The physical and behavioral characteristics of the Siberian Husky, also known as the "Siberian Husky", have made it one of the most popular and loved in recent times. The combination of its coat, the color of its eyes, its imposing bearing and thick coat, added to its affable and playful character, make the breed an excellent companionfor humans.
Although it was developed in the arctic areas of Russia, the husky shows a good adaptation to temperate climates, unlike other Nordic dog breeds, such as the Alaskan malamute. However, it is very common for some people to wonder if there really are types of husky Do you too? In this article on our site we explain everything and we will also show you some similar breeds.
How many types of husky are there?
Incorrectly, under the term "husky", some people often include different Nordic dog breeds, such as the Siberian husky, the Alaskan malamute or the Samoyed. However, if we consult the most important canine federations, such as the International Cinological Federation (FCI), the American Kennel Club (AKC) or The Kennel Club (KC), we can quickly see that does not exist different types of husky but, in fact, there is only one breed admitted with this name, the Siberian husky or " Siberian Husky ".
Therefore, it is not correct to talk about different types of husky to refer to other types of Nordic, snow or sled dogs, nor to talk about the characteristics that huskies can show, such as the different coat, eye or size colorsWhat are these features? We explain it to you below.
Husky Features
The Siberian Husky is a dog native to Russia, where it was bred since ancient times by a tribe called Chukchi From then on, it was used for pulling sleds, herding and also as a pet. Beginning in 1900, it gained popularity in North America and began to be bred in Alaska for similar tasks.
The breed standard states that the Siberian Husky is a medium-sized, muscular dog, but light and agile. Males measure between 53 and 60 cm. at the withers, while females reach about 50 to 56 cm. at the withers The eyes are almond-shaped and can be blue or brown, some dogs also have heterochromia, that is, dogs with two-colored eyes. As for the coat, it is of medium length, but dense, soft and double, so the inner layer disappears during the shed. The color varies from black to white, or in shades bicolores with patterns typical of the breed.
Another characteristic of the husky is its friendly behavior. Although the personality of any dog develops according to upbringing, naturally the husky is usually gentle, playful and even a little mischievous, as the breed is popular for trying to escape. This friendly disposition makes it a good companion dog and suitable for families with children.
Siberian husky-like breeds
As we have pointed out, there are not several types of husky, only the Siberian. However, there are several of the breeds that are commonly confused with this name. Sometimes, they are grouped under the name " alaskan husky", to refer to all those dogs bred in Alaskathat are in charge of sledding and other snow tasks.
Get to know below some of the breeds similar to the husky:
1. Husky malamute
It is not correct to speak of the husky malamute, but of the " Alaskan Malamute " or Alaskan malamute. This is one of the oldest dog breeds on the planet, as it is suspected that their ancestors were already bred by Paleolithic men. The name comes from a nomadic Inuit tribe, called "mahlemiut".
As you may have noticed, the Alaskan malamute is not a type of husky, however, the American Kennel Club recognizes that these The breeds are "cousins," although there are certain differences between the Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Malamute. The Alaskan Husky is a strong dog capable of participating in sled competitions. It has a thick and rough coat that varies between combinations of red, gray or black, as well as completely white specimens.
two. Labrador retriever
There is no dog recognized as a Labrador Husky, in fact, none of the canine federations mentioned above recognize this alleged breed. However, it is very likely that the term refers to the mixed dogs resulting from the crossing of a Siberian Husky and a Labrador Retriever.
It would therefore be the result of a cross between a dog breed bred in northern Canada and husky dogs, there is even the possibility that it was also crossed with German shepherds.
3. Samoyed
Another of the breeds often mistaken as one of the "husky types" is the Samoyed This is a dog native to Russia and Siberia, where it was named after a semi-nomadic tribe from Asia. However, is not a type of huksy, rather it is a recognized breed In ancient times, the Samoyed was used as a hunter, guard dog and to keep warm of people during winter nights. The Samoyed is a medium-sized dog with an affable expression. It has an abundant, dense, double-layered polar mantle. His coat is completely white, with cream tones in some dogs.
4. Pomsky
The pomsky, also called minihusky, is not yet recognized by any canine federation, since it is the result of a husky Siberian and a Pomeranian, however, there is the International Pomsky Association, a kennel club intended to determine the breed standard.
The crossbreed is popular in the United States and is often referred to as a "husky", but as we mentioned, there is only one recognized breed of this type of dog. The pomsky is usually medium-sized and weighs between 7 and 14 kilos. The appearance is that of a miniature Siberian, somewhat childish, with blue eyes and two-tone fur.
5. Canadian Eskimo Dog
The Canadian Eskimo Dog, known in English as the "Eskimo dog," is another commonly confused breed. It is also mistakenly known as the "Inuit husky", however, is not a type of husky either This breed, bred in Canada, has a completely different genetic line. It was used as hunting support or to transport loads of up to 15 kilos. It is a medium-sized dog with a powerful and strong appearance. It has a dense and hard double coat that appears white in color together with red, gray or light brown.
Other dogs resulting from crosses
There are other canine varieties that are often confused with husky types, but in reality they are crosses between various breeds, the result of which has not been accepted by the FCI, TKC or AKC standards.
These are some of those dogs:
- Tamakan: cross between Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute and German Shepherd.
- Chusky: cross between chow-chow and husky.
- Mackenzie River Husky: cross between sled dogs from Alaska and Saint Bernard.
