Alaskan Shepherd

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.

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.

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 that as a crossbreed, each Alaskan Shepherd can have a temperament that varies slightly from the standard.

Alaskan Shepherds do require an engaged owner who can give them 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.

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 enjoys 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 full maturity at 2 years old.