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The husky—mainly the Siberian husky—is a lively and loyal animal. Their intelligence allows them to learn quickly, but only when they want to. Huskies have a bold, independent and free-spirited temperament. While there are plenty of facts to learn about how to properly care for a husky, you mostly just need a good yard and a home to pamper these dogs.

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Friendly by nature, the Siberian Husky is easy to like and makes a lifelong companion.

3 different types of huskies and husky mixes

When it comes to huskies, most people want to know about the Siberian husky. However, lovers of the breed recognize the Alaskan Husky and the Miniature Husky.

Alaskan Malamutes are not actually purebreds. Instead, it shares some of the same genetics as the Siberian Husky (which is why there are so many interesting facts between the breeds). Malamutes are also slightly larger, weighing up to 60 pounds. The miniature husky looks just like a puppy, only 17 inches tall and can weigh up to 35 pounds. when it comes of age.

evolution and history

Like all dogs, the Siberian Husky evolved from wolves, but they are direct descendants of the Chukchi husky, a tribe of the Chukchi tribe located on the Siberian Peninsula in southeastern Russia. The Husky was developed about 10,000 years ago because the tribe wanted a dog that was faster, lighter, stronger, more efficient and best able to handle extreme temperatures.

Husky Health and Recreation

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Owning a Husky: 3 Pros and Cons

While there are many factors to consider when choosing a dog, here are some pros and cons to keep the message balanced.

size and weight

The size of a husky depends on the breed you want to know about. For example, a male Siberian Husky can reach a size of 21-23.5 inches and weigh about 45-60 pounds. Females tend to be smaller, 20-22 inches and 35-50 lbs. Their coat colors tend to be white, black and gray.

common health problems

One of the main problems faced by Siberian Husky is eye problems. Cataracts, corneal dystrophies, and even progressive retinal atrophy are common problems they may face. Most of the time, you can tell if they are predisposed to the disease due to genetics. If you know the puppy's breeder, it's a good idea to learn as much as possible about the parents.

Another common risk in Huskies is hip and elbow dysplasia. This condition causes joint deformities, which can make simple movements, such as walking or even resting, painful. Lives up to 15 years and always brings physical concerns to the veterinarian.

Overall, Huskies are fairly healthy animals. Nonetheless, common health issues faced by huskies include:

• cataract
• corneal dystrophy
• progressive retinal atrophy
• hip dysplasia
• elbow dysplasia

Temperament and Behavior

One of the main reasons people are drawn to huskies is their temperament. Huskies are free-spirited and tend to wander off if they get bored. Even a few hours of inactivity can be enough to cause home or yard damage. After all, they have a bite force of 320 PSI. This bite force can do a lot of damage to many different materials. Huskies simply love being engaged to their owners, bonding with them in an unbreakable way.

Of all the dog breeds, Huskies tend to have a level of loyalty to their family that is not found in other canine breeds. They prefer to be part of a group, which is how they view their family. They can be very friendly with strangers, but they will sense any unease their owner has about someone. The strong-willed nature of Huskies makes them difficult to train any other way, but it's not impossible. In fact, their intelligence is one of their most distinguishing characteristics. Since they prefer to be "in packs," Huskies are best used as family dogs (rather than single dog companions).

While Huskies are unlikely to become aggressive, be careful to supervise interactions with young family members. Huskies have a bite powerful enough to break bones, although they must be severely abused to pull off this attack.

How to Care for a Husky

Caring for a Husky requires a little patience and a lot of consistency. It's important for this dog to feel comfortable, but he shouldn't feel entitled to walk around other members of the household. Although a Husky has a sweet disposition, there are many ways to make him feel at home and well cared for.

food and diet

By the time your husky is 16 weeks old, he should only need two meals a day of high-quality dry dog food. It's best to keep a consistent schedule, especially since these working dogs only need about 15-30 minutes before they need to go outside after a meal.

Puppies or not, the Siberian Husky should not be free to graze grass at any time. They can become bossy and can end up with weight problems that need to be corrected with dietary restrictions.

