German Shepherd Husky Mix: 9 Shepsky Facts

The German Shepherd Husky Mix is a very popular designer breed that is known by many names:

• Gerberian Shepsky
• Siberian Shepherd
• Shepsky

This dog is fiercely loyal, intelligent, extremely playful and a bit mischievous. They balance all the best qualities of both the German Shepherd and the Husky. They are a gorgeous wolf-like dog that can at times be serious, but also funny and goofy.

Are you interested in this beautiful, powerful and energetic dog?

Read on to learn 9 facts about this mix and what you should consider before getting one.

1. All About The Shepsky

The Shepsky is a fluffy crossbreed that looks like a German Shepherd with the light-colored eyes of a Siberian Husky.

Breeders get a Shepsky by crossing the German Shepherd with a Siberian Husky.

Designer dogs combine the best qualities of both parents to create a dog that has a blend of popular traits.

There is no clear starting point in history for this mix. They probably existed on accident before breeders started intentionally breeding them in the 1990s. The breed became famous through Dolce the Shepsky who was the FBIs first therapy dog in 2012. Other jobs they can do include search and rescue and police K9-work.

While the German Shepherd Husky mix was designed to be a working dog, they can also be a family pet.

One thing for certain with this striking mix is their energy.

Coming from a line of two working dogs this dog will be buzzing with energy throughout the house. They are always ready to run and play and will need to be taken out daily for long walks or runs.

Life with a German Shepherd Husky mix will be fast paced!

For active families they are an excellent dog as they are very friendly and playful.

This dog loves children and will want to play, chase, or go out sledding in the winter with them. Their protective nature also means they are a good guard dog and you can be assured that your family will always be safe with them around.

Breeders in the US originally bred this hybrid to be immensely loyal.

This dog will always be ready to protect you and stick by your side no matter what.

Because of its Husky side they have plenty of energy, but when they are finally tired out they will want to snuggle with you on your bed and call it a day. You should know that if they don’t get enough of your attention they tend to howl a lot.

First time owners should also be forewarned that the Gerberian Shepsky is not an easy dog to raise.

While these dogs are incredibly loyal and intelligent, they can inherit the independent and stubborn thinking of the Husky which can make them hard to train. They need someone who is not only very active, but also patient and disciplined.

2. Fun Facts

Are German Shepherd Husky Mixes Good Dogs?

They are excellent dogs who not only excel in the field as working dogs, but also make amazing family pets. Because of their loyalty, they are very obedient and trustworthy, but are also quite independent and keen, so can think for themselves when the time calls for it.

Some first time owners might find it hard to deal with their independent thinking, but as working dogs this is actually a trait they need.

A Shepsky loves to please and make their owners smile. Sometimes they can be a bit mischievous and clownish, but they would never intentionally make you angry. They want to stick as close as possible to the people they love.

Are They Aggressive?

German Shepherd mixes in the past have been thought of as aggressive, since they are trained for bite work in the police force. The important thing to remember is that those dogs are trained to do that.

German Shepherd dogs are naturally sweet and family-oriented.

This will be the same for a German Shepherd Husky mix.

With proper socialization, training, love and care, there should be no fear that this dog will turn aggressive. This dog will only be aggressive if provoked or because it was raised in an environment that forced it to be fearful and protect itself.

How Big Will A German Shepherd Husky Mix Get?

They are a large dog breed that has a wide range of sizes because Huskies are slightly smaller than German Shepherds. Females also tend to be smaller than males. So if you got the smallest female, she would be about 20 inches tall and 45 pounds. The largest male can reach 25 inches in height and weigh as much as 90 pounds.

Is The Shepsky Good For A Family?

This dog will click best with active people or families that can spend lots of time with their dog. They are a very loyal and family oriented dog since they were born to be part of a pack. They can never be separated for too long from their ‘family’.

Any family will need to be ready to bring this pup on all of their outdoor adventures and family outings.

This breed is great for anyone who is looking for a dog to take on outdoor adventures or to have to play outside with the kids.

A Shepsky that spends too much time inside, or doesn’t get its muscles or brain working, is an anxious and bored dog. They will start digging around the house and howling a lot, which are not behaviors owners want. Anyone who cannot give this dog the sufficient amount of time to release its energy outside might feel overwhelmed by one.

