Alaskan Shepherd

Canis lupus

Last updated: January 24, 2025
Verified Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
iStock.com/ANATOLii SAVITSKii

This dog’s Malamute ancestors once came to America across the Bering Strait.


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Alaskan Shepherd Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Alaskan Shepherd Conservation Status

Alaskan Shepherd Locations

Alaskan Shepherd Locations

Alaskan Shepherd Facts

Fun Fact
This dog’s Malamute ancestors once came to America across the Bering Strait.
Temperament
Loyal, attentive, and hard-working
Diet
Omnivore

Alaskan Shepherd Physical Characteristics

Color
  • Brown
  • Grey
  • Red
  • Blue
  • Black
  • White
  • Cream
  • Silver
Skin Type
Hair
Lifespan
9-13years
Weight
85 lbs

Alaskan Shepherd as a Pet:

General Health
Energy Level
Shedability
Trainability
Intelligence
Tendency to Chew
Size
Family and kid friendliness
Yappiness / Barking
Moderate
Separation Anxiety
Moderate
Preferred Temperature
Cold climate
Exercise Needs
High
Friendly With Other Dogs
Moderate
Pure bred cost to own
$750 to $2,000
Dog group
Working
Male weight
65-85 lbs
Female weight
60-75 lbs

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The Alaskan Shepherd, a hybrid crossbreed, blends together two hefty breeds: the Alaskan Malamute and the German Shepherd. The breed most likely originated in the United States in the early 1900s when both of its parent breeds were popular.

For its part, the Alaskan Malamute is a big, intelligent working breed, bred as a sled dog in the Arctic. They have a confident, dignified demeanor and a loyal bearing. They descend from the wolf dogs that came across the Bering Strait thousands of years ago. The German Shepherd, another working breed, shares a number of attributes with the Alaskan Malamute. Their exceptional intelligence and adaptability make them well-suited for a wide array of jobs, including police work and service training, as well as make them loving human companions.

Alaskan Malamute shepherd in an enclosure

This breed will form a deep and lasting bond with its owners.

Size and Weight

The Alaskan Shepherd is a big, muscular dog with a strong work ethic and drive. Males are taller and heavier than their female counterparts.

Height (Male)23 to 25 inches
Height (Female)22 to 24 inches
Weight (Male)65 to 85 pounds
Weight (Female)60 to 75 pounds

Appearance

A long muzzle, erect and pointed ears, a long and plumed tail, and large paws with heavy padding characterize the appearance of Alaskan Shepherds. The straight, dense double coat of fur comes in a variety of colors: black, brown, white, silver, cream, blue, gray, red, and sable. Their eye color can be blue, hazel, or brown.

Common Health Issues

Although the Alaskan Shepherd has a lifespan of some 10 to 13 years, based on the health profile of its parent breeds, this dog may be prone to diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, cancer, congenital heart defects, bleeding and clotting disorders, a bone inflammation disorder called Panosteitis, and various skin conditions.

Another potential problem to look out for is exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, in which the dog is unable to properly digest some food. A responsible breeder will strive to reduce the risk of many health conditions, but regular examinations and tests by a veterinarian are encouraged.

Temperament

Friendly, loyal, brave, protective, and hard-working, the Alaskan Shepherd tends to attach to a single person at a time, but the breed often conveys an indifferent and even slightly aggressive attitude toward new people and dogs. Proper and early training can help dispel some of this bad behavior. Also, keep in mind, as a crossbreed, each Alaskan Shepherd can have a slightly varied temperament to the standard.

Alaskan Shepherds do require an engaged owner who can give it plenty of tasks to do. Otherwise, if and when bored, this breed can become incredibly anxious and destructive. The Alaskan Shepherd’s personality and traits make it well-suited for use as a watch- or service dog. The breed enjoys directing its energy and intelligence to performing tricks, exercising with its owner(s), and engaging in general playtime and companionship.

This dog is loyal and protective of children. However, parents should be careful about letting this breed interact with smaller children since its large size and bold temperament could be intimidating.

The Best Dog Food for Alaskan Shepherds

The Alaskan Shepherd needs about 2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food per day. The exact amount will depend on the dog’s age, size, and activity level. However, they tend to gain weight, so do not leave out any more food than is necessary. To rule out the chances of your Alaskan Shepherd suffering from diabetes, heart problems, cancers, and eye problems, find quality dog food with a complete nutritional profile.

Maintenance and Grooming

Due to its size and physical needs, the Alaskan Shepherd can be quite a difficult hybrid to care for. This dog needs plenty of space, lots of exercise and attention, a strong trainer, daily grooming, and a lot of food. It is not necessary to be an experienced dog owner, but it helps to understand what it will take to ensure that this breed is happy and healthy.

German shepherd and Alaskan malamute mixed breed dog, Alaskan Shepherd, playing in the forest

This breed needs weekly grooming and maintenance to ensure good hygiene and health.

The dog’s dense double coat of fur needs frequent grooming based on the time of the year. During the summer and winter months, the Alaskan Shepherd requires weekly brushings with a pin or slicker brush and a de-shedder. During the heavy shedding seasons in the spring and fall, however, you’ll need to brush their coats almost daily.

Another important aspect of this breed’s care is dental hygiene. It is recommended that its teeth be brushed daily with a high-quality canine toothpaste. Trimming their nails regularly and cleaning their ears with a cotton pad help them maintain good hygiene and health. And they should be bathed whenever they start to become particularly dirty.

Training and Exercise

What may seem complicated to another breed is a welcome challenge to the Alaskan Shepherd. This intelligent working dog enjoy the process of learning new tricks and tasks. Bear in mind, as an independent and strong-willed breed with its own thoughts about how things should be done, the Alaskan Shepherd benefits from a strong and respected leader with a firm, consistent hand to guide it. Do not be too harsh or aggressive; a positive attitude and training methods work best with this breed.

As the byproduct of two working breeds, the Alaskan Shepherd is high in energy and endurance. At least an hour of daily exercise, such as lengthy walks, designated playtime, and strenuous hikes or runs, is recommended. This breed benefits from having access to a large yard, dog park, or other large space. Remember, though, the Alaskan Shepherd, with its thick double coat, needs plenty of shade and rest in hot weather.

Puppies

From the moment of their birth, Alaskan Shepherd puppies are big, energetic, and enthusiastic dogs that will need plenty of early training to curb some of their worst instincts. Puppies benefit from exposure to new people and situations as well as crate and house training in the first few months of their life to produce well-behaved adult dogs.

Obedience training should probably begin when they are about three months of age. However, even after undergoing proper training, the Alaskan Shepherd may not truly mellow out until they reach fully mature at 2 years old.

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About the Author

Heather Ross

Heather Ross is a secondary English teacher and mother of 2 humans, 2 tuxedo cats, and a golden doodle. In between taking the kids to soccer practice and grading papers, she enjoys reading and writing about all the animals!

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Alaskan Shepherd FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What is the price of an Alaskan Shepherd?

The price of an Alaskan Shepherd is around $750 to $2,000. Dogs with a particularly strong heritage and pedigree will obviously cost a lot more. But an adopted dog from a shelter or rescue will tend to have a lower price.

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