German Shepherd Akita Husky Mix
The German Shepherd Akita Husky Mix, is a mixed breed dog resulting from breeding the German Shepherd and the Siberian Husky and the Akita. This could make for a very powerful breed with a lot of hair. Is it more like the German Shepherd or the Husky or the Akita? Those are the questions we will try and answer below. Continue reading below to see pictures, videos, and learn more about the beautiful German Shepherd Husky Akita Mix.
While we really recommend that you acquire all animals through a rescue, we understand that some people might go through a breeder to get their German Shepherd Husky Akita Mix puppy. That is, if they have any German Shepherd Husky Akita Mix puppies for sale.
If you are interested in helping animal rescues raise money, please play our quiz. Each correct answer donates to help feed shelter animals.
Here are some pictures of the German Shepherd Akita Husky Mix
German Shepherd Akita Husky Mix History
All hybrid or designer dogs are tough to get a good read on as there isn’t much history to them. Breeding specific dogs like this has become common in the last twenty years or so even though I am sure that this mixed breed found it’s share of dogs to the shelter due to accidental breeding. We will take a closer look at the history of both parent breeds below. If you are looking at breeders for new, designer dogs please beware of Puppy Mills. These are places that mass produce puppies, specifically for profit and don’t care at all about the dogs. If you have a few minutes, Please sign our petition to stop puppy mills.
Siberian Husky History:
The Siberian Husky is a medium size working dog breed that originated in north-eastern Siberia, Russia. It also goes by the name of Chukcha. They were initially bred and kept by the Chukchi people. The breed belongs to the Spitz genetic family and was originally bred to pull sleds over long distances rather quickly. Everyone knows that this is a working dog that was bred to pull sleds. This made the Eskimo people able to move around much easier. They are known to be escape artists that will dig themselves out of the strongest fence. Being that they were bred to pull things you can imagine that they aren’t the easiest dogs to walk. They were very instrumental in the initial Iditarod, which was a race to get a lifesaving Serum from Anchorage to Nome Alaska.
German Shepherd History:
In 1899, a German named Von Stephanitz was attending a dog show when he was shown a dog named Hektor Linksrhein. Von Stephanitz had in his mind what a good working dog should be and a few generations of breeding fulfilled what Hektor envisioned. He was pleased with the strength of the dog and was so taken by the animal’s intelligence, loyalty, and beauty, that he purchased him immediately. He immediately changed the name to Horand von Grafrath and Von Stephanitz founded the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (Society for the German Shepherd Dog). Horand von Grafrath is known to be the first German Shepherd Dog.
Horand von Grafrath was bred to other similar styled dogs that were believed to have the same traits as what Von Stephanitz was looking for. His most successful offspring was Hektor von Schwaben. Hektor went on to be inbred with another of Horand’s offspring and produced Beowulf, who later fathered a total of eighty-four pups, thus the beginning of the German Shepherd Dog. Von Stephanitz is widely credited for being the founder of this incredible breed.
Von Stephanitz had intended for his breed to work as herding dogs, however, as Germany became more and more industrialized he saw the need to make it working dog. He convinced the German government to use the breed. During World War I the German Shepherd served as a Red Cross dog, messenger, rescuer, guard, supply carrier, and sentry.
The breed initially became popular in World War 1. Many American and allied servicemen grew attached to the breed during the war and brought them back to the states after the war was over. One of those dogs became
Rin Tin Tin was brought over by a Corporal from Los Angeles and later went on to become a Hollywood star.
The Allied troops fell in love with the breed but not with the fact that it had German roots. In 1917, the American Kennel Club changed the breed's name to the Shepherd Dog.
In England, the dog was renamed the Alsatian Wolf Dog and the AKC reverted back to using the original name of German Shepherd Dog in 1931.
Akita:
The Akita is an Asian dog that hails from the mountains of Japan. Predecessors of the modern Akita were used for hunting bear, wild boar and deer in Japan as late as 1957. They would be used to flush out the bear and keep it at bay until the hunter could come and kill it. However, like virtually all ancient dog breeds they have morphed over the generations. From being dogs that hunted and protected to being killed and forced to fight for human entertainment.
During the early part of the 1900’s the Akita was in decline, breeders were trying to “improve” it by breeding the Akita with the German Shepherd Dog, St. Bernard, as well as the Mastiff. As you can imagine this interbreeding made it lose a lot of it’s Akita characteristics. They are often recognized as Japanese and American Akitas. Since there was so much interbreeding in the U.S, the Japanese Akita is really known as the breed standard. Like virtually all dogs, they were used as hunters as well as dogs in times of war. During the Russo-Japanese War they were used to track prisoners of war and lost sailors. Japan had a war-time attempt to cull all non-military dogs, which started the breeding of them with German Shepherds to insure they were needed in World War 2. You can obviously find a lot more information on them as there is a lot to distinguish between the Japanese and American version and a lot of information online about the differences.
Awesome videos of German Shepherd Akita Husky Mix puppies
German Shepherd Akita Husky Mix Size and Weight
German Shepherd:
Height: 22 - 26 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 75 - 95 lb.
Lifespan: 9 - 13 years
Husky:
Height: 20 - 23 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 35 - 60 lb.
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Akita:
Height: 26 - 28 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 70 - 130 lb.
Lifespan: 10 - 12 years
German Shepherd Akita Husky Mix Personality
Like all hybrids, you have to look to the parents to get a good read on how they will likely behave. This could obviously make for a very powerful and strong breed that will have a lot of energy and a high prey drive. Both of these parent breeds have higher energy and a very strong prey and drive instincts. They should get along well with other animals if exposed and socialized properly as well. They are somewhat capable of independence, or alone time when the house is noisy or full. She responds well to positive reinforcement, like all dogs. She should be rather affectionate and enjoy spending lots of time with you. Don’t plan on leaving her alone for long periods as he won’t do well alone. She wants to be with the “pack.”
German Shepherd Akita Husky Mix Health
All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems as all breeds are susceptible to some things more than others. However, the one positive thing about getting a puppy is that you can avoid this as much as possible. A breeder should absolutely offer a health guarantee on puppies. If they won’t do this, then look no more and don’t consider that breeder at all. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition.
The German Shepherd mixed with the Husky and Black Lab might be prone to Elbow Dysplasia, Hip Dysplasia, Heart Conditions
Note that these are just common problems in both breeds.
German Shepherd Akita Husky Mix Care
What are the grooming requirements?
This will be a tougher dog to groom as two of these three dogs have pretty long hair. Be prepared to brush them a few times a week. Either way, get ready to invest in a good vacuum if you want to keep your floors clean! Give them baths as needed, but not so much that you dry out their skin. Never tie your dog up outside - that is inhumane and not fair to him.
What are the exercise requirements?
Plan on taking them for extremely long walks and hikes to keep their energy level down. This exercise will keep them from being destructive. A tired dog is a good dog. A tired dog is a good dog though. Never tie your dog up outside - that is inhumane and not fair to him.
What are the training requirements?
This is an intelligent dog that will be a little bit challenging to train. They are going to want to take the alpha position and need someone with a firm, strong, hand that can let them know their place. The best thing you can do is break the sessions into shorter daily sessions to keep their attention span higher. It might have a prey drive and be disposed to running for and chasing small prey, but if handled properly this can be managed. All dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. So make sure to praise her when she does well. She is an intelligent dog who loves to please, and loves a physical challenge. The more exercise she gets the easier she will be to train. Proper socialization is imperative to all dogs and puppies. Make sure to take her to the park and doggy day care to get her around as many people and dogs as possible.
German Shepherd Akita Husky Mix Feeding
A lot of times diet is done on a per-dog basis. Each one is unique and has different dietary requirements. Most dogs in the U.S. are overweight. A mix like this one that is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia should really be on fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin supplements as soon as possible.
Overfeeding any dog is not a good idea as that can really exacerbate health problems such as elbow and hip dysplasia.
A good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background.