Blue Bay Shepherd: A Complete Breed Overview

Blue Bay Shepherd Is An Amazing Breed That Stands Out Because Of Their Intelligence And Majestic Appearance. They Are A Combination Of German Shepherds And Wolf-Like Breeds.  

They Are Not Just A Visual Marvel But An Example Of Selective Breeding For Ability And Temperament. Known For Their Piercing Eyes And Amazing Blue-Grey Coats, They Have Caught The Attention Of Dog Lovers From All Over The World. 

Apart From Their Striking Appearance, They Are Loyal, Adaptable, And Highly Trainable. They Are A Combination Of Gentleness And Strength, Which Makes Them Suitable For Different Environments And Roles.

History Of The Breed

The development of the Blue Bay Shepherd began in the 1990s and 2000s through the Southern Breeze Ranch Kennel, founded by Vicki Spencer.  

She aimed to create a breed with the beauty of the wolves, but with all the loving personalities of a dog. The first litter was born in 2011.

Since this modern dog breed is her life’s work, she kept the original gene recipe under wraps. But reports are shared with the people who bought her puppies. After testing their genetics, they found contributions from Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes.

Overview 

Here are a few important pieces of information about the Blue Bay Shepherd dog breed that you should know

Physical Features

The Blue bay Shepherd has a very distinct color to them and doesn’t have a lot of color variations. The pigments are mostly of a greyish shade, like blue-grey, slate grey, and charcoal. 

Since their physical features resemble a wolf, they have amber or yellowish eyes with a greenish tint to them. Their head is in the shape of an almond and is a bit slanted. Although they have wolfish characteristics, they might also have strong German Shepherd qualities depending on the dominant genes of the parents. 

Temperament

The Blue Bay Shepherds are known to possess gentle and affectionate temperaments, which makes them easily trainable. They love to stay around people and other pets as well, but of course, they need proper training since they are puppies. 

Since they are half German Shepherds, these dogs are not timid or shy in any way possible. Spencer specifically stayed away from breeding with people who have guarding tendency, making them not bark as much. These blue-wolf German shepherds might be a bit of a couch potato, but they have high energy when needed. 

Training & Exercise

Since this dog breed is fairly new, their trainability is still a matter of suspense. Since they have the genes of a wolf, their trainability depends on a lot of factors. The female blue shepherd has higher wolf content, which makes them a bit timid but very much. 

But these dog breeds have a very loving nature with a sweet tendency to them. But since these dogs are very intelligent, they are trainable with lots of patience and positive reinforcement. 

This American blue bay shepherd needs a very active daily lifestyle since they are a very active breed. They are agile, obedient, and love sports and other adventures. The breed needs moderate exercise since they are a puppy, but not as much since their joints are not fully matured. 

Health & Care

Being a fairly newer breed, there are many health issues and diseases that are not yet fully known, so there is a scope for further research. And due to these diseases, their exact lifespan is not quite known.  

The blue bay shepherd has both dog and wolf blood inside them, which makes them quite healthy. And it is observed that their life span is higher than that of normal dogs.  

A few of the health problems detected in this blue bay shepherd are listed below.  

There are a few diseases that tend to be hereditary from such German shepherds and wolfdogs as Czechoslovakian and Saarloos. The few health diseases are

• Epilepsy,
• Pituitary Dwarfism,
• Eye Abnormalities,
• Degenerative Myelopathy.

These blue bay shepherds also tend to bloat due to overeating and have joint disorders around the hip, shoulder, and elbow. 

Grooming Needs

The blue bay shepherd has a thick double coat that tends to shed heavily about twice every year. Daily brushing and blowouts are very important to remove all dead hair and should minimize hair shedding.

It is important to keep your Blue Bay German Shepherd clean by clipping the nails and prevent infections by bathing and shampooing. 

Socialization 

This particular breeds make an amazing family pet, especially for families with older children. They form strong bonds and are amazing human companions because of their loyal and gentle nature.  

However, if you have small kids, you need to keep an eye on them. This is not because they can get aggressive, but they are large in size. They can unknowingly knock over your toddler. You have to teach your kid and your fur baby to behave respectfully with each other. 

Moreover, they get along well with other pets as well if you socialize them from a very young age. They have an adaptable nature, making them a good fit for families who are willing to invest some time in training and taking care of them.  

Nutritional Requirements 

You need to pay good attention to what you are feeding an American Blue Bay. They have specific nutritional needs. Because of their energy level and size, they require good-quality food that is specifically made for large breeds.  

Protein should be one of the major components of their diet. They need it for muscle growth and development. The portion size will obviously vary depending on their weight, age, and activity level. 

However, in general, they will need 3 to 4 cups of dry food per day, divided into multiple meals throughout the day. You will also have to monitor their food to prevent obesity, which can cause hip dysplasia and joint issues. 

If you are giving them raw or any homemade food, make sure you consult a nutritionist or a veterinarian first. Moreover, it is beneficial to give them supplements like glucosamine for their joint health. Again, ensure you talk to a vet first before giving them anything.  

Are Blue Bay Shepherds Good Pets?

These Blue Bay shepherd dogs are a great mixture of clever, intelligent, and hard-working dog breeds. Being widely known for being very affectionate, friendly, and good-natured, but not suited for first-time dog owners. 

Ever since the blue bay shepherd puppy, these dogs have been highly energetic and require a lot of outdoor activity and training. These dogs are great for experienced dog owners and not for first-time owners. 

Since these dogs require a lot of activity and attention, they are not great for families with younger kids. But they are great with other dogs or pets. 

Pros & Cons Of Getting A Blue Bay Shepherd

Here are a few pros and cons of getting a blue bay shepherd that you need to know before getting one. 

When Are You Getting One?

The blue bay shepherd is still a new dog breed that needs much research and study to be conducted to understand this breed. They have a gorgeous physical feature to them, in a mixture of German Shepherd dogs and wolves.  

They are quite devoted house pets, but you should engage in proper training from the moment they are puppies. If you find this article helpful, comment down below and let us know.  

Frequently Asked Questions:

Check out the most frequently asked questions related to a Blue Bay Shepherd mentioned below in detail.