Siberian Husky/German Shepherd Dog Mix
Answers:
Desert Is Not The Best Climate For These Dogs
We live in the desert and had Siberian Husky & Black Lab mix. He was always so hot. He'd dig in the dirt to try to get cool. While he hated water, when he'd get really, really hot, he'd go stand in his huge water bucket we had, not lie down, but just stand in it. His digging in the soil was what ended his life as he contracted "Valley Fever", a respiratory disease. We had to put him down, almost 5 years ago, now. While he was a lot of joy to us, I'd not get that breed of dog again, while living here in the desert, I would if we lived in a cooler climate.By badwater
High Energy Dogs
Huskies are very high energy dogs so if you're not a jogger or plan to do agility, anything to keep them constantly busy, I'd go with a different dog. Shepherds are very intelligent and need brain stimulation too. If you're laid back go with a golden retriever mix. They are very happy just hanging around. Of course that's depending on what they're mixed with. You can tell their disposition by interacting with them. And a shelter is full of great dogs just waiting for you!By Vicki
Lots Of Play Time
Hello, we own the same breed of dog and I agree that they need lots of play time and are very smart.By Leaky
Lots Of Room
As far as the best environment goes, I would have to say that you definitely need a fairly large, fenced in yard at the very least. We have an acre lot fenced in and Jackson seems to love it. He is able to really get up a lot of speed as he runs laps when he is playing with us. Also, Jackson loves to dig but its been a year now and he doesn't seem interested in digging to get out of the fence. He just digs for the sheer enjoyment of digging. I am constantly filling in holes that he may dig anywhere in the yard. He also really loves going to the local Dog Park and running with the other dogs there. This type of environment seems to keep him happy as we do not have the time or stamina to take him for long walks or exercise runs.Good With Kids
I have a 6 month old Husky/Shepard mix and she is 50 lbs. She is very energetic and lovable, she needs lot of attention stimulation and running room:) Plus she is a wonderful dog for my 2 year old son and she is very loving and protective of him (07/13/2005)By kim
Advice From An Owner
I rescued a dog that I am told is German Shepherd and Husky. I typed German Shepherd/Husky mix into the search bar and was happily surprised that such a site existed. My dog is guessed to be 2 yrs old and she ways 65 pounds. Her coat is fluffy and very soft and her personality is sweet and playful. She is also a bit wild and hyper.We live in the valley, too. Everything we have read has told us not to shave long haired breeds in the summer, so we haven't. She has a doggie door and comes in whenever she wants and always has fresh water available. Vally fever is a threat here to pets and humans, but it can be successfully treated with antifungal medication. I am sorry to hear about the dog above who got ill.
By Kim
Memories Of Lucy
I live in the Kansas City area. I've had dogs all my life of various mixes. Our last dog, Lucy, who we lost to stomach cancer, was absolutely the most loving, intelligent, and loyal dog we have ever owned. She was a German Shepherd/Husky mix. She was overweight at about 65 to 70 lbs. Size can vary and depends on many, many factors, the first being gender of course.Our veterinarian told us when we bought Lucy that this mix is extremely intelligent and he was right. They can just about learn anything very quickly. I'd almost bet you could teach one to drive a car!
By KCKID
Kayla
Kayla is 15 months old and is a Gerberian Huskerd, as I like to call her. Kayla is a very sweet girl. Everyday she shows traits of each breed of dog. She is very loyal and protective like a shepherd and she LOVES to run, run, run like a husky!Both breeds of dogs are bred to deal with colder types of climates, so warmer areas are ideally not the best setting for either or a mix of both. Huskies have up to 5 layers of fur and Shepherds can have up to 4! Imagine having 4 winter coats on during the hot months!
Also plenty of land is a a good thing, both dogs need tons of exercise and love to run long distances. I live in town, but there is a 5 acre dog park with lake access about 4 blocks away. Kayla just loves it there! She gets to play fetch, swim, plus have tons of social interaction with other dogs! Thats a GREAT thing!
As for separation anxiety, it's usually not common in huskies or shepherds. Really, they are usually just bored. Get your dog a Kong and just stuff that thing full of peanut butter, milkbones, cream cheese, whatever your pup really likes. I usually put a couple different treats in Kayla's Kong and she just LOVES it! This will keep your pup occupied for a while. If you are unsure what a Kong is, go to a pet supply store and just ask, they will know! Shepherds are especially smart dogs and need to be mentally stimulated as much as possible. Give your pup plenty of toys to play with, hide treats around the house for your pup to search for... give him/her something to do, give it time, and I bet you'll find that your dog doesn't really have separation anxiety, just needs something to keep the mind working.
Being a mix dog, almost any colors can happen, but I'll give you the basics of the breed colors. Shepherds are usually black, brown, reddish, and creme, only recently has white become an acceptable purebred color for shepherds. Only because there is an all white breed of shepherd was it not accepted before, thinking the dog could be a cross of the 2 shepherds. Huskies can be almost any color as well, generally white and grey, but they can also be red, black, brown... all of one color or a mix. Usually both dogs have a crownish type marking along the head and eyes and also have a lighter color on the belly/chest area. But like I said, being a mix, any coloring is possible. Also, Huskies tend to have a soft fur, whereas Shepherds usually have a more coarse hair. There are other ways to help determine the mix of your dog, like the husky curved tail and lighter eyes (not always blue, especially with a mix dog, this may not be prominent), shepherds have HUGE ears and low butts. Also Personality; Huskies main concerns generally tend to be RUNNING and a shepherd tends to be very loyal. Both breed are talkers and like to almost hold a conversation with you, its almost creepy.
As for the the pup that doesn't like to eat. First, obviously, take the dog to the vet and make sure it isn't an underlying health issue (beginning stages of worms, parvo is common in puppies.. easily treatable if caught early). But also keep in mind that Huskies are bred as sled dogs. Imagine how much food 10 dogs would eat in a week. That would be extremely heavy on a sled! Huskies were bred to not eat a lot. I had a purebred Siberian Husky in the past and she ate on her own once every 2-3 days. Huskies tend to have a slower metabolism so they keep this food longer. If you don't think thats what it is, id try switching foods until you find something your pup really likes. Don;t do it a lot as switching up food frequently can cause stomach issues. It could just be your pup doesn't like the food it has. If you think thats still not it, feed your dog extra treats that it does like. It is okay to feed your dog human food in small amounts, as long as you don't do it while you are eating. Make it seem as if the food you are giving the dog is for the dog, and not a shared food, or the dog will beg when you try to eat. Also, if you check your local grocery store in the meat section, sometimes they have extras they sell for cheap for dogs.
Don't be afraid to give your dog special treats! But make your pup work for them, do tricks, they're not free! CAUTION! CAUTION! CAUTION! There are a few foods you never-ever want to feed your dog. NEVER feed your dog peppers, onions or garlic! There is something in these foods that causes blood disease in dogs. NEVER feed your dog sugars or chocolates. Their digestive system is not made to handle food like that, and will cause the dog to become violently ill and a possibility of death. Also, keep the dairy intake very low. Its not necessarily bad for the dog, but over a long time of not having dairy, dogs, like people, become lactose intolerant and they will get the puppy squirts from it. Thats not pretty! A lot of dogs LOVE fruit. Kayla just loves melon and grapes! any fruit is okay for the dog. Peanut butter is a very common favorites amongst dogs. Keep in mind, these are just snacks and treats, don't use people food as your main diet for a dog.
Sorry so very long, but hopefully I was able to answer a few questions! Thanx!
By di5c0rd1a
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