Types of Huskies: All at one place

The husky is not a dog for beginners. As cute as they are they need a lot of care and attention. So be aware of that before adopting one. If that doesn’t scare you, all you have to do is choose a Husky you like. But how many types of huskies are there anyway?

The term husky dog is generally used for sled dogs, while the word “Husky” comes from indigenous peoples from the Arctic regions, especially the Eskimos.

Through crossings, there are now a lot of different types of huskies, all of which have visible differences. For this reason, we have an overview of 8 exciting husky breeds for you here!

Alaskan Malamute

The Alaskan Malamute is Alaska’s official mascot. This husky species is considered the oldest in the world. They take their name from an Inuit tribe of the same name, which these huskies used hundreds of years ago as companions and sled dogs.

The Malamute differs in many ways from the typical Siberian Husky. Some of these differences can be seen in the fact that the malamute is simply much larger and heavier. The unmistakable appearance of the Malamute includes brown eyes and a wide head with wide-ranging eyes.

This dog loves excursions, but can sometimes also handle other dogs aggressively. But he is loyal and takes care of his human companions. If you live in warmer regions, you absolutely have to take care of the coat in summer, otherwise a heat stroke could occur.

Siberian Husky

As the name suggests, the Siberian Husky comes from Siberia. This husky breed was used by semi-nomadic tribes known as Chuckchi. The breed was developed to pull sledges both for daily life and for races over frozen terrain. In 1909, the first Siberian Huskies came to Alaska as racing dogs.

In addition, there are different types of Siberian Huskies.

Alaskan husky

The Alaskan Husky is a great companion dog and is considered very attentive. This husky breed differs in appearance because they are long-legged, slim, have a deep chest with pointed ears and a tail that curls over the back. These dogs generally have brown eyes. With a weight between 20 and 40 kg, they are larger than the Siberian Husky and have a wolf-like appearance. Alaskan is also far faster in speed than the other species.

Samoyed

The Samoyed is often mistakenly referred to as the Samoyed husky, but it is not an independent husky species. Because this is a Eurasian sled dog species that has certain similarities to huskies. They come from pointed dogs and other northern dog breeds. Furthermore, the Samoyed is an extremely friendly and sociable dog, which is considered more as an accompanying animal than a working sled dog.

Due to his working husky heritage, the Samoyed must be trained to avoid unwanted behavior. However, aggression is relatively rare and only occurs with poor posture or upbringing.

Miniature Siberian Husky

This little guy only reaches a maximum height of 40 cm on the shoulder and reaches a maximum weight of 18 kg. He is bred in such a way that he looks like a Siberian husky, just much smaller. They are loving and loyal family dogs, but less active than the larger husky breeds. The miniatures have a variety of colors in the fur and can be black and white, gray or red. Like their Siberian relatives, the miniatures also have a striking appearance.

Greenland dog

With a strong pack mentality, these dogs must be kept in groups of two or more dogs. The males are slightly larger with a height of 68 cm on the shoulder, while the females only reach a shoulder height of 50 cm. Within this breed there are fur colors of black, white, gray or spotted white. They bind well with their owners and are ideal for families. Nevertheless, these dogs are not suitable for beginners and need a lot of care.

Chinook

This rare breed of a sled dog was bred in New Hampshire. Males are a little larger than females, but compared to other husky species, they are relatively small. Due to high-quality breeding, these dogs are considered intelligent, loyal and perfect companions. These husky-like dogs are also available in almost all fur colors and patterns.

Labrador Husky

Although the name sounds to a crossroads of the Labrador Retriever and a husky race, the Labrador Husky is actually an independent breed. There is a province in Canada, known as Newfoundland and Labrador, where both races originate, but the Labrador Husky has genealogically taken a different path. They are a medium to large breed of dog that has many similarities to other huskies, including a thick coat, limitless energy and even temperaments.

Other two breeds you should check are Canadian Eskimo dog and Utonagan.