Have you ever heard of a Great Dane Husky mix? You read that right; it is a hybrid breed that combines two very popular dog breeds, the giant Great Dane and the Siberian Husky. It seems that this is a newer hybrid dog breed that is becoming rather popular. It is also sometimes called the Danesky or Great Danesky. Here you will find a variety of information all about the Husky Great Dane mix from its temperament, living conditions, appearance, and much more.
Great Dane Husky Mix History
Almost with all mixed breeds out there, it is hard to determine their history and when they were first created. Even with the Great Dane Husky mix, there is no significant information on how these two purebred parents got bred together to create this hybrid.
What we do know is the history of the parent breeds. Below you will find the brief history of the Great Dane and the Siberian Husky.
Great Dane
The Great Dane is a very old dog breed that dates back thousands of years ago. There are ancient Egyptian artworks that depict dogs that look like Great Danes. However, the breed we know today has been refined and does not look exactly like their old ancestors.
Eventually, the breed was seen in Germany, where it had a very specific role which was to hunt boars. However, when they weren’t out hunting, they served a purpose as guard dogs for the homes of noble people. The Germans were also the people credited with the Great Dane we know today.
Great Danes finally came to America during the 1800s. The AKC accepted this dog breed in the late 1800s around 1887. Today this still is a very popular dog breed. Fun fact the iconic character Scooby-Doo is actually a Great Dane.
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky also has a deep history dating back to the Siberian Tribes time, where the breed flourished with the Chukchi people. They had the important job of transporting cargo around villages. As a result, this breed became very good at transporting things very long distances.
Eventually, the bred came over to Alaska, where it became a marvel for pulling sleds and winning dog sledding races. A very famous Sibrian Husky named Togo saved the town of Nome by bringing a serum to help very sick people. Unfortunately, his victory is sometimes confused for another dog named Balto.
Today many people have Siberian Huskies as family companions. It still remains one of the most popular dog breeds around today. It got accepted by the AKC in the 1930s.
Danesky Appearance
Appearance in mixed breeds can vary widely due to how the parent breeds look. However, one of the nice things about mixes is that two of the same dogs might not all look the same and have more uniqueness to their look than others.
The Danesky can have a muscular body that is quite big. Both parent breeds are large dogs, so you will still end up with a rather large mix puppy. The eyes of the breed will likely fold forward instead of being erect. The muzzle will likely belong. There are really so many variations of what your dog will look like that is why it is hard to say.
Husky Great Dane Mix Coat
The coat goes the same way as appearance. Your Husky Great Dane mix can take on either the short coat from the Great Dane parent or a longer coat that is fluffy and poofy from the Siberian Husky parent.
Your dog can really take on either coat, but you may also get a cross in the middle that will be medium to short in length. This coat will need to be brushed often because the Great Dane is known to be a daily shedder, while the Siberian Husky has two very big shedding times during the year and daily shedding as well.
Below, you will find some of the colors in which this mix can be found.
What Colors Do They Come In?
This hybrid mix can come in a variety of different colors. Also, take a look at the parents of the litter to get a more general idea of color options. Here are some colors you may find in a Husky Great Dane mix:
- Black
- White
- Sable
- Brindle
- Fawn
- Blue
- Brown
- Merle
Most likely, your dog will have brown eyes but may take on one of the Husky’s traits and have different colored eyes.
Great Dane Husky Mix Temperament
Both breeds have excellent temperaments that will transfer to their offspring. The Great Dane Husky mix will certainly love to be around their family, enjoying their company. This breed will get along with children and other animals if socialized correctly.
As you know, the Daneksy does get quite big, and when they are puppies, your dog truly does not know how big it is, so your dog may play rough with younger children even though your dog isn’t trying to be rough. So older children would be best for this breed.
This is a very intelligent mix that will be easy to train and sometimes stubborn. You should train when your dog is a puppy. You will find that this breed will bring you and your family a lot of joy. The Great Dane Husky mix is a very loyal dog and will even have watchdog tendencies without being aggressive.
