Are there any dog lovers here? I am sure you will love every characteristic of this breed and will adopt it soon.
The Alaskan Shepherd is a super intelligent and highly energetic crossbreed of the Alaskan Malamute and the German Shepherd. This breed has a stunning wolf-like appearance. and some kind of a wolf-like disposition.
The Alaskan Shepherd is a perfect match for owners who love to burn off energy and enjoy training. This is a high-drive dog, and hence, it is necessary to make the training consistent and positive.
Now keep reading as I am going to break down everything about an Alaskan Shepherd for you.
About the breed
Are you a potential dog parent who is athletic and active and is also looking for a friend in a dog with a temperament like you?
We feel the Alaskan Shepherd breed is the right match! Loyal, outstanding energy, a great look, and obedience are just a few of the very acclaimed traits the Alaskan Shepherds have. Apart from these, they are easy to train and can double as your workout buddies as well.
What is more to ask? Keep reading to know all about your next perfect pet.
Alaskan Shepherd Dog Breed History
The Alaskan Shepherd is a hybrid between the Alaskan Malamute, largely bred in the Arctic region for endurance sledding and as a hunting companion, and the German Shepherd, which is essentially a herding dog bred to Shepherd families in the regions of Germany.
Both these parent breeds were functional and popular many years ago, and thus, the Alaskan Shepherd comes from a rich heritage of loved dog breeds.
The crossbreed is a rare find and is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club.
However, it is one of the stellar breeds since it brings the guarded strength and endurance of Alaska and the loyal and protective German Shepherd to a beautiful cross of a large affectionate dog that is the Alaskan Shepherd.
Let’s learn something more about this exciting breed.
Alaskan Shepherd Dog Breed Job Card/Overview
| Name of the Breed | Alaskan Shepherd |
| Other Names of the Breed | Alaskan Shepherd |
| Type of dog breed | Mixed/Crossbreed |
| Origin | Alaska |
| Born of | Alaskan Malamute and German Shepherd |
| Height | 24 – 28 inches |
| Weight | 50-90 pounds |
| Expectancy of Life | 10 – 12 years |
| Type of Coat | Dense medium coats |
| Colors mostly common | Grey, Red, Cream, Brown, Sable, Blue, and Silver |
| Level of grooming | Moderate Grooming Needs |
| Level of shedding | Strong shedding |
| Persona | Loyal, Protective, Active |
| Living in an apartment | Not ideal for Apartment living |
| Friendly with other pets | Yes |
| Health issues/Diseases | Glaucoma, Cataracts, Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, and Cancer |
| Health in general | Good |
| Level of reasoning | Very Intelligent |
| Easy to train | Easy to train, obedient |
| Level of energy | Very High |
| Activity interests | Rigorous, at least 120 minutes a day |
| Number of Puppies | 4- 10 puppies |
What to know
• They are largely known for their high strength from their Malamute parents and their lovingness and expense from their German Shepherd side.
• The size of these dogs is huge.
• However, their temperament makes them the perfect companions who are easy to train, look great, are perfect for active dog parents, and are absolute delights to have as a pet in your family.
Characteristics
Adaptability
This dog is not very adaptive to living in an apartment with their owners. Though they are loyal and intelligent, they are not for beginner dog parents. They are super sensitive and love long walks or hikes with their owners.
They hate being left idle for a long time. They hate the summer season and can’t adapt themselves to very hot and humid weather conditions.
Adaptability
Loves Living in An Apartment
Perfect Fit for The New Owners
Level of Sensitivity
Adapts to Being Alone
Adapts to Cold Weather
Adapts to Hot Weather
Friendliness
They are super friendly with their family members and love to spend time with them. They ? are not very amicable towards strangers and might behave improperly if not trained from an early age.
They love to play with kids but need to be under supervision when they are around smaller kids.
All Around Friendliness
Loves Family
Loves Kids
Loves Dogs
Amicable to Dogs
Personality
The Alaskan Shepherd dog breed is a breed that is sociable and has huge amounts of energy.
They require regular exercise that helps them spend their stamina and also games and endurance activities that can exhaust them.
They have a loving nature and have some sort of overprotective tendencies with their family members.
They usually get attached to their owners or families, often just one out of a ‘pack’ due to their temperament.
