The Australian Shepherd Husky is a designer breed you might encounter in shelters. It’s an interesting mixed breed for those who like to spend time outdoors, and it can be a great family companion.
Both parents of the Aussie Husky love open spaces. It can be a great companion for hikers, nature lovers, and those who love working out. So, if you’re considering adding this dog to your family, you’ve come to the right place. This article will tell you everything you need to know about this mixed breed, so let’s dive in.
History of the Australian Shepherd Husky
Breeders started cross-breeding Australian Shepherds with Siberian Huskies in the late 1990s, but some people believe that this mixed breed occurred naturally over the years.
The Australian Shepherd was bred in the US as a herding dog and became quite popular in the 1800s. So, it was the best companion dog for American cowboys.
Despite their name, these dogs aren’t native to Australia, and some people believe that they originated in the Pyrenees Mountains. Soon enough, these energetic dogs became popular as companion and family dogs.
Australian Shepherds are intelligent dogs with lovable personalities. In the US, these dogs are currently popular as service dogs, rescue dogs, and watchdogs.
The Siberian Husky is one of the oldest dog breeds out there. For thousands of years, people bred the Husky to pull sleds and goods, and it was so affectionate for humans. It became a family dog and traveled to different parts of the world as one of the best companion dogs.
Siberian Huskies arrived in the US during the Gold Rush era, and they were used to carry goods. For example, during the Diphtheria outbreak in Alaska, these dogs were used to carry the cure.
Australian Shepherd Husky Mix Facts
The Aussie Husky is a good-looking medium to large-sized dog, just like its parents. It’s currently bred as a designer breed, but you might encounter it in shelters.
Appearance
In general, your Australian Shepherd Husky will grow to be like its parents. So, you’ll have a dog that combines the features of both Australian Shepherds and Siberian Huskies.
Your Aussie Husky will be a medium or large-sized dog that stands at a height of 18 to 25 inches. It weighs between 45 and 65 pounds, but some dogs can be smaller or bigger than average.
When two breeds are cross-bred, the litter doesn’t inherit 50% of the traits from one parent and 50% from the other. In most cases, the puppies will be heavily affected by the genes of one parent more than the other.
Aussie Huskies usually have faces that look like Australian Shepherds and Huskies. The muzzle is rather long and thin, and the eyes are almond. Some dogs will have dark eyes like their Australian Shepherd parent, while others might have the gray or blue eyes of the Husky. Yet, blue and gray eye colors are less common.
Coat
The coat of the Aussie Husky is usually a mix of the color and pattern of the coats of its parents. Dogs usually have a long or medium-haired thick coat with an undercoat and a waterproof topcoat.
In most cases, the color will have two or three colors, like black, blue merle, white, tan, red, or red merle. The merle gene leads to the formation of a patchy coat that contains solid and diluted patches of different colors.
Unfortunately, the merle gene is a defective gene and leads to several health problems in the litter. Puppies that inherit this gene usually suffer from deafness and vision problems.
Aussie Huskies are heavy shedders and will require continuous grooming to keep their coats healthy and in good shape. As a result, this dog will not work for you if you’re looking for a hypoallergenic dog. Because of the nature of the coat, this dog will be an excellent dog if you want a pet that tolerates extremely cold weather.
Australian Shepherd Husky Mix Behavior and Temperament
The Australian Shepherd Husky inherits loyalty, friendliness, and intelligence from its parents. It’s a lovable family dog for the right owner and can also be trained to be a service dog. Since it’s good with kids, this can be the right dog for your kid if he or she suffers from a mental or physical disability because it loves being close to its human.
Personality
The Aussie Husky is an active and affectionate companion. It can be a good family dog that spends a lot of time playing because it’s very tolerant of kids.
Since both the Australian Shepherd and the Siberian Huskies were bred for work, the Aussie Husky will love to do different activities. It will be a great companion for daily runs, and it will enjoy jumping and playing in the backyard.
This dog is pretty intelligent and won’t be the right choice for you if you leave home for extended periods. Your Aussie Husky will be extremely frustrated and bored when left alone for too long. On the other hand, this dog is highly affectionate and needs to feel your love and affection in return.
Despite being extremely friendly and loving, this dog will seem aloof towards strangers and might even show signs of aggression. This is the same reason it might work for you if you’re looking for an alert guard dog. It’s extremely loyal and will show its affection towards its extended family.
Exercise
The parents of the Aussie Husky are two hard-working dogs, and they love being active and assigned different tasks. This is why you need to keep your dog mentally and physically stimulated by exercising and playing with it.
An under-exercised dog will show its frustration in multiple ways. For example, it might start howling or chewing on different items in the house. It might also try escaping away from the house.
In addition to running and playing games, this dog likes to be mentally challenged. This is why hiding toys and spending time to come up with fun activities with your dog will keep it happy.
With Family
The Australian Husky is a good dog for a busy family. It doesn’t like to be left alone for a long time, so it can be the close companion of an elderly person or a child. Yet, you need to ensure that this dog receives enough physical and mental stimulation to stay healthy.
