Siberian Husky and German Shepherd are very popular dogs themselves. Therefore, there is no doubt that the mixture of the two dog breeds is now becoming the favorite choice of dog owners. Dog Lovers want to have a unique dog, but also want to minimize the incidence of common health problems in purebred dogs, brand-name dogs are becoming more and more popular. The German Shepherd Husky mix, also known as Shepsky achieves this goal.
In this guide, we will take a closer look at this blending in more detail. This will help you make informed decisions as to whether one of these clumsy large puppies is suitable for your family. With this mix, you can expect a lot of energy and entertainment time. You can also count on having a stubborn, loyal family partner, and training can be challenging at times.
Parents of the Shepsky
A Mixed breed becomes a designer dog when two purebred dogs mate to create a “unique” dog breed. The AKC and other organizations do not recognize them as an official breed. Puppies born as a result of these hybrids will show some personality traits, and looks from both parents.
It should also be noted that mixed-breed puppies usually inherit the health of both parents. In order to let you know more about each parent species, and let you understand the full meaning of Gerberian Shepsky, we have briefly introduced both in this comprehensive guide.
German Shepherd
The German Sheperd got its name thanks to working as herders and guarding flocks in the mountains of Germany. In 1899, this dog was chosen as the ideal military dog by the former cavalry officer and veterinarian Max von Stephanitz.
In 1906, the German Shepherd came to the United States. In 1913, the American German Shepherd Club was founded. Currently, they are ranked second in the AKC’s dog breed popularity rankings, second only to the long-term favorite Labrador.
This species is now working in many different fields, including police and military, search and rescue, contraband detection, and providing assistance for the disabled. If you like to participate in canine sports, then the German Shepherd is excellent in agility, obedience, tracking, dock diving, and flying ball.
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky originated in Siberia, It was used as a working dog, as a long-distance sled dog.
In the early 1900s, the breed came to Alaska, where they were used as race dogs, participate in long-distance race. They are also used to haul mail through frozen terrain. Today, the Siberian Husky is still used as a racing sled dog, but It’s also a good companion for family pets. If you want to try canine sports, you can train huskies in dog agility and obedience.
The Siberian Husky is a very healthy dog with a relatively long life span of 10 to 14 years. The Siberian Husky was bred for many hours. Therefore, these dogs need a lot of exercise, including at least two long walks a day and regular playtime.
Because of their amazing blue eyes and uniform temperament, they have also made puppies for other designer dog breeds such as Labrador / Husky mix, husky mix with the Pomeranian.
History of crossing German Shepherd with Husky
The true origin of the German shepherd and husky combination remains a mystery. There is no clear explanation as to why or where this breed developed.
However, Its two purebred parents have been around for hundreds of years and are individually known as intelligent and fearless working dogs.
Today the Gerberian Shepsky is not yet a well-known designer dog, like the Puggle or the Cavachon, however, due to its wolf-like appearance, this breed is sure to take off soon.
The German shepherd and Siberian huskies are actually quite matched in many ways, including appearance. Both of these varieties have a dignified air and a strong sporty style. Both have thick double coats, perfect for hugging!
In terms of size, the Gerberian Shepsky will fall between the smallest husky and the largest German Shepherd. Therefore, between 20 and 26 inches tall and between 35 and 88 pounds at shoulder and weight. Although some are bigger than this, most are in this weight range.
These dogs are large, and you need enough space to accommodate one at your home. If you want outdoor activities, outdoor space is also essential for the German shepherd husky mix dog. This shepsky is not suitable for apartment living. You need to make sure you have a large yard or enough space to exercise your puppy somewhere nearby to release some energy and prevent destructive behavior.
The appearance of the Gerberian Shepsky
If you want to know what the cross between a German shepherd and husky looks like, here are a couple of pictures, so you can have an idea of what these two cross dogs look like
When two different pedigrees are paired, your puppies can inherit the physical traits of any breed. And they are more likely to get a mix of both.
Sometimes this means that puppies in a litter, or even within a litter, look very different.
Is that the case with husky and German Shepherd cross puppies?
Size of the German Shepherd Cross with Husky
Compared to some of the more unequal doggy parents these days, German Shepherds and Huskies have pretty complementary appearances.
They both have erect ears and dignified expressions. They look well built and athletic.
Both breeds have double fur, which looks deep and cuddly. Now let’s talk about the size of the Husky-Crossed German Shepherd.
In general, Huskies are medium-sized dogs. They weigh 35-60 pounds. There are more males at the upper end of the range and more females at the bottom.
From the ground to the shoulders, they are 20-23 inches tall.
German Shepherds are bigger. They weigh 49-88 lbs., And measure 22-26 inches from floor to shoulder. Again, males are generally larger than females.
