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Huskies are one of the most well-known dog breeds around! They’re famous for pulling sleds in the Arctic winter! These hardworking dogs are beautiful and still bear some resemblance to their wolf ancestors. They’re also sweet, loyal, friendly dogs that everyone loves.
Did you know there’s more than one type of Husky? Most people are familiar with amazing Siberian Husky; however, there are other Huskies we’d like to tell you about!
Siberian Husky
We’ll start out with the Siberian Husky! Siberian Huskies were bred to pull sleds. They have amazing endurance and strength, which makes them very athletic dogs. Siberian Huskies are medium-sized dogs, which can weigh between 35 to 55 lbs and stand between 20-24 inches tall.
These are working dogs, which means they require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. When these dogs become bored, they will turn to their own devices. What does that mean? We’re talking about a very intelligent, strong dog that has the determination to pull sleds through harsh winter weather. So, you can guess that the Siberian Husky may become destructive and/or develop other unwanted behaviors. For this reason, it’s essential to ensure these dogs get plenty of exercise.
Siberian Huskies are very friendly, vocal dogs. You may have seen videos online where a Siberian Husky is “talking” to his pet parents!
These aren’t the best dogs for first-time pet parents; however, they can be excellent for people who understand how to handle these dogs.
Standard American Eskimo Dog
The Standard American Eskimo dog is another type of Husky. These dogs make wonderful companions. They originally came from Germany, where they became popular as companion dogs. These dogs are famous for their pure white fur and for being highly intelligent. They also tend to want to be in the presence of their favorite person most of the time.
American Eskimo dogs weigh about 18 to 35 lbs and stand between 15 to 20 inches tall. Along with their pure white fur, the dogs feature black button eyes and noses, which stand out in their beautiful white fur.
These dogs are perfect for pet parents who would like to have a Husky. These dogs are also available in toy and miniature versions, which might be a better choice if you live in a small home or apartment.
White Husky
The White Husky is a Siberian Husky, sporting the rarest color of the Husky dog. These dogs are completely white. Most of them also have striking blue eyes. The dogs are not albinos. And they have all the other traits that go with being a Husky.
The White Husky is a working dog and needs plenty of exercise, along with mental stimulation. Otherwise, they are prone to take matters into their own paws. We are sure you don’t want to come home to a chewed-up sofa or worse!
These dogs are generally very expensive because they are so rare.
Agouti Husky
Here’s another unusual Husky—the Agouti Husky. These dogs have dark hair and strongly resemble their wolf ancestors. This is also a rare color in Huskies. These dogs are most often used as sledding dogs.
The Agouti Husky carries the agouti gene, which is responsible for their unique coloring. The gene controls the amount and distribution of melanin, which is responsible for black or dark color. Each strand of fur on the Agouti Husky is banded. This means the individual hairs are striped in black and brown. These dogs can also have white markings, but a larger part of their fur will be dark.
Agouti Huskies can have brown or blue eyes. They generally are about the same size as the Siberian Husky. These dogs are very rare and maybe more expensive for this reason.
Sakhalin Husky
The Sakhalin Husky, sometimes referred to as Karafuto Ken, is another type of sled dog. These dogs are almost extinct and originally came from Japan. Unfortunately, these dogs have not been recognized by any of the top kennel clubs.
These dogs went down in history when they helped an expedition of Japanese researchers in 1958. The researchers were located in Antarctica, and they had 15 of these dogs with them. The Japanese had to leave the base and the dogs behind. They believed a rescue party would be sent soon. Unfortunately, a huge storm came, and no one was able to arrive to help the dogs.
Everyone thought the dogs were dead; however, a year later, new researchers found that two of the Huskies had somehow managed to survive! This speaks to the tenacity and strength of these beautiful dogs.
Akita Inu
The Akita Inu is another dog that originated in Japan back in the 1600s. These dogs were once used in a variety of ways, from hunting bears to guarding homes and more. These dogs have been extremely popular for hundreds of years!
Today, the Akita isn’t as common as it once was. The dogs are tall, standing between 24 to 28 inches tall and weighing between 75 to 120 lbs. Because these are working dogs, they require a large area and a job to stay happy and healthy.
Norwegian Elkhound
The Norwegian Elkhound is another type of Husky. These beautiful dogs originated in Norway, where they were used to help hunt moose. The dogs also worked to protect property, guard their families, and herd cattle.
These days, Norwegian Elkhounds are very popular as companion dogs. They’re very friendly and even get along with other dogs! And they don’t need as much exercise as other dogs from winter climes. What’s more, they still make excellent guard dogs!
However, Norwegian Elkhounds are known for being very independent and for occasionally challenging their pet parents. For these reasons, it’s recommended that only experience pet parents adopt one of these stunning dogs.
MacKenzie River Husky
No one is quite sure about the origins of the MacKenzie River Husky. They’re also not certain if this is a type of Husky or another dog breed. We do know the dogs have not been recognized by the AKC and that they do seem to be somewhat different from the Siberian Husky.
These beautiful dogs are larger than a Siberian Husky and stand between 27 to 32 inches and weigh about 90 lbs. They bear a strong resemblance to a wolf, including their gait and build.
Some think this Husky was originally a type of freight husky, which were used in the Arctic about one hundred years ago. These dogs were used in small groups to haul heavy loads across the snow.
