Alaskan Shepherds are designer dogs intentionally designed to create a sled dog that would do heavy jobs. The Alaskan Shepherd is a blend of the Alaskan Malamute and the German Shepherd. They are intelligent, loyal, highly trainable, and energetic dogs who thrive on many physical activities. Owing to their unusual blending, they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club. However, they were recognized by the International Designer Canine Association in 2009.
Table of Contents
An Overview of the parent breeds
Alaskan Malamutes are huge and brilliant working dogs bred initially as sled dogs in the Arctic. They are confident, dignified, loyal in demeanor, and descended from the wolf-dog lineage. German Shepherds are large dogs with great intelligence and high energy that were once working dogs and now serve as service dogs, police dogs, or companions in homes.
Alaskan Shepherd Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Highly active and energetic
Will get destructive without physical and mental stimulation.
Loyal and protective
High maintenance
Highly intelligent
Wary of strangers
Alaskan Shepherd Basic Information
Name: Alaskan Shepherd
Height: 1 foot 11 inches to 2 feet 2 inches
Weight: 75 – 100 pounds
Coat: Double – thick and rough outer coat; soft and dense undercoat.
Color: Black, red, brown, blue, white, silver, sable, cream, liver and gold, shades of gray
Energy: High
Activities: Hunting, working, herding, agility
Group: Mixed breed, Companion, Hunting, and Guarding
Breed recognition: DRA – Dog Registry of America, Inc., IDCR – International Designer Canine Registry®
Alaskan Malamute Vs. German Shepherd – A Comparison
Features
Alaskan Malamute
German Shepherd
Image
Origin
Alaska, the U.S.A
Germany
Height
1 foot 11 inches – 2 feet 1 inch
1 foot 10 inches – 2 feet 2 inches
Weight
75 – 100 pounds
75 – 95 pounds
Size
Large
Large
Group
Working Dogs
Herding and Working Dogs
Children Compatibility
Medium
High
Family Compatibility
Medium to high
High
Pets Compatibility
Low to medium
Low to medium
Barking Level
High
Medium to high
Shedding Level
High
High
Hypoallergenic
No
No
Grooming Needs
High
Low
Overall Health
Medium to high
Medium to high
Energy
High
High
Exercise Needs
High
High
Trainability
Medium to high
High
Activities
Hunting, herding, pulling sleds
Herding, Agility
Complication in breeding
No
No
Litter Size
1 – 7 puppies
8 – 15 puppies
Lifespan
12 – 15 years
10 – 14 years
Other Names
–
Alsatian, German Shepherd DogBerger Allemand,Deutscher Schäferhund
Alaskan Shepherd Personality
Alaskan Shepherd is a well-muscled rectangular-shaped dog with a wolf-like appearance. They have gorgeous almond-shaped eyes on a long face that is blue, brown, or hazel, wide muzzles, black or brown noses, strong jaws, and erect and triangular ears; The limbs are sturdy and powerful with large paws and heavy padding. Their muscular hindquarters aid in prowling at an incredible speed like wolves; A long tail that is plumed and curled majestically on the back.
The Alaskan Shepherd can also come in various colors, with black markings on the muzzle and forehead. Their double coats are dense, with rough outer coats and smooth undercoats that are usually straight and medium length. Their coats resists wetness from rain and snow and regulates temperature.
