There is something that dog owners just love about the White Husky. Some love their loyal nature and how affectionate they are, but others like that this working dog can handle itself around kids. Also known as a Siberian Husky, this breed is a gentle giant that ranks as one of the most popular dogs in the country. The odds are good that you have some questions about this breed. You can find out more about the Siberian Husky in this article.
Siberian Husky History
The White Husky was originally a sledding dog used by the Chukchi tribe. This ingenious tribe lived in Russia and commonly traveled around the Arctic Ocean. As they moved around parts of Asia, they began depending more on their dogs because they served as loyal companions and watchdogs. Chukchi people kept Huskies as far back as 3,000 years ago, which makes this breed one of the oldest in the world.
While all Huskies descended from the dogs used by that tribe, the color and type of dog that you get will depend on its parents. The color white comes from the recessive gene that both parents must have. You can only get a White Husky if both parents are White Huskies. This will result in a full little of Husky puppies that are pure white. The odds of two parent dogs having a litter of white puppies if they are not pure white is very rare.
Alaskan Connection
Thanks to television shows and films, you probably associate the Siberian Husky with Alaska. This dog first came to Alaska in 1909 when a Russian group brought several of the dogs to compete in a sledding competition. For more than 400 miles, the dogs quickly outraced the competition and came away with the top spot, which led to a boost in their popularity.
Some credit the dog Togo with the popularity of this breed too. Togo was a dog who belonged to Lenhard Seppala. When an outbreak struck Nome, there wasn’t any way to get locals the medical help that they needed. Seppala used Togo as a sled dog and managed to get through the icy tundra to bring the affected a necessary vaccine. Their journey inspired several films and books over the years. Some refer to Togo as the Father of the Modern Husky because his owner bred him with dozens of female dogs.
American Kennel Club
The main organization in the United States that recognizes official dog breeds is the American Kennel Club or AKC. It hosts a variety of events where owners can show their dogs and compete for prizes. When the AKC recognized the Siberian Husky in 1930 and allowed owners to register this breed, the owner of a White Husky was the first to sign up. This led to the creation of the Siberian Husky Club of America just eight years later. The Siberian Husky Club of American still exists today and offers help for Husky owners.
Not only can you find the best breeder and get tips on training a new Husky puppy, but you can let your dog compete in events with other Huskies. Huskies do well in agility and sledding events.
Siberian Husky Size and Weight
Siberian Huskies are quite large and can weigh as much as 60 pounds. Adult males usually weigh between 45 and 60 pounds, but adult females are a little smaller at 35 to 50 pounds. Female Huskies are also smaller in size and range from 20 to 22 inches. If you have a male puppy, you can expect it to reach 21 to more than 23 inches in size as an adult.
Husky Puppies
Though you’ll often have a harder time finding a White Husky than another type of Husky, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a new puppy. Some breeders sell these puppies for only $50. If one or both parents are show dogs, the puppies can cost as much as $1,000. Breeders who have mixed litters may charge more for the white dogs and less for those that are brown or a mix of colors.
It’s hard to tell how quickly your puppy will grow and mature because this depends on various factors. Most White Husky puppies reach their full size and weight by the age of 12 months. Their personalities will continue growing and changing in the coming years. You might notice that your Husky isn’t fully mature until it hits the age of five years or more.
Looking at a Husky growth chart gives you an idea of what your dog might look like after it comes home. Both male and female puppies typically weigh between 17 and 22 pounds at the age of three months. Males can weigh as much as 41 pounds by the age of six months, but females usually weigh 37 pounds or less at this age. The weight of the dog will keep growing until they reach one year. This is when the dog should get as big as it will ever get.
White Husky Temperament
Huskies have a seemingly boundless amount of energy. They love nothing more than racing around the house and playing with their humans. That high energy level makes them suitable dogs for people who also have a lot of energy. If you love hiking and camping, you’ll love that this dog can keep up with you.
Though Huskies rarely bark, they do howl, which is how they talk to other dogs. While this might sound cute, it can be a bit annoying. Huskies that are bored at home can howl for hours at a time to let you know that they want attention. That howling can make them a nuisance to others.
The Houdini Of Dogs
The White Husky is also something of an escape artist, which is why some call them a Houdini breed. If you have a short fence surrounding your yard, the dog can quickly find a way to escape and run through the neighborhood. The dogs can also escape from rooms with pet gates. If you want to let your dog play outside on its own, you must have a six-foot to eight-foot privacy fence. It’s helpful to look over the fence for any footholds that your dog can use to get over it. As these dogs are such good jumpers, they can use a foothold to get a few feet off the ground and then get over the fence.
Your dog also has a high risk of escaping due to its inherited hunting nature. Though the Chukchi used them as sled dogs in the winter, they used them for hunting in the warmer months. Huskies can view almost any animal as prey, including rabbits, cats and squirrels. If you leave a Siberian Husky outside, it can pick up the scent of a nearby animal and climb over the fence to chase it. Dogs that spend any alone time outside should have a microchip, which helps you find them.
Husky Personality
Though Husky dogs can have unique personalities, they tend to share a few things in common. As their ancestors worked in packs to pull sleds, modern Huskies prefer being in packs too. They do well in homes with more than one animal but also like going to the dog park and anywhere else where they might see other dogs. As they are both intelligent and curious, you need to find ways to keep a White Husky occupied. A dog left to its own devices might dig through the trash or rip apart a couch to get to a toy hidden below.
