We all know how a Siberian Husky looks like, and we know what color their coat usually is. But, did you know there are many other colors of Huskies, including the black Husky? Yes, you read that right, black Huskies exist!
In fact, the list of all the standard Husky coat colors is pretty long. So, let’s see which Husky coat colors are accepted by the American Kennel Club:
- Black
- Agouti & White
- Black & White
- Black Tan & White
- Brown & White
- Gray & White
- Red & White
- Sable & White
- White
As you can see, even the black Husky is accepted. So, in this article, we’ll take a closer look at the black Husky.
Black Husky
It’s not surprising that many people are so drawn to Huskies. They are intelligent, athletic, and loyal dogs. They are also fun to be around and goofy.
Huskies are big dogs, males are between 21 and 23.5 inches high. Females are a bit smaller with 20 to 22 inches. Male Huskies weigh between 45 and 60 pounds and the female 35 to 50 pounds.
These dogs basically look like domesticated wolves. But, they don’t only look like wolves, they resemble them in character too. You see, just like wolves, Huskies are pack animals too. That’s why it’s important that a Husky has a strong leader, a firm owner. Someone who will let them know who the Alpha is.
What’s also important to say about Huskies is that they don’t bark. No, really they don’t! But they are drama queens and LOVE to howl. They also tend to throw massive temper tantrums when things don’t go their way.
Now, that we know a bit more about Huskies, let’s take a closer look at all their beautiful coat colors.
Jet-black coat
The black Husky is probably the most unusual-looking one. Their black coat looks jet black, matte black, or dilute black. If their coat is dilute black it can appear closer to blue or grey.
Besides this, the black Husky has a solid jet black guard coat and dark-colored undercoat, or double coat. They also have black paw pads and even black markings on the roofs of their mouths.
There’s also the black and white Husky. That color pattern is a quite common one for Siberian Huskies. The black color can show up as jet black, black-banded, or dilute.
But, even though the black Husky looks scary, their coat color doesn’t predict their temperament. It doesn’t matter which color your Husky is, they’ll all have the same personality.
Health
You don’t have to worry that your black Husky’s coat color playing any role in their health. There isn’t any evidence that dark coat colors can cause health problems. It’s only been proven for white coat color and very dilute coat colors.
Huskies are sturdy dogs and don’t get sick a lot. But, there are health problems that all Siberian Huskies are susceptible to:
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Von Willebrand’s disease.
Besides these your Husky can also get:
- Cataracts
- Corneal Dystrophy
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Where the black comes from
It doesn’t matter which coat color you look at, be it red, grey, fawn, liver, you name it! All of those colors are a result of only two pigments!
Basically, your dog’s coat color depends on two pigments:
- eumelanin , which is black color
- phaeomelanin, which is red color
And that’s it! All of the other coat colors come from those two pigments. But, if there are only two pigments, how come there are so many different coat colors.
Well, it has to do with dog genetics and genes! You see, genes can modify those two pigments.
You’ve probably heard of the dilution gene. Just like its name suggests dilutes either the black or red pigment. This gene is recessive. It means that both parents have to carry that gene, for the puppies to inherit it and that their coat color gets diluted.
For example, if a puppy inherits the black pigment, and both its parents carry the dilution gene, the puppy’s black coat color can actually turn into brown, grey, pale brown, and so on.
The same applies to red pigment. There is another gene that controls the intensity of the red pigment. And if you wonder where the white coat color comes from? Well, it’s simple. If your dog’s cells don’t produce any pigment, their coat will be white.
Conclusion
The black Husky is a beautiful dog, but they need a lot of care and exercise. Just like any large breed, they are not easy to keep up with. You’ll have to put a lot of effort and care into them.
But, if you’re ready to brush them every day, make sure they get at least 90 minutes of exercise daily and eat a healthy and balanced diet, they might be the right dog for you.
While you’re already here, check out our articles on Husky mixes: