In the world of hybrids, one dog breed is making waves.
The Lycan Shepherd is the attempt to create a new versatile canine with a wolfish appearance.
Creating this cross is still an ongoing project and there’s a lot of confusion around this breed’s genetic makeup.
Let us explore the history, price, temperament, and other factors you need to know about if you’re considering adding a Lycan Shepherd to your family.
Spoiler alert: Getting one might be more difficult than you think.
| Lifespan | 10-14 years |
| Weight | 60-100 pounds (27-45 kg) |
| Height | 24-28 inches (61-71 cm) |
| Activity Level | High |
What is a Lycan Shepherd?
The Lycan Shepherd is a new hybrid dog created from German Shepherd working lines and Blue Bay Shepherds with the long-term goal of introducing other hybrid and northern dog breeds.
Why are they creating what is essentially another crossbreed you ask?
A crossbreed is created when two breeds are mated, often for the purpose of developing a new breed with desired traits of their foundational breeds.
So why do some people breed the Lycan Shepherd?
The Lycan Shepherd is an attempt to get the German Shepherd’s working drive, devotion, and trainability while retaining the wolfish appearance and brain-to-body ratio that has been achieved through the Blue Bay Shepherd.
The Blue Bay Shepherd itself is supposedly a wolf hybrid without the nuisance of shyness, independence, or even aggression.
Before figuring out whether or not this dog breed might be a good fit for families, let’s check out which breeds contribute to this hybrid’s genes and the history behind them.
Lycan Shepherd Origin Breeds
You’ll probably recognize that the German Shepherd plays a huge role in this mix.
The German Shepherd is a breed of dog that originated in Germany.
They are known for being loyal, intelligent, and tenacious in their tasks.
This makes them excellent family pets as they will be protective of their owners and children.
The German Shepherd has a long history with the military; during WWI & WWII they were used by the Germans as guard dogs and patrol dogs.
Blue Bay Shepherds are supposed to be wolf-like hybrids without the associated shyness and aggression seen in some wolfdogs.
It’s worth mentioning that the creator stresses these dogs are not real wolf hybrids anymore as the puppies sold are not from the first couple of generations from crossbreeding.
The creator of this crossbreed supposedly put in a lot of effort to avoid aggression through selective breeding and an extremely limited puppy buyer pool (numbered puppies with certificates).
While the Blue Bay Shep is not known to be overly aggressive, it’d be hard to pin down anyway due to the limited supply and confusion.
The are reports of people falsely claiming to have an American Blue Bay Shepherd.
Wolves are great animals, as are dogs. But with hybrids, shyness can be so deeply anchored that they can snap or attack out of fear.
Fear may be the number one trigger in all dog breeds but with wolfdogs, it’s the underlying unfamiliarity with people.
Socialization and conditioning can help a great deal but genetics can’t be ignored.
Additionally, there can be legal issues depending on your state or country if it’s a high-content wolfdog.
Since the roadmap for the Blue Bay Shepherd includes other hybrids and Northern breeds, it’s thinkable that there can be types with thick coats as well as smaller or larger individuals, depending on which breeds they are crossed with.
Contrary to what some self-proclaimed dog experts state on various forums, the Lycan Shepherd is not just a black German Shepherd – my article clears up all the myths around GSD colors.
Lycan Shepherd History & Temperament
Creating a new hybrid dog breed is an immensely complex undertaking.
As mentioned, the Lycan Shepherd is supposed to have the wolf’s brain-to-body ratio which supposedly increases their intelligence and problem-solving skills.
Studies have shown that dogs are far better at taking directions from humans (be it speaking, pointing, or just looking) than wolves.
The dog’s ancestors have very poor problem-solving skills when human intervention would be helpful.
However, the wolf has other strengths and abilities that pet dogs are lacking.
But does the same apply to working line dogs?
It’s hard to say. No study has ever finalized results on this topic with comparable test groups on a large scale.
How much of the wolf’s intelligence can be attributed to the brain size and how much is just natural selection, nurture, as well as survival instinct?
While I commend everybody trying to improve existing breeds, it’s questionable whether or not this specific creation is essential to the dog world.
Is it necessary that brachycephalic dog breeds are finally bred to dogs with longer snouts to avoid all the serious respiratory issues? Definitely.
But what the Lycan Shepherd is trying to achieve can be achieved with comparable results through breeds like the Malinois.
However, if breeding proves to be a success, it might indeed elevate the canine status in the working world.
But how does that concern you as a regular pet owner – are Lycan Shepherds suitable for families?
- The Lycan Shepherds seen on a breeder’s Youtube channel certainly look promising in terms of temperament and trainability.
