Bradenton Dog

Husky

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Breed Profile: Shepherd Husky Mix

By Lauren R. Tharpe

The Shepherd Husky is a mix of two breeds: The German Shepherd and the Siberian Husky.  Most Shepherd Husky owners consider this breed to be the best of both worlds.
Physical Traits

Size & Weight: Large.  Shepherd Huskies range from 20 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder.  Their weight also varies, but usually falls within the 35-75 pound range.

Coat & Color: Very thick coated dogs!  Their outer coat is coarse and their undercoat is thick, plush-like, and like their Husky-half, have the ability to thrive in cooler weather.  They also come in a variety of colors.  Black, black and white, or black and tan.  Their coats tend to shed constantly and will need to be groomed on a regular basis.

Other: While most Shepherd Huskies have brown eyes or blue eyes, some have one of each!

Also, the most decorated war dog of World War II, Chips, was a Shepherd Husky!

Life Expectancy: 10-13 years

Temperament

Shepherd Huskies are diligent working dogs who are eager to please.  Shepherd Huskies are highly intelligent (their “shepherd” half, the German Shepherd, was ranked the third most intelligent dog breed in the world!) and they adapt quickly to just about any situation.  Equally good as a service dog or a family pet.

Wags

  • Highly intelligent and fairly easy to train – if the Shepard side is dominant, if Husky is prevailing – dig in, you’ll have your work cut-out for you.
  • Highly courageous.  Makes for a great watch/guard dog.
  • People “person.”  These dogs, unless trained otherwise, get along with most people—including children—that they meet!

Challenges

  • Shepherd Huskies can be howlers!  Be prepared for a long night of howling any time a siren passes through your neighborhood.  They’re also known to be very “talkative.”  They may howl and moan more than actually bark, but expect a full bodied bark when they do vocalize in that way.
  • Require a lot of exercise!  Without daily exercise, these dogs may become destructive.   With your Veterinarian’s approval, this would be a great dog to bicycle, run or trike with.
  • The predator/prey instinct runs fairly strong in this breed.  If not properly socialized with other animals from a very early age, they may see smaller creatures as “prey” rather than “playmate.”

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Breed Profile: Siberian Husky

One of the oldest breed of dogs in the world, Siberian Huskies originate from Siberia, where they were bred to pull heavy loads across harsh, freezing conditions. Once they made it to Alaska during the Gold Nome Rush, Huskies became famous for their dog sledding abilities, but did you know that their outgoing and gentle personalities make them suitable for much more than sledding?

Physical Traits

Size & Weight: Male Huskies stand between 21-23.5 inches at the withers, and females are smaller at 20-22 inches. They weight between 35-60 pounds, with males generally being heavier than females.

Coat & Color: Huskies have very thick coats that consist of two layers which keep them warm in the Arctic winters and reflect heat in the summers. Their undercoat is dense, while the topcoat is longer and has short, straight hairs. Huskies come in all colors from black to pure white, and often have distinctive markings on the head that are not found in other breeds.

Life Expectancy: 12-15 years

Temperament

Huskies are intelligent dogs that enjoy learning new things, and with some obedience training they do well as family pets. They are generally happy, playful dogs who love spending time with their families. Because of their gentle, trusting nature they do not make the best guard dogs, but will always be your best friend (and your best friend’s best friend too!).

Something to Bark About: In 1908 Siberian Huskies were used in the very first All-Alaska Sweepstakes, a 408 mile dog sled race from Nome, to Candle, and back to Nome, where they immediately dominated the race. In addition to their unmatched sledding skills, they have often been used in many different ways to service people—transporting medicine to the ill during a diphtheria epidemic in 1925, accompanying Admiral Byrd on his Arctic expeditions in the early to mid-1900’s, and serving in the Army’s Arctic Search and Rescue Unit during World War II.

Wags

  • With proper training, Siberian Huskies make excellent family pets, as they are loyal and loving with people.
  • Huskies are very gentle and laid-back, and do well with children.
  • Huskies bark very little, although they do let out the occasional howl.

Yelps

  • Huskies have strong predatory instincts, so they should be closely supervised around small animals.
  • Huskies are great escape artists who can climb chain-linked fences and find other creative means of escape.
  • Siberian Huskies are easily bored and require daily mental stimulation and physical activity to keep them from exhibiting destructive behaviors.

If you’d like to learn more about adoptable Siberian Huskies in Florida, visit Siberian Husky Rescue of Florida for more information.