Size
Size is another wild card when it comes to mixed-breed dogs. One thing we know to be true is that the Great Dane Husky mix will be quite a large dog. The weight can vary, of course, based on the parents of the mix. When shopping for a puppy, the breeder should tell you the weight of the parents so you can get an idea of the potential size and weight of your dog.
A female Great Dane can weigh between 100 to 130 pounds, and a male can weigh between 120 to 200 pounds. The Siberian Husky can weigh between 35 to 60 pounds. Therefore, you should expect your mix to most likely exceed the weight of the Husky parent and be around a Great Danes weight.
Danesky Health Problems
While mixed breed dogs tend to have fewer health conditions than their purebred counterparts, you should still be aware of potential health issues your Danesky can possibly inherit.
Hip Dysplasia – This is a very big health problem among a variety of different dog breeds and mixes. This can be bred out if your dog has good hip scores. This condition happens when the hip and pelvic bones do not connect properly. This will rub and cause pain for your dog. Your dog can be tested for this.
Bloat – This is a very serious condition that can, for a few reasons, either your dog has eaten or drank water too fast or has excess gas, which can cause the stomach to twist or flip. This can be life-threatening if not treated in time.
Elbow Dysplasia – Elbow dysplasia is very similar to hip dysplasia, but in this case, this is where the elbow and the socket do not connect. Again, this can be painful for your dog.
Wobbler Syndrome – This is a condition that happens to very large dog breeds. This happens in the spine of the dog around the neck. Wobbler syndrome can cause pain in the nerves and neck pain. Your vet will treat this will medication or even surgery.
Corneal Dystrophy – This serious eye condition can lead to blindness. It causes a cloud of white to start entering the eye, which can discomfort your dog.
Remember that these are genetic possibilities, but as long as you take your dog to regular checkups, your vet will keep a close eye on your dog and let you know if your dog has any health issues.
Life Expectancy of a Great Dane Husky Mix
Again, this is another thing that is hard to determine. The Great Dane has a life span of 8 to 10 years, and the Siberian Husky can have a life span from 12 to 15 years. So with that being said, you can expect that your Husky Great Dane mix will live between 8 to 15 years.
Of course, if your dog doesn’t have any health conditions, your dog will likely have a long life span. Just remember to take your dog to regular checkups to ensure it is healthy.
Living Conditions
This is a very large mixed-breed dog. It would not be suitable for apartment or even tiny home living. This breed needs room to stretch out to relax. A fenced In yard would also be ideal for the breed so it can go out and expend some energy when you can’t play with your dog for the moment.
This dog also needs quite a bit of exercise. Over an hour each day should be plenty, but if you cannot commit to that, this wouldn’t be the dog breed for you.
Also, this dog is fantastic around children, just not young ones. This dog should be watched closely around young children because it is so big and can potentially hurt or knock your child down when the dog and child are playing.
Grooming a Husky Great Dane Mix
The Husky Great Dane mix needs to be groomed often. This will be a shedding dog breed, so brushing can help remove dead hairs that will end up being shed all over the home. De-shedding brushes are great if your dog takes on more of the Husky-type coat. These will be crucial during heavy shedding seasons.
If your dog takes on more traits of the Siberian Husky, then it could have an almost water-resistant coat. First, however, it is still important to bathe your dog. Once a month or even twice a month would be an ideal bathing schedule, depending on how dirty your dog gets.
Make sure always to check your dog’s skin when it is bathing to make sure it doesn’t look irritated or have any sores. Trimming your dog’s nails is also important; if they get too long, it can make it difficult for your dog to walk.
Don’t forget to check the ears for dirt buildup. This can happen quickly and can cause infections if overlooked. Instead, just get a dog-friendly ear cleaner, apply it to a cotton ball, and clean the inside of the ears.
