a strong prey drive, so they might not get along with smaller animals in your house, such as cats. However, every dog is unique, and if you socialize him properly and introduce him to other pets at an early age, there is a possibility that your Lycan Shepherd will be able to live in the same household with other pets and smaller animals.
Health problems
Lycan Shepherd is generally a healthy dog breed, but they may be prone to certain health issues that could be inherited from their parents. Some of the most common health concerns regarding these dogs include
- hip dysplasia
- elbow dysplasia
- bloat
- allergies
Regular veterinary check-ups will ensure that your dog is as healthy as possible, and in case of any problem, you will be able to provide treatment right away.
Rescue
If you are interested in these dogs, we will always advise you to search your local animal shelters and rescues. Since this is no dedicated Lycan Shepherd rescue organization, you can search for dedicated German Shepherd rescues or even Malinois rescues and hope you will find these dogs there.
Adopting a dog is an excellent way to provide a loving home for a dog in need.
Hybrid projects
Lycan Shepherd is not the first project that aims to create such a dog. The original one was the Dire Wolf project, which resulted in the American Alsatian hybrid. It is another dog created to have wolf-like features and a character that would make them fit into an average family. There are also these German Shepherd hybrids and mixes that have the same goal;
Most average dog owners wouldn’t even know the difference, and who can blame them. These are all ambitious projects that will require a bit more time to develop into a stable breed that will be widely available and steady. Luckily, the dog world is full of enthusiastic owners and breeders that want nothing more than to leave their mark and make a certain dog breed better. The Lycan Shepherd is undoubtedly an exciting project we will follow in the future.
Check out the YouTube channel of the breed’s creator - 1st508th Airborne.
Check out their Instagram account for more Lycan Shepherd pictures and updates - 1st508th Airborne.
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