Ausky: everything about this mixed breed

If you’re after a dog that’s intelligent, hard-working, protective, and incredibly beautiful, you might want to consider an Ausky. They’re a high-energy pup that’s becoming ever more popular. This hybrid breed is a mix of Australian Cattle Dogs and Siberian Huskies but (somewhat unhelpfully) the mix breed of Huskies and Australian Shepherds is also called an Ausky. So make sure you do your research to avoid a surprise!

Quick overview of the Ausky

Temperament

• Friendly dogs and great family members
• Protective
• Loyal
• Very intelligent

Appearance

• Medium-sized dogs
• Blue or brown eyes
• Pointy ears
• Fur can be white, black, brown, gray, silver, red and blue

Health

• Excellent health
• However, they can be prone to some eye diseases

Temperament of the Ausky

Auskies are still a fairly new mixed breed, and there isn’t a great deal of research about them. Generally, however, their temperament can be assessed from their parent breeds. When socialized and trained well from a young age, Auskies can be really friendly dogs and great members of the family. Naturally, however, those Auskies with more Cattle Dog in their blood may be more protective of their owners and wary around strangers.

Auskies are really loyal dogs and when socialized early on with children, can make great companions for them. They can have a tendency to be a bit nippy though (thanks to their cattle-herding roots) so positive training from the beginning is crucial.

Both Huskies and Australian Cattle Dogs are very intelligent, but occasionally this can lead to Auskies inheriting some mischievousness. It’s important you have a fenced yard and always make sure your pup is wearing identification tags!

Are other pets a problem for an Ausky?

Huskies don’t really have any hunting dog blood in them, which means other and smaller pets shouldn’t be a problem. But shouldn’t is the word. Early socialization is very important in teaching them not to chase and to respect other pets. Even if they’re not hunting dogs, chasing can be fun for a pup and this behavior should be stopped early on.

Appearance of the Ausky

Because of their parent breeds, Auskies are medium-sized, strong, athletic, and very agile. These muscley pups can grow to have a height of up to 23 inches and can weigh 60 pounds. Due to their Husky ancestry, they can have bright blue and brown eyes – or one of each!

Color

Their ears are pointy and their fur can be white, black, brown, gray, silver, red, and blue.

Hair

As both parent breeds have double coats, so will an Ausky, meaning shedding can be a slight problem. If your Ausky takes more after an Australian Cattle Dog, the hair will be slightly shorter and a bit coarser. They will need occasional bathing and brushing but shouldn’t shed as much as those dogs that are more similar to Huskies. Huskies tend to shed quite a bit, especially in-between seasons as the weather changes.

Health of this mixed breed

Generally, Auskies are healthy dogs that can have a lifespan of up to 15 years. Because they are a hybrid breed, they have fewer health problems than their purebred parents who can suffer from hip, follicular, and elbow dysplasia.

Both parent breeds, however, can carry the merle gene for blue and different colored eyes. It’s one of the most striking and beautiful features of Australian Cattle Dogs, Huskies, and Auskies, but unfortunately, these stunning eyes are not as nice as they look. Auskies can be prone to developing cataracts, corneal dystrophy, progressive retinal atrophy, and other eye conditions.

Generally, though, Auskies are robust and healthy dogs.

Tips about the Ausky

• Auskies also need a lot of exercise – both mental and physical. Their heritage is a long line of hard-working dogs, and whilst your Auskie doesn’t need to ‘work’, they do need to be kept occupied. They need at least 90 minutes of vigorous exercise a day, as well as outdoor space that they can run and play in.
• They also need a lot of intelligence training to put all that extra energy to use and to please their working nature. You can try puzzle games, obedience training, and making sure they have a lot of toys to play with. A bored Auskie can be a destructive one, whether that means damaging furniture inside or digging holes outside. Like most pups, Auskies respond well to positive reinforcement and are eager to please their humans. In particular, from a very early age, you need to make sure they respond to their name being called. If you’re thinking of getting an Auskie make sure you or your family can keep up with their exercise and entertainment needs.