Aussie Siberian Dog Breed

The Aussie Siberian, as a hybrid mix, is not an official member of any breed group. Neither does any info exist about these hybrids' specific origin; while the Australian Shepherd and Husky mix may have existed naturally for a long time, no breeder or breed club has claimed its creation. The Aussie-Husky mix was probably first bred for commercial purposes during the designer dog "explosion" in North America in the late 20th century. These energetic, intelligent hybrids can be good working dogs, and they make great pets for active families too.

A few Siberian Husky-Australian Shepherd mix facts: they're medium-sized, averaging 21 inches at the shoulders in height and 50 pounds in weight; they'll have medium-length, thick, double-layered coats that shed seasonally; and they're very energetic and will need a lot of exercise.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning an Aussie Siberian mix:

The Aussie Siberian mix is the offspring of two intelligent, "crafty" breeds that have a ton of energy, so these hybrids will need a lot of physical activity--and plenty of supervision along with it.

The typical Aussie Siberian dog will be friendly and loyal to its owners, and will have a lot of willingness to please, so the dog won't have many temperament issues. Perhaps the most important bit of Australian Shepherd-Husky mix info is that these dogs will do better in homes with large yards that'll give them room to roam--but it's best if the yards are fenced. If your Aussie Siberian inherits the Husky's "escape artist" tendencies, the dog will run off if given the chance, so it'll need to be supervised as often as possible. That supervision will need to extend to indoors too. This mixed breed will become restless and destructive if left alone, so owners will need to spend a lot of time with their dogs.

And again, this mixed breed is highly energetic, and will need plenty of exercise--walking, jogging, fetch, and just general playtime--on a daily basis.

The Aussie and Husky mix will be medium-sized, athletic, and streamlined. Depending on inherited physical traits, these hybrids can be lean, powerful, or most likely somewhere in between.

Exactly what does an Aussie Siberian look like? The head is the shape of a soft wedge, and the medium-length ears are often erect. The muzzle is also medium in length; the eyes are almond-shaped, and can be brown or even blue. (Since the Husky often has blue eyes, a blue-eyed Australian Shepherd-Husky mix is pretty common.) The legs are fairly long and straight, the chest of medium depth, and the tail can be of various lengths; some Australian Shepherds have naturally bobbed tails, so if the Aussie parent is a bobtail, their Aussie Siberian offspring will have a short tail too.

The coat will be be medium in length, thick, and straight to wavy.

Active, intelligent, fun-loving, protective, and often pushy, the Australian Shepherd-Husky mix temperament is one of both work and love. These hybrids are generally good-natured and playful with family members; they can get along well with kids and other pets too (especially if raised with them)--but they're often standoffish with and suspicious of strangers. Like their parent breeds, Aussie Siberian mixes will try to push limits with their owners, and will need human owners willing to play the role of the "alpha." In any case, providing these dogs with obedience training and socialization (starting during puppyhood if possible) will help them learn respectful behavior.

Speaking of training: these hybrids are smart, and can respond well to it--but they can also be stubborn, and may need some repetitions when learning tasks, tricks, and commands. As with any breed, firm, consistent, reward-based training methods are best.

Aussie Siberian mixes usually have good watchdog skills too. Because of their natural suspicion of unknown people, animals, and situations, they'll usually bark at and investigate strange sights or sounds.

The Aussie Siberian, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits of its parent breeds), is very healthy. Even so, these hybrids may suffer ailments common to the parent breeds. The most common issues are eye problems including cataracts and Progressive Retinal Atrophy, or PRA; others include hip and/or elbow dysplasia, and occasionally, cancer.

Potential owners are advised to ask breeders for health screenings for the dog and/or its parents, or they can have their own veterinarians do the screenings.

Life expectancy for the Aussie Siberian is 12-15 years.