9 Things to Know Before Getting a German Shepherd Husky Mix

Does the German Shepherd Husky Mix or Shepsky have the potential to be your next dog?

The thought behind crossing these breeds may spring from good intentions, but I’ll dive deeper into the pros and cons of such a mix.

As the name suggests, the German Shepherd originates from Germany and is a breed that is deeply interwoven with German culture.

Its popularity has spread worldwide which is not a surprise considering their desirable traits and talents.

The Siberian Husky is a favorite all around the world, whether as a sled dog or as a fluffy companion.

Their thick double coat developed over the course of hundreds of years while facing the sub-zero temperatures in Siberia.

There definitely are a couple of things you have to think about before bringing a German Shepherd Husky mix puppy into your home.

The differences between these breeds range from temperament to how they behave with your family as well as trainability.

Furthermore, there’s absolutely no advantage to getting a crossbreed from a breeder.

Combining two breeds is genetic gambling and in my opinion, you’re better off buying either one of these breeds from a breeder who does health testing.

This post is for those wanting to inform themselves about the poor souls that are currently sitting in shelters because somebody thought it’d be awesome to have one of these designer dogs.

We’ll look into the following points:

1. Trainability
2. Exercise/Strengths
3. Temperament
4. Leadership
5. Grooming/Coat
6. How big German Shepherd Husky puppies get
7. Apartment living
8. Cost of German Shepherd Husky pup
9. Diet

After reading this article, you’ll know exactly what the differences and similarities between these two breeds are.

I always like to drop a couple of thoughts before diving in to make sure you know what you’re getting into with mixed-breed puppies.

While getting a mixed breed is totally okay if you’re adopting rescues, it’s always hard to predict how any individual dog will turn out since they can definitely lean more into the direction of one or another breed.

Imagine a 50/50 split of desirable/undesirable behavioral traits from both breeds.

How could your dog turn out?

• Obedience and loyalty from the German Shepherd, independent thinking from the Husky
• Tendency to police and bark at other dogs as well as the jumpiness of a Husky in city life
• All the best traits from one breed and the bad from the other

Just keep in mind that your pup’s character cannot be predicted with mixed breeds.

A German Shepherd Husky mix is expected to live between 10-14 years, weigh around 40-80 pounds, and grow around 20-25 inches tall. The Shepsky is usually a high-energy mix.

Lifespan	10-14 years
Weight	40-80 pounds (18-36 kg)
Height	20-25 inches (50-63 cm)
Activity Level	High

1. How To Train a German Shepherd Husky Mix

The German Shepherd is known to be very eager to please.

Why do you think the police force and military are using the German Shepherd so much?

Sure, a Doberman can do the job just fine and there are definitely dog breeds that have stronger olfactory senses or stronger bites but they may not be willing to obey every command in every situation.

They are too intelligent to outright obey everything which can sometimes be perceived as stubborn.

Does that mean the German Shepherd is not smart?

Absolutely not. In fact, the German Shepherd is often cited as one of the smartest dog breeds, right after their cousin the Belgian Shepherd, also known as Malinois.

It’s just that they’re just so eager to please that they don’t question commands. Their will to please outranks.

How trainable is the German Shepherd Husky mix? Well, the Husky is known to be quite independent by design.

It’s their job to make decisions in hazardous winter conditions and they’re pretty intelligent too.

So even though pairing these two very smart dog breeds makes sense at first glance, a Shepherd Husky mix might not be as easy to train as imagined.

That being said, pairing a German Shepherd with a more agreeable Husky can certainly help.

Genetics and temperament of the parents always play a pretty big role.

2. How To Exercise Your German Shepherd Husky Mix

The original purposes of the German Shepherd vastly differ from that of the Siberian Husky.

German Shepherds are true all-purpose workaholics most commonly found in the following sports:

• Tracking
• Schutzhund
• Police/military force

A lot of people get German Shepherd Husky mixes to retain that protective instinct that the German Shepherd has.

This is not always the case and even a purebred may struggle with protection without proper direction and training.

That doesn’t mean you should start protection training with your mixed breed or even purebred on your own.

Always consult a professional to avoid teaching your dog negative behavior patterns (barking at strangers on walks, lunging at dogs, and so on).

Let’s take a look at the Husky.

Huskies are incredibly enduring. How could they not, they were bred to run hundreds of miles in very cold climates.

But their original working purpose was quite specific and they may need to have an outlet for this desire to run.

A Husky German Shepherd mix may not be into snuffle mats or toys as much as you’d like him to but needs mental stimulation nonetheless.