Huskies like to be around their humans 24/7 and do not do well when left home alone. These dogs can develop separation anxiety, which causes them to act out every time that you leave. Even if you just go outside to check the mail, the dog might howl until you come back. Some Huskies also develop depression as a result of being along. You generally do not want a White Husky unless someone is home most of the day.
Family Dog
The Siberian Husky is a family dog that loves people of all ages. They do especially well with kids because children have as much energy as the dogs do. Older kids can spend hours playing outside with these dogs and working off some of their excess energy. Toddlers and other small children need some supervision when playing with Huskies though. The dogs can sometimes be a little clumsy. That combined with their energy can lead to accidents when they knock the kids over.
You’ll also want to exercise caution when letting a Siberian Husky play or spend time around the elderly. These dogs can become too excited and injure someone with limited mobility. They also like to jump up in the laps of people and can topple an older person over or knock that person out of a chair. If you want to bring a Husky into a home with one or more dogs, you need to supervise their time together before leaving them home alone.
White Husky Appearance
The White Husky and the Isabella are two different types of Siberian Huskies. Isabella dogs have various shades of white, beige and yellow in their coats. You may not notice that color variations until you get close to the dog’s coat. A White Husky is pure white and doesn’t have any color variations. Both of these dogs can reach the same height and weight. Huskies can also come in other colors, including gray, red and black. All of those dogs will still have white hair in their coats.
You can easily tell if a dog is a purebred Husky or a Husky mix when you look at its shape. Huskies are long and lean with ears that stick out from the top of their heads. Those ears resemble small triangles. They also have a thick and fluffy coat that consists of multiple layers as well as fluffy tails. When a Siberian Husky lays down, you’ll notice that its tail curls and wraps around its face, which is a position known as the Siberian Swirl. Standing dogs will have a tail that curls around itself and sits on the lower back.
Huskies are one of the only dog breeds that experience something called heterochromia. This occurs when one eye is a different color than the other. Though some dogs can have eyes that are a deep shade of black, others can have bright blue eyes. Those with heterochromia may have one black eye and one blue eye.
Double Coat
The Siberian Husky has a double coat with multiple layers. While the tog coat is thin and slightly spiky, the undercoat is denser and fluffier. This coat developed over the years as the dogs spent time in hot and cool climates. It now helps them stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
As the White Husky is not hypoallergenic, it’s not a good dog for anyone who suffers from allergies. They are one of the few purebreds that can shed all year. Huskies typically shed at least twice a year and usually around the start of the hot or cold season. As they shed, you’ll want to brush them every day. If the dog isn’t shedding, you can brush it once a week. A Siberian Husky will also need its nails clipped and ears cleaned regularly.
Active Dogs
Siberian Huskies are active dogs and need owners who can handle their needs. You need a minimum of a fenced-in yard or a dog run that lets the dog chase, run and play outside. Huskies cannot handle apartment life or living in a small home that does not give them room to roam. Keeping a Husky in a small home can lead to boredom and depression or anxiety.
Feeding Your White Husky
The average Husky requires three cups of dog food a day or 1,200 calories. Unlike other dogs that you can feed and then take for a walk, you should never feed a White Husky and then engage in physical activity. This increases the risk of the dog developing intestinal and digestive issues. Most owners break the dog’s meals into two equal portions a day. They give the dog 1.5 cups of dry food in the morning and 1.5 cups in the early evening. You should give the dog at least two hours to digest its food and rest before taking a walk. Huskies also do well on raw diets that included animal bones.
Activity Needs
As the Siberian Husky is one of the most active dogs in the world, it needs more exercise than you might expect. Most of these dogs require a minimum of 90 minutes of exercise every day. They have so much energy that you can take one for a five-mile run and find that your dog still has enough energy to chase a toy around the house when you get home. Most owners take three 30-minute or two 45-minute walks with their Huskies every day. Though Huskies like running, walking and hiking, they do not like water. Don’t be surprised if your dog refuses to step foot in a creek or river.
Training Your New Siberian Husky Dog
You should start training and working with a Siberian Husky as soon as you bring it home. As they are working dogs, they love handling simple and complex tasks. Positive reinforcement training works well, but the dogs do not respond well to stern words or loud voices. Yelling or shouting at your dog can interfere with your bond and make the dog stop trusting you. If the dog does things you don’t like such as jumping on you when you get home, you should ignore the dog and only respond when it stops that action.
Health Issues in Huskies
The average life span of a White Husky is 12 to 14 years. With proper care, your family dog can live even longer. Epilepsy is a common condition that affects this dog, which can cause seizures that scare you. They can also suffer from eye problems as well as hip dysplasia. This condition typically affects larger breeds but only occurs in less than 5% of Huskies.
You may find that your dog suffers from some symptoms associated with inbreeding too. As Togo fathered so many puppies, it’s possible that your dog’s parents were related. The same gene that gives these dogs their white coats can cause deafness and cataracts too. Your vet can make sure that your Husky is healthy from the moment you buy a puppy.
The White Siberian Husky is one of the most active and energetic dogs in the world. They can have blue, black or brown eyes and suffer from a condition that causes them to have two different colored eyes. Similar to the Alaskan Malamute, a White Husky Dog loves being outside so much that you may have a difficult time getting yours to come in out of the snow. As long as you can keep up with this breed, you can start your search for Siberian Husky puppies.