The Gerberian shepsky is a breed that originated from the melding of two purebred dogs, the German shepherd and the Siberian husky.
Often known as the German husky or the Siberian shepherd, this breed has exotic, stunning looks that often leave strangers wondering just what this mystery dog is!
These dogs can have a shepherd appearance, husky looks, a sprinkling of each, the colorings of one or both, and often have those intense cool blue eyes of the husky.
They may even have brown eyes or display heterochromia, with each eye a different color; one brown and one blue.
Both the German shepherd and the Siberian husky sport two coats that are thick and because the Gerberian shepsky is the result of these two beautiful dogs, this breed wears an equally double thick coat.
The Gerberian shepsky’s undercoat is a thick insulated one that keeps them warm in winter and cools in summer. Their outer coat can be longer, shorter, or straight with a medium dense thickness.
Being that both the German shepherd and the Siberian husky do have quite an amount of fur, they are found to be moderate shedders and this is also true of the Gerberian shepsky, also known as being moderate when shedding.
Don’t necessarily assume that a shorter-haired dog would not leave fur all over your house.
Both the Dalmatian and the Chihuahua are notorious for excessive shedding, in fact, the Dalmatian is listed as one of the breeds that shed the most.
If your heart’s desire is to own a Gerberian shepsky, but you are fearful of the fur “storm,” look no further.
In this post I will answer the question, “does a Gerberian shepsky shed a lot?’ Also included will be tips to control shedding in dogs.
For your dog’s vitamin supplement, food, toys, or other dogs product please visit the Sundays for dogs website.
Do Gerberian Shepskys shed A Lot?
Being that the Gerberian shepsky is the result of cross-breeding the German shepherd and the Siberian husky, they will inherit traits from each breed, both behavioral and physical. Some characteristics will be more dominant than others.
The German shepherd and the husky both have those double-thick coats and so does the Gerberian shepsky.
These two breeds tend to shed quite a bit and so will your shepsky. They are considered in the medium maintenance to high maintenance category.
The Gerberian shepsky will shed somewhat all year long, so if you’re a very neat and tidy housekeeper, this may not be the dog for you.
Fur may be found on carpeting, furniture, and clothing and even at times, floating through the air!
The shepsky also has two seasons when they will lose their entire undercoat, usually in spring and fall, shedding profusely.
They lose their summer coat to make way for a much warmer winter coat and in spring, this occurs again to make way for a cooler summer “jacket.”
These seasons are known as “coat blowing” and loose fur can really accumulate enough to make another dog!
This hybrid of a breed has been blessed with a thick, luxurious coat and this will be evident, especially during shedding season!
To check your shepherds’ health status or their DNA checks, please visit the Embark vet website for all the help you may need.
How To Control Shedding In Dogs.
Before you get stressed over the thought of your Gerberian shepsky’s shedding cycles and believe that you will be surrounded by the fur on all fronts, there are a few steps you can take to ease and control shedding and make it more manageable so you don’t pull your hair out! Below are some tips to help.
Diet
Make sure to feed your Gerberian shepsky a high-quality diet. Of course, the diet is good for their health but it will also help keep their hair soft and shiny if it contains all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need.
A healthy coat is an indication of good health and with the proper nutrition, it will work from the inside making for a robust appearance on the outside. If a dog is not receiving proper nutrients, this can cause hair to fall out even more.
Ask your veterinarian about fish oil supplements that contain Omega 3 fatty acids, which are healthy for their heart as well as their coat. Some good pet foods contain these already.
Frequent brushing
Your Gerberian shepsky should be brushed at least two or three times a week and perhaps even every day during their shedding seasons.
Yes, there will be a lot of furs, but frequent brushing cuts down the amount, so as not to end up with a trash bag full of hair all at one time. Keeping up with grooming actually saves time in the long run.
Use an undercoat rake, especially during coat blow to remove that loose dead fur from their undercoat. De-matting combs are good if your pup has any mats that sometimes occur behind their ears and are painful to untangle.
If you are diligent with brushing, however, mats should not be a problem. A slicker brush can be used for everyday brushing and to finish up after using the undercoat rake. The slicker brush removes any leftover loose fur.
When finished with the brushing use pet wipes to remove any loose fur left behind, smooth the coat, and leave it shiny.
There are also sprays that detangle and keep hair moist while brushing so it doesn’t float all over. If possible, brush your pup outdoors so the fur stays outside.
Bathing
Bathing will help remove loose dead hair, especially during shedding season. You can give your pup a bath about every two months, but this depends on how dirty they get.
No one wants a smelly dog in their house, but you also don’t want to overdo the bathing as this will dry out their skin by removing essential oils and may create skin problems that could lead to more hair shedding and hair loss.
Always use good quality shampoo, preferably with natural ingredients that are gentle and don’t contain additives, dye, and chemicals.
Swimming
If your Gerberian shepsky loves to swim, this is a perfect way, especially during spring and fall, to get rid of loose fur. This would be accomplished in a pond or lake.
Swimming in a chlorinated pool would not be good for your shepsky’s skin or for your pool’s filter by clogging it!
Professional groomer
If bathing your pup is just not your bag, you can opt for using a professional groomer. They have just the right equipment to handle this without leaving your bathroom looking like a war zone, wet, soggy, and hairy mess!
You can also enlist the groomer to trim any areas on your pup that are out of control however, never, ever have your pup shaved thinking it will end the shedding problem.
It will end the shedding, but your Gerberian shepsky needs that coat to regulate their temperature, keeping them warm in winter and cool in summer and it also protects their skin. Without fur, they would be left bare and open to sunburn, bug bites, and possible skin infections.
Allergies
Keep an eye on your pup for any signs of allergies, environmental or food. Both can cause skin issues leading to itching, scratching, and more loss of fur.
Also, along with brushing comes dander which is dry, dead skin that is the cause of human allergies.
If anyone in your house suffers from allergies, brushing and removing dead fur should help to minimize symptoms, especially brushing outdoors.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming will be necessary, even daily during shedding season to keep hair at bay. This is especially crucial if anyone has allergies.
If you vacuum frequently, this will help you keep up with any fur around your home and won’t seem like an insurmountable task.
Lint roller
Even by using all of the tips above, you still can’t eliminate all fur. Keep a lint roller or two handles. This may be one of your new best friends next to your Gerberian shepsky!
As a natural process. all dogs shed, even your Gerberian shepsky. Owning any dog is a responsibility.
You need to love and nurture your shepsky from puppyhood on up and make sure they are healthy, with wellness visits, a good diet, and proper exercise.
Grooming is also a part of ensuring good health. Use the tips above to avoid frustration and skin issues with your pup.
With diligence and consistency, the shedding will be no big deal, leaving you with extra time for play and adventure with your Gerberian shepsky.