Friendliness Overview
Affection level
Medium to high
Family-friendly
Medium to high
Kid-friendly
Medium to high
Pet-friendly
Low to medium
Stranger -friendly
Low to medium
Adaptability Overview
Good for apartment living
Low to medium
Good to new owners
Low to medium
Sensitivity level
High
Tolerates being alone
Low
Cold-tolerance
High
Heat-tolerance
Low
Alaskan Shepherd Temperament
It is difficult to figure out the temperament of a mixed breed. Alaskan Shepherds may either have an Alaskan Malamute’s personality, a German Shepherd’s personality, or a blend of both. They are:
Independent
Affectionate
Courageous
Friendly
Intelligent
Loyal
Guarding
Sensitive
Great herders
Intolerant to loneliness
Very vocal
Excellent watchdogs
In addition, Alaskan Shepherds would like to be alpha dogs and can be aggressive towards strangers. He is suitable for older children and adults. They are not ideal for smaller kids and aged people due to their hyperactive nature. The Alaskan Shepherd is unsuitable for apartments because of his size, energy, and exercise needs. It is a must for this hybrid dog to get access to the backyard with a tall and secured fence. You must keep smaller pets away from the Alaskan Shepherd, for he may instantly chase them if he carries his German Shepherd’s parental gene. Keeping him on the leash is mandatory while you take him to public parks.
Alaskan Shepherd Training
Perfect training is essential to make any canine a well-behaved dog in people’s eyes. Alaskan Shepherd is intelligent and can learn tricks and train quickly. You must train Alaskan Shepherds as early as possible to control their “alpha dog” nature. Socialize him right from his puppyhood to make him understand a wide range of people and situations. Training them on a leash is vital to keep their hunting instincts in check. Thus, formal training is very critical, and their training should include the following:
Further, training Alaskan Shepherd is vital to put a check on his:
Territorial nature
Aggressiveness
Unwanted barking
Stubborn streaks
Trainability Overview
Easy to train
Medium
Intelligence
Medium to high
Mouthiness tendencies
Medium to high
Barking and Howling tendencies
High
Prey drive
High
Wanderlust tendencies
Medium
Alaskan Shepherd Exercise Needs
Alaskan Shepherds are highly energetic and active canines. They are large dogs with great stamina. Ninety minutes of physical exertion every day is mandatory for this mixed breed. An exercise regime includes agility training, playing fetch and frisbee, walks, jogging, and swimming. Exercising is vital to keep him physically and mentally stimulated, healthy and hearty, and to check his destructive behavior and obesity. A large yard with a tall and secured fence will help these dogs to exert their pent-up energy. This designer breed should not be left alone for long hours under the Sun.
Exercise Needs Overview
Energy level
High
Exercise needs
High
Intensity
High
Playfulness
Medium to high
Alaskan Shepherd Grooming
The double coat of the Alaskan Shepherd would not get tangled, and you can easily maintain them. He will shed during seasons like summer. Thus, pet owners should increase the time of grooming schedules from once to twice or more a day. It is enough to bathe him occasionally when he gets dirty or smells terrible with a mild bath shampoo meant for dogs. Remember that excessive bathing can remove the natural oils from your canine’s skin.
Trim their nails, check and clean their eyes and ears, and maintain their dental hygiene as a part of regular grooming. Some online buy suggestions for your pet:
Along with the above grooming routines, ensure you examine your dog’s feet for any injury like tearing nails, cuts, or cracks on footpads owing to the Alaskan Shepherd’s hyperactive nature. If you are allergic to dogs, you must take extra precautions as Alaskan Shepherds are not hypoallergenic breeds. As far as drooling is concerned, they don’t drool.
Grooming Overview
Easy to groom
Low
Drooling tendency
Low
Amount of shedding
High
Alaskan Shepherd Health
Alaskan Shepherds are relatively healthy breeds. However, like any other breeds, they are prone to health conditions stemming from their lineage. Thus, to keep them healthy, it is vital to take this designer dog to the veterinarian for regular health checkups and ensure that he is updated with vaccinations. The lifespan of Alaskan Shepherds is 10 – 15 years. Some inherited health problems are listed below:
Hip Dysplasia: A disorder that affects canines in their growing phase. It leads the hip joint to relax, resulting in discomfort and dysfunction. In addition, the cartilage and bones in the dog’s hip start to wear away as he develops. This leads to arthritis, muscular atrophy, and decreased mobility over time.