They are openly affectionate despite their large selves or intimidating looks. They enjoy socializing and can be trained easily since they are obedient.
Temperament
Friendly with Kids
When you are planning to add this breed to your family, you need to be aware of the fact that this breed might be good for your mature and grown-up children, but it might not be a good match for your young and small children.
They are prone to mouthiness and nipping most of the time when they are super excited. They are great companions for dog-experienced older children.
Amicable to Other Pets
These breeds have a very high prey drive. They are not good with smaller animals like cats, rabbits, and squirrels.
The owners, however, when trying to find some companion for your breed, try to look for some specific characteristics like the same intelligence level or same energy. This will make them grow stronger.
Barking Tendencies
These dogs are super friendly with kids but can get aggressive sometimes when they are bored or are left alone for a long time.
They bark moderately but are vocal when some unwanted situation arises.
They need a good amount of exercise. So, if they are kept without any physical exercise for a long period, that might frustrate them to bark excessively.
A good game of fetch can help them to calm their minds.
Possibilities of staying alone
Dogs love to socialize. They love to form bonds with family members and grow fond of them in very little time.
They love to play with mature kids but are moderately friendly towards strangers. They can’t be left alone for a long time as it can make them grow aggressive and destructive.
Pros and cons of the Alaskan Shepherd Dog breed
Pros
- Loves to play with their owners
- Intelligent and loyal
- Good with dog-experienced kids
Cons
- High prey drive
- Not good for first-time dog owners
- Can’t adapt themselves well to living in an apartment
Male vs. Female Attitude
Size is the only difference between the male and female Alaskan Shepherd ?? ; they do not have much of a difference when it comes to attitude.
Both of the gendered dogs are obedient and loyal and have a courageous and loving stance towards their owners and families.
Appearance
General Appearance
The Alaskan Shepherd looks very similar to the German Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute. They are quite long and have erect and pointed ears. The almond-shaped eyes will make your heart go crazy for this breed.
Their eye color varies between brown, blue, and hazel. They have a dark contrasted nose and muscular body. They have long and plumed tails and large arched-padded paws.
They can come in a wide variety of colors that are common to their parent breeds and have some black spots and markings on their forehead and muzzle.
They have a very heavy and dense coat, which is a bit thick, straight, and medium-long length.
Coat color
Alaskan Shepherds get dense coats from their Alaskan side. These are of medium length but tend to shed a bit.
It comes in colors of sable, black, white, red, blue, etc. The coat is slightly on the dense side, and regular maintenance is required as blowouts may be a problem area in certain seasons.
Shedding
Shedding is heavy when seasons change. Using particular tools like a Deshedder can keep this at bay.
When shedding is occurring at a quick pace, making sure you brush your dog’s coat every day is important. Otherwise, every week, similar to baths, it should do the job.
Size
The Alaskan Shepherd is pretty large. Both its parents were heavy-duty dog breeds that were used as companions for their expanse; thus, the Alaskan Shepherd is large as well.
They stand tall at about 24 to 28 inches and have thick, dense coats.
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 23-25” | 22-24” |
| Weight | 65-85 lbs | 60-75 lbs |
Health
Regular visits to the veterinarian are essential and go without saying to upkeep your Alaskan Shepherd’s health.
Generally, they are not subject to many health issues; however, due to their genes, they may be exposed to a few of them, like Glaucoma, Cataracts, Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, and Cancer.
To make sure you prevent these or get early signs, visit your veterinarian regularly.
You need to have a regular checkup for your pet ?? and find out about these health conditions.
| Health Problems |
|---|
| Hemophilia |
| Panosteitis |
| Perianal Fistulas |
| Von Willebrand’s Disease |
| Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency |
| Chondrodysplasia |
| Degenerative Myelopathy |
| Congenital Heart Defect |
| Health Test |
|---|
| Cardiac |
| Hip |
| Blood |
| DNA for VWD |
| Chd Clear Rating |
| Eye examination |
| Internal imaging like MRI, CT scan, X-Ray |
| Full body physical examination |
Health And Grooming Needs
Shedding Levels
Potential to Drool
Ease of Grooming
Health Conditions
Gains Weight
Size
Maintenance and Care
The Alaskan Shepherd ?? needs exercise, without a doubt, to stay active and in shape. Since they are active and love a good outdoor burn session, make sure you give them at least two hours of exercise.
