Alaskan Shepherd Dog Breed

The Alaskan Shepherd mix, as a crossbreed, is not an official member of any breed group. Neither does any info exist about these hybrids' specific origin; while an Alaskan Malamute-German Shepherd mix has probably existed naturally for a long time, no breeder or breed club has claimed its creation. The Alaskan Shepherd dog breed likely gained popularity during the designer dog "explosion" in North America in the late 20th century. These big, energetic, hard-working dogs are equally good in working capacities or as family pets--but they'll need owners willing to give them plenty of physical and mental activity.

A few Alaskan Shepherd facts: they're large-sized, averaging 24 inches at the shoulders in height and 85 pounds in weight; they have medium-length, thick, double-layered coats that shed a lot; and they're extremely energetic and will need a lot of exercise.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning an Alaskan Shepherd:

Some Alaskan Shepherd information: these hybrids are the offspring of two big breeds that are similar in lots of ways. Both the Malamute and the GSD were developed to work, whether it's sled-pulling, herding, hunting, or people/property guarding. It's no surprise, then, that the Alaskan Shepherd is at its best when it's kept busy!

That's why the general Alaskan Shepherd wiki stresses the importance of giving these hybrids a job to do at all times if possible. The Alaskan Shepherd is big, at 23-25 inches in height and 75-95 pounds in weight, so the dog will be able to handle most any physical tasks. If an Alaskan Shepherd is left alone at home while its owners are at work, many say, the dog will "create its own task"--namely, tearing everything to shreds! Owners and experts suggest getting a dog-walker or pet-sitter to tend to your Alaskan Shepherd if you can't be home during the day. And these dogs' "homes" will need to be houses, not apartments, as they're just too large and active to be comfortable in small spaces.

Regardless of their living situation, it's important to give your Alaskan Shepherd outdoor exercise on a daily basis. These strong, energetic hybrids will need a lot of activity to keep them calm and well-balanced.

The Malamute and the German Shepherd have very similar physical traits, so the Alaskan Shepherd is pretty consistent in size, coat length/texture, and physical features like leg or tail length. With hybrid dogs. breeders use symbols like P, F1, F1b, and so on to signify a crossbred dog's genetic material. For the Alaskan Shepherd, the following applies:

• P: Purebred (100% Malamute or 100% GSD)
• F1: P x P (50% Malamute, 50% GSD)
• F1b: F1 x P (75% of the purebred's DNA)
• F2: F1 x F1 (50% Malamute, 50% GSD)

(The sequence continues up to F6 or higher.)
If a breeder wants to amplify one breed's traits in the mix, they'll develop F1b breeds to have more purebred Malamute or GSD traits in the dogs' DNA. Breeders can also use selective breeding techniques, whereby they'll breed successively smaller dogs, to develop Miniature Alaskan Shepherd mixes (which they might call the "Mini Alaskan Shepherd")--but these smaller dogs are not an official breed variation.

Hard-working, friendly, intelligent, protective, and often independent and strong-willed, the Alaskan Shepherd temperament is one of activity and confidence. These hybrids are usually affectionate with family members--and like other working breeds, they often have a single favorite person (normally the one who trains the dog most frequently) to whom they attach themselves. Alaskan Shepherds are also loyal to and protective of their human families, and can be good guard dogs with the proper training. They socialize pretty well with kids and most other pets, too, though they sometimes try to challenge other dogs in the household (especially those of the same sex). Alaskan Shepherd owners and breed experts say it's best if these dogs grow up alongside any children or other pets, so they learn to be accustomed to one another.

In regards to training: Alaskan Shepherds are very smart, and can respond well to it--but these hybrids like to think for themselves, so they may need a few repetitions when learning commands or tasks. As with other breeds, firm, consistent, reward-based training methods are best.

And Alaskan Shepherds normally make great watchdogs (and in some cases, effective guard dogs too). They're alert, confident, and protective, and should bark at and investigate unknown sights or sounds--and their sheer size alone can deter potential threats like intruders.

The Alaskan Shepherd, 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 including hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and eye issues like cataracts. Larger, deeper-chested Alaskan Shepherds might also be prone to gastric torsion (or bloat) if they eat their food too quickly. 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 Alaskan Shepherd is 11-14 years.