Hi everyone, I'm new here.

I adopted my dog, Suka, 3 years ago from a shelter.

I would like opinions on what breed my boy may be. It does not matter to me if Suka is purebred or not, I'm just curious and would like to know for future health concerns.

I've been told my dog is a cross between a Siberian Husky and a Mal, a Sibe x GSD, ...or simply a Sibe from racing lines.

First off, some info on him. Then pictures.

Age: 7 years old.
Gender: Male/Neutered
Weight: 77 pounds
Height (from ground to withers) : 26"
Temperament: Independent, stubborn, confident. Very quiet. Can't be let off lead due to a very high prey drive (kills raccoons, opossums, squirrels...) and stubbornness. Laidback. Has separation anxiety.
Other: Doesn't like water, doesn't like the cold and snow, has had eye and hip problems in the past. Efficient metabolism - does great on 1.5 cups of Taste of the Wild kibble daily.

Oh, if it helps with lines he's from around southern Ontario in Canada.

And here are some pictures, let me know if you need more or from different angles.











Thanks for your time!

To me he looks like just Sibe lol

You don't think he might have some Mal in him? He seems to be a lot heavier and taller than some of the other huskies I've seen on walks and at the dog park.

And his muzzle and legs look to be too long to be a purebred Sibe?

Looks mostly Siberian Husky but his size could be malamute. Also malamute ears tend to be farther apart than a huskies and yours seem to be in the middle of that. I would say Husky/Mal but mainly husky.

I was thinking part mal - maybe even half. I say that based on head shape, size and ear placement. Har dto say for sure.

He doesn't like snow? Lol now that's a first for me. Welcome by the way. He does look tall, he might have the mal in him.

Kizmat wrote:

He doesn't like snow? Lol now that's a first for me. Welcome by the way. He does look tall, he might have the mal in him.

Thanks!

Nope, he freaks out whenever rain or snow falls on him. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought it was raining acid! And he's actually scared of the stuff, running away with tail in between legs (slightly), ears way back.

I'm guessing whoever had him as a puppy didn't take him out when it rained or snowed.

I wouldn't say Mal, there's a lot of poorly bred Siberians that have a very awkward ear set and are bred larger when from BYB...


He has such a long snout, have you ever thought a very low content wolf hybrid? There's one that comes to our dog park and his head, snout and ears are VERY similar to Suka's

Besides from his arthritis problems, which is probably due to his first owners exercising him too much as a puppy, he's in perfect health. He had a benign tumor on his eyelid this summer, that was removed, but other than that his eyes are to be expected for his age. Don't BYB dogs suffer from more diseases/illnesses than this?

The low wolf content is a possibility, yes. Though, I hope not...then I'd have to get a permit for him!

Another picture: close up of his face.

Eh - could just be a poorly bred Siberian. Long muzzles can be bred, some even have very short muzzles. I wouldn't worry about it and just love him.

Some BYB dogs have really big issues, n fact a lot do - but not all. And there may be issues, but you won't know with Cataracts, CD or HD until its effecting them in an obvious manner.

Even if he is, as long as there's no proof and you're not going around saying you suspect it you're fine

He looks like a Sibe to me. Some Sibe may get heavier and bigger if they are from the racing lines. Mine is a pure Sibe at 70-72lbs (fluctuates when he is eating or not eating). I was told he was from a racing line hence the taller body..
There might be a possibility of a low wolf hybrid maybe 1/7 for the snout. Just don't go around saying that you suspect it.
I have a Sibe and a Mal. He doesn't look like a Mal to me. The paws look rather small for a Mal that weight. My Mal puppy is 72lbs now at 6 months old and have large head and paws when compare to a Sibe.
Hope that helps. H e is a beautiful boy.

He looks mostly, if not all, sibe to me. I don't see any Mal or wolf in him, especially not wolf. My guess would be poor breeding or maybe he just qualifies as an Alaskan husky if he is mixed with something. If he is a cross, whatever he's mixed with has got to be extremely low content.

One of my chihuahua rescues is purebred (I've got her papers and all) yet she looks like a cross between a chihuahua and a border collie if you ask me and it's all due to bad breeding. We rescued her and her mother from a BYB. She's a purebred chihuahua but she's totally out of breed standard in structure and size, that's why I often say to people that papers (i.e. registration papers) mean nothing.

He looks all sibe to me. I dont see any wolf.

Given his arthiritis it could be that a BYB bred larger huskies in order to get sled dogs. That might be the source of his problems. My guess is poor breeding as well, and maybe overuse for sledding. Not all mushers take such good care of their dogs as the ones we see here, and once they slow down they are retired into shelters.

Either way, just love him and enjoy. He will no doubt still give you a few years of fun

Kelly

I'm not sure about the 'presled dog' idea. He doesn't like to pull...erm...he will NOT pull anything that's not me!

Thanks for the suggestions so far, everyone! Of course I still love him even though there is a possibility he came from a BYB.

I emailed a few mushers, and they said that a 77 pound & 26 inch (height) is a 'horse of a dog' in the racing world.

I looked up the CKC standard for Mals, and female Mals according to the CKC standard is 75 pounds and 23 inches to the withers. Male Mals are 85 pounds and 25 inches at the shoulders.

I know most dogs aren't in the breed standard, but Suka's size is very close to the Mal standard. The only thing is that his proportions are really off, he isn't as 'stocky' as a Mal and his tail isn't as bushy, his muzzle isn't as thick and its longer, etc.

I'm leaning more towards the Sibe x Mal, and I think that's what I'll tell people...it seems accurate enough for me!

Thanks so much for your help everyone!

I see some mal in him! I might be the only one. He looks sibeXmal to me!

Maybe it's just me and don't take it the wrong way but he reminds me of the northern inuit dogs. I guess because I have never seen a husky that color.

Not an NID. They're pretty distinct in appearance.

He is extremely large so most likely not from any direct racing lines. (Might have racing lines pretty far back but not immediate enough to have an impact).

Siberian X Malamute mix is likely. The breeds are very similar that even a known mix can be hard to tell is a mix as the offspring can take on the appearance of either parent and most people would even say they're a purebred one or the other even though the mix is known.

No wolf at all.