Their diet needs and food habits are to be taken care of, and their mental peace can be maintained by regular exercise. Keep their coats and physicalities hygienic by regular grooming and brushing, especially during specific periods as required.
These dogs also love individual attention; thus, make sure you give them the coddling they require!
Grooming
During the summer months, grooming needs to be focused on. Ensure you are bathing your dogs regularly, keeping odor off of them, and trimming their nails.
Their heavy, dense coats shed heavily during the seasonal changes. The owners need to brush their dogs daily and keep their coats clean and polished.
Regular checking of their tails is a must for debris. Nail clipping twice a month and brushing teeth daily is highly recommended to keep your pet hygienic and happy.
Other than this, brushing their coats weekly and regular visits to the doctor to check for lice or other issues are also important.
Food and nutrition
To complement their high activity needs and energy, feeding, and diet an important areas to excel in.
Get recommendations from your doctor on what exactly to include in the diet of your Alaskan Shepherd, and also make sure you give them the most high-quality food that will help them upkeep their healthy weight and help them upkeep their muscle so they can play well and grow well. The diet must have energy components, for sure.
Food Cost
Your Alaskan Shepherd needs 2.5-3 cups of dog food every day to maintain their nutrient level properly.
The daily cost for your dog food is nearly $1.50-$2.00. The monthly cost sums up to be $40.00-$60.00.
Exercise and activity level
Alaskan Shepherds tend to be hyperactive and enjoy showing off their agile and strong selves. Make sure you are clocking in at least 120 minutes of exercise for your dogs every day.
Both parents of the Alaskan Shepherd work to their bone; thus, so should the Alaskan Shepherd.
Training the Alaskan Shepherd stimulates their brain and mental activity and keeps them on their feet. This positively reinforces them.
You can train them professionally or teach them tricks at their own pace. This will allow them to remain satisfied and content.
They need large open spaces to run around in and exercise within, so ensure you find spaces like these when you decide on a home for your own Alaskan Shepherd.
Physical Needs
Level of Energy
Strength Level
Requirement of Exercise
Loves Playing
Trainability
Alaskan Shepherds need exercise daily to keep them feeling content and motivated. They need positive reinforcement methods and proper training sessions to make them feel better.
Early socialization is a must for raising a well-behaved pup. Since they are intelligent, they can be coached to perform complicated tasks.
No matter how intelligent or energetic this breed is, they can also grow destructive and anxious sometimes. They are the happiest when they receive a positive balance of mental stimulation and proper exercise.
Trainability
Training Ease
Brain Readiness
Puts Everything in The Mouth
Loves to Hunt
Barking Tendencies
Loves Walks
Conclusion
The Alaskan Shepherd is a stimulated dog; thus, no activity can cause it to become lethargic or even fall into destructive habits.
They are competitive and courageous and come from hard-working ancestors who guarded and sled for owners.
Thus, their strengths lie in their physical, and if their physical requirements are not taken care of, it could be detrimental to them.
Explore More Dog Breeds…?
FAQ on Alaskan Shepherd Dog breed…
Where do the Alaskan Shepherd dog breeds come from?
They are a crossbreed between the Alaskan Malamute ? from the Arctic and the German Shepherds from Germany.
What is the best diet routine for an Alaskan Shepherd dog?
A diet that takes care of the energy requirements of the Alaskan Shepherd is important to the dog. Make sure lots of energy components are included in their food. Consult your veterinarian to get a personalized diet plan that can help maintain your Alaskan Shepherd’s health.
How much exercise is required for an Alaskan Shepherd?
At least 2 hours of exercise is required for an Alaskan Shepherd. This is because they have great stamina genetically and are active dogs. Walks, running, and games outdoors are essential for them, or they tend to get destructive.
I am a passionate animal lover with a lifelong commitment to pet care. With over a decade of experience as a pet owner, I’ve nurtured a variety of furry and feathered friends, from cats and dogs to birds and reptiles. I possess a deep understanding of their unique needs, behavior, and health. My mission is to share my knowledge and insights to help fellow pet enthusiasts provide the best possible care for their beloved companions.