- One of the contributing dog hybrids – the Blue Bay Shepherd – is already living among families with children, thus proving it to be possible at the very least.
- That being said, as with all wolfdogs (even though this cross tries to steer away from that term) the Lycan Shepherd is not a beginner breed and requires lots of socialization, training, and escape-proofing.
But how much do puppies from this coveted hybrid cost and how would you go about getting one if your family is the right fit?
How Much Does A Lycan Shepherd Cost?
Lycan Shepherd puppies can cost anywhere from $3,000-$5,000.
Prices always vary based on geography and breed as well as other factors influenced by each breeder.
That being said, other rare breeds can easily cost what a Lycan pup will cost you on the lower end of the spectrum to provide some perspective.
Prices are not advertised on the website on purpose.
It discourages price gauging as well as the ability for other breeders to intentionally undercut with fake Lycan Shepherds who are in reality just similar-looking mixes.
If you’d actually buy one, you should make sure the puppies have all the necessary health certificates and make sure you actually buy a Lycan Shepherd puppy.
Where Can I Buy Lycan Shepherd Puppies?
For newly created breeds, there are always a couple of generations that are not available to the public due to the characteristics and appearance not being fully developed yet.
However, the Lycan Shepherd seems to be in the F3 generation right now and upon a question of a potential buyer on social media, the breeder mentioned he didn’t keep lists.
Instead, he informs potential buyers through Youtube if the time of seeking homes for the pups has come.
Beware of low-quality dog breeders ripping you off with another crossbreed that has none of the Lycan Shepherd qualities.
Also, you should definitely know your way around these kinds of breeds and working dogs in general.
Every good breeder worth his salt will NOT hand out high-maintenance dogs to beginners.
How Big Do Lycan Shepherds Get?
An official breed standard hasn’t been created for the Lycan Shepherd yet and this cross is not yet recognized by the AKC so there are only estimates.
Also, weight and height can constantly change, depending on where the breeders are taking the program.
Generally, Lycan Shepherds are 24-28 inches (61-71 cm) tall and weigh between 60-100 pounds (27-45 kg).
However, there have been reports of male Blue Bay Shepherds reaching around 30 inches (76 cm) and 120 pounds (54 kg).
Many internet sources mention far less in terms of weight and height, leaning more towards the Malinois (which has the GSD height but is far more athletic and thus lighter).
From what I’ve seen, these dogs get heavier and taller due to the solid bone structure and wolf influence.
Conclusion: If you’re looking for a dog that has the benefits of being both wolf and dog, then Lycan Shepherd puppies might be right up your alley.
It’s important to do some research about these hybrid dogs before deciding if they are the right pet for you though.
They have many of the qualities wolves possess and, assuming a good breeder selection, decrease shyness and escape artist abilities.
Be sure to take into consideration all aspects of owning this type of breed when considering where and how much your pup should cost, as well as what kind of temperament he will have – especially since there are so many different types out there.
Exciting time for sure to follow the creation of this breed, I’ll keep watching from the sidelines.
Is a Lycan Shepherd puppy exactly what you’ve been looking for? Let me know below!
Disclaimer: This blog post does not substitute veterinary attention and does not intend to do so. I am not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist. If your dog shows any sign of illness, call your vet.
Ian
Tuesday 12th of September 2023
As a Wolf type working shepherd, would these make good guard dogs? Can they be trained as a security element would be an interesting characteristic to determine.
If they can be trained not to eat chickens, I’m wondering if they would make good perimeter dogs for keeping predators away, especially coyotes
Danielle
Monday 18th of September 2023
Hi Ian, I haven't seen any indication that they'd be used as guard dogs more reliably than other breeds but even if it's possible, there are many breeds to do the job. Think of the Doberman, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Malinois, etc. Really depends on whether one just needs general deterrence or wants the dog to really guard a property. If you want them to live with chickens and keep predators away, breeds similar to livestock guardians may do the trick.
Stacia
Sunday 13th of August 2023
I would love to have breeder information to begin the process of owning a Lycan Shepherd. I am so very interested in this breed.
Alan
Monday 16th of January 2023
I have had German Shepards for over fourty five years, at 60 and no real family at home, I am interested my shepard is over ten now. Thank you
PJ Martinez
Saturday 26th of February 2022
I would appreciate the information on a real lycan Shepard from what I've read and seen on Youtube they will make a great companion
Gat rod
Monday 1st of November 2021
Love the article about the Lycan Shepherd. Very interesting breed excellent trimix. Possibly Lycan Shepherd owner of the future. Can you give me your Insight on Farmer's dog dog food.