The German Shepherd Husky mix is a very energetic and exuberant dog.

They are not an easy dog to take care of because of their overwhelming energy, which comes from parents that are both working dogs. If you want a more relaxed dog then take a look at the German Shepherd Lab Mix.

3. Appearance

The face of a German Shepherd Husky mix is very wolf-like with a long muzzle, black nose and triangular erect ears. Their tail is also very bushy and their coat is dense and harsh.

One feature that people especially love about this dog is that it can inherit the blue eyes of the Husky.

Some pups can have brown eyes or even one blue and the other brown.

If a puppy looks more like a German Shepherd, it will have the classic black markings on the face and a black back with a tan, brown or cream undercoat. If they look more like a Husky, then they will have a white undercoat with either black, blue, gray or red color.

This dog is almost never one solid color.

Instead their coat is a mix of two or more colors and reflects the colors of the parent breeds:

• Tan and black
• Black and white
• Red and white
• Blue and white
• Brown and black

These dogs can also be other colors like cream, blue, brown, black, white, gray and red. Which coat colors they get will depend on the genes they inherit.

4. Size

Shepskies are large dogs that when fully grown can weigh 45-88 pounds and be 20-25 inches tall.

Males tend to be larger and heavier than females, females reach at most 72 pounds.

The final weight of a German Shepherd Husky mix depends on the genes they inherit since they are a mixed breed dog.

Normally this dog is slightly bigger than a Siberian Husky and slightly smaller than a German Shepherd. A Husky will only weigh up to 60 pounds, while a German Shepherd can grow to be as much as 90 pounds. A pup that is on the smaller side of this size range will likely look like a small German Shepherd.

They do not begin approaching their full adult size until 18 months old.

The following growth chart shows an estimated adult weight of puppies so you can have an idea of how much your puppy will grow.

Puppies within the first month of life will weigh somewhere between the weight of Husky and German Shepherd puppies, which is 3-9 pounds.

The heavier the puppy’s projected final weight, the longer it will take to reach its adult size. A full grown dog can take as long as 2 years to reach their adult size, so don’t be surprised if it also takes your pup that long.

5. Temperament

A German Shepherd mixed with a Husky is a brave, loyal, intelligent and hard-working dog.

They make a great family or guard dog and are everything that people love the most about the German Shepherd and Husky.

A Shepsky loves to be around children and will want to play with them all of the time. They are extremely friendly around their family and friends. They also have a need to protect their pack, since they inherit the protectiveness of the German Shepherd.

Strangers should be wary as this dog doesn’t like those who appear suspicious.

Even if they can appear intimidating with their wolf-like appearance, the Shepsky is never aggressive.

Outsiders might not be welcomed, but this incredibly affectionate and friendly dog inherits a sense of being part of a pack from their Husky parent.

SIMILAR: German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Breed Guide

The German Shepherd Husky mix is so family-oriented that it thinks it might not survive without them. Due to their need to feel like part of a pack, they do not do well being alone for long periods of time.

You should never leave this dog on its own for longer than an hour or so.

Some pups will develop separation anxiety if they feel lonely and start howling to try to “call” their pack.

Howling is common in Huskies, but is a behavior that can be reduced to an extent with proper training and socialization.

If you do decide to bring your dog along for outdoor adventures, make sure you keep a close eye on them. This breed is quite mischievous and might decide to surprise you with its escape acts like Houdini.

They also can’t help chasing anything that moves because of their high prey drive. Don’t be surprised if your pup starts running after squirrels and birds at the local dog park.

6. Price

Shepsky puppies are popular dogs, but they are a relatively cheap mix compared to other very popular ones like the Pomeranian. German Shepherd Husky mixes cost anywhere from $300 to $1,000, while a Pomeranian puppy tends to be $2,000 to $3,000.

No matter which puppy you adopt, it is always important to do the proper research.

Some breeders sell puppies for an affordable price, but not all of them can be trusted.

A puppy that is not bred right can have health problems in the long run, most notably hip and elbow issues. You have to make sure that the breeder can give you a health certificate or guarantee and has genetically tested the parents.

