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:
- Trainability
- Exercise/Strengths
- Temperament
- Leadership
- Grooming/Coat
- How big German Shepherd Husky puppies get
- Apartment living
- Cost of German Shepherd Husky pup
- 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.
I have a German shepherd husky mix. She is a perfect, healthy dog. The only problem is that she is ALWAYS messing and chewing on my pit bull. She also is having problems with my shih tzu. I just wanted to tell everyone this.
Hey Wendy, chewing and “messing” does sound like a real problem, especially if your other dog isn’t having it. When people get 3 dogs, it’s extremely important that they live in harmony and at least accept each other, hope you’ll figure that one out. Let me know if you have any particular questions.
Cheers,
Danielle
I have the most beautiful German Shepherd Husky and I love him bunches. He is very good dog but he’s not perfect, his only problem is that he shed a lot all the time!! Even if I brush him every day. Does anybody have a suggestion to help with his hair problem? Is there any injection that could help to decrease the shedding? I will appreciate your comments.
Hello, glad you’re happy with your dog! If you really mean a medical injection then no, there’s nothing like that. The only thing you can do to decrease shedding is regular grooming or changing your dog’s diet.
Regarding the dietary change: My Rottweiler nearly doesn’t shed anymore since she’s on her raw diet (only moderate shedding 2x/year during shedding season). Also, her coat’s way shinier. That’s not only good for me but a healthy coat is also the sign of a healthy dog (just one of the various factors of a healthy dog, of course). However, it’s a bit tricky to get into how to prepare that stuff, what to feed when, etc – you can check out my guide for that.
If those two things don’t help or if you’re unsure, your vet should rule out any medical issues (there are plenty of health issues that can cause excessive hair loss).
I’m currently researching the German Shepherd Husk mix. I had a German Shepherd. Loved him. I used the vacuum cleaner on him. He loved it. Wouldn’t let you vacuum the floor. The car. Or anything else. Before you vacuumed him.
Wow I also have a German Shepard/ husky 9 month old male and same here sheds a lot on a daily basis… Hair is everywhere lol I have begun to brush his hair multiple times daily and a few drops of fish oil added into his food and it seems to help more than it was
We love our GS Husky mix and he is a year old. We rescued him when he was 7months old and got him a trainer but just recently he has become aggressive jumping and biting. Not sure what to do.
Hey Nikki,
I have a couple of articles that could help. Here’s one about aggressive dogs, jumping, (puppy) biting. Checking the comments might also help.
The question is: what is your trainer doing? He should know what to do, especially if you have a certified behaviorist that specializes in “aggression”.
It’s hard to give accurate advice because the information is very limited. It’s important to know what exactly he’s doing when you say he’s aggressive? The circumstances of the situation are also very important. More often than not, it’s just a simple communication issue where clear and consistent training will help a great deal and it’s not outright aggression. Is he growling when you pet him, guarding his toys/bed/food, etc. etc.?
We rescued a 9 month old German Shepherd husky mix, who is now two. She is the perfect running parter and a great dog overall, however she can be a stinker! She is definitely a very independent thinker, a little too smart for her own good, mixed with a little naughtiness. Love her to pieces! 💕
Hi Ashley, that’s amazing! The fact that she’s a stinker or a diva or whatnot is definitely proof of the mix :-).
Stay healthy and have fun with your smart furry companion!
Danielle
I have a Gerberian Shepsky female that I rescued 4 yrs ago and she’s beautiful, smart, demanding and a great family dog! She talks a lot, is a total Diva, sheds a lot and loves attention. She’s a Houdini so she’s a house dog that takes walks and loves car rides. I highly recommend this mixed breed.
Hey Leslie, that’s awesome to hear and kudos to you for giving a rescue a great home. Who doesn’t love to be challenged from time to time :).
Cheers,
Danielle
Hello everyone,
I rescued a shepherd(either Belgian Mal or German shep) Husky mix at 8 weeks old. He is 7 mo old today. I have two others dogs. A 6 yr old boxer and 4 yr old border collie mix. He fits in to our family really well.
