The Red Husky is a medium-sized working dog with wolf-like features, a red coat color and often has piercing, almond-shaped blue eyes. It is one of several Husky colors within the Siberian Husky dog breed; not a separate dog breed.
Sometimes referred to as a:
- Red Siberian Husky,
- Red Husky dog,
- Siberian husky
- Or Alaskan Husky
This beautiful pure bred dog is generally a happy, friendly and sociable dog that makes a good family pet. It is good around children and is smart but can be mischievous if bored, and be warned they like to run!
And a Husky puppy is just the cutest dog you can imagine!
A brief history of this dog
The Red Husky originated in the northern areas of Asia, now known as Siberia. Siberian Huskies were bred by the Chuchki tribal people, some 3000 years ago, as companions and working sled dogs to transport goods and people.
Siberian Red Husky dogs are pack dogs and were used as sled dogs in the Alaskan Gold Rush in the early 20th Century.
During the 1925 Diphtheria outbreak in Alaska, there was need for a serum cure across the State. Gunnar Kaasen was one of many teams who set out to deliver the Diphtheria serum by sled, in the long journey known as the Serum Run, some 600 miles across Alaska, from Nenana to Nome.
The feat was made into a movie and in 1995 and into an animated version about Gunnar and his Siberian Husky sledding dogs. (Sometimes referred to as Alaskan Husky dogs)
Fact: The most famous Siberian Husky dog was Balto. Based on the true story or the Serum Run, Balto stole the hearts of many over the years in the movie, later animated as the wolf-like husky dog, ‘Krypto the Superdog’.
Balto is now recognized with his own bronze statue in Central Park, NYC.
The Siberian Husky breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1930 and has its own breed club, the Siberian Husky Club of America.
Best Dog Food for Red Husky Breed
Nulo Freestyle Puppy & Adult Dry Dog Food
Your Red Husky’s diet should be tailored to their size, age and needs. It should always be well-balanced and healthy, changing as they get older and their calorie needs change.
We find that a grain-free food like Nulo Freestyle is best for a breed like a Red Husky.
The different types of Siberian Husky dogs
The Siberian Husky is a pure breed that comes in a mix of Husky coat colors – black and white Husky, Red and white Husky or even pure white. The pure white Siberian Husky is the rarest color of the breed.
Whatever the color there is no doubt that this is a beautiful dog, especially the Siberian Husky puppies.
The only real difference is the Husky colors – their top coat, undercoat and eye color.
They all have distinctive triangular shaped erect ears, distinctive coat markings and almond-shaped eyes in a variety of colors: Blue, Brown or parti-colored eyes (one brown and one blue). Less commonly their eye color can be green or amber)
Are they part wolf?
Fact: It is believed that the domestic dog is a genetic divergence from grey wolves and it was humans, possibly nomadic hunters, who domesticated dogs in Europe some 15,000 years ago. Not many domestic dog breeds today have the appearance of what their early ancestors may have resembled, but he Siberian Husky does.
The Siberian Husky’s wolf-like appearance is because of genetic admixture – the presence of DNA from a distant related population or ancient interbreeding.
What are the main characteristics?
The Red Siberian Husky is adorable from puppy to adulthood. It will be a lovable family pet with a gentle nature and not known as an aggressive breed as it was not used primarily as a hunting dog.
Loyalty and companionship:
A Red Husky will fit into family life easily as it enjoys being around people all the time. This makes it loyal and a good friend to have around.
Reputation:
The Red Husky is generally sociable, friendly and a relaxed dog, making it the ideal family pet. It does not have an aggressive reputation as it was originally bred for companionship and sledding by the Chukchi Tribe people in Siberia. It is not known to bark a lot so this does not make it a good guard dog.
Fact: The Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute and Samoyed breeds all descend from the original sledding dogs. The Husky, sometimes nicknamed the ‘Esky’ may have been a derivative name from the work ‘Eskimo’
Popularity:
It’s both a looker a good natured dog breed and therefore a very popular family dog. In the United States in the 1950s the Weiner became a popular family dog, and still ranks the 13th most popular dog in the US, and 9th in UK.
Now a registered breed standard by the AKC they can compete as purebred show dogs in any coat color and eye color combination, even with ine brown eye and one blue eye.