When a Husky German Shepherd mix puppy grows up, it will be between the smallest Husky and the largest German Shepherd.
If you want you can take a look at this:
Siberian husky growth chart
German Shepherd growth by months
Colors that the German Shepherd crossed with Husky can have
The outlines of a German Shepherd and Husky could be quite similar. But the true variety lies in its coloring.
The most striking Husky German Shepherd mix dogs inherit their dark coat from their German Shepherd parent and the bright blue eyes of their Husky parent.
But German Shepherds actually come in a range of colors, from Sable to Silver and even White
Siberian Huskies can be red or even white as well.
Character, Temperament of the crossbreed German Shepherd with Husky
The German Shepherd / Husky mix has a beautiful temperament. Bold, firm, and robust. This solid dog will protect you and your family from anything and everything, making this breed a perfect watchdog.
At heart, however, this dog is a loving and playful breed that will melt the coldest of hearts.
The perfect family dog that is great with kids. In fact, unlike us, they may be able to keep up with them.
This breed is super smart and with the correct and patient owner, they learn quickly and voluntarily which makes them easy to train.
Keep your puppy well exercised and trained and you will avoid developing negative habits such as excessive barking or chewing.
Being such an intelligent breed, it is important that this dog is associated with an attentive owner.
How to take care of the Shepsky
The shepsky may not be suitable for first-time dog owners. You will need to dedicate a bit of your time to their maintenance and training requirements.
Feeding the shepsky
An active breed requires a diet full of nutrients and protein; a large dog always has a huge appetite to match.
As the Shepsky is a large breed, it will require a lot of calories and protein, however this changes with its age, size, and activity level.
A puppy, for example, requires more calories than the adult Shepsky due to the caloric demands required for its rapid growth and development of the skeletal system. As your Shepsky grows to be more similar in size to its parent breed, like other German Shepherd mixes, its caloric requirements are similar as well:
| Calories required per day | |
|---|---|
| Less active | Between 1,300 to 1,600 calories. |
| Active / working | Between 1,700 and 2,400 calories. |
Ideally, once matured, this large breed is better off having its food spaced out by one or two meals per day.
A German Shepherd and Husky mix is carnivorous and therefore requires adequate amounts of protein with a diet containing no less than 22% protein.
To ensure your dog is getting the correct amount of nutrients and protein, we recommend that you try a high-quality dry kibble diet formulated for larger dog breeds.
Exercise requirements
This breed loves to exercise. It is recommended that your shepsky get about two hours of exercise per day. But, they are a “pawesome” breed, so it’s definitely worth it.
The best option for meeting such a high exercise requirement may be to have a large, open yard where your dog can play and stay busy.
However, having a yard is not enough for this breed. The Shepsky is an athletic breed and therefore interactive racing and games are required to meet its exercise needs.
Although they are an active breed, they still appreciate being pampered at the end of a long day.
Even though this dog may look like a big, strong wolf, It’s still an extremely loving mix, so show them some love.
Training a German Shepherd Husky Mix
It is true that this breed is very intelligent and therefore it can be quite misleading how easily it can be trained.
Due to their Husky parent, with their functional and pack-like nature, the Gerber Shepsky can be quite a stubborn breed so initially, training can be a bit rough.
Like any dog, they will respond very well to positive reinforcement training for dogs.
Correct obedience training is highly recommended as they are big and assertive. This breed loves to be busy and therefore the training can be enjoyed even once a positive and mutual relationship is established between you and your loving partner.
Socialization Requirements
Remember that the German Shepherd and Husky breeds are dominant working dogs that love to be active. Therefore, it is essential that your German Shepherd and Husky Mix is well socialized.
Try socializing your dog with other breeds, pets, and people. Introducing new beings will also be a treat for your pet.
Socialization determines adult behavior in dogs. If your puppy is well socialized from a young age, It will grow up to be very friendly and outgoing.
Dog parks, puppy classes, and daily outings will provide your dog with regular socialization that will also provide mental stimulation.
Grooming of the Shepsky
The beautiful double coat of your Shepherd Mix will need regular maintenance to keep it that way. The condition of your dog’s skin and coat can also depend on a variety of factors.
It is preferable to brush your dog two or more times a week. This will remove unwanted skin and dander, which can build up on your carpet or clothing.
Expect a “blowout” period for your dog. This extinction period will occur closer to the hottest months. They are simply shedding unnecessary hair so that they can regulate their body temperature more appropriately in the summer.
During this period, a LOT of hair will be shed. Don’t panic, just give your dog a hand and perhaps increase brushing during these periods.
