Both Japanese Akitas and Siberian Huskies are some of the most ancient dog breeds known to man. Not only are they old, but they’re also quite intriguing. That’s why you may be asking yourself what an Akita Husky mix would turn out like.
When you mix Akitas and Huskies, you get Huskitas. These dogs share their parents’ intelligence and energetic nature. They also inherit their parents’ thick, dense coats of fur. Training Huskitas can be quite challenging if you don’t start it when they’re still pups.
Read on to find out all about the history of Huskitas, as well as their personality, appearance, and how much they cost. We’ve also included some highly useful guidelines to follow when caring for this mixed breed.
Overview of the Akita Husky Mix
When you cross a Siberian Husky with a Japanese Akita, you get an Akita Husky. These fascinating dogs are often referred to as Huskitas.
Both of the parent breeds are officially recognized by the American Kennel Club. On the other hand, the breed you get when you mix them isn’t.
Brief History of Akita Husky Mix
We don’t know much about the whereabouts of the first attempts at cross-breeding Huskies and Akitas. However, it’s widely believed that the two breeds were first mixed in the latter stages of the 20th century.
On the other hand, there’s plenty of information available when it comes to the two parent breeds of Huskitas.
Japanese Akita
The origins of Akitas go back to their days in the Japanese mountains over 1,000 years ago. They’re an integral part of Japanese culture and were in fact recognized as a “natural monument” by the Japanese government in 1931.
Throughout history, these dogs have been used by humans in a variety of ways. They’ve been employed as hunting dogs, police dogs, and guard dogs.
The first Akita to venture into the US was brought there by Hellen Keