German Shepherd Husky Mix: Temperament, Characteristics, Fun Facts and More

A German Shepherd and Husky mix is a cross-breed dog between a German Shepherd and the Siberian Husky. This breed will have characteristics from both the German Shepherd and the Siberian Husky breed.

The German Shepherd and Husky mix is often called the Shepsky, Gerberian, Gerberian Shepsky, Husky Shepherd, Siberian Shepherd, and the German Shepherd Husky.

The Shepsky is a mixed breed dog that is medium in size and has purebred parents of a German Shepherd dog and Siberian Husky dog. This dog is known to be kind but very protective of its family and owners.

The German Shepherd and the Siberian Husky are considered one of the most popular dog breeds in America. Since breeders have been creating hybrid dogs for years, it must be noted that the Shepsky has been around for centuries and they were put together in order to make the brand-new hybrid dog, the Gerberian Shepsky.

Quick Breed Summary Table

READ MORE:

• Top 31 Most Adorable German Shepherd Mix Breeds
• Top 30 Husky Mixes – Everything You Need to Know About these Loyal Dogs

Is the Gerberian Shepsky a Guard Dog?

Since the Gerberian Shepsky is bred from a German Shepherd and a Siberian Husky, it is thought that this breed could make an excellent guard dog. Not only do they have the strength and obedience in order to fill a role of a protector, they also are easy to train.

These dogs can bark, are dominate, and are generally successful in their training. Because of these personalities, some of these dogs are known to be trained in the military, scouting and police work.

Popularity

This is a very popular mixed breed dog and is often noticed because of its wolf-like behavior as a puppy. The Shepsky will growl, chew on things and howl from a young puppy and will later grow into a calmer dog in its adulthood.

Your Shepsky will be a mixture of the German Shepherd and the Siberian mix and so you will not know what characteristics will be passed down in their genetics and there is no guarantee as to which characteristics will be dominate.

What is the Average Lifespan of a German Shepherd Husky Mix

The lifespan of the German Shepherd/Husky mix is between 10 and 15 years of age but some of these mixed breeds have been known to live for over 18 years of age.

Temperament and Facts

One thing that you can be sure of is that your Shepsky will be fast, strong and the perfect companion for you. Your dog will need to have a lot of exercise and will not hate to be left alone for long periods of time. Your German Shepherd mix is an active dog and loves to play games, train, be in nature and loves to have attention.

Most people that own a Shepsky will describe them as loving and playful. They have high energy and they will go out of their way to test their boundaries. They are a pushy breed and need to have a strong leader to show them the rules and to keep their life consistent.

One of the best ways that you can show your dominance is to make your dog wait before they get their food. They will see you as the one that keeps all of their valuables such as their toys, food, and treats.

The Shepsky can become bored very quickly and needs to have a lot of attention. Since they are so smart, they like to have their brain stimulated. This breed also loves to socialize from a young age, so it is important to take them out and let them experience as many different sights, sounds, people, and experiences from a young age and on.

Average Height of the Shepsky

The average height of the Shepsky is between 20 to 28 inches tall.

Average Weight of the Shepsky

The average weight of Shepsky is between 40 and 90 pounds.

How Much is a German Shepherd Husky Mix

Shepsky’s coats can be a mix of colors depending on the coloring of its parents. The colors of the Shepsky are often:

• Brown
• Black
• Cream
• Red
• Blue
• White

The Shepsky is hardly ever one color and usually has a mixture of colors.

The coat of the Shepsky is long and a double coat and should be bathed as needed but not too much to take away the natural oils from the coat. Since the coat is long and the Shepsky is prone to shedding, the coat should be brushed at least once a day. A daily brushing helps to spread the oil throughout the coat to keep the fur healthy.

Grooming and Brushing

Your Shepsky will have a double coat that will be very thick. This coat will need to be brushed on a daily basis in order to keep the shedding at a minimal.

Other grooming techniques that will help to keep your dog healthy includes brushing the fur, teeth and checking the ears for dirt, pests, or moles. Keeping the hair cut around the genital area and from between the toes.

It is important that you keep your Shepsky’s nails trimmed, at least once or twice a month and make sure that you give them a bath every couple of weeks to keep down the dander and the dirt.

Does the Shepsky Shed?

The German Shepherd/Husky mix has long and thick fur and so it is known to shed. This breed needs to be brushed daily in order to keep down the shedding and maybe even twice a day during shedding season.

This is not a good breed for someone that has high allergies because of the amount of shedding that it does.