Breeders that produce Shepsky puppies cannot register them with a major kennel club since they are a crossbreed, but reputable breeders tend to have the parent dogs registered. This would be another sign that a breeder is trustworthy and reputable.

RELATED: How Much Is A Husky? Adoption, Adult & Puppy Price List

7. Adoption

Because they have so much energy, these dogs can sometimes end up in shelters when families become overwhelmed by their separation anxiety or excessive howling.

If you are not interested in buying from a breeder, then adopting is a good alternative.

Most German Shepherd Husky mixes that you will find in a rescue or shelter are older dogs. In some cases this might be a benefit if you are not looking to raise a young puppy. While some of these dogs can be challenging, you will find so much fulfillment and joy in caring for them.

To start with, check your local German Shepherd or Husky shelters as they often also have mixes.

It might take some waiting and searching, but eventually you might find the pup you’ve been searching for.

8. Care

Diet

A dog as active as the German Shepherd Siberian Husky mix needs a lot of food to replenish its energy. This food must be of high-quality, made specifically for energetic large breeds and be high in protein.

The amount of kibble you feed will depend on their energy levels, weight and age.

An adult that is very active and has intense workouts everyday will need about three cups of dry kibble daily broken up into two meals. A Shepsky puppy will eat about 1-2 cups daily, but should have its meal broken down into 3-4 meals daily.

These dogs love to eat and it can be easy to overfeed them.

It is also important that their diet is supplemented with minerals that help promote proper bone growth. Large breed dogs tend to have joint problems.

Lifespan

A Shepsky can live on average for 10-13 years and is a healthy dog.

Because it is a mixed breed, it tends to be healthier than both the German Shepherd and the Husky. However, it can still inherit the genetic diseases common to both of its parents.

The most typical health issues that can affect them are hip and elbow dysplasia and patellar luxation. All of these health problems can affect their movement.

Not only are they genetically predisposed to hip and elbow dysplasia, but intense exercise can also increase the risk of trauma to their joints.

Other common health problems for this breed are eye problems, like cataracts and retinal progressive atrophy.

Exercise

You cannot deprive this dog of exercise.

This dog needs to move since both of its parents are incredibly active, working dogs. A Husky mix could run all day if it wanted to, which is why it is important that it has a lot of space to roam free.

If you don’t have a large back yard, then you will need to take your dog out for runs or very long walks of at least 120 minutes every day.

An improperly exercised German Shepherd Husky mix can become destructive and impatient. Some might start howling, others will act out, and some will howl because they are bored and want attention.

No Shepsky is happy living in doors all day.

It is necessary that you meet their exercise requirements.

Training

Using positive reinforcement is the best way to train a Shepsky.

These dogs learn commands very quickly and can execute them perfectly like the German Shepherd, when they want to.

Their Husky part can mean they are sometimes a bit stubborn and too smart for their own good. You will need to show your dog that you can be trusted to give the right commands.

Training sessions should be exciting and always rewarded with treats or toys. Keep them short and make each session very different to avoid your dog getting bored.

Grooming

A Shepsky sheds a lot.

There is no escaping the need to brush this dog daily since both of their parents are big shedders too. They will shed hair especially heavily twice a year as they prepare for the hot summer and cold winter months.

Brushing will help keep the shedding down, but it will also help with preventing mats and tangles from forming.

Bathing them frequently is not necessary as they tend to be an odorless dog. Plus, too many baths can strip out the natural oils in their furry coat.

9. Summary

The German Shepherd Husky mix is a loving, charismatic and loyal dog. They make each day funny and adventurous.

Families often want to adopt them for their beautiful wolf-like appearance and blue eyes.

But this isn’t a breed for everyone.

This dog is not recommended for first time owners because they can inherit the independent and stubborn nature of the Husky. This sometimes makes them hard to train, even though they are very smart.

These dogs need someone who is not only dedicated to training, but also has the same drive the dog does for being active and doing fun things in the outdoors.

German Shepherd Husky mixes love to run, chase and play ball.

Not only do they need lots of exercise, but their smart brains also need mental stimulation.

If you can spend lots of time with your dog and want an excellent playmate and guard dog, then the Shepsky is a dog you can trust and will want to adopt.