As for the baths. Keep bathing your dog only when necessary; You do not want to alter your dog’s natural oils that will keep Its coat healthy and shiny.
Known health issues
Unfortunately, the beautiful German Shepherd Husky cross is prone to some health problems, and they can inherit certain health problems from their purebred parents:
Elbow / Hip Dysplasia
Canine hip or elbow dysplasia is a genetic disease associated with the German Shepherd.
This disease is characterized as a disease of the hip or elbow that causes the joints to form incorrectly. This malformation can lead to pain and, ultimately, loss of elbow and hip function.
Cataracts
Eye problems such as the development of cataracts are common in the Husky. Again, this can be passed on to your German Shepherd Husky Mix.
Cataracts are known as “eye lens blemishes” and will affect your puppy’s vision over time. Your puppy may act confused or disoriented.
Are Husky and German Shepherd mixes good for families?
The high training and exercise requirement of Husky Shepherd mix dogs makes them an ambitious choice of dog.
If you are inexperienced in keeping dogs before, they could be an overwhelming place to start.
Similarly, the amount of time they take could be difficult to meet the demands of a young family
How Much Does a Shepsky Cost – Price
The price of a purebred German Shepherd tends to be a little lower than that of a Siberian Husky.
But the cost of their combined offspring varies. It can range from $ 400 to $ 1,500 depending on the breeder.
Beware of any puppy that seems too cheap, It’s probably too good to be true.
Raising a healthy litter of puppies from healthy parents costs money.
Health assessment, veterinary care, vaccinations, and flea and worm treatments add up.
If the cost of a puppy cannot cover these expenses, then at some point the welfare of the puppies and their parents will be lost.
Where Can you find a Shpsky for adoption?
Like mentioned before an average cost of a German Shepherd Husky mix is between $800 and over $1,500, depending on where you live and the achievements and ancestry of the puppy’s parents. Since Gerberian Shepsky is very popular, you will find many breeders online. However, please proceed with caution, because some of these advertisers may purchase stock from so-called puppy factories.
Go to your local German Shepherd Husky Cross Appreciation Club, where you can make some useful contacts. In addition, your veterinarian and local boarding kennel may be able to keep you in touch with well-known breed dogs. When you find a good breeder, remember to ask to see the written health certificates of the parents of the two puppies.
Avoid Scamy ads
Unfortunately, the growing popularity of hybrid dogs has triggered a boom in famous puppies bred by puppy factories and backyard breeders. As we all know, puppy farms will produce puppies of the required breed on a Large scale. Normally, the breed dogs used by these farms are not subject to health checks or to check for potential temperament problems. Puppies are usually not vaccinated, dewormed, or treated with preventive flea drugs.
Dogs and puppies in these farms are usually under very bad conditions. They usually have no access to fresh air and outside space. The end result is that many puppies will have congenital health problems. When an unsuspecting buyer takes their puppies home, they are usually already very sick. The only way to defeat the cruelty of such dealings and make them go bankrupt is not to buy puppies from such scammy places.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because Husky German Shepherd mix is one of the most popular designer dogs, we often have different varieties of doubt. We have compiled a complete list of frequently asked questions we receive here in the “Mixed Dogs” below.
Q: How big can a Gerberian Shepsky get?
Answer: It depends, each dog is different. Generally, Shepskies are medium to large dogs, weighing between 50 and 80 pounds as adults.
Q: Do shepskies shed?
Answer: Yes, they tend to shed a lot. it gets it from its husky side.
Q: How much does a Shepsky cost?
Answer: Depending on the breeder, this mix breed can go up to 1000$.
Q: Is the German Shepherd Husky mix hypoallergenic?
Answer: No, the drop rate of this dog is higher than average, so if you have an allergic reaction, we recommend that you avoid using this dog.
Q: Do they get along with cats?
Answer: In most cases, yes. As long as they are socialized properly from an early age, then your shepsky should be able to socialize well with all other animals.
Q: will an apartment be suitable for such a breed?
Answer: Due to the scale and activity level, we do not recommend that you adopt a Gerberian Shepsky if you live in an apartment. They need space to run.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a canine partner who can give you eternal love and loyalty, then a mixed breed of German Shepherd and Husky may be your best choice. This hybrid is elegant and stunning to look at. You can almost guarantee that in any public situation, the puppy will be a part of the party. Having said that, it is important to ensure that you can handle the activity level of the breed. The last thing we (and you) want to do is to end up with a puppy that has to return to the shelter.
You need to enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle and be prepared to spend a lot of time to exercise and train your dog. In addition, you must enjoy the fun of brushing and grooming the dog. Shepsky shed a lot! If you decide to add a Gerberian Shepsky to your family, we believe you will eventually get a great family pet that everyone will love.