I did pay good money to send him to training. This is where the Husky in him is showing up big time! Lol
My other two pups came out of training at 5 & 6 mo listening perfectly.
Tanner, not so much. You can tell he “knows” the commands but just doesn’t want to listen.
It is going to take ME a lot more time to train him.
I feel like I should have just used the $$ I spent on the trainer to pay myself to take the time with him!
Hi everyone. I have a Shepsky (80% Husky, 20% Shepherd) that I rescued 2 years ago. He is a great dog and I love him to death. He is a real clown with his antics and poses. He is extremely smart (sometimes I think he is smarter than me!) But with his smartness comes a very stubborn side. If he doesn’t want to do something he is not doing it! He knows his commands but only does them when it is convenient for him. If he is interested in something else I might as well be invisible. My question is what type of chores or jobs should I give him to remain happy? I work 8 hours a day but take him for at least a 1.5 hour walk or to the dog park. Days off we do 3 hour walks. However during walks all he wants to do is sniff everything and mark every tree, plant, or blade of grass. He never seems to run out of energy. He is fine with me going to work but somehow knows when I am just going out and it is impossible to get out without him. He will not go for toys or food and instinctively knows when I am trying to trick him. Any suggestions?
Hi Greg,
dogs only do stuff that yields something positive for them. It can be knowing that their human friends likes that action (praise) and/or it can be toys, treats – although not all dogs respond well to the latter. That being said, it’s important that you try various textures and kinds of toys as well as different treats (soft/hard, high-value meat sources, etc.) to make sure it’s not just that you’re trying to find him the kind he doesn’t like as much.
During 8 hours, it’s best if you can arrange for a dog walker to take him out for potty and play a bit, apart from that, it’s totally normal that he seeks more exercise, it’s a real athletic and smart breed mix.
The 1.5-3 hour walking part is a good start, but beware that playtime and mental exercise are at least equally as important. Puzzle games, snuffle mats, tracking, obedience – all these things help.
Cheers,
Danielle
“The resulting dog is a genetic gamble in terms of health and temperament and offers no advantage to a health-tested, properly selected purebred puppy.”
That’s not true. If the dog you want is not like either breed, you have no choise but take a risk and wish for the best result. Good example is alaskan husky, worlds best sled dog. It was made by mixing fast runners such as pointers and arctic dog breeds.
Also husky mix is almost always healthier than a purebred german shepherd.
But who actually needs a world class dog in one specific discipline? Even for working dogs, there are plenty of choices and as you mentioned, mixing is essentially just hoping for the best. What if it doesn’t work out the way you thought it would?
While your last statement might be true, that’s only because you compare poor purebred breeding with mixes. GSDs are known for having a small gene pool, the hip/sloped back issues and so on. If you breed a superbly healthy GSD to another healthy GSD – that’s the comparison we need to make.
I reacued my Shepsky, Dominic, two years ago now and he’s the best gentle giant in the world!! We currently live in an apartment but he gets 2/3+ regular walks everyday with his sister. I also got a kitten a few months ago and told Dom this was his baby and he’s taken the job very seriously ever since!
Dom loves kids and all people, he’s never met someone he didn’t love! He’s never started a fight but he’s finished two due to other dogs trying to be aggressive with him.
We’ve had issues with him being an escape artist but it has just taken us being creative and keeping him leashed at all times out of the house.
He’s as sweet as he is smart and we were honestly SO lucky to be able to bring him home!
Hey Emilie,
sounds awesome! Yeah, having to keep a Husky/Shepherd mix on a leash isn’t unusual at all. Hope you’re doing well with your new cat!
Cheers,
Danielle
I have a German Shepherd Husky Mix and he is 10 weeks old. He is a beautiful and smart dog. But the thing I have with him is that he like to bite everyone in the home to a point where it get to hurting.. I don’t like that he does that cause I get nervous he will grow and think this is fine.
Also when he get in trouble for it and we tell him no biting with force he barks at us and this make me feel that our puppy doesn’t like us sometimes cause he don’t listen. Now I’m trying to think this the puppy in him but then again I don’t.