Maintenance and Grooming

As big and beautiful as the Siberian Husky is, this dog requires a certain amount of grooming to stay healthy. They are naturally clean and will groom themselves to prevent odors. However, due to their thick coat, regular brushing is the best way to keep them working hard. They only need to be brushed once a week, though you should check their ears and teeth between brushings to remove buildup. When shedding season begins, you may need to switch to daily brushing to catch it all.

Be careful not to cut your nails too short to avoid bleeding. Some pet owners choose to leave this responsibility to their veterinarian or groomer.

train

When it comes to training, the Siberian Husky can rival its owner. It's not so much that they can't be trained, it's that they can't be trained. These dogs just love to use their wits the way they like. Many trainers encourage husky owners to keep their dogs out of their beds to maintain dominance, and to allow all family members to feed their pets to establish a hierarchy.

With determination, patience, and consistency, training a Husky is less of a chore. Socialization is encouraged with this sled dog. They are friendly, but they also need to develop confidence in a safe and controlled environment that promotes positive interactions with humans and other dogs.

exercise

As both sled dogs and working dogs, Huskies like to have lots of room to play. Their bodies are made for all types of exercise and they get bored with nothing to do. Since a bored puppy is often the recipe for ruin, make sure to take this dog out for a walk or jog for no less than 30 minutes a day. But, spend at least an hour most dogs enjoy.

If you don’t give them enough exercise, you’ll know pretty quickly – Siberian Huskys love to howl loudly when they’re unhappy.

puppy

Huskies grow quickly, and the time they spend as puppies is critical to developing a well-behaved, healthy animal. Puppies eat up to 3 times a day until they are three months old, though after that they can be weaned to two meals. They shouldn't have frequent access to food, but it's important to stay hydrated.

husky and baby

The Siberian Husky is an incredible family dog. Their patience with younger members of the family makes it easy for them to form lasting friendships. They are not easily aggressive and maintain a balanced temperament most of the time. Regardless of their training, it's always the best way to teach your child to respect this working dog and supervise them at all times.

These dogs often don't get along well with other dogs, so it's best to keep them as the only pets in the home. To eliminate this problem, socialization courses can be very helpful.

husky-like dog

If adopting a Siberian husky, Alaskan husky, or miniature husky is not an appropriate option, other breeds may also be considered. Perhaps you should consider an Alaskan Malamute, Keeshond or Akita.

• Alaskan Malamute: Often confused with the Siberian Husky, the Malamute is slightly larger and has a beautiful curled tail. They're just as friendly, but they're also quieter, and come in the same black, white, and grey.
• Akita: The Akita has a beautiful white and orange coat. Although they are fearless and intelligent, they are somewhat difficult to train.
• Keeshond: The Keeshond is more of a cross between a border collie and a husky, although they are also furry and cute.

famous husky

Huskies have been around for a long time, so it's easy to find famous examples of them. The most famous huskies may include Balto, Togo and Fritz, a group of three Siberian huskies who provided children in Nome with antitoxin serum to treat diphtheria in the 1920s.

The "talking" husky, Mishka, is somewhat more well-known among younger generations. She appears in YouTube videos, vocalizing different phrases like "I love you".

The popularity of the Huskies has even made its way into sports, such as the University of Connecticut Huskies. Interestingly enough, the real mascot isn't a husky at all – it's an Alaskan Malamute!

popular names for huskies

Some popular names for huskies include:

• Balto
• togo
• Gus
• diesel engine
• Jack
• maya

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Huskies are docile by nature, so they are not encouraged as guard dogs, but are a very lovable family pet.

Despite what many believe, wolves are a completely different species from Siberian huskies and huskies. The closest wolf relative to the husky breed is about 35,000 years old, as are most canids today.

Huskies require a lot of commitment and time, but with proper care, exercise, and training, they can have the sweetest, kindest temperament.

Training huskies can be challenging because they are very stubborn. It is not recommended that this breed be owned by just one owner, but should be part of a family or a multi-person household for their attention.

Keeping any husky healthy and happy requires 30-60 minutes of daily physical activity.

Professional husky breeders charge between $1,000 and $2,500 for their dogs. They can be found for much less at a pet store or backyard breeder for around $500 and $1500. Animal shelters have the lowest prices because a dog's genetics don't affect their adoption fee. While the color of a Husky can affect their price, the main concern is their genetics.