Feeding a Danesky
Feeding your Husky Great Dane mix doesn’t have to be difficult. The amount of food your dog needs is based on its size. Your dog’s weight usually calculates food. This is a very large dog breed that will need to eat a lot of food per day to replenish the calories lost. Your vet can help tell you how much to feed your dog based on its breed mixture and size.
Look for a high-quality protein-forward food that will give your dog a lot of nutrition. Ensure you follow feeding guidelines because you do not want to make your dog overweight by overfeeding it. If your dog suffers from hip dysplasia, it can make for a problem for that condition if your dog is eating too much.
When your dog is a puppy, make sure you are feeding it a high-quality puppy food until your vet says you can switch to adult dog food.
Exercise
This mixed breed does not need as much exercise as its Husky parent nut will still need enough daily to keep it from destroying the property in your home because of boredom. You should be giving your Great Dane Husky mix at least an hour each day of exercise and maybe even a little more than that if your dog has a ton of energy.
This large dog should have a yard to roam around in to get some extra energy out when you can’t take your dog for a walk. When you can give your dog some exercise, remember you don’t have to complete that entire hour all at once. You can spend 30 minutes in the morning and then 30 minutes in the evening to make it easier on yourself.
Great Dane Husky Mix Training
Training should always be started early with any dog breed. Dogs that are trained from an early age are more well-behaved and learn more commands. This breed should have no problem training because it is highly intelligent. However, sometimes that intelligence can be mistaken for stubbornness because it will take a while to get your dog to listen to you.
Consistency is the key when it comes to training. If you start when your dog is young and keep at it for months, your dog will learn what you want it to learn. Your dog will never have fun with training unless you show positive reinforcement. This lets your dog know that listening is good, and they will get rewarded with a treat or love.
Great Dane Husky Mix Puppies
Since we don’t know when this hybrid breed was first developed, it can be hard to find one for sale. Always purchase from a reputable source, as in a breeder who can provide proof of the health of the parent breeds. Stay away from puppy mills that are only out to make money.
It may take some time to find a reputable breeder, but you can also check local rescues as well as ones online. You may have the best success looking at the parent breed-specific rescues as sometimes they take in mixes.
Litter Size of a Danesky
Litter size is a lot like the other things we have talked about, and how there isn’t an exact number on how many puppies will happen during a litter. For example, great Dane Husky mix puppies will be 50% Great Dane and 50% Siberian Husky. With that being said, the number of puppies a female can will be based on her size and which parent the female is.
Great Dane females can have around eight puppies in a litter, while the Siberian Husky can have between four and six. So you should expect to get around four to eight puppies in a Great Dane Husky mix litter.
Key Takeaways
- The Great Dane Husky mix has a nickname that it is sometimes referred to as the Danesky or the Great Danesky.
- This mixed breed will take on the appearance of both parent breeds. You will notice a large dog with either short or long hair.
- Great Dane Husky mixes have a great temperament. This dog can be loyal, intelligent, and also a wonderful family companion.
- Watch out for common health conditions like hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia.
- This is definitely a shedding dog breed, so be aware that this would not be an ideal breed for you if you have allergies.
- Danesky’s eat a lot of food due to their large size. This is definitely something to consider to see if you can afford the high cost of food this dog will require.
- Your dog will need to exercise each day for at least over an hour. This helps burn off energy; that way, your dog doesn’t become destructive in your home.
- Purchase a Husky Great Dane mix puppy from a reputable breeder who can give you a high-quality and healthy puppy.
If you have ever seen any of my other mixed breed articles before, then you know I like to summarize my article in this section for you. These are some of the most important things you should know about this breed.
FAQ
Below you will find some questions that pertain to the Great Dane Husky Mix
What Do you Call a Great Dane Husky Mix?
Can You Breed a Great Dane with a Husky?
Close Relatives of the Great Dane Husky Mix
Here you will find some breeds that are very similar to the Great Dane Husky Mix:
- Great Dane
- Siberian Husky
- Great Dane Pitbull Mix
- Pitbull Husky Mix
- German Shepherd Husky Mix
- Daniff