Now maybe putting him in training classes might help more I’m not sure. I just don’t know what to do🤷🏽♀️ Plus I don’t wanna get rid of him cause we love him he just a bit hard headed.
Hi Shante,
you should read this puppy biting article. Puppy biting is totally normal and it’s key that you stay calm and condition another response (either by a sharp “no” and then calmly leaving the situation or by redirecting to toys).
You really don’t need a training class, at least not for puppy biting since you have to do 95% of the work at home anyway. Training classes are more for obedience but that being said, 10-wee-old pups can’t focus much. I only went to play classes with my Rottweiler 2x/week and did every training at home and it went perfectly. Socialization and play are very important though.
Cheers,
Danielle
Mines a rescue she was kept in a cage almost 24/7 so no early training, but coming along . This has really helped as I can see it all in her especially the stubborn side. She chews herself a lot although getting less. And she’s mesmerised by the window and watches everything going on knows every car and barks at the weirdest stuff. When I got her her hackles kept going up. Thought oh dear but they went up at everything. The rain snow leaves the wind. Your piece has helped. Thank you
I have a German Shepard husky mix from a local shelter. She’s one of the best dogs I’ve ever met. When we got her she was only 48 pounds and now after a year and a half she’s 73 pounds. She loves telling other dogs what to do and loves being heard!
We have a Shepsky we adopted through a local rescue 10 months ago. He’s a sweetheart. Very smart, motivated to be a good boy. He picks things up so quickly…when he wants to (lol)! Definitely has the stubborn/independent streak from his Husky side. We are slowly working through leash reactivity. I don’t think he learned how to walk on leash in a previous life, and he gets way too excited to meet other dogs. (Friendly, but comes on too strong with other dogs.) So much progress since we got him though. I’m looking forward to trying skijor training with him. I think he’ll enjoy the work.
He’s a fantastic dog. Patient with our kitty, loves meeting everyone. A bit of an escape artist. We love hiking and being outside, and he’s a great adventure buddy.
I have a shepsky pup and she is great! It is a 24/7 job and it is like having another person to take care of. Or a full time job. Very emotional needs constant supervision!! Very smart and loves to train. She literally plays Tetherball with me.
We just adopted a GSD/Husky mix from animal services yesterday. She is around 10 months or so. We got her to be an emotional support dog for my 17 year old. She has obviously had some training. We went straight to petsmart to get everything she would need
All of our prior dogs we or I have had were large breed a couple of GSD crosses. Never had a Husky mix before so any help would be appreciated.
I love all these tips about the German shepherd husky mix! Thinking about getting a puppy very soon!
I had a germ x husky crossbreed for 13 years. never trained him… never need to. not a single command. he would never let anyone in he yard unless i came out to reasyre him its ok to let them in. playfull and cudly with humans on walks etc. extremely protecive of me when needed. and that dog could see through the core of my soul, adjusted his every mood to mine. never had health issiues (except a few months before he passed). he wasnt very social with other males as all males, but every dg i introduced to him gradually he was ok with – i owned other dogs two. only thing that got to my nerves was than when he slipped away he woyld take his time to come back – thats a husky trait, understantable since i never trained him to do anything. HE WAS PERFECT, BEST DOG I EVER HAD AND BELIEVE I EVER WILL.
Good article. Recently had to lay my 11yr old Shepherd to rest. Currently still have an 11yr old Golden/Husky mix that needs a new companion. We are in the process of recuing a 2month old Shepherd/Husky, and I was just trying to do some research. Thirty years ago we had a rescued Shepherd/Husky mix That was hit by a car and we had to lay to rest. He was a great dog that listened well, but was a little “hard headed” at times. Any how I will try to keep you informed how our new addition works out. With a little patience I think he will be great. Thanks for the tips.
Hi Herman, so sorry for your loss. I hope it all works out for you and your current dog. Getting a pup with a senior will certainly be interesting, hope they’ll have lots of fun together!