Elbow Dysplasia: This disorder occurs when the elbow joint bones don’t fit appropriately. This condition generates abnormal pressure at the joint, leading to chronic rubbing and painful osteoarthritis.
Symptoms
Mild to moderate pain
Lameness in the forelimbs
Cataracts: Just like humans, canine cataracts are characterized by cloudy spots on the eye lens that can grow gradually. Cataracts may develop at any age and often don’t damage vision, although they cause vision loss in some cases. A board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist certifies the breeding dogs after testing them free of hereditary eye disease before breeding. Usually, you can remove cataracts surgically with good results.
Panosteitis: A bone inflammation common in puppies with long legs due to rapid bone growth.
Degenerative Myelopathy(DM), commonly known as chronic degenerative radiculomyelopathy (CDRM), is a spinal cord illness that causes weakening and paralysis in the hind limbs. Degeneration of the white matter of the spinal cord causes the symptoms.
Epilepsy: This is the most prevalent neurological disease in canines, concerning about 0.75 percent of the population. Epilepsy is a broad name for disorders characterized by repeated, uncontrollable seizures caused by a brain defect.
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which a dog’s metabolism is slowed due to the lack of thyroid hormone production. Symptoms are:
Lethargy
Gaining weight
Reluctance to work out
Hair Loss
Diabetes: Diabetes is a disease that can be found in any dog breed. However, some breeds are more prone to developing diabetes than others. For example, dogs withhigh body weight and a high-fat diet are the most likely to develop diabetes, while those fed a low-calorie diet are less likely to suffer from it. The reason is that they don’t consume enough calories.
Obesity: Obesity is a common health disease in the German Shepherd mixes. Excess weight can result in back pain, digestive disorders, joint problems, and heart diseases. The ideal way to control this disorder is by maintaining a healthy diet and exercise.
Cartilaginous Exostosis is a disorder of the bones due to excessive deposition of calcium.
Achondroplasia is a condition where the dog suffers from hip or elbow dysplasia and the malfunctioning of many body parts.
Glaucoma: It is caused by increased pressure in the eye and is found in two forms: primary, which is hereditary, and secondary, which is caused by the decreased fluid in the eye. Symptoms include pain and loss of vision. Treatment includes surgery or eye drops.
Heart Disease: This causes irregular heart murmurs and heartbeat. It can be identified through an X-ray or ECG. In addition, dental care, medications, and weight control can aid in controlling this disease.
Cancers: A leading health disease affecting dogs. The most standard ones are:
Lymphoma: A severe illness that affects lymphocyte cells.
Hemangiosarcoma: This is a hazardous form of cancer that originates in the lining of blood vessels and the spleen. It most commonly happens in middle-aged and elderly dogs.
Osteosarcoma: Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone cancer common in large and giant breeds.
Health Overview
Overall health
Medium to high
Weight gain tendencies
Medium to high
Size
Large
Alaskan Shepherd Diet and Nutrition
An Alaskan Shepherd would need two to three cups of high protein dog food divided into two equal meals. You can add vegetables to his diet to keep him healthy. Do not overfeed; you should take care of his diet to avoid obesity. Consult a vet to chart his diet habits.
Alaskan Shepherd Living Condition
The Alaskan Shepherd will require the following living conditions to lead a happy and healthy life.
A fenced yard or ample space to run around.
A family that dedicates time.
If you live in an apartment, you must ensure that you provide time for his physical exertion.
Experienced pet owners.
A devoted pet owner who spends on grooming and dietary requirements.
Adding an Alaskan Shepherd to Your Family
Things to Remember Before Adding an Alaskan Shepherd
Adding an Alaskan Shepherd to your family will need proper research about their parent breeds, cost, breeders, health, and certificates. Then, get your Alaskan Shepherd from a reputable breeder who will provide you with vaccination and gene testing certificates. Also, ensure the health of the puppy’s parent breeds.
Cost of an Alaskan Shepherd Puppy
The cost of an Alaskan Shepherd is around $300 – $1000.