Utonagan
The Utonagan is a Husky that looks very much like a wolf, with long, dense fur. The name for this dog comes from the Chinook Native American word for “spirit of the wolf.”
The Utonagan is a mix of the German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, and the Alaskan Malamute. This is a relatively new breed, thought to have first been developed in the 1980s.
The Utonagan has a gentle spirit and makes an amazing family dog. In fact, these dogs thrive being family dogs. However, they are very active and require lots of exercise. They can also be somewhat strong-willed, which makes them not the best dogs for first-time pet parents.
These dogs are very large, standing up to 30 inches and weighing about 110 lbs. Even though they’re very large, these dogs are very easygoing and love to be with their family.
Hug Dog
The Hug Dog is a hybrid dog that’s relatively new. They’re a cross between a Pomeranian and a Siberian Husky. The combination is a dog that’s very affectionate and intelligent. And they’re small; the Hug dog stands between 16 to 22 inches tall and weighs about 45 lbs.
Hugs love being part of a lively, active family. They adapt well to living in an apartment or a small home. Like their Husky parent, these dogs do have a lot of energy and require daily exercise. They can also be stubborn and are very intelligent dogs.
Alaskan Malamute
The Alaskan Malamute is related to the Siberian Husky. They even look similar to their Husky cousins; however, the Alaskan Malamute is larger than the Husky. They can weigh up to 95lbs and stand up to 26 inches tall.
These dogs are some of the oldest sled dogs around. They descend directly from wolves and have been bred for almost 2,000 to 3,000 years. They were first bred by a Native American people called the Mahlemut, which is where these dogs get their name.
Malamutes are used for all types of jobs, including hunting, pulling sleds, watchdogs, and more. The dogs were first recognized by the AKC in 1935.
The dogs remain very independent, just like their wolf ancestors.
Samoyed
The Samoyed looks very much like a White Husky; however, these are a different dog breed. The dogs are medium-sized, weighing between 34 to 55 lbs and standing about 21 inches tall.
They originally came from Asia and Siberia, where their ancestors once helped to hunt reindeer. The dogs were later used to pull sleds and herd reindeer.
Samoyeds tend to be very happy and friendly dogs. They have very thick, white coats, which means the dogs don’t do well in warm climates. They cannot tolerate the summer heat or be left outside.
Alaskan Husky
The Alaskan Husky is related to the Siberian Husky, though they are not recognized by the AKC. Even so, these are hard-working dogs that tolerate the cold.
These dogs were bred from a mix of other dogs, including:
- German Shorthair Pointers
- Alaskan Malamute
- Greyhounds
If you see a photo of the dogs, you can see they are a mix of these dogs. They tend to have short or long fur and come in a wide range of colors. There’s no breed standard for Alaskan Huskies.
Labrador Husky
Here’s another dog that’s very similar to a Husky. No one is sure if the Labrador Husky is a mix between the Labrador Retriever and a Siberian Husky; however, the dogs did come from Labrador, which is a part of Canada.
Records show the breed originated sometime in the 1300s. These are very friendly dogs who have a very high prey drive. They’re also quite large, weighing up to 100 lbs.
American Akita
The American Akit is somewhat smaller than their Japanese cousins and is more common in North America. The AKC recognizes the American and Japanese Akitas as two strains of the same breed. However, most breeders believe that these dogs are indeed two separate breeds.
The Akita stands about 27 inches tall and weighs between 50 to 90 lbs. These dogs like to be dominant, which means they tend to get into fights with other dogs.
While beautiful, these dogs are not the right choice for first-time pet parents. The American Akita tends to be difficult to train; however, they do make great guard dogs!
Keeshond
The Keeshond is related to the Samoyed, and they’re extremely popular in the Netherlands. Keeshonds are medium-sized dogs that stand between 17 to 18 inches tall and weigh about 35 lbs.
The dogs are eager to please and very trainable. They are active dogs who thrive in agility and obedience training. Keeshonds also tend to become very attached to their pet parents and don’t do well when left alone for longer periods.
Shepsky
Here’s another unique type of Husky mix called the Shepsky! The Shepsky also called a Gerberian Shepsky, is a mix between a German Shepherd and a Siberian Husky. They are not recognized by the AKC; however, they are recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club.
These dogs stand between 20-24 inches tall and weigh about the same as a Siberian Husky. In fact, Shepskies are about the same size as a Siberian Husky.
The dogs are very intelligent and loyal, much like their German Shepherd parent. They also tend to be affectionate and independent. Shepskies are also very active dogs, which require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy!
Canadian Eskimo Dog
The Canadian Eskimo Dog is a medium-sized working dog. They originally came from dogs that were bred by the Thule people about 4,000 years ago. They were used for hunting polar bears and pulling sleds. These are very powerful dogs.
These dogs stand between 22 to 28 inches and weigh up to 88 lbs. The CKC has recognized these dogs; however, they say the dog is a primitive working breed, which does not lend itself to being a domestic pet.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSumming It Up
There you have it! These are some amazing, beautiful Husky dogs! Each of these dogs is beautiful; however, remember that most are not the right choice for first-time pet parents. However, if you need a sled dog who has the strength and stamina for the sport, then consider one of the larger dogs included in this list! You won’t be sorry!
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Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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