Cheers,
Danielle
My almost one year Shepsky got hit by a car a few months ago and has since become aggressive in some ways. Like with his food or toys. Is this normal behavior for just being hit by a car? And if so, how to I get him out of it.
Hi Sylvia, behavior changes can occur after traumatic events such as being hit by a car but it can also point toward medical issues. I’d definitely suggest having your dog checked out by a vet to rule out health issues.
I have a Husky Shepherd mix that I adopted from a shelter when he was a puppy. Best dog ever! He’s calm, absolutely loves kids- more than any other dog I’ve had, and barks if he hears a stranger or delivery driver, etc. and he’s gentle when taking food from our hand. He is a bit clumsy though since he’ll step on your feet and not care, he’ll just stay there, and he’s heavy/muscular so when he steps on you, it’s with a heavy paw. We’re so happy with him that I’m planning on getting another one in the Spring.
Hi Dorene, sounds great. Many larger breeds can be a bit clumsy, I know my Rottweiler certainly is too. Bringing home another pup is always a great feeling, but make sure your dog knows the doggy 101 first (socialized, no separation anxiety, etc. etc.).
Cheers,
Danielle
Hello. I hope I can get a response, as I see this is an old article.
I recently acquired a shepsky in the intent of only being a foster parent. He is 1-2 yrs old. His first home was with small children whom he loved but was too big and too much for them and therefore spent much time in his crate. I felt bad for him and took him in. This was a huge step for me, because I am and have always been a cat person. I’ve never owned a dog!
Ok, long story short, I understood the undesirable behaviors I dealt with and why they were there. Even as a cat person, I tried to give him at least 2 walks a day, but I work long hours and my 2 sons did not help with him. They had no patience with him and were mad at me for taking him in. He is a handful to say the least. But, I love him and wanted him to be as happy and comfortable as possible. I tried different avenues to find him his forever home but people kept flaking out. I became desperate and gave him up to a supposed dog person on house arrest! He assured me he loved dogs, was a dog whisperer..I know what you are thinking. Yes, I am an idiot and this dog has every right to be mad at me. I won’t go into detail, but, he ended up running away from that man and ended up in a shelter 2 hours from me.
I went to get him back yesterday and now he is outside on a run chain in my yard in a quiet neighborhood. I am home, but he is very rambunctious in the house. I want the inside to be as a calm sanctuary, as you mentioned in the apartment living section. My son’s will appreciate him more and hate me less.
Please advise me on the best way I can help him at this point. I am low income but I live in a nice quiet and crime free neighborhood. There is a very small dog park in which I have to pay to be able to take him, but it is my next step.
Behavior I want to squash is as follows:
Jumping up on people
Running back and forth with the zoomies and on the furniture(including the table)in the small space of my living and dining room
Chewing up random even scary items. He often does this when he knows I’m getting ready to go to work. Seems to be an effort to get me to chase after him to retrieve said object
Darting full speed ahead out the door pulling me so hard, I’ve fallen down my steps (because of my outdoor ca)
Pulling me instead of walking with me on our walks. He is only getting stronger, the handsome boy
Thank you!
Hi Deb, so it sounds as if there’s a real lack of structure in this dog’s life. You need to make up your mind about keeping the dog and if you do, commit to him. Everybody needs to be on board, especially if you can’t be around all day. You might try explaining that to your sons but I’m not sure how receptive they are to that idea. Keeping the dog outside is not a solution.
Regarding your issues: Jumping, zoomies inside the house, chewing up random items, pulling all seem to have one core reason: Lack of exercise.
Stimulate your dog mentally (puzzles, scent work, obedience training) and physically (walks, lots of smelling, playtime) and you’ll notice these behaviors will go down considerably. As long as your dog’s exercise needs are not met, he will pace around the house, what other way is there to get rid of the energy?
Here are a couple of articles that might help for jumping, chewing stuff up (similar principle to puppy biting), and leash training. I have lots of articles regarding specific issues, let me know if you need more help but these should be good as starting points.
Cheers,
Danielle
@Danielle, I have one and my son has one. Best dogs ever!!!
