Understanding the Gerberian Shepsky: 9 Key Facts
If you’ve never heard about the Gerberian Shepsky, that’s all right. It’s a pretty new designer crossbreed even though its two parent breeds have been mixed here and there many times throughout history. As you’d suspect from the name, this cross is the result of breeding a German Shepherd with a Siberian Husky. As these are two of the most popular pet breeds in the world, it’s no surprise that they’d be mixed together.
Why isn’t this cross more popular itself, however? Is there anything wrong with the Gerberian Shepsky? Or have people just not picked up about how great this mix is? Let’s find out by going over the following 9 awesome things to know about the Gerberian Shepsky below.
9 things to consider before getting a Gerberian Shepsky as a pet
The first thing to note about any crossbreed – especially those between vastly different parent breeds – is that there isn’t much of a “breeding standard” for such dogs. They just aren’t “purebreds” in that sense. So, almost all crossbreeds end up having widely varying characteristics in terms of their looks, coat, character, instincts, and so on. In essence, they can range in characteristics anywhere between their parent breeds.
Such is the case with the Gerberian Shepsky as well. Still, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t some constants we can point to or that we can’t describe the parameters their characteristics can range between.
1. The Shepsky needs to run – a lot
With one shepherd parent and one sled dog parent, it should be quite obvious that the Gerberian Shepsky likes to run around and play. What many owners fail to recognize, however, is that such breeds don’t just like to run and play – they need to do so.
On average, a healthy adult Shepsky will need at least 2 hours of active outdoor time a day. This means time spend jogging with you and playing in the dog park – not yard time. Yard time should never be used to replace outdoor time – it’s an extra time that’s also needed.
Additionally, a Shepsky’s owner must also consider weekend trips and hikes too to give their dog some extra walking time and exercise, as well as new places to explore. A dog’s exercise shouldn’t just be physical, it should also account for the dog’s need for mental exercise – this means going to new places, trying new activities, and playing interactive games together.
As a curious note, keep in mind that some Shepskies love to swim while others despise water with a passion. That’s because German Shepherds are avid swimmers while Siberian Huskies are often terrified of water. So, if you want a swimmer, you may have to go the extra mile to introduce your dog to water as early and as easily as possible.
2. These dogs are quite large too and are not suitable for apartments
As both German Shepherds and Huskies are large, so are their offspring. The average size of this crossbreed is 20 to 25 inches (51 to 63.5 cm) at the shoulder and a full body weight of 45 to 88 pounds (20 to 40 kg). This large size combined with the Shepsky’s high energy means that an apartment dwelling is not ideal for these dogs – they just need extra space and a fenced yard. If you insist on having such a dog in an apartment, it would need to be a large and spacious place and you’ll need to give your dog extra outdoor time.
3. The Shepsky sheds more than almost any other dog breed you can get
There is a reason why one of the Shepsky’s parents is called a “German Shedder”. And to say that the Husky sheds any less than its German counterpart would be to lie too. In other words – the Shepsky is a cross of two of the most shedding dogs in the canine world. So, you should be prepared for lots of extra dog hair floating around your home if you want to get a Shepsky.
Of course, there are ways to mitigate this. Daily brushing, regular grooming with de-shedding tools, as well as frequent vacuuming are all but a must with such a dog. We’d also strongly recommend at least a couple of visits to a professional groomer every year – preferably around springtime and in the fall, just before the Shepsky begins its seasonal coat blowout.
4. Shepskies can come in various captivating coat color combinations
The cool part about the Shepsky’s coat is that it’s almost always gorgeous. It’s usually bi-color or tri-color and it can come in any color combination between black, brown, silver, cream, red, white, and blue. Add the different colors a Shepsky’s eyes can have and these dogs are true beauties.
5. A cop, a babysitter, a working dog, a rescuer – the Shepsky can be trained to assume any job you give it
Both Huskies and German Shepherds are two of the smartest, most obedience, cooperative, and loyal working breeds known to man. Between the two of them, humanity has got dogs capable of assuming almost any job typical for a canine, except certain hound or gun dog professions.
What does this mean for you as a Shepsky owner?
It means that with the right Obedience training you can teach your Shepsky to do almost anything you want it to. This is especially great for families with kids as Shepskies can be fantastic babysitters and they can easily be taught how to act with and around kids.
6. These dogs are almost always loyal, loving, gentle, and affectionate
In terms of their personality, Shepskies can be mischievous tricksters when they haven’t gotten their daily playtime and exercise. However, once they’ve done all their running around the dog park, they transform into perfectly calm, loving, and affectionate dogs. They are a little too big for lapdogs, of course, but that doesn’t stop them from trying to cuddle, sleep on your feet, or even sleep on top of you whenever possible.
7. Shepskies can be raised to be perfectly social and friendly toward everyone around them
Another profession a Shepsky can hardly assume is that of a guard dog. That’s because Shepskies are incredibly social animals, just as both of their parents are. This doesn’t mean that they need socialization, of course – they most certainly do, especially early in their life. However, once that socialization is a fact, a Shepsky can easily get along with guests, strangers outside, children, other dogs, and even non-canine pets.
8. These dogs are generally healthy but can also have some pretty major health problems
Both a Siberian Husky and a German Shepherd can be healthy dogs. And, as a crossbreed, the Gerberian Shepsky can either get all the health problems and risks of their parents or avoid all of them. However, this isn’t only a matter of chance, it’s also a matter of choosing the right pup from the right breeder. The job of professional and reputable breeders is to try and always weed out (i.e. not breed) dogs with hereditary health problems. This is especially true for German Shepherds as these dogs have developed quite a few genetically-passed health problems due to overbreeding during the last several decades.
So, what should you do?
The first step is to make sure that you only get dogs with health certificates bred by reputable breeders. Ideally, you’ll also get health certificates for the parents and you’ll get to see the parents and the whole litter too. Whatever you do, always avoid pet stores and puppy mills. And, if you’re adopting, ask for detailed medical information for the dog.
After that, it’s all a matter of giving your dog the best possible care – food, exercise, routine vet visits, and so on. Look out for Patellar Luxation, Hip and Elbow Dysplasia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), and Epilepsy, in particular.
9. Your dog will likely be exceptionally vocal
Last but not least, remember that Shepskies are half-Husky. This means that they love to howl, they love to sing, and they need their opinion to always be heard. This is quite fun but it also makes them even less suitable for apartment life, unless you want to drive your neighbors crazy. Some no-bark training can help but even with it, a Shepsky will always be a pretty vocal canine.
All of this goes to show that the Gerberian Shepsky is definitely a multi-faceted pet to have. On the one hand, these dogs have many of the social, smart, trainable, and loyal characteristics we love in a pet. On the other, their overly energetic nature can be too much for many owners to handle, the shed surprisingly much, and they can have some health problems when they come from unhealthy parents.
The gist of it all is that you need to be prepared when adopting or purchasing such a dog, you need to be sure this is the type of dog you want, and you need to make sure that you keep your pooch in good health.
