Sheepsky (Croatian Sheepdog & Husky Mix) Info, Pics, Traits

The Croatian Sheekspy is a hybrid breed: a cross between the Croatian Sheepdog and the Siberian Husky. Both of these breeds are working dogs. The Husky is bred to pull sleds and run long distances, while the Croatian Sheepdog is a sheepdog that is prized for its herding ability. The crossbreed is an equally capable working dog. He will be happiest when he has a job to do. If your Sheepsky won’t be a working dog, it is best to provide him with physical activity like flyball or agility.

Your Sheekspy can make an excellent watchdog, like the Croatian Sheepdog. Unfortunately, this does mean that he will be prone to barking, and this will be worse if he does not get enough physical exercise. A tired dog is a good dog.

The Sheekspy is not suited to life in an apartment because he needs a lot of physical exercise and does tend to bark and vocalize his emotions. He does make a great family dog, too, though. He will integrate with all family members and, depending on whether he takes after the Sheepdog or the Husky, he may also get along well with dogs and even cats.

Croatian Sheepsky Puppies

The Croatian Sheekspy is a cross between two popular and energetic working dogs. Both working breeds are revered for their intelligence and work ethic. When looking for a Croatian Sheepsky, you do need to ensure that you use a reputable breeder, especially because this crossbreed can be shy and reserved around strangers, and they will benefit from early socialization.

Look for a breeder through social media and hybrid kennel clubs. Ask any potential breeder to meet puppies and their parents before you agree to buy. Although you can expect this breed to be a little shy around strangers, they should still be alert when you first meet them.

The high energy level of the Sheepsky means that some of this hybrid breed do find their way into local shelters. Adopting means that you will have less opportunity to find out about the dog’s background. Ensure that you meet the dog before adopting and if you have dogs already, ensure that they also meet your prospective puppy.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Croatian Sheepsky

1. The Croatian Sheepsky is a high-octane dog.

The Croatian Sheepsky will be a very energetic and high-octane dog, coming from two working breeds. This means that the Sheepsky will make an excellent farm dog. But if he won’t be put to work, he will need something to keep him physically and mentally alert. Take him to agility classes, sled pulling, or some other form of physical activity that will tire him out and test his mental acuity.  If you do not provide enough exercise for this breed, he may become bored and a bored dog tends to be a destructive dog.

2. Siberian Huskies are built for winter.

The Siberian Husky hails from Siberia and they are built for freezing, winter conditions. Their double coat includes a thick undercoat and water-resistant outer coat. The shape of their eyes even helps protect them from the cold conditions by protecting against snow and reflected sunlight. The Husky can wrap their long and bushy tail around their face to keep warm and protect against the cold. The Husky can cope with some of the coldest imaginable conditions, but this also means that they will struggle in the heat.

3. The Croatian Sheepsky loves to run.

The Croatian Sheepdog is no slouch, but it has nothing on the running ability of the Husky. Huskies are bred not only to run themselves but to drag a sled and its human occupants. When sledding, they run for hours before sleeping and then running again. Your Croatian Sheepsky will adopt this love for running and you will have to find a way to sate this desire. He will enjoy walking but will prefer running, and he will jog or run alongside you, happily. Remember that the breed prefers the cold and does not cope well with warm or hot weather, however, and if you do have to exercise them in warm temperatures, ensure that you provide plenty of water and somewhere to cool down after.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Croatian Sheepsky 🧠

The Croatian Sheepsky will be energetic and have a high work ethic. Both parent breeds are clever and both breeds are independent. Both breeds can be stubborn and you will need to start training your Sheepsky from an early age. Your new dog is likely to be reserved around strangers and, when coupled with his tendency to bark and vocalize his emotions, he can make an excellent guard dog.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

The Croatian Sheepsky makes a great family dog. They will fit in well with the whole family. They will usually mix well with kids of any age, but will especially enjoy the company of active children that can throw a ball or play tug. They will become so close to family members that they will struggle with separation anxiety if left alone for too long.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

As well as people, this hybrid breed should get along with other dogs, although he is likely to have a strong prey drive, so he will probably give chase to small animals including cats. If you do want your Sheekspy to live with small animals, ensure that they meet when they are both as young as possible.

Things to Know When Owning a Croatian Sheepsky:

The Croatian Sheekspy makes an excellent addition to a family. He will mix with people of all ages and can get along with other dogs. However, he requires a lot of exercise and may be challenging to train. He isn’t the ideal breed for all owners, so consider the following factors before buying this hybrid breed.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The high energy levels of this breed mean that it needs a lot of food as fuel. Expect to give your dog between 2.5 and 4 cups of food a day. Ensure that this is high-quality food, ideally with meat as its main protein source. Measure the food you give, split it over two or three meals a day, and always ensure that you put down a fresh supply of water for your dog.

Exercise 🐕

The breed requires a lot of exercise every day and will benefit from mental stimulation, as well as just physical. Ideally, you should consider taking up some form of canine sport. The breed will do well at sledding and sled pulling and it can also excel at agility and other sports. Provide 90 minutes of walks a day, and supplement this with additional exercise.

Training 🦮

Both parent breeds are intelligent, but they can also be stubborn and headstrong. They can be difficult to train, which means that the Croatian Sheekspy is not suited to first-time owners. Go to puppy classes to master some of the basics and to learn how to teach your dog good habits and new commands. Early socialization is vital because the Sheekspy is reserved around strangers. He won’t be nervous, but he will be reluctant to meet new people. Early and ongoing socialization helps to combat this.

Grooming ✂️

If your dog adopts the Husky’s coat, he will need daily brushing, whereas a coat similar to the Croatian Sheepdog will only require weekly brushing. Neither breed requires regular bathing, as this can strip the coat of natural and protective oils.

Your dog will need assistance with dental hygiene. Brush his teeth three times a week, at least, and daily if he allows it. Trim his nails every month or two, as needed, and when you can hear them clip against the hard floor.

Health Conditions ❤️

Although the Croatian Sheepsky is a hybrid breed, which means that we don’t know the exact health conditions that he is prone to, we can look at the parent breeds for genetic conditions. Keep an eye out for symptoms of the following:

Male vs. Female

There is little difference in size between the male and female of this species. Some owners insist that male dogs are more stubborn but more loving, while females are easier to manage. More often than not, the traits of the parents will have the most impact on your pup’s temperament and demeanor.

Final Thoughts: Croatian Sheepsky

The Croatian Sheekspy is a hybrid breed that mixes the Croatian Sheepdog with the Siberian Husky. The hybrid breed can be stubborn and headstrong and will be highly energetic. He is also intelligent and, with regular exercise, he will make a loving and integral family member that gets along with all two-legged and four-legged family members.

Walk often, walk far, and walk hard, and you will go far in keeping your Sheekspy well exercised and in good condition. Provide regular grooming to care for the coat, do not walk them in hot conditions, and ensure your pup is well fed at all times.

See also:

• Peekapoo (Poodle & Pekingese Mix)
• English Speagle (Beagle & English Toy Spaniel Mix)
• Lacasapoo (Cockapoo & Lhasa Apso Mix)

Featured Image Credit | Left: Croatian Sheepdog (VIGO-S, Shutterstock), Right: Siberian Husky (Pixabay)