Alaskan Shepherd is a crossbreed between the Alaskan Malamute and the German Shepherd. Owing to its large parents, the Alaskan Shepherd is also a big sized dog which is well suited for families owing to their amicable and loving nature.
Alaskan Malamute x German Shepherd = Alaskan Shepherd
History
The Alaskan Shepherd is a rare designer breed which may have been bred since the early 1900s in the United States. There is very little information is available regarding its origin. This dog was originally bred with an idea to develop a strong sled dog which may pull and carry heavy freight similar to the Alaskan Malamute. This scarce hybrid is not recognized by the AKC. However, in the year 2009, they gained recognition from the International Designer Canine Association (IDCA).
Appearance
These large-sized dogs inherit physical characteristics similar to their parents. They have an athletic built and are well-muscled and strong. They have a wolf-like appearance similar to its parent Alaskan Malamute. The average height of these dogs varies from 21 to 28 inches with an average weight of 60 to 125 pounds.
Alaskan Shepherds have attractive almond-shaped eyes, which may vary from blue, hazel or brown color and large erect and pointed ears. They have a very dense upper coat and it is thick, straight, and medium in length. The color of their coat may vary from gray, black, white, fawn, brown or a combination of any two.
Alaskan Shepherd Pictures
Quick Information
| Characteristics | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Alaskan Shepherd |
| Color | Top coat -Straight, thick and rough; Undercoat - Soft and dense |
| Coat | Shades of black, gray, brown, red, sliver and gold |
| Breed Type | Crossbreed |
| Breed Group | Hunting, Herding, Working |
| Size | Big Sized |
| Hieght | 22-15 inches |
| Weight | 60-85 Lbs |
| Life Span/Life Expentancy | 10-13 Years |
| Temperament | Loyal, smart, affectionate, intelligent, friendly. |
| Shedding | Heavily |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
| Barking Level | Barks when necessary. |
| Energy Level | Active |
| Good with Children | Yes |
| Good with Other Dogs | Yes |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Competitive Registration/Qualification Information | Dog Registry of America, Inc – DRA International Designer Canine Registry® – IDCR |
Temperament and Personality
This German Shepherd-Alaskan Malamute mix is friendly, loyal and smart dogs. This alert breed is highly protective towards its family, owing to their attachment with their family, forming ideal watchdogs, a quality that they may have inherited from the German Shepherd.
They love the attention of the family, and may feel anxious or become destructive when bored or left alone for long hours. These dogs are good company for children and other pets. However, owing to their huge size, an adult should always supervise when your pet is around small children.
These dogs are highly protective for the family members and get alert when strangers are around. Thus making a great watchdog who keeps a close vigilance on any suspicious activity. Owing to their half german shepherd half malamute lineage they prefer cooler climates.
Care – Exercise
Both the parent breeds of the Alaskan Shepherd are working breeds and are highly energetic and active. Thus the resultant offsprings are also energetic and high endurance pets who need regular exercise to keep them mentally and physically stimulated.
These dogs love being outdoors in the yard or park and participate in activities like hiking, running, fetching in open spaces. A 60-90 minutes of walk, jog, or run will be ideal to keep them busy, as they may tend to get destructive when bored.
Grooming
They have medium length hair and extremely rough and dense double coats that shed heavily, especially during seasonal changes. Brushing them weekly with a bristled brush as well as using a de-shedder can help reduce seasonal shedding and keep the coat neat and polished.
Cleaning their ears and eyes regularly will help to keep allergies and infections at bay. Brushing their teeth weekly is recommended for good dental health along with clipping their nails. These dogs need only occasional baths when their coats are dirty with debris.
Health Problems
Alaskan Shepherd is usually a healthy breed with a lifespan of 11-13 years. They can have some of the health issues like chondrodysplasia, i.e., other body parts not functioning correctly. Also, they may get infected by cartilaginous exostosis that is a disorder of the bone because of the excessive formation of calcium.
Training
Positive Reinforcement: Taking a positive and fun, rewards-based approach is the best way to encourage your pet.
Obedience Training: Obedience training always comes prior to socialization training, especially to herding dogs. Since herding dogs have a natural instinct to hunt other animals, it is important to train them the basic obedience commands like ‘freeze’, ‘back’, ‘halt’. ‘stop’, and etc. to keep them even-tempered and well-rounded dogs.
Socialization: Taking your young puppies to parks to play and meet other people and animals will make them comfortable with strangers and help them come out of their shyness.
Feeding
The Alaskan Shepherd is a large-sized active dog which needs healthy dog food which is divided into 2-3 meals. Be careful not to overfeed your dog with treats and meals as this may lead to obesity.
Alaskan Shepherd Puppies Images
I think they are beautiful and I am going to start raising them .