Last Updated on December 28, 2021 by Marco
When the Siberian Husky meets the German Shepherd, what do you get?
You get a delightful hybrid dog breed that makes a great deal of sense, and one that highlights the best of both breeds. They tend to both have a wolf-like appearance that blends nicely in a hybrid dog.
In this article, we will take a look at the husky mixed with a german shepherd – their background, their appearance and temperament when they are full-grown, their health, their lifespan, and how much these puppies cost.
The History Of The German Shepherd
Just as the name suggests, this dog breed originated in Germany, where it was used to herd and guard flocks of livestock.
Today, this popular breed is commonly used in police and protection work. This breed is also used widely in the military because they learn and respond to human commands quickly.
German Shepherds are highly intelligent, highly trainable dogs whose size and powerful bark can be a deterrent to criminals. Yet they can be gentle protectors of families with children too.
One thing that is notable about this breed is that they have been selectively bred to have a sloping back end, with their hind legs being shorter than their front legs. This is now being bred out by many enthusiasts, due to this making the breed highly prone to spinal problems.
German Shepherds have long, lustrous coats that are most often black and tan. They have a long snout, pointed ears, and a low, sweeping tail.
In terms of how this mix pairs with the Siberian Husky, they are somewhat similar in size and shape therefore this hybrid match does make sense.
The Appearance Of A Full-Grown Husky Mixed With A German Shepherd
The Husky German Shepherd mix is a large dog with quite long legs and a long, lean yet strong body. They have a nicely-shaped head with a long muzzle and erect, triangular ears. The tail will be long and brush-like.
The coat of this dog will be longish and thick, and will shed a great deal which will require regular grooming – this is because both parent breeds have double coats!
They may come in any color combination of black, tan, white, grey, and brown. Their eyes will most likely be brown, but possibly blue (or one of each!) The expression will be alert, mobile, and intelligent.
Learn more about: What Is A Husky Mixed With A Corgi?
The Personality Of A Husky Mixed With A German Shepherd
The Husky German Shepherd mix is an intelligent dog. Both parent breeds are known for being smart.
One big difference between the Husky and the German Shepherd is that the Husky is hard to train because they are independent and do not really care if their owner is pleased with them or not! The German Shepherd, on the other hand, responds extremely well to good training and loves to work with their human partner to achieve a common goal – hence why they are such good police dogs.
Another difference between the Siberian Husky and the German Shepherd is the way that they react to strangers. Huskies are open and gregarious, and will happily welcome even strangers into their homes. German Shepherds, on the other hand, we’re specifically bred for their ability to bark at intruders. This breed ranks highly on watchdog lists, a fact that most likely explains this breed’s position in the top ten most popular dogs in America. So a hybrid dog of this mix could go either way.
This dog will have a strong personality that could become dominant if its owner does not take charge and be the alpha. It is a hybrid dog that will need plenty of mental and physical stimulation to keep it happy and engaged.
Husky German Shepherd Mix Health
The Husky German Shepherd mix is prone to all of the health issues associated with the parent breed. These are:
- Eye, thyroid, skin, and hip problems from the Husky parent, and
- Hip dysplasia and hemophilia (in male dogs) from the German Shepherd parent. Other health issues that this hybrid dog can inherit from its German Shepherd parent are elbow dysplasia, digestive problems, Degenerative Myelopathy, perianal fistulas, and a type of cancer that can result in rapid blood loss and death from a ruptured tumor (called Hemangiosarcoma.)
The Lifespan Of A Husky Mixed With A German Shepherd
Owners of this mix can expect their pets to live from 10 to 15 years. Huskies tend to live longer than German Shepherds therefore there is quite a wide spread of ages that this dog can live to.
The Price Of A Husky Mixed With A German Shepherd
The dogs can cost from 500 to 1000 dollars, spending on the breeder, the parents, and the pup. This price can reflect looks, temperament, vet care, and breed popularity/demand.
The Takeaway On The Husky German Shepherd Mix
Like any dog, regardless of whether they are a purebred or a mixed breed, a puppy or a rescue dog, what you get out of them boils down to what you put into them.
The Husky German Shepherd mix has the potential to be a brilliant pet in the right hands. This will not be an easy dog in the sense that they need lots of exercise, training, and stimulation. They may respond quickly if they are more like a German Shepherd, but they may be harder to train if they are more like a Husky in their temperament. On that note, it is important to keep this dog leashed when out walking, and that you have sturdy high fencing on your property.
This hybrid dog will be a gorgeous-looking dog because both parent breeds are somewhat similar-looking already – both have a wolfish appearance. Just be prepared for lots of shedding!
Just make sure that you discuss the health of the parents of any pups that you are considering buying, and ask to see full health records for both. This is just a precaution, given that both breeds are prone to several inherit health issues.
If you decide that this is the dog for you, then you will have a happy, exuberant, clever, and energetic friend.
