How Much Does a Blue Bay Shepherd Puppy Cost?

Are you looking for a furry friend with the beauty of a wolf but with the temperament and loyalty of a German Shepherd? A Blue Bay Shepherd may be just what you’re looking for.

However, be aware that it is a very pricey Shepherd variety. True Blue Bay Shepherds cost upwards of $2000, with some puppies reaching the price of $3500.

Such a high price tag leads many people to opt for other large dogs that are more on the affordable side.

Finding an American Blue Bay Shepherd for sale is also challenging. It’s a partial hybrid and a very new breed still under development.

This article provides all the information you need about the Blue Bay Shepherd to make an informed decision. Below, we answer who it will suit and what special traits it brings to the table.

Here’s what you should know before you buy a Blue Bay Shepherd dog.

How Much Does a Blue Bay Shepherd Puppy Cost?

As a “limited edition” breed, Blue Bay Shepherds are very expensive. You will have to be lucky to find puppies for sale at all.

Currently, you can expect to pay about $2000–$3500 for a pup. These costs cover the care, attention, and careful breeding dedicated to the new line by the current breeder. It’s an enormous amount of work and a unique breed, so a high price tag is to be expected.

But that’s not all. In addition to the $3500 for the pup, you should consider vet consultation, shots, food, and more.

The primary factor why this large breed is so unique is the fact there’s only one Blue Bay breeder. If you see any listed somewhere else, or people claim to have Blue Bays that are not from Vicki Spencer, it’s most likely a scam.

You also won’t find one in a rescue or shelter anywhere. The Spencer-bred Blue Bays all have a registration certificate and a unique number.

If a breeder claims they have a Spencer dog and are breeding it, ask to see the parent’s certificates — and report it immediately to the Southern Breeze Kennels, Vicki’s kennel name.

Why Are Blue Bay Shepherds So Expensive?

This is, quite literally, a rare breed. It’s so rare that you can only get it from one breeder — Vicki Spencer.

The breeding stock for this dog is incredibly rare, too. Blue German Shepherds are not unknown but are definitely not easy to find. The same goes for blue wolfdog hybrids.

Surprisingly, Vicki struggled to find the right Shepherd more than the right wolfdog, which she had previous experience with breeding and handling. When she encountered a beautiful and intact blue wolfdog hybrid, she set out to find the perfect partner for them.

The original Blue Bay Shepherd stock was bred from a litter she was offered. Yet, the need to bring in new genes and keep the temperament balance makes this a long-term and careful project.

As a result, these dogs are likely to remain exceedingly limited for many years to come.

The first Blue Bay Shepherd litter was born in 2011. The parents were a French-bred Blue German Shepherd and her existing blue wolfdog stock.

In a unique and new hybrid breed like this, ensuring a strong lineage is tricky. There isn’t even a guarantee that breeding a Blue Bay dog to another Blue Bay dog will give a litter that solely consists of Blue Bay puppies.

Getting “throwbacks” to the original breeding stock is very common. You can look at the older Labradoodle hybrid breed for more about this phenomenon.

Current Blue Bay stock may have up to 30% wolf genes because of their hybrid nature. While that’s not a lot, Vicki still wants to lower that percentage.

The very first official Blue Bays were five generations away from the pure wolf line.

It’s noteworthy that “blue” in the dog world refers to a rich slate-gray color. You also see it on the Russian Blue cat.

Vet Costs

With fresh wolf-hybrid DNA in their breed and careful selection of breeding stock, Blue Bay Shepherds don’t have a lot of genetic health issues.

However, there are two potential problems worth keeping in mind.

1. The German Shepherd’s risk of hip dysplasia is also present in this breed.
2. All large-breed dogs with deep chests are also at risk of bloating.

Bloating is a severe issue for dogs, where the gut twists and “blows up.” It can be fatal if not properly treated. Avoiding strenuous activity for 2 hours after eating will prevent bloat issues.

Since this is a very new breed, there may be hidden issues we have yet to learn about. This lack of fixed literature on the topic must always be considered when discussing the Blue Bay Shepherd.

Remember that you need to budget for regular vet checks at important milestones, their annual shots, and have good pet insurance (or personal funds) to provide veterinary care as needed.