Trainability:
The Red Husky puppy is not the easiest dog to train! It’s a strong-willed working dog and strong with lots of stamina, but will get bored easily. They can often get the better of its dog owner. They can be mischievous if not occupied and will run off. They are often described as a naughty escape artist. And as sledding dogs they can run!
Power and intelligence:
All Siberian Husky dogs are strong, quite intelligent and energetic. Used to working hard for hours with little food or drink they have great stamina and want to be kept active. If you don’t keep them occupied your Red Husky will find their own fun and it can be destructive fun.
Socialization:
Early socialization and discipline is always recommended with any strong dog breed, and the Red Siberian Husky puppy is no exception. They are naturally gentle and friendly but need training to know just how to behave around strangers, children and when in public.
Purpose:
Siberian Husky dogs are pack animals and live to live in groups. They will fit into family life easily and mix well with all ages. They have strong navigation instincts and will chase smaller animals if bored. So keep them occupied.
Behaviour:
They need keep busy with lots of opportunity for exercising otherwise they will get bored and howl or chase smaller animals or run off. They can be destructive when bored, but are not a barker, they tend to howl rather than bark but fortunately not too much.
They are good around children and generally have a relaxed nature.
Physical Characteristics of the Red Husky Dog
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Medium-sized | Medium-sized |
| Height | 21-23.5” (53-60cm) | 20-22” (51-56cm) |
| Weight | 45-60lb (20-27kg) | 35-50lb (16-23kg) |
| Lifespan | 12-14 years | 12-14 years |
| Litter Size | 4-8 puppies/litter |
Coat type: the Husky breed has a very thick double coat, its dense undercoat and longer straight guard hairs acted as protection from extreme weather conditions in its native Siberia and in Alaska. As a pure bred dog, its top coat and undercoat will self-clean but shed hair easily.
It has a characteristic heavy, thick furry tail.
Coat colors: That depends on the parent mix. Red coat (light red, copper-red or dark sienna red), black, grey, sable, piebald and white. Agouti is a rare mix, from a recessive gene, where each hair has 2 or more colors, resulting in a grey, dull brown or dull yellow appearance. They have cute white paws.
Coat patterns: They can have a variety of patterns: Dapple (merle), brindle (dark stripes), and piebald. The merle coat color in many breeds comes from the merle pattern gene and can suggest health issues and impure breeding and is not favoured by the AKC. Fortunately this is not the case for the Husky as it does not have this gene.
Temperament:
The Siberian Husky is an ancient sledding dog with lots of stamina. Used to extreme weather conditions and travelling long distances it is suited to hard work and will be determined and resilient
They are generally easy going with a gentle nature and love company. They don’t bark much and if they do it’s a howl and not a bark and they bore easily.
How should you train a Red Siberian Husky?
Train a Red Husky puppy early. They are naturally sociable but happy to direct themselves.
Siberian Husky dogs are pack dogs, this can make them want to take charge and follow their instincts rather than commands, particularly if they don’t see to point of the order. It is therefore important to establish who the leader is early with this dog breed.
They are not an easy breed to train as they are strong-willed and just like to run off when they feel like it. Set boundaries early and stick to them, practise training regularly and remind them who is boss.
Types of training required: obedience, discipline, agility and socialization.
So, if you are not going to use a professional dog trainer:
1) Develop your basic command words: Find keywords such as Stop, Come, Wait etc. and be consistent each time you use them. Use small treats as a reward in early training.
2) Crate – Buy a crate and get puppy used to going into it. This will eventually become its nest and it will sleep there. You will have to lock the cage in the early days so it knows it has to sleep there and useful experience when transporting your pet.
3) Potty training – May be hit and miss for a new puppy who gets easily excited and lacks control, however products are available, such as mats and odour sprays to attract puppy go to the same spot each time
4) Walking on a leash – Voice commands and road awareness is important for a Red Husky puppy’s safety, as they love to run off.
Health problems and health issues
Any purebred dog breed can inherit certain genetic health problems. The Red Siberian Husky can suffer from:
Bloat (Gastric Dilatation-volvulus) – this can affect many deep-chested dog breeds if they eat large volumes quickly, drink too much water after eating or even eat too close to exercising. The Siberian Husky diet has evolved over the years away from a largely protein based diet to one that is rich in grains and carbs.
