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Have you ever seen a white husky? If you haven’t, that’s not too surprising. White huskies are a rare, beautiful type of Siberian husky. When we say beautiful, that word doesn’t even do them justice!
If you’re curious to learn more about white Siberian huskies, then read on. In this article, we’ll take a look at the breed and share some surprising facts about these amazing dogs!
What is a White Siberian Husky?
When you think of a completely white dog, you may believe the canine is an albino. However, that’s not the case with the white husky. These dogs are white, yes, but they don’t have pink eyes, etc. White huskies can be pure white, light gray, or Isabella white.
A real white husky, however, will have a pure white coat. You should see no color markings in the fur at all. You may also see black coloring in the nose, around the eyes, and gums. However, these can sometimes appear to look faded. That’s normal.
On the other hand, an Isabella husky will have a pinky-colored nose, gums, and eyelids. An Isabella will never have the black pigmentation of a pure white husky. So, that’s how you can spot a true white husky. They will have black coloring around the eyes, etc.
1). The White Husky is the Same Breed as a Siberian Husky
We touched on that earlier, but some people do wonder if it’s true. Yes, the pure white husky is the same breed as the Siberian husky. The white husky is just a rare coloration of the Siberian husky.
Keep in mind that white huskies are not related to the Alaskan husky. These are an “unofficial” type of husky that’s not been registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC). The price of a Siberian husky puppy has increased drastically over the past couple years, the high-quality of their beautiful fur made them one of the best dog for American family.
2). White Husky Puppies are Born White
Some husky puppies are born white; however, they may have spots of grey or cream fur. This may mean the dog will grow up to be an Isabella or gray husky.
The real test is the color of the puppy’s nose. If the nose is black, then the puppy could be a pure white husky. However, if the nose is colored, then it will not be a white husky.
The puppy’s coloring is all determined by his genetics. It is the dog’s genetics that determines the color of his fur, eyes, nose, and more.
What’s more, there’s no way to know for sure if the puppies in a particular batch will include a white one or not. Even if you breed two white huskies together, it’s possible not one of the puppies will be white.
Genetics is a bit like that old game of tossing cards into a hat. You have a certain number of cards, from the ace to the number 2. When you toss a deck of cards into a hat, they become all mixed up. When you pull a pair of cards out of the hat, the combination will be different each time. Even when you have one deck of cards with a specific number of cards, the pairing will be unique each time.
This is how it works with genetics, too. Of course, the card example is very simplistic, but it gives you an idea of how the genes of two dogs can mix together.
So, when you have two white husky parents, it’s not possible to predict the coloring of the dogs. They have many color variations in their genes. It’s any guess which pair will result in a pure white husky.
3). White Genes?
If your dog is white, then he must have the “white gene,” right? Not necessarily! This is another interesting aspect of genetics! Your dog’s color is actually made of two colors:
- Pheomelanin (red)
- Eumelanin (black)
How on earth can these two colors result in a pure white husky? It’s due to the blocking of these genes by other genes that result in the coat’s white color. It’s a little complicated, but the genes that make a white husky are very rare.
What’s more, the same genes can determine the dog’s eye color. White huskies may have blue eyes, amber eyes, or bi-colored eyes. They’re really very striking and beautiful with white fur.
4). White Huskies Come in Two Sizes!
White Siberian huskies can be bred in two different sizes. They can be standard or miniature.
The standard white husky is a medium-sized dog, with the male larger than the female. They usually weigh between 35 to 60 pounds. And they stand about 20 to 23.5 inches tall.
The miniature white husky, on the other hand, weighs in from 18 to 25 pounds and stands 12 to 16 inches tall.
Other than their size, the standard and the miniature white huskies are the same!
5). The Price of White Huskies
Remember that pure white huskies are extremely rare, so the prices for these dogs are higher. A pure white husky may cost between $600 and $1000. This is a standard husky.
The price of a miniature white husky may range from $750 to $1200.
White huskies, with two blue eyes, may cost between $400 to $800 or more.
All white husky have both black and white around their paws although not as much as the breed standard. White husky dogs may develop a number of health issues such as cataracts, their coat color means that their eye colors are not always blue.
Siberian Husky Facts
White huskies are Siberian huskies; only they have pure white fur. That’s the main difference between the dogs. Otherwise, they’re pretty much the same.
All Siberian huskies prefer the cold. They were originally from Siberia. To live in that climate, huskies needed to have a double coat to stay warm. This means the white husky has a dense undercoat and a thinner, spiky outer coat.
Speaking of the Siberian husky’s coat, be ready to vacuum just about every day! All huskies tend to shed a lot. What’s more, they shed even more about twice a year—in the spring and fall. You may look at your house those times of the year and wonder if your dog has any fur left!
Huskies are active dogs. They were bred to be hunting and sledding dogs, and they retain this type of energy today. Your dog will need to have a fenced yard where he can run. However, that won’t be enough exercise for him. One of their favorite activities is running.
Dog food and its quality will have a critical impact on your husky’s health and the quality of their fur. You will find a complete guide for huskies on this website with different colors of huskies and information about other breeds like pitbulls, poodles, golden retrievers and other large dogs.
Siberian huskies are smart dogs, which is why they can be challenging to train. It can take more effort and a longer time to train a husky, so patience is needed. These are not good dogs for inexperienced pet parents. Instead, a husky needs someone who will be the strong, patient leader for the dog. Huskies do respond well to positive reinforcement training methods.
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Another important point to understand about Siberian huskies is that they have a very strong prey drive. For this reason, they may not do well with small dogs or other small pets, such as cats, etc.
Dog breeds like the purebred husky are becoming more and more popular these days. Breeders are struggling to meet the demand for both Siberian husky dogs and Alaskan malamutes. These working dogs originated from Alaska and the white husky is among the only fur color that tends to be combined with brown eyes. Dog owners must be aware of the tendency for huskies to get hip dysplasia during their lifetime, regular vet visits is recommended to ensure that such issues are addressed as early as possible.
Husky’s lifespan is similar to the german shepherd’s and is usually around 9-10 years. A husky mix makes for a great guard dog but are also adorable family dogs. The high energy level of the husky dog breed makes it a particularly popular choice for upcoming doggy owners.
Mental stimulation is particularly important for white huskies, they are known to be dogs easily suffering from separation anxiety. The Siberian Husky Club of America refers to the cause of their white fur to a recessive gene. White huskies are the same breed than regular huskies they simply have a different genetic composition impacting the color of their fur and often the color of their eyes.
So, there you have it! We shared five interesting facts about white huskies! We hope this article has made you aware of this rare, beautiful type of Siberian husky!
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Julie
Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.
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