I just recently adopted GSH/husky mix couple months ago from his former owner. she told us that he was fully trained but I had an feeling he wasn’t fully trained because he just ran out of the door without his leash when my fiancé have to go to the doctor appointment. I had to grab the leash and we had to go to get him. he think this was fun game but I am afraid that he can get hurt. how can we stop that from happening again. We live in apartment complex
Hi Brittany, so in my opinion, two of the most important commands are a reliable recall & release command (which also helps with issues like dogs bolting through doors or any threshold really). I’ve linked you both articles.
By teaching that, your dog is able to respect thresholds and you avoid chasing after him. It’s also helpful for daily life.
Let me know if you have any other questions,
Danielle
I got a 6wk old Shepherd-Husky mix as an early Christmas present after I told my grandson “NO, I’m too old to train that kind of dog.” I had one that I adopted as an adult from a shelter. He was an amazing, loving dog but needed lots of training to learn my property boarders. Once it was safe to let him run (about 30 min a day) the “in the house crazy” stopped. I lost him 5 years ago to cancer. I’ve also raised an amazing shepherd from a pup when I was younger. I didn’t go into this blind from the training/exercise perspective. But… less than 24 hrs after the pup arrived he started acting insane running in circles and headlong into things, barking, howling, biting, drooling, and tearing things up. It was the zoomies on steroids. I thought he had rabies until he calmed down and fell asleep. Then he had a short seizure that we saw. Vet said contain him after a seizure and don’t touch him because he is disoriented. And, that he is blind and his prognosis is poor. She sent us home with NO medication. The “accidental” breeder said there was one other blind pup in the litter, offered another pup and our $$ back-we said no thankyou. Five mores seizures 2 days later. Took him to a different vet. She kept him for the day for testing. He wasn’t totally blind but was mildly anemic, nothing else was abnormal. She prescribed meds and a diet change. Breeder now said 3 other pups were having seizures. Duke hasn’t had a seizure since his second dose of medication. He is far sighted, super trainable, eager to learn, affectionate, and “puppy calm” as long as he can drag something heavy around the floor and get lots of play time with me and my other other 2 dogs. It’s my job to warn people about his vision before they approach him. Moral of the story… AKC registered parents are no guarantee of a healthy pup but don’t give up on a pup if they aren’t perfectly healthy! Duke is absolutely perfect to me!
Hi Linda, yes you should not give up on any dog after getting them, one can only imagine what unethical breeders do with dogs that are taken back. However, it’s also best to do research beforehand, not only to ensure you get a healthy pup, but also to stop these unethical breeders from profiting.
AKC registration is definitely not a guarantee, it’s just one part and there are other kennel clubs out there too. It’s the health testing, hip/elbow x-rays, vision tests, ultrasounds, other conditions, temperament, etc. not just the papers.
Glad it worked out for you in the end,
Danielle
Before anyone adopts they must make sure they have a safe place for them to run around outside… fenced in or wireless system… dogs need free space… toy and smaller breeds not as much…. You must dedicate time to be home, go for walks, socialize and train… all important including knowing the expenses…
I Love My Husky/Shepherd Mutt and the rest of my recued fur babies!! He was a rescued from NSAL, we adopted him when he was 3 months old on 12/29/2006 – He’s 16 yrs 4 moths old healthy -He may be an odl man – but he’s my happy baby boy to this date 1/19/2023 – He’s a lovable loyal dog!!
He was a great watch dog and protector not so long ago.. – he was Socilaized – as soon as he could be around other dogs and surfaces! My baby was good with kids and when anyone came over – he was alert and he would stand inbetween if someone got to close to the leader of his pack (Me) and other family members as well he felt was threat and waited for command – “it’s okay”…. (Yelling/raided angry voices was not allowed) he enjoyed playing with squeaky toys mostly and he was an excellenct frizbe catcher as well……He had an acre fo wireless fence system to run around…. My dogs were not allowed outside unless someone was home.
