How Big Do German Shepherd Husky Mix Puppies Get?

Are you looking forward to bringing home a German Shepherd Husky mix puppy but are worried about how big they can get? It could be you have kids, and you don’t want a big dog that will intimidate them, or you simply want a dog that you can comfortably accommodate in your house.

A German Shepherd Husky Mix can take after either parent in size and weight. Typically, it will grow up to 20-26 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh as much as 35 and 90 pounds, depending on gender and diet. Male Shepksy puppies tend to grow slightly bigger than their female counterparts. 

Continue reading to learn more about the German Shepherd Husky mix – size, life expectancy, exercise needs, activity level and whether or not they can live in an apartment.

What is a German Shepherd Husky mix?

A German Shepherd Husky mix, also known as a Shepsky or Gerberian Shepsky, is a mixed dog breed between a German Shepherd and a Siberian Husky. Its medium to large in size and borrows its personality, genes, and appearance from both parents. 

The Shepsky is a loyal, friendly and affectionate dog, making it a great human companion. It’s also a bold, intelligent, alert, protective, playful, and high-energy dog. The dog is most recommended for physically active or athletic people who can keep up with their high energy.

Shepskies are recognized by both the American Canine Hybrid Club and the Dog Registry of America.

Here is a quick overview of the Shepksy breed:

Breed Type	Mixed breed, medium-large
Size and weight	20-26 inches 35-90 pounds
Temperament	Highly energetic Obedient IntelligentLoyalChild-friendly
Appearance	Face- broad  Head – long pointed Body – muscular Coat type- medium to long dense double coat Coat color– Red, brown, black, white, cream, blue Eye color– blue, brown or mixed

How big does a German Shepherd Husky mix get? 

To get a glimpse of how big a Shepsky can get, we’ll look at the size and weight of the parents. 

According to the American Kennel Club, the Siberian Husky is a medium size dog that typically weighs between 35 and 60 pounds, while the German Shepherd is a large breed that weighs between 50 and 90 pounds.

Being an offspring of the two, you would expect a GSD husky mix to be a medium to large size breed that typically weighs between 35 and 90 pounds.

As for size, the Siberian Husky grows up to 20-24 inches tall, while the German Shepherd can grow up to 22-26 inches. The Shepsky’s height would be expected to range between 20-26 inches, depending on the gender.

Because it’s a mixed breed, it’s not always that easy to predict how big the dog will grow up to be. You shouldn’t be surprised if your Shepsky is much smaller.

Size and Weight of the Shepsky

Gender	Height	Weight
Female	20-24 inches	40-70 pounds
Male	22-25 inches	50-88 pounds

What is the lifespan of the German Shepherd Husky?

Gerberian Shepskies have a relatively longer life span than most dogs their size. They can live for up to 10 to 14 years depending on their genes, overall health, lifestyle, diet and physical activity. There are a few that manage to live a little longer than this.

However, there are cases where these dogs fail to live longer than 10 years. Iit is often due to certain health conditions linked to their genes. These conditions include 

• Elbow/Hip Dysplasia
• Degenerative Eye Diseases (e.g. cataracts inherited from their Husky genes)
• Gastric Dilatation Volvulus
• Bloat

These conditions tend to impact the quality of life of the Shepkies shortening their life span.

Is it easy to train a German Shepherd Husky mix puppy?

Shepsky is a pretty intelligent and highly trainable dog. It’s no surprise, given that he is the offspring of two very intelligent and self-willed parents.  

Even though he is very eager and quick to learn, the Shepsky still needs proper training and enough practice to be completely house-trained, crate-trained, socialized and obedience-trained. 

It is extremely important that your Shepherd Husky is well-trained. This will help him adapt to the family and his environment, making him a happy dog. Here are a few tips to help you successfully train your Shepherd Husky mix:

• Set up a routine with proper feeding and potty schedules
• Socialize your puppy as early as 8 weeks
• Use reward-based training to affirm good behaviour
• Keep them on a leash to tame their hunter instincts
• Start the training indoors, then move outdoors

Can a German Shepherd Husky Mix live in an apartment?

A German Shepherd Husky mix can live in an apartment. However, you must consider that this breed is very vocal, not a fan of solitary confinement and is very high energy which means the dogs need to be active all day.

To successfully live with a Shepsky in an apartment:

• Find out if your apartment allows dogs, more specifically, if they allow this breed. Most apartment complexes do not allow Huskies and Huskie mixes.

• Get them house-trained as soon as you bring them home. Also, socialize them and get them on some obedience training.

•  You must be available to exercise them for 1 to 2 hours daily to drain their energy. You must also mentally stimulate the dog for at least 30 minutes daily. An understimulated Shepsky will engage in destructive behaviour.

• Shepskies get bored very easily, so you must also keep them busy with activities all day; otherwise, they will chew shoes, shred your pillows, tear rugs and do all sorts of damage to keep themselves busy.

• You must also not leave your Shepherd Husky mix alone for more than 6-8 hours at a time otherwise. You risk your furry friend becoming lethargic. If you work away from home for longer hours, apartment living with this breed may not be such a great idea.

Is a German Shepherd Husky Mix active?

A German Shepherd Husky mix is a ball of energy – very active and playful. That is why this dog breed is only recommended for families or dog parents with an active lifestyle.

To keep up with their high energy, it’s important to plan out activities that will engage them physically and mentally. These activities should be laid out in a routine and be interchanged every so often. They get bored of doing the same activities repeatedly.

Some of the outdoor activities that Shepskies enjoy include running, hiking, swimming, urban mushing, agility training, play dates at the dog park, tug of war, and hide and seek. You can get them dog puzzles and interactive toys for indoor activities to keep them busy.

How much exercise does a German Shepherd husky mix need? 

A German Shepherd husky is a very high-energy dog, so exercise is not something they love to do, but it’s a basic need. Shepskies need at least one to two hours daily of physical and mental exercise. The duration should preferably be split between morning and evening. For instance, you can do a 30-minute jog in the morning and a 40-minute walk in the evening.

Additionally, they need to explore new places and try out new activities every once in a while. Tagging them along for your weekend trips and hikes is a much-welcomed idea.

Keeping your Shepsky on a daily exercise routine is essential in ensuring that their energy is spent; otherwise, the energy build-up will lead to destruction. An underexercised Shepksy will engage in destructive behavior such as chewing shoes, scratching surfaces, digging up holes in walls, and so much more.

Final Thought: Who should get a German Shepherd husky mix puppy?

Shepskies are ideal for dog owners with a very active lifestyle because of how energetic, playful and active they are. They are not suitable for tiny homes, first-time dog owners or owners who are too busy to take them out for daily walks. Because this breed is a working dog, physical activity is a basic need. Otherwise, they will become overly demanding and mischievous.

Further Questions on German Shepherd Husky mix puppy

What is a German Shepherd Husky mix called?

If you mix a German Shepherd with a Husky, you get a Shepsky! It’s a bit of a mouthful, but we think it’s a pretty cute name.

How much is a German Shepherd Husky mix puppy? 

The price of a German Shepherd Husky puppy can cost anywhere between $1500 and $3000. This wide range is due to the fact that it is not a pure breed, but finding a good genetic pairing takes just as much time and effort as any purebred line.

Are Shepskies hard to train?

Well, like any dog, Shepskies can have their quirks when it comes to training. Some might be super easy to train, while others might require a little more patience and persistence. 

What is the lifespan of a Husky Shepherd mix?

On average, a Shepsky can live anywhere from 10 to 14 years. The lifespan of any dog can vary depending on a number of factors, such as genetics, diet, exercise, and overall health.