How to Take Care of a German Shepherd Husky Mix

It is important that you get your Shepsky acquainted with your veterinarian immediately and that your puppy will get annual visits. Your dog will need vaccines and preventative treatment for things such as heartworm, parasites and protection from ticks and fleas.

If you find that your dog is sickly, take it immediately to the vet for treatment.

This breed can have some predisposed conditions that the German Shepherd and the Siberian Husky have including illnesses such as:

• Epilepsy
• Patellar Luxation
• Retinal Atrophy
• Hip Dysplasia.
• Cancer
• Blood Disorders
• Von Willebrand’s Disease
• Bloat
• EPI
• DM
• Digestive Issues
• Eczema
• Dwarfism
• Allergies
• Keratitis
• Flea Allergies
• Spleen Tumors
• Corneal Dystrophy
• Crystalline Corneal Opacities

It is important to have regular vet checkups to keep your dog healthy.

Touchiness

The Shepsky is a dog that is fairly sensitive to touch.

Is the Shepsky Tolerant to the Weather?

Since the German Shepherd and Siberian Husky mix has Husky in its blood, it has a coat that can help to protect it from the cold weather. The Siberian Husky was from Russia which is one of the coldest areas in the world.

Since the Shepsky has a double coat, it can tolerate the hot weather, but it should not be left out in the hot weather for too long. When going outside, make sure that you take plenty of water for your dog to drink.

Barking

The Shepsky is full of energy and likes to express itself by barking. This dog will bark at strangers, pets outside and other things. It is moderate to high in its barking and is another reason this is not a good apartment pet.

Is the Shepsky Good for Family?

The Shepsky loves its family and is very protective of it. It will love a family that loves to be outdoors and one that will love and care for it.

Spending time with your Shepsky will help to create a bond that is out of this world.

Is the Shepsky Good with Children and Pets?

The Shepsky breed is known to be a good dog to have around children and other pets. One thing to note is that you should expose your breed to pets and children at a very young age to get it used to socialize with other creatures.

The Shepsky has been considered one of the best pets for children because they come instant companions. They are considered kind, loving, loyal and gentle and are very protective of their family, especially children.

It is important to teach your children how to touch your dog and how to interact with them so that they know not to pull its hair, ears or tail or to touch or take away the dog’s food or treats. Always supervise your children.

Trying to socialize an adult or older puppy with other animals might not work out too well. It is very important that if you are going to introduce your Shepsky to other pets that you socialize them early.

Is the Shepsky a Good Pet for New Owners or an Apartment Dog?

The Shepsky is a high energy dog and is both fast and strong. Since this dog is so energetic, it will want to run and play all day long. Since the dog is so energetic, it will need a place to live that it can run, play, and release some of the energy and so living in a small apartment may not be a good idea for this breed. Not only is the dog energetic, but it is a pretty decent sized dog.

Since this dog is a high energy dog, it requires a lot of care and time. Even though a new pet owner may have the love and patience for this kind of breed, it is suggested that this dog be housed with a pet owner that is active and outdoorsy and one that has dealt with dogs in the past.

Is the Shepsky Easy to Train?

Since the Shepsky has traits from both the German Shepherd and the Siberian Husky, it is a dog that is easy to train. This breed is smart, independent, willing to learn, cleaver and motivated.

The downfall about training this puppy is that it is independent and becomes distracted easily and so it is important to make sure that you keep the sessions short and fun. Do not punish your dog because they are very sensitive to changes in body language and can become fearful or aggressive when not handled correctly. This breed response best to reward-based training.

What Kind of Exercise is Needed for the Shepsky?

The Shepsky has a lot of energy and loves to run. It is important that this dog gets at least an hour of exercise a couple times a day. You can take the Shepsky for a walk, take them camping, running, build obstacle courses, go sledding and more. Your dog will love to be outside with you and loves to play games such as fetch.

Is the Shepsky Susceptible to Weight Gain?

It is important to exercise your Shepsky and to not overfeed them because they are known to gain weight quickly. Since this breed is susceptible to things such as hip and joint problems, you need to make sure that you keep your dog active and feed it the right amount of food, making sure not to overfeed it or feed it foods that are not healthy.

What Kind of Foods Should You Feed Your Shepsky?

Being a dog owner may mean that you want to purchase dry kibble. This food will suffice the Shepsky mix but you need to make sure to purchase food that is for large, active dogs. You can even choose to find raw or low processed kibble to help keep the calories down.

Supplementing with canned food is always an option or you can feed your dog human foods. By supplementing with canned food, your dog can get all of the fiber and nutrients that it needs to live a healthy and full life.