He was great when I took in a rescue cat and other puppies as well…. at 16 he’s not quite as playful – he can still get around on his own pretty good for an old man!… needing a little guidance/assistance getting up two steps from our livingroom…..
There is nothing greater than the love of your loyal companions… Treat them well!
My niece has a friend who’s GS and husky had an accidental litter. They are 10 weeks old and he wants to give them away because they were unplanned and he is not a breeder. I have a small studio type house but have 10 acres of land. It’s just my 10 year old daughter and I and we do a lot of camping. I’m at work 10 hours a day and she goes to school. I’m thinking about taking one of them as our Jack Russell had to be put down after 13 years but I’m not sure if this would be a good dog to be left at home that long alone. Also what about water do they like to swim and play in the water.
I’m having a hard time deciding on this pup and going to a breeder and getting a Lab.
Hi Travis, first of all, accidental litters are the worst. It shouldn’t happen but well, now that the puppies are there… hopefully they learn from it and prevent anything in the future.
Not sure what you mean by saying he wants to give them away at 10 weeks cause he’s not a breeder. That’s exactly what breeders do, they raise the puppies until 8-12 weeks and then they search for suitable homes for them. I hope he read about socialization, vaccines, proper diet, etc. for these pups. He needs to research how to find suitable homes.
Regarding your question: A dog cannot be left alone for 10 hours. You’d need to organize somebody who walks the dog and perhaps plays a bit with them, probably even twice during that time frame. Generally, dogs should not be left alone longer than 4 hours at a time.
Also, your dog will need a lot of house training in the beginning so it’s usually recommended to take some time off, puppies aren’t easy.
Whether they will like water differs from individual to individual. There are some breeds that tend to like water (Labs, Spaniels, etc.) but yours might or might not like it.
And one more thing! GSD is an AMAZING athletic dog breed and a great running companion, isn’t it?
I have a 7 month old Shepsky and she does have a lot of energy but I have a large yard and a 1 year old Rottweiler blue healer that keeps her busy. I have to say, she is the sweetest thing, beautiful blue eyes and very smart! But I wouldn’t say she would be the best for little kids because she is very excitable and likes to jump which we are working on, also can be a little mouthy and use me as a chew toy in a loving way but could be a issue with little ones, but for the most part she is smart, knows basic commands and always happy! She would be a great breed for an active young adult. And I must say the best dogs I have ever had have been mixed breeds (or mutt) and usually the runt of the litter… I would NEVER GIVE HER UP OR MY ROTTIE MIX , they are both female and are the best of friends.
I’m struggling with our beautiful girl! She’s amazing and we rescued her(threats that she would be shot😡), she’s food oriented and we had 2 beautiful babies before her but she’s quite aggressive when it comes to food and toys.. I’ve recently lost one of my original best friend and rescued another! But today she had the new baby by the head, no provocation either wondering can we get over this, is she trainable or do I re-home her? I’d hate to lose her
This sounds like a not-so-uncommon resource aggression issue. I’d recommend finding a trainer who specializes in aggression issues. Do not keep feeding them together or let toys lie around, it’ll only lead to fights. If you’re ready to commit to fixing it, you probably will not have to re-home her, but it’s impossible to say without seeing the dog in person, that’s why I’d recommend you find a responsible trainer with a track record.
I rescued Tucker, my Husky/ Shepherd mix, at 8 months old. He is now 2 and is amazing! I have no idea what happened for him to be found roaming the streets of Louisville Kentucky and picked up as a stray, but I am forever grateful he ended up in my rescue transport. He has the black and tan colors of a shepherd and the look of a husky and blessed with one blue and one brown eye. Tucker should’ve been named hunter, he’s always hunting for something…squirrels, bunnies, moles underground, insects, you name it he will find it. The shedding is ridiculous lol but brushing and fish oil on his food has helped a ton. There’s also a de shed conditioner our groomer uses 2 times a year that seems to help for a while. My suggestion on the breed…train train train and lots of mental stimulation. Games, walks, exploring new scents, learning new tricks, proper socialization when they’re young. Lastly…you need to be the alfa in the pack. Best of luck to you all..