Any of these factors can cause excess gas to build up in the stomach and if the dog is not able to pass the excess air, the stomach can twist and reduce the blood flow to the heart, which can result in death.
Early signs are restlessness after eating, a bloated stomach and an inability to reject the air and excess food through ineffective retching. The dog may become listless and uncomfortable with a faster than usual heartbeat. If this happens medical attention is required urgency to dispel the gas.
Zinc Deficiency – their diet was traditionally fish based and therefore rich in Zinc. Today the Red Husky can become deficient showing signs of skin problems – dry skin, fur loss or sores. A supplement from the Vet can resolve this health problem.
Diarrhea – this is common in Huskies due to how their diet has evolved over centuries. They have moved from a protein rich low grain diet to one that is a mix of Carbohydrates, grains and protein. Adjusting the ratio of protein to grain may help.
Thyroid Dysfunction – this a genetic condition which can be screened for when breeding. Symptoms include weight gain or loss, lethargy or over active behaviour. They may also suffer a change in their fur – loss or thickening.
Other health issues include: allergies and skin conditions and possibly hip dysplasia and eye disease.
Caring for your Red Husky – what’s needed?
Exercise needs
A Red Husky was bred to work hard and sled over long distances and is therefore full of energy and stamina. It will require lots of exercise in the form of walks or being able to run around. This makes them particularly suited to large space living. Even as a puppy they need lots of daily exercise and being kept active.
Early leash training, and road awareness, is strongly recommended to keep this mischievous puppy safe, as they are known to just run off.
Feeding
Feed as a medium-sized dog with specially-formulated dry food, recommended by your Vet. Pay particular attention to the level of zinc in the Husky diet.
Grooming
This dog will require daily grooming of its thick double coat. It’s a shedder so you’ll need a good brush as twice a year they shed their undercoat (Best check out what’s recommended on Google or Amazon.)
Bathing
Bathe when needed, but not too often as their coats contain natural oil, which can be stripped with over-bathing. Certain dog formulated shampoos have double effect of cleaning the dog coat and protecting it against fleas and insect bites.
Cleaning teeth, nails and ears
Look after their teeth to prevent a build-up of plaque. Chewing breaks down plaque, so use doggie chew-toys, bare-bones and soft toothbrushes and toothpaste. Nails grow quickly due to activity level and need to be trimmed regularly, say once a month, and checked for infection. Their upright triangular ears still need to be checked for dirt build-up or infection weekly.
What’s life like for a Red Siberian Husky?
Lifestyle
The Red Husky is energetic but stubborn and likes to run around. If they get bored they can be naughty and chew things of smaller animals or just take off. They love family life and the bigger the better as they are extremely sociable and gentle around all ages of people! But as a pack dog they will like to test authority and the boundaries set so they must be trained.
They are known to try to talk to you by making funny noises and occasionally howl like a wolf.
Positives and Negatives of ownership
Red Husky Positives
- Stunningly cute appearance
- Loyal to family
- Smart and gentle nature
- Great stamina
- Big personality
- Run to run around with
Red Husky Negatives
- Useless as a guard dog
- Howls, not bark (but not much)
- Not well behaved if left alone
- Will escape if possible, needs a big fenced area to run in
- Will chase small animals if bored
- Not good in sedentary environments, needs activity
- A big shedder needs regular brushing.
Commonly asked Questions:
Q: What is the proper name of the Red Husky dog?
A. The Siberian Husky breed, has many names, often referred to by color – The Red Husky, Red Siberian Husky dog, The Red Siberian Husky, The White Siberian Husky or The Red and White Siberian Husky. Their nicknames include: Alaskan Husky, Balto dog, Chukchi dog, Esky.
Q. How much does a Red Siberian Husky puppy cost?
A. From $500, from a reputable breeder, (depending on its pedigree, coloring, and pattern) –However, it’s always best to adopt rather than buy if you can, you may find that it might only cost $100-300.
Food will cost around $50 per month for an adult Red Husky, and Vets fees and accessories all need to be factored into the cost of owning a Husky.