Some foods that can be fed to your Shepsky to keep it strong and healthy include:

• Fatty wild-caught fish.
• Pork.
• Ground bison.
• Chicken.
• Apples.
• Pumpkin.
• Bananas.
• Kale.
• Sweet Potatoes.

Shepsky’s can also benefit from foods such as Greek yogurt, cottage cheese and eggs but only in small amounts. Feed your breed a lot of fat and raw animal protein along with their kibble.

How much is a German Shepherd Husky Mix Puppy

Puppies can cost between $300 and $900 dollars to purchase. You will also have to have a crate, a leash, collar, food, and a veterinarian checkup. This can run you between $400 and $600 dollars more.

History of the Shepsky Breed

The Shepsky breed has been around for centuries and it was in the 1990’s that many breeders decided to make a hybrid mix between the German Shepherd and the Siberian Husky. The point of this breed was to make a working dog that would have all of the wonderful traits of both the German Shepherd and the Siberian Husky.

Even though the Shepsky is considered a mixed breed, it is still recognized as an important breed by the Dog Registry of America Inc. and the American Canine Hybrid Club. This mix is going to have traits from both breeds, and he will get different characteristics from both of the parents in looks and in personality.

How to Train a German Shepherd Husky Mix

If you want to train your German Shepherd/Siberian Husky mix, here are some tips to use:

• Focus on reward-based training.
• Do not yell when your dog does undesired actions.
• Be consistent.
• Be firm and confident in your training.
• Know your dog as an individual.
• Know what kind of treats and rewards motivate your dog (food, toys, playing with other dogs) and use these to get your dog’s attention.
• Keep the training simple.
• Give your dog a break between training.
• Let your dog go outside and run off steam in between training or afterward.
• When you get frustrated with your dog, stop the session, and try again another time.
• Do not use fear-based techniques.

You can use simple things to help train your dog such as a collar, leash, and rewards. You can also use your own rewards such as petting, praising, and doing something fun with your pet.

Here are some training techniques you might want to teach your dog:

• Socialization-one of the most important training that your puppy can learn. Pick a time while they are as young as 8 weeks old to begin this training. This will be a time when you need to visit neighbors, put them in an obedience class, or take them to greet other animals. Drop-in at your groomers or your vet so that they can be spoiled. This will help them to get used to different people, sounds, and experiences.
• Basic Manners-Teach your puppy to be respectful and to follow basic commands. Teach your dog to “sit,” “stop,” and “come.” It is important at this stage to keep your dog busy and reward them with fun things when they do things that you ask them to do. Be firm if they do unwanted actions such as chewing on things, using the bathroom in the house, or ignoring your commands.
• Biting-One habit many puppies have is to bite and mouth things. Their puppy teeth are very sharp and when your dog begins to use their teeth such as biting on you, say, “OUCH!” in a sharp tone and redirect them to their toys.
• Recall-Another important training is recall training. This is a way that you can motivate your dog to learn new things. Allow your dog to be rewarded when you call them and they come, you say their name and they pay attention and when they follow your basic commands. Take your dog out and teach them new skills and teach them to respect and understand you.

Where Can You Find a Shepsky Dog?

Most rescues will not have a Shepsky dog and it can be hard to find one of these animals because they are a mixed breed. You can try to look at rescues that specify in Husky or German Shepherd breeds in order to find this mixed breed.

You can also look online at adoption pages or in the newspaper if searching specifically for a Shepsky pup.

Pros of Owning a Shepsky Puppy

Owning a Shepsky can be very rewarding. Here are the pros of owning this breed of dog:

• Very loyal.
• Good for families.
• Great with children.
• Great with other animals.
• Good hunting dogs.
• Love outdoors.
• Very smart.
• Easy to train.
• Hard working.
• Strong.
• Gentle.
• Intelligent
• Fast to bond.
• Strong.
• Fast.
• Quick to bond.
• Tolerant of extreme conditions.

Cons of Owning a Shepsky Puppy

All breeds have some cons and here are some cons of owning a Shepsky puppy:

• Stubborn.
• Shed a lot.
• Requires a lot of attention.
• Requires a lot of exercise.
• Requires a lot of grooming.
• Large dogs.
• Not good in small apartments.

Final Thoughts

Selecting a dog from hundreds of breeds is a hard job and it is important that you find the dog that is a perfect fit for your family. If you are looking for a dog that is smart, loyal, devoted, disciplined, full of energy, easy to train and fun then the Shepsky could be the perfect dog for you!

Remember, since the Shepsky is a mix between the German Shepherd and the Siberian Husky, you will be getting an all-in-one dog that has the traits and personalities from both of these breeds. Find the perfect dog for you and your family and enjoy a lifetime of companionship and joy!