Diet and Food Costs

A great diet is critical for the health and well-being of your Blue Bay Shepherd. These dogs typically need at least 5 cups of food daily. It should be a well-balanced, high-quality brand with premium ingredients.

Most high-quality dog foods cost around $2–$3 a pound. A 30-pound pack will likely contain 120 cups, which will last for approximately 20–24 days, depending on the dog’s size, life stage, and appetite.

Some owners prefer other feeding regimes, such as raw feeding. It’s difficult to price this one out, as it depends on your choices and local sources. It can be very labor intensive, and you will need a dedicated dog meat freezer.

Remember that self-hunted meat is unsuitable for a raw dog diet, as there’s no chance to control any potential parasites because you won’t be cooking the meat.

Grooming Costs

The Blue Bay Shepherd coat is designed to look a little wild and rugged. Nevertheless, it still needs careful care. This way, you can keep the blue coat color clean and mat-free and remove loose hairs.

Your Blue Bay Shepherd may also need their ears and eyes cleaned on a regular basis. It’s possible to perform this level of care yourself, but you can hire a professional groomer.

It will cost about $75 to groom a Shepherd-like breed at a professional grooming salon. If you send a pup to a groomer, ensure it’s well-socialized to touch, especially by a stranger.

Blue Bay Shepherd Temperament

As mentioned before, the Blue Bay Shepherd is a sub-breed created by Vicki Spencer. For the last two decades, she’s been perfecting this unique new breed, hoping to create a wolf-like dog with a dog’s stable temperament, loyalty, and human-focused nature.

Actual wolfdogs often get a lot of stigma from the community and vets alike, so she hopes to keep the unique wolf look but with “clean” genes that will disassociate from that stigma.

The Blue Bay is bred to be a great family dog with a stable temperament. Here are its key characteristics:

• Couch potatoes, but with a lot of energy to burn
• They may get destructive if under-exercised
• Sweet and affectionate
• Non-aggressive to livestock and small animals
• Not timid around people
• As trainable as a standard German Shepherd
• Clever

Remember that every dog has a unique personality. Dogs need to be well-raised, socialized, and trained to be happy, healthy, and stable in temperament.

Just like any other dog, Blue Bays need intensive care and love from their humans. Any dog can be aggressive if raised that way or if its natural mental stimulation needs are ignored. The more intelligent the breed, the more stimulation they need.

Despite the sweet temperament, this is a very high-energy breed, so plan to spend a good few hours a day exercising the dog. They don’t bark or yap repetitively like other dog breeds but love to mimic sounds.

Blue Bay Shepherd Physical Appearance 

While there isn’t a rigorous breed standard for the Blue Bay Shepherd right now, here are some key physical characteristics:

• Straight-backed and well-muscled
• Upright, proportional, triangular ears like the German Shepherd
• A “lanky” look that disguises a lot of power
• A head shape that’s very similar to the German Shepherd
• A long, deep blue coat

Their size can vary quite a bit as the breed is still in development. They’re typically between 85 pounds and 105 pounds (males) and 70 to 85 pounds (females).

Most Blue Bay Shepherds average around 30 inches tall at the shoulder, with females leaning smaller and some males taller.

While some Blue Bays have blue eyes, most of the dogs from this breed boast amber and yellow eye color.

They likely will not have a hypoallergenic coat, although it’s a little too early in their development to say for sure.

Because it’s a very new breed, its look may change over time. Getting “throwback” Shepherds in Blue Bay litters is also possible.

Final Thoughts

Blue Bay Shepherds are beautiful dogs that serve as excellent companions. Nevertheless, their purchase price is very steep. If you fall in love with the Blue Bay Shepherd’s charming nature, stunning look, and personality, be prepared to part with a lot of money.

Additionally, if you’re looking for an American Kennel Club-recognized Shepherd, this is not the breed for you.

Because of their high registry standards, the AKC doesn’t just recognize any dog as a new breed. Since this breed is still being actively created, it will be many years, if not decades, before it gets an official breed status.

That said, the people who currently own Blue Bays love them. These dogs are said to have one of the sweetest natures around.

So, if you’re willing to look past the price tag of this unique combination of old lupine bloodline with the German Shepherd’s lineage, adding a Blue Bay Shepherd to your family might be the right idea.