Both Shepherd Husky and Mackenzie River Husky are originated from United States. Shepherd Husky may grow 10 cm / 3 inches shorter than Mackenzie River Husky. Shepherd Husky may weigh 7 kg / 15 pounds lesser than Mackenzie River Husky. Both Shepherd Husky and Mackenzie River Husky has same life span. Both Shepherd Husky and Mackenzie River Husky has same litter size. Both Shepherd Husky and Mackenzie River Husky requires Moderate maintenance.
What a beautiful dog the Shepherd Husky is. He is a mix between the Husky and the German Shepherd. Other names for him include Gerberian Shepsky, German Husky and Siberian Shepherd.
The German Shepherd originated in Germany and the Husky is from Siberia. We assume this mixed breed dog was bred in the USA. The true origin of the German Shepherd Husky dog is unclear but both the parent breeds have long histories.
The dog is recognized as a Hybrid by both the Dog Registry of America as well as the American canine hybrid Club.
The name Mackenzie River Husky was given to these huskies by those wanting to name the freight huskies of a certain area. The name took hold in the 1960’s, but the dog began to disappear with the introduction of snow machines.
They’re a mixture of native sled dogs - Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, Staghounds and Wolf. As a mixed breed, they have always been regarded as classic sled dogs.
Solid and strong, the German Shepherd Husky mix is attractive. He is a fairly large dog standing at 51 to 64cm in height and weighing between 20 to 40kg.
They’re powerful dogs these as they have a long history of being working dogs. The eyes of this beautiful dog can be brown, green or blue or a mix of these. The thick double coat protects them from the cold and in the warmer months, he sheds quite a bit.
The coat can be brown, black and tan or it can have creamy shades and be mixed with grey and white too.
The Shepherd Husky is a friendly, amicable dog who wants to please his owner. Training and socialization make him even more well adjusted. He is a dog that will get on well with children in the home as well as other dogs.
He is such an all rounder this dog – loyal, intelligent, social and loving - being great for accompanying you on walks and hikes but being willing to sit with you indoors too.
While he is adaptable and good natured and will happily live with his owner in the city or the countryside, he is better suited to life in the countryside. He also makes a great guard-dog.
The beautiful Mackenzie River Husky stands at 66 to 74cm in height and weighs between 29 and 47kg.
This deep chested dog has a long, straight coat with the colors being typically wolf-like – white, cream, black, tan, blonde and red. He has erect ears, long legs and a long, bushy tail.
This wolf-type dog is strong willed and independent and was always a pack dog. They wouldn’t be described as a good choice for the first time dog owner as they do seem to have some wolf traits and will require a strong, firm, level headed owner.
The German Shepherd Husky mix is such an ideal dog for single people, couples and families. This wolf-like breed is intelligent, loving,social and protective – the ideal family dog.
For those looking for an active dog that can be their jogging, walking and camping partner, this dog is for you. He loves to be busy, but he also loves being made a fuss of indoors too.
He has so many excellent qualities and is one dog breed that ticks all the right boxes for being such an all-round splendid pet and companion.
Your MacKenzie River Husky is such a likeable pet to have. True, he does tend to be a bit stubborn and independent but there is nothing that training and socialization won’t do for him. You’ll find him much more obedient and amicable, and he gets on well with children and pets in the home.
He is an intelligent dog too and very energetic so will require an owner who is active, firm and consistent. He thrives on human company and just wants to be around his owner all the time, ready to join in with any activity happening in his life.
He is therefore far more suited to life in the countryside than to the city. Loyal, devoted and loving, a MacKenzie River Husky isn’t only a beautiful dog to own, he promises to offer everything you want in a 4-legged friend.
This is such a robust dog that you an scarcely think of him being sickly and yet there are some illnesses that are common to all dogs and which your German Shepherd Husky mix might get as well.
Hip dysplasia is common in German Shepherd dogs as well as arthritis and thyroid dysfunction. Bloat and cancer are other diseases to watch for.
Canine hip dysplasia is a genetic disease characterised as a disease of the hip. The malformation can lead to arthritis and pain and ultimately lead to the loss of hip function, crippling your dog.
You will need to get your pet to the vet for treatment to make his life more comfortable.
Your MacKenzie River Husky, regardless of how healthy he is, can suffer with some common health problems that all dogs are prone to.
Perhaps one of the more common health problems that this particular dog breed has to contend with is cataracts, hip dyslasia and hypothyroidism.
Many people associate cataracts in dogs with age, little realizing that there are many medical reasons as to why our pets develop cataracts. Cataracts can start as early as 6 months of age, although this is unlikely. They come about because of a disease which affects the lens of the eye, causing the lens to lose its transparency.
You’ll notice a whitish/grey shade in your dog’s eye and this can actually impair vision. Cataracts are particularly the lot of diabetic dogs. It can certainly help to have your dog’s eyes checked by a vet regularly.
This is another fairly common problem with Huskies. It’s almost like a death sentence if your MacKenzie is a working dog because it can lead to lameness. The disease can lead to problems in the hip joint which cab be debilitating ad give your dog a lot of pain.
It doesn’t strike old dogs only, but can be the lot of young dogs too. Sometimes treatment will require surgery but there are non-invasive options too. You want to make sure that you don’t allow your pet to become overweight as this can contribute to developing hip dysplasia.
◆Brush the coat of your Shepherd Husky twice a week to rid the coat of loose hairs. This dog’s hair sheds quite heavily as the weather warms and he may require brushing more often.
◆When you brush him, check the ears and eyes for infection. The eyes must be bright and clear.
◆Feed your Shepherd Husky the best food there is as he is an energetic, working breed. The commercially manufactured foods can be a good, convenient choice but you need to make sure it is one of the better brands.
Some of the cheaper brands are full of bad ingredients that can make a dog sick.Try and give him some home-made foods that are healthy and nutritious. This food can be added to his dry kibble twice a week.
Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a tasty healthy choice for your pet. Try and include some raw meat into the diet as well.
Huskies like this one will require a good deal of exercise every single day. These are working dogs who have always had a job to do and you can certainly count him in when you do your hiking walks, swimming – you name it. The only thing he will object to is that he doesn’t do well in hot weather. Strong-willed, you’ll want your MacKenzie River Husky trained and socialized if you want him to be a companionable dog.
Dogs need to be fed according to the size, their age and their lifestyle. If your MacKenzie River Husky is an active working dog, his food must be the very best and contain enough calories to cover the daily caloric expenses.
Quality and the amount of vitamins and minerals in the food is most important for a dog like this. If you feed him commercially manufactured food, make sure its high quality and not made up of fillers, and other bad stuff. Read the label and understand exactly what’s going into your dog’s stomach.
Simplicity with feeding is best for your pet. Treat him occasionally to cooked chicken, brown rice, pasta and cooked or raw vegetables which can be added into his dry kibble. A dog like this will require some raw meat as well to ensure his coat and eyes are always shiny and bright.
Grooming of the MacKenzie River Husky must be done at least twice a week to get rid of loose hairs.