Lifespan	12 - 13 Years
Height (at the withers)	Males and Females 50cm - 64cm
Weight	Males and Females 20kg - 40kg
Coat	Dense thick coat that is soft to touch
Colour	Brown, Cream, White, Red, Blue or Black
Eye colour	Blue or Brown
Common health issues	Patellar Luxation, Hip Dysplasia, Epilepsy, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Other Names	Husky Shepherd, Siberian Shepherd

The Gerberian Shepsky is a working-class dog and has an awful lot of energy to burn. They require physical exercise daily, and will willingly obey gentle commands of a patient yet dominating pack leader. They are a fun dog, always up for a game or new challenge but they do get bored easily and will choose to wander off if you're not being fun enough. This is a dog that needs to be doing something meaningful which is why they are excellent police dogs or search and rescue animals – it is mentally as well as physically stimulating. They are however also great family dogs, loyal, gentle and mischievous. They will protect your property and children and will guard them with their life. As for their interaction with other animals such as cats or rabbits, these dogs need a lot of socialisation when they are young to overcome their tendency to see these as prey. They value their food and water and may react if disturbed or annoyed while partaking in these activities so you will need to teach your children to leave this dog alone when they are being fed. The Gerberian Shepsky is an attractive dog that has an interesting and engaging personality but it is not for the inexperienced owner. It requires a strong but kind hand to get the best out of this dog.

It is interesting to look at the history of the parent dogs to determine what sort of characteristics will be inherited by this new hybrid. The German Shepherd originated in Germany, Karlsruhe, where a group of dedicated breeders produced the handsome German Shepherd by using long-haired, short-haired and wire-coated local herding and farm dogs. The dogs were presented at Hanover in 1882 and the short-haired version was presented in Berlin in 1899. These dogs became known for their obedience and fantastic ability to be trained as working dogs. Several movies, such as Rin-Tin-Tin and Strongheart featured the German Shepherd and it became a very popular breed. It has since made a name for itself as a police or security dog, being reliable, trustworthy and willing to obey orders. The Siberian Husky has been used for centuries by the Chukchi Tribe off the Eastern Siberian peninsula. Their job was to pull the sleds, herd reindeer and they were also an ideal watchdog. Their ability to endure the harsh climate is legendary, they were hardy and could be integrated into small packs who worked happily for hours on end. Native to Siberia, the Husky was brought to Alaska by fur traders in Malamute for Arctic races because of their endurance and speed. In the early to mid-1900s Admiral Byrd used the Husky in his Antarctic exploration and during World War ll these dogs also served on the Army’s Arctic Search and Rescue Unit.