Saw a Alaskan Husky / German Shepherd mutt the other night at Cabelas. Guy had her in his shopping cart as she was three months old. She was likely the most beautiful pointy-eared(1) dog I have ever seen. Just about perfect form/shape(2) and a rather startling tawny fur color. Not yellow lab yellow and not quite as dark as typical GSD tan. With a little darker fur here and there. Better looking than either husky or GSD.
A sweet thing, she was observant of everything around her without a hint of nerves. While petting and talking to her, she was more "aware" than any GSD I have yet encountered. Wish I had thought to take a photo, but it would not have done her justice, as she had a presence all beyond her looks and size.
I think she has some serious hybrid vigor working in her favor. Physically, the two breeds are complementary enough so she doesn't look like a freakish mish-mash of doggy parts. I also think that her brain is firing on more pistons than usual.
Her owner thinks to her make a swimming, retrieving bird dog of her.
Not sure how that will work out. If she grows up tolerant of kids, I can think that they would be well watched over by her and would not want to test her. I bet she would be a dynamo at those schutzen/agility competitions.
(1) In the pointy vs floppy eared dog controversy I am in favor of floppy. Matter of fact, I think the beagle doggy ear is the idealized size, shape, and consistency. Probably partly why I like German Shorthaired Pointers: larger dog, bust same sized ear as a beagle.
(2) Some GSDs just don't look quite right to me. Something going on with some breed lines that is wonky.