Your Aussie Husky is very tolerant of kids, but close supervision is recommended, especially if you have a young puppy. Proper socialization is necessary because this dog might be a little wary around strangers.
With Other Pets
With early socialization, your Aussie Husky puppy can easily get along with other pets in the house. As a matter of fact, playing with other dogs can be good for your dog because it loves communication.
The best companion dog for this mixed breed is another outgoing and energetic dog. It should be of the same size so your Australian Husky doesn’t feel intimidated by a bigger dog. A shy dog that doesn’t play as much can make your dog frustrated, and you’ll face problems with both breeds.
Smaller animals might not be good companions for your Aussie Husky, even with early socialization. This dog has a strong prey instinct, so it might chase smaller animals.
Behavioral Issues
The most common problem that you might face with your Australian Husky is that it’s extremely intelligent and independent. This means that you’ll have a hard-to-train dog that might seem difficult and stubborn.
The Aussie Husky needs a lot of attention, and when left ignored, it will try to grab your attention with its negative behavior. This dog might start chewing on different stuff, howling, or barking just to show you that it’s not feeling well.
Digging is another common problem, especially when the dog is bored and frustrated. It’s a naturally outgoing dog that loves to explore, so unless you set up its enclosure properly, it might try to escape. You should also make sure that your backyard is properly fenced to guarantee that it won’t try to get away.
Australian Shepherd Husky Mix Socialization and Training
The Australian Shepherd Husky is a smart dog that you can easily train to do different tasks and tricks. But it’s important to establish that you’re the pack’s leader when the dog is still a young puppy, so it listens to you and obeys your commands.
Agility training works for this active dog, and with your guidance, it can take part in agility activities. Because this is a mixed breed, your dog won’t be eligible for dog shows.
Outdoor training will make this dog extremely happy and help reinforce positive behavior because this dog naturally feels content when it’s taking part in outdoor activities. Without proper training, you’ll have an extremely stubborn and difficult dog that you might not be able to deal with. Moreover, it will engage in annoying, destructive behavior.
Unless you have the time and patience to train this demanding dog, you might have to hire a professional dog trainer. Walking on a leash is a must because this dog might attack strangers because it’s overly protective.
Australian Shepherd Husky Mix Grooming
The Australian Shepherd needs daily brushing to remove any loose fur. It sheds a lot, so using a robotic vacuum might be necessary. The dog might not be suitable for you if you want a low-maintenance dog.
Using a mild dog shampoo to wash the dog’s hair once a month is necessary. You should make sure that it’s not too harsh, or it will strip the hair of its natural oils. Cleaning the dog’s ears and brushing its teeth regularly will keep it in amazing health.
Australian Shepherd Husky Mix Prices and Expenses
The price of the Aussie Husky is between $500 and $1000, but it varies greatly depending on the parents’ lineage and the reputation of the breeder. This is a medium-sized dog, so you should expect to spend a significant amount of money on providing it with good-quality food.
The Aussie Husky is an energetic dog, and it needs a protein and carbs-rich diet to stay in excellent shape. The dog’s diet changes as it gets older, but you should expect to pay between $100 and $150 per month for its food and treats. Other expenses include the costs of vaccines, neutering, and regular vet checkups.
Australian Shepherd Husky Mix Rarity
This mixed breed can be a little bit rare to find because most people don’t favor mixed breeds because of the problems associated with them. Nevertheless, you can still find a lot of abandoned Aussie Huskies in shelters, and they’re looking for loving homes.
Australian Shepherd Husky Mix Life Expectancy
You can expect the Australian Shepherd Husky to live between 12 and 15 years, just like its parents. This makes it an excellent companion for a kid, as they can both grow happily together.
Australian Shepherd Husky Mix Health
Mixed-breed dogs are prone to various health conditions, and there are specific diseases that Aussie Huskies usually suffer from. Generally speaking, most dogs will be healthy, but some gene abnormalities can lead to the following health issues.
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
This condition is common in both Australian Shepherds and Siberian Huskies, so Aussie Huskies are more prone to it. It happens when the bones of the dog grow abnormally, and the head of the bone doesn’t fit the socket of the joint.
The symptoms can appear at any age, and the condition usually weakens the attached ligaments and muscles. So, the dog will deal with mobility problems due to pain and stiffness.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, or PRA, is common in Huskies, and your Aussie Husky might inherit this condition. It happens as the cells in the retina degenerate leading to loss of vision and eventually blindness. Unfortunately, this condition can’t be treated.
Heatstroke
Heat exhaustion is common in dogs with thick coats, and the Aussie Husky inherits its thick double coat from both parents. This is why you should make sure that your dog is living in cool, comfortable conditions.
Wrap Up
The Australian Shepherd Husky is a lovable, intelligent, and energetic dog. It’s smart enough to be trained to do different tasks and can be a rescue or service dog.
This dog will be the right one for you if you love spending time outdoors because it’s fond of exercising and running. If you don’t spend time at home or you don’t have the time to take care of it, this dog will get too frustrated. It’s wary of strangers and can engage in destructive behavior if left alone.