Gerberian Shepsky Care

The Gerberian Shepsky, as a hybrid of the German Shepherd and the Siberian Husky, is bred from two of the most popular and renowned dog breeds known. And while fairly rare, this crossbreed is an excellent family and working companion, and is beloved by its owners! Best of all: aside from some high exercise requirements, Gerberian Shepsky care isn't especially time-consuming.

Below you'll find plenty of details on caring for a Gerberian Shepsky including puppy development, exercise needs, recommended diet, and more. For answers to your questions about owning this prized crossbreed, read on!

Since both its German Shepherd and Siberian Husky parent breeds are active and athletic, the Gerberian Shepsky crossbreed is quite agile as well, and will need a lot of daily exercise. These hybrids are intelligent dogs with strong work ethics, and will need activities that stimulate them mentally as well as physically. They also make excellent jogging and bicycling companions.

The typical adult Gerberian Shepsky, depending on its age and overall activity level, will need 60 minutes of proper exercise a day at the very least--and most Gerberians can handle a lot more than that! You can start exercising your Gerberian puppy at three months of age by taking it on short (10-minute) walks, then increasing the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows.

A few things to consider when exercising your Gerberian: first, puppies younger than nine months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running, and navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And regardless of age, a Gerberian will need to be leashed when in public. These dogs are highly protective, and might be suspicious of and aggressive towards strange people and animals; they also have a fairly strong prey drive, and tend to chase interesting-looking critters--squirrels, birds, even small dogs--if given the chance. A leash will help you control your Gerberian in these and other potentially tricky situations. And finally: Gerberian Shepskies don't do well in hot climates, and will overheat if the weather is too warm--so it's best not to exercise these dogs in sweltering temperatures.

Precautions aside, it's very important to exercise a Gerberian Shepsky every single day. If bored or restless, these dogs will become high-strung, disobedient, and destructive--so consistent Gerberian Shepsky exercise is great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind. Here are a few exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging/Bicycling: Two 30-minute walks (or 20-minute jogs or bike rides) per day is a good target
• Fetch: These dogs will chase a ball or stick for hours
• Tug-of-War: Great indoor, rainy-day activity; use a rope or old towel
• Canine Sports: Gerberians excel at obedience and agility trials, flyball, and other competition
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity; bonus if you can find a remote area where the dog can be off-leash

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your Gerberian access to one or more balls or chew-toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that you try and exercise the dog at the same time every day, such as walks, jogs, or bike rides after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, this hybrid will need a pretty high amount of care. Gerberian Shepsky shedding is moderate for most of the year, and more profuse during the spring and fall shedding seasons. Because their Husky parents drool some, Gerberians may also drool occasionally.

This crossbreed usually has a thick, short- to medium-length double coat that sheds some year-round, and more heavily during the 2- to 3-week shedding seasons. Owners will need to brush their Gerberians 2-3 times per week (and daily during shedding season) to minimize the shedding, and regular vacuuming of the floors and lint roller use on clothes and furniture to pick up stray hairs will be necessary.

And a Gerberian may drool in anticipation of food, after drinking water, or when especially excited or nervous--but the drooling won't be frequent or heavy. If your Gerberian Shepsky is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

Though opinions differ over what's the best dog food for the German Shepherd-Husky mix, the most logical and popular choice is premium dry kibble. This high-quality food, while more expensive and difficult to obtain, contains balanced amounts of animal proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids--all ingredients your Gerberian Shepsky will need to maintain its health in the long term.

Blue Buffalo, Royal Canin, and Taste of the Wild are three recommended premium brands that have excellent lines of dry food.

These dogs do not like warm climates and may overheat if left in a very hot environment. They are very resilient to the cold and can live in frostier locations.