Collie x husky

[Laafet]

I heard a friend had taken on a collie x husky pup and literally I was gobsmaked that anyone would even want to cross those two breeds. Yes it is super cute at the moment but what of the hyper intelligent, wilful and headstrong dog it will probably become.

 

[meesha]

Let's hope they don't let it off lead around sheep !

 

[Sandstone1]

I've just heard of a litter of gsdxmalamutexhusky. The mind boggles.

 

[Leo Walker]

I feel a bit ill at the thought of that cross! :lol:

 

[Sandstone1]

I know. It's scary.

 

[millikins]

I knew a Malamute/collie cross. Owned by experienced dog and horse people, they ended up having it pts as territorial. no recall and finally bit 2 people, including the groom who it knew well

 

[jumbyjack]

I had a Husky/Lurcher cross, not an easy dog! Very pig headed and would have been a stock chaser if he'd been given a chance, he was about 8 before I had any real control. He was allegedly the result of an accidental mating! Never again, they are not the breed to outcross.

 

[Sandstone1]

Why anyone would breed such a cross is beyond me. Totally irresponsible.

 

[Leo Walker]

I had a Husky/Lurcher cross, not an easy dog! Very pig headed and would have been a stock chaser if he'd been given a chance, he was about 8 before I had any real control. He was allegedly the result of an accidental mating! Never again, they are not the breed to outcross.

There are people crossing Malamutes into lurchers. Apparently if its done carefully they make exceptional hunting dogs. But I cant imagine they are any use for anything other than hard work!

 

[Moobli]

My mother in law currently has a husky x collie. I have no idea of the reasoning behind such a cross - it seems ludicrous to me, but actually she seems to have an adult dog who has the intelligence and biddability of a collie with few of the husky traits. She is a beautiful looking dog too. My MIL is an experienced dog owner though and will ensure her dog gets plenty of training and exercise. I would imagine this cross could be a complete nightmare in novice or less dedicated hands.

 

[Sandstone1]

He is beautiful, I just wonder how many normal pet homes are capable of training and caring for a dog like this.

 

[blackcob]

Providing it wasn't deranged by totally conflicting impulses I could probably do very useful things with that cross.

 

[Dowjones]

I know someone with a collieXhusky and he's wild. Mind you, he hasn't been trained etc. Just a spoilt pet really who runs riot....

 

[MyBoyChe]

IME most pet homes cant manage either of those as a pure breed, so the thought of the worst traits of both breeds falling into inexperienced hands, however well meaning, is a bit of a nightmare. You cant even give it a posh designer name can you, the best I can come up with is huskie or colly, so all in all, total lunacy

 

[smja]

IME most pet homes cant manage either of those as a pure breed, so the thought of the worst traits of both breeds falling into inexperienced hands, however well meaning, is a bit of a nightmare. You cant even give it a posh designer name can you, the best I can come up with is huskie or colly, so all in all, total lunacy

What about a collusky, or a huskollie?

Although I have no doubt one could be a useful sort if properly trained, this is one of those situations where the experienced homes see the warning signs and steer clear, so the majority of the time they end up in inexperienced pet homes.

 

[rowan666]

My friend used to have a husky x collie and he was fab but I think that was pure luck, he did have an odd habbit of chewing door frames though, she ended up rehoming him, through no fault of his own, to a family who had another one of the same cross so I'm assuming that aren't all that uncommon?

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I thought I met a couple a while back-I knew there was some sled dog in there, just couldn't work out they were so big. Turns out all three of them were GSD x Malamute or Mallinois cross Malamute and one collie x malamute. Owner is an ex copper and has three of different ages-described them as happy accidents but she obviously just knows the people that have the happy accidents

I said she was brave for that mix of genes and it was one of those convos that went 'oh they are fabulous dogs, really you'd be surprised. Of course we can't take X where there'll be any sheep and have to avoid small dogs with Y and Z is terrible with with larger dogs but they are super'.

 

[druid]

I think collie is one of the breeds they've bred into sled dogs in Alsaka etc for racing?

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I think collie is one of the breeds they've bred into sled dogs in Alsaka etc for racing?

probably-when I talk husky I mean Siberians. not sure an Alaskan sled dog would make an ace average family pet either though

 

[Mince Pie]

I've just heard of a litter of gsdxmalamutexhusky. The mind boggles.

Aren't they, and incidentally collie as well, most of the breeds that go into a Northern Inuit?

 

[druid]

probably-when I talk husky I mean Siberians. not sure an Alaskan sled dog would make an ace average family pet either though

Definitely not! Bred to work

 

[SpottyMare]

I've just seen this - I was doing a search as I have (rescue) sled dogs, and a neighbour was asking me about difficulties her friend's having with a husky/collie cross that they got from a rescue. They're experienced collie owners, but have no experience with huskies.

I'd imagine that if you got a trainable one, they'd be fabulous working dogs, but I dread to think of the trouble if you ended up with a confused impulse, neurotic one. Say goodbye to furniture and welcome in minimalism and holes in the plaster... The one mentioned above poos all over the place, can't be caught in a small garden and is extremely destructive.