Training your dog early on will prevent behavioral issues in the future and gets your dog used to brain training.

Since both breeds are relatively high energy, you need to walk your Shepsky at least twice a day for a minimum of 30-60 minutes each.

3. German Shepherd Husky Mix Temperament

Is the German Shepherd Husky good for families?

The German Shepherd is known to be a formidable family dog while the Husky can be quite reserved.

Huskies are used to living and working in a pack and can be very sociable animals while Shepherds develop a deep bond with their owners.

Although pairing these two breeds can produce great family dogs, there are other large dog breeds that are even suitable for apartment living out there that are very patient with children and also perfect for guarding property.

4. What Can I Expect From a German Shepherd Husky Mix?

Expect to have a very smart dog that will challenge you throughout the day.

He will probably grow into a medium to large-sized dog with a weight of about 40 to 80 pounds.

Both dogs are working breeds so you can expect a Shepsky to have high exercise needs.

A task or daily job would keep them the happiest.

5. Grooming

Both dog breeds can have relatively similar coat types.

Huskies have a thick double coat, meaning an undercoat plus guard hair.

While the undercoat is soft and dense, the guard hairs are straight and somewhat smooth.

Due to this double coat, they’re better off in cold climates while the German Shepherd comes in a long-haired and short-haired version.

Depending on the specific pairing, the coat can be a toin coss.

Be ready for shedding seasons with both of these dogs.

6. How Big Does a German Shepherd Husky Mix Get?

You can expect your male German Shepherd Husky mix to be 22-25 in (56-63 cm) with a weight of 50-80 lbs (23-36 kg).

Female German Shepherd Husky mixes range from 20-24 in (50-60 cm), weighing in at 40-70 lbs (18-31 kg).

The breed standard for the German Shepherd mentions the following:

Male – Height: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm) | Weight: 66-88 lbs (30-40 kg)

Female – Height: 22-24 in (55-60 cm) | Weight: 49-71 lbs (22-32kg)

And here are the regular sizes and weights for Huskies:

Male – Height: 21–23 1/2 in (53-60 cm) | Weight: 45-60 lbs (20-27 kg)

Female – Height: 20–22 in (50-56 cm) | Weight: 35-50 lbs (16-23 kg)

The difference between these two dog breeds is not huge.

7. Apartment Living

Can you live in an apartment with a high-energy dog like the German Shepherd Husky mix? It depends.

Although many people argue that large dog breeds need a big yard and house, that’s just not true.

If you provide your dog with an outlet for his exercise needs (which means lots of walks, play, and training) then there should be absolutely no problem.

However, their tendency for high-pitched barks or howling may cause problems with your neighbors.

Proper training will help and entails teaching your dog the quiet command.

An apartment is not meant to be a playground for your dog, it’s a place to unwind from outside activities.

If your environment doesn’t allow for sufficient exercise, a large property would be advisable.

8. How Much Do German Shepherd Husky Puppies Cost?

Mixed-breed dogs tend to be sold for less than purebred dogs, the price for a German Shepherd Husky mix is $500-$1,000 from a breeder and $100-$300 from shelters.

Would I advise you to buy a mixed breed from a breeder? Definitely not.

There are far too many mixed breeds sitting in shelters and waiting to be chosen.

If you do decide to go with a breeder nonetheless, make sure you’re in for a behavioral surprise and only buy from breeders that test their dogs for health.

As long as there are no health issues present in their ancestry, you could argue that mixed breeds might be healthier than purebreds from backyard breeders.

Beware of backyard breeders mixing in a third breed without stating so.

Also, I’d stay away from breeders that charge a premium for the popular two-colored eyes or whatever fancy feature is popular.

Make sure to check out my breeder questions before you fall victim to scammers or backyard breeders.

9. Perfect Diet For Your Husky German Shepherd Mix

Both dog breeds are relatively healthy if you buy from the right lines, but German Shepherd Husky mixes are known to suffer from hip issues.

Personally, I’d avoid the German Shepherds with the curved back and only go for straight-back German Shepherds.

Sloped-back German Shepherd Husky mixes might come with hip issues and it’s an unnecessary risk to take.

As far as diet goes, I’m a fan of the raw diet but any high-quality kibble or wet food with all the nutrients can work just fine. Make sure to talk to a veterinarian or nutritionist first.

Do you have a German Shepherd Husky mix? Share with us your experiences in the comments below!

Disclaimer: I’m opposed to deliberate cross-breeding. The resulting dog is a genetic gamble in terms of health and temperament and offers no advantage to a health-tested dog or rescuing.

Check out my article discussing the most relevant scientific study on this topic.

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.