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Welcome to our complete guide to the German Shepherd Husky Mix.
In this breed report, we learn what happens when two of our most popular and well-known dog breeds come together and form puppies.
We will examine what the pups will look like and what temperament they are likely to have.
And whether they could be the perfect love affair for you and your family.
Husky German Shepherd Mix: Herman Shusky? Germusky?
Compared to the Labradoodle and the Cockapoo, cross puppies from Siberian Huskies and German Shepherds are still relatively inconspicuous.
But what do you call the offspring of a German shepherd dog and a Siberian husky?
Well, they’ve been around long enough to reach a consensus and the verdict is:
Gerberian Shepsky.
It’s not exactly catchy, which probably explains why it didn’t seem to take off.
Now let’s put it aside and focus on how a German Shepherd is mixed up with Husky.
Take a German Shepherd …
German shepherds as a pedigree have a surprisingly younger and well-documented history.
German Shepherd Husky Mix
In 1899 a German named Max von Stephanitz got to know his vision of the perfect shepherd dog at a dog show and was so impressed that he bought it straight away.
Previous attempts to categorize and standardize the different types of German Shepherd Dogs had already failed. So von Stephanitz created his own breed register and made his new dog the first entry.
This dog was called Horand von Griffith. He was the very first German Shepherd, and every German Shepherd you see today is originally descended from him.
And it didn’t take long to convince the rest of the world how great the new German Shepherds were.
By 1908 they had been recognized by the American Kennel Club and are now ranked second in the most popular breeds in their dog rankings.
Here you can find out everything about German Shepherds.
… and add a Siberian Husky
Siberian huskies, on the other hand, have a long, long history.
They are descended from the dogs bred by nomadic Chukchi people in northeast Siberia to pull their sleds.
Chukchi people have bred and worked huskies for hundreds of years, building on the work of other tribes that previously domesticated hundreds of dogs.
Siberian huskies as we know them reached America in the early 20th century, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Siberian sled dogs are now the 12th most popular breed on the American Kennel Club’s dog values list.
Find out everything about Siberian sled dogs here!
The first German shepherd dogs
Domestic dog breed hybrids have usually been around for as long as the pedigrees they came from, and there isn’t a special day in history that the first German Shepherd puppies were born.
Until recently, crossbreeds didn’t attract much attention.
The current trend of creating certain hybrids and giving them quirky names is relatively new.
German shepherds and mixed husky dogs existed long before the Gerberian Shepsky was named.
What does a husky and German shepherd look like?
When two different pedigree dogs are mated together, their pups can inherit the physical traits of either breed. And they’re most likely to get a mix of both.
Sometimes this means that pups look completely different from litter to litter, or even within a litter.
Is that the case with husky and German shepherd dogs?
German Shepherd Husky Mix Size
Compared to some of the more mismatched doggy parents, German shepherds and sled dogs have quite complementary appearances.
Don’t forget to add your dog!
German Shepherd Husky Mix Both have upright ears and a worthy expression, giving the impression of being well built and athletic.
Both breeds have a double coat that looks deep and cuddly.
Overall, Huskies are medium-sized dogs. They usually weigh between 16 and 27 kg, with more men on the high end of the range and more women on the low end.
They stand between 51 and 58 cm high from the floor to the shoulders.
German shepherds are bigger.
They weigh between 22 and 40 kg and stand 56 to 66 cm (22 to 26 inches) from floor to shoulder. Again, men are usually taller than women.
When a Husky German Shepherd puppy grows up, he will end up somewhere between the smallest Husky and the largest German Shepherd.
German Shepherd Husky Mix Color
The outlines of a German Shepherd and Husky may be pretty similar, but the real variety lies in their color scheme.
By far the most noticeable Husky German Shepherd mixed dogs are those who inherit the dark fur of their German Shepherd parent and the light blue eyes of their Husky parent.
In fact, while we tend to think of German Shepherds as black and tan and huskies as gray and white, all white colors are made up of everyone.
The surefire way to get mixed white German Shepherd and Husky puppies are through match-making parents in white coats.
German Shepherd Husky mixed personality
Just like appearance, Husky Shepherd Mix puppies can inherit personality traits from their parents in any combination.
So you need to prepare for any eventuality.
The AKC describes Huskies as loyal, mischievous, outgoing, friendly, dignified, gentle, and watchful, and German Shepherds as confident, brave, smart, and calm.
There are some clear similarities. But if you’ve met lots of huskies and German Shepherds, you may also have noticed some ways in which their personalities are like yin and yang.
Huskies are fantastically smart, but often stubborn and willful. This has earned them a reputation for being difficult to train.
German Shepherds, on the other hand, are valued for their ability to learn complex tasks and commands quickly and accurately.
Another example: Huskies are everyone’s best friends. I read once that huskies make terrible watchdogs because not only do they greet an intruder with a wagging tail, they open the front door and show them where the best stuff is!
German Shepherds are now more likely to be towards strangers and need more socialization in their youth in order to get acquainted with strangers.
German Shepherd Husky mix temperament
These differences mean that while a Husky German Shepherd’s physical appearance is relatively predictable, his temperament can be much more variable.
Since their adult temperament in a puppy is difficult to gauge, it is especially important to meet your puppy’s parents before committing.
Keep reminding yourself that your pup could inherit personality traits from a parent, and wonder if you are lucky to have one of the parents at home.
German Shepherd Husky Mix Grooming
German shepherds and sled dogs were both bred to work outdoors in all weather conditions, so they have nice thick double coats to protect them from the elements.
Your mixed Shepherd Husky dog also has a double coat. This needs to be brushed at least twice a week to keep it in top condition. Maybe more often if the German Shepherd had a long coat or during the molting period.
Speaking of molting: Both breeds are notorious for hair loss, i.e. German Shepherd x Husky = a lot of lost hair.
If you are thinking of bringing home a Husky Shepherd mix, you have to be really passionate about vacuuming. And at the same time quite relaxed because dog hair settles everywhere between the vacuum types.
It’s a big question, but brushing regularly with a really good, heavy-duty fur brush will help.
Are German Shepherds and Husky Dogs Healthy?
In general, crossbreed dogs enjoy better overall health than pedigree dogs because their gene pool is constantly expanding.
But what conditions could Husky German Shepherd puppies inherit from their parents?
German shepherd dog
German Shepherds are prone to a range of hereditary and degenerative diseases that are compounded by their breeding history.
When the family tree was created at the beginning of the 20th century, it was common practice to “fix” desirable traits through intensive inbreeding. Far more than responsible breeders would tolerate today.
All German shepherds share a disproportionately small gene pool with a high number of diseases.
German Shepherds, in particular, are prone to:
- Elbow and Hip Dysplasia – improper formation of the joints, which often turns into painful arthritis.
- Chronic degenerative radiculopathy – a degenerative disease of the nerves that control the hind legs.
- Stomach Dilatation Volvulus – Flatulence in the stomach of deeply combed dogs, causing the stomach to twist on itself.
- Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency – Not producing enough enzymes to digest meals.
- Anal furunculosis – painful infections of the anus.
- Panosteitis – an inflammatory bone disease.
- Thyroid function impaired.
- Eye diseases, allergies, and epilepsy.
German Shepherds are also prone to posture and back problems that result in them walking on their hocks.
It’s quite a list, but keep in mind that we can now check for many conditions in parent dogs before they mate. A good breeder will be happy to show you a record of this.
Now let’s look at the effect of mixing some Husky genes.
This article will tell you all about German Shepherd Dog health.
Husky health
Compared to German Shepherds, huskies have low rates of joint dysplasia in a breed of their size.
However, they are prone to some degenerative eye diseases, including cataracts, and as a breed, appear to be more prone to some skin conditions.
Read more about husky health here.
Are German Shepherd Crossbreed Husky Dogs Healthier?
Mixing a German Shepherd with a Husky is an opportunity to give the offspring a healthier mix of genes.
And maybe protect them from some of the problems that are with German Shepherds.
But it’s not a guarantee.
In the meantime, make sure your puppy’s parents have been fully health screened before mating.
Specifically, ask to view hip scores for both parents and get evidence of eye tests. These are common problem areas for both breeds.
Do Husky and German Shepherd Dogs need a lot of training and exercise?
The simple answer here is: YES!
Siberian sled dogs and German shepherds are both incredibly intelligent breeds with strong work instincts.
Bored or messed up Shepskies are more likely to show undesirable behavior. Chewing, digging, and trying to escape can all be a problem.
The stimulation your German Shepherd x Husky needs will depend on their temperament. And what motivates them.
Sled dog versus German shepherd temperament
If they’re huskier than a German Shepherd, your puppy will want to walk for hours every day. And may show less interest in educational games.
But if their personality is more like a German Shepherd, they can enjoy advanced obedience courses. Or scent work activities.
Both of this help give them a satisfying purpose.
Regardless of the breed, they’re most likely to need, they’ll need a lot of socialization from a young age.
We’re talking at least two hours of exercise as an adult. Along with ongoing training sessions throughout the dog’s life.
How would a Husky German Shepherd fit into my family?
The high demands on training and exercise of Husky Shepherd Mix dogs make them an ambitious breed.
If you are new to dog keeping, they could prove to be an overwhelming place to start.
It could also be difficult to adapt the time required to the needs of a young family.
But “not now” doesn’t have to mean “never”!
Sometimes it pays to wait a while
Their friendly disposition and unwavering loyalty make the German Shepherd Husky mix dog likely a happy association with older children and teenagers.
Older children can also get involved in training and exercising.
If you and your family love spending lots of time outdoors and are looking for a companion who can keep up, then the sportiness of the Husky Shepherd mix dogs will fit your lifestyle.
How to Find German Shepherd Husky Puppies
Husky German Shepherd mix puppies are not difficult to find.
The widespread popularity of both breeds means their pups are often advertised nationwide.
German Shepherd Husky Mix breeder
There are ads for puppies on special online breeder forums.
Mixed German Shepherd Husky puppies also appear frequently on Craigslist and other outlets.
But beware.
Some of these will be real sellers of loving homes. Others will care less about animal welfare than about making money.
Our guide to finding your perfect puppy will help you out.
It shows you how to recognize responsible breeders. And how to avoid seedy traders and puppy mills.
Should I get a Husky German Shepherd Mix Dog?
There is a lot of interest in hybrid dog breeds right now, but the German Shepherd Cross Husky is probably not one of the first that comes to mind.
It’s easy to win.
Siberian Huskies and German Shepherds are two of our most popular and easy-to-love dog breeds.
Your pups can become intelligent, devoted companions who love to be part of adventure and exploration.
Because it’s so important to keep them exercising continuously and getting plenty of exercises, the Shepherd Husky mixed breeds aren’t a smart choice for every home.
For the first time ever, dog owners or people who are away from home all day may not be the best choice for this mix.
Can you commit to raising a Husky German Shepherd?
To take up time and effort? If so, your reward will be a truly exceptional friend.
Do you have a German Shepherd Husky at home?
Have you been looking for a puppy with parents of German Shepherd and Husky or did your dog find you?
What characteristics of each breed did they inherit?
Please tell us all about your Shepherd Husky mix in the comments at the bottom of the page!