Having said that. my mum has a northern inuit and she's fabulous - apart from being selectively dog reactive. My husky took 6 months to settle with me (mostly expressing his discomfort by messing in the house), can be very trainable (if he's interested at the time), can't be off lead at all as he's completely homicidal (I've had to try and make my garden inaccessible to ground based wildlife) but on the plus side is cute, intelligent, fun, affectionate and very chatty. And once I've exhausted him in the morning he then just sleeps all day - on the sofa if he can He's a Sibe though, and they're a bit more tameable than the Alaskans. I've had northern breeds all my life though

On the working (sledding) side, you have the eurohounds now, that are huskies crossed with pointers, or the greysters which tend to be greyhound/pointer cross, but as neither are 'official' breeds, you can get other breeds coming in, as well as husky in the greysters Again - wouldn't want them as a pet. I have an acquaintance who runs all types and the combined noise they make when it's feeding/working time at the kennels is pretty wild

 

[pippixox]

We wonder if there is a bit of husky type in our rescue collie as she is a bit bigger than most females and she has a curled tail, she looks very like the picture someone posted- she just doesn't have pale eyes.

Again the past owner got her as a cute puppy 2 years ago but never even walked her and she was manic and destructive. She didn't know her birthday or beeeding

She has a high chase drive- 3 months of recall practise and she forgets everything and goes death if there is a bird/duck so she is on a long line! she may just be a nuts colour who doesn't look like standard ones. As she had 2 years no training. But there does seem to be a defiant streak, not that all collies are angels .

Need to do a DNA test!

She is the sweetest with our baby and very friendly. With us she is exercised and has not been destructive . I think she is loving some boundari s. My last dog was 3/4 gsd 1/4 rottie and was also a very friendly dog but needed a firm approach as times

 

[NiceNeverNaughty]

lots and lots of collies have curled tails though...

 

[blackcob]

lots and lots of collies have curled tails though...

And sibes shouldn't.

 

[Shantara]

I have what is essentially a husky/malamute/gsd. She's a Tamaskan, so hasn't actually had any of those dogs in her blood for about 15 years, but that's what went into making them, along with a few other things.
As a whole, the breed are wonderful, but sensitive. When I got Tam, we were unfortunately in a very bad situation, which lead her to be fearful of people. We're working hard on it (see Wolves in London thread) and she's making progress!
I have only owned one dog previously, but have been around dogs all my life and Tamaskans have taught me more about body language and training than I ever thought possible! It's a breed that depending on the dog, can either be a big lazy dope, or clever and energetic, which is what my Tam is.
We go to training each week, which I think should be a MUST for dog owners, I would be lost without mine! However, because we go to training, Tam has a huge range of tricks and is generally great. I truly believe had it not been for our early trauma, I'd have a pretty darn perfect dog!

I know someone with a tam/collie and that's a wonderful dog too! They're extremely experienced owners though.

Crosses like that shouldn't be made for "pet owners" but people who want to take having a dog seriously.

 

[eatmyshorts]

Re Alaskan husky being your average pet ...

Definitely not! Bred to work

I'll second that ... One of mine is an Akaskan husky (which is a type as opposed to a breed ... kinda like the lurcher of the sled dog world), pure racing lines, & absolutely, definitely not a pet. She has a lot of Siberian husky & Scandanavian hound (or eurohound) in her, & needs to be run in harness, otherwise you're scraping her off the ceiling!

I'd guess a collie x husky would probably be extremely intelligent & driven, & no doubt likely benefit from having a job to do. A recipe for disaster in the wrong home I'd imagine.

I came across a rottie x husky the other day ...why would you want to mix those? Mind you, apparently in America people are breeding "pitskies" .... Pit bull x husky!!

 

[MotherOfChickens]

they are also breeding mini-sibes there (and mini Aussies) both of which seem to show up in a lot of dog training groups with issues.

 

[eatmyshorts]

Isn't a "mini" of a breed effectively just a runt? Surely if you wanted a tiny sibe you would just buy something like a Klee Kai? Mini-GSD's is another one i've heard of ... apparently they fit better in your house!

 

[happy-appy]

An old thread ..but for anyone still reading it ..I too have a Husky x Border Collie (whom I adopted from the Dog's Trust). She was a little(or rather 'very') wild at first ..jumping right up onto the kitchen work-tops and even on top of bookcases and a piano Never destructive though, incredibly loving and affectionate, gets on great with my other dogs (Border Collie, Malinois x Border Collie and an elderly lurcher). She also adores my cat and will snuggle up to him at every single opportunity that she can. Have a bit of a madhouse with all these dogs ..but I'd say that she is definitely the most affectionate and loving of the four; a real Velcro dog. She can still jump up folks a bit (aged 3 years now)..although her exuberance is beginning to calm...but no problems with recall or anything else really! A real pleasure to have around that I can trust with small children and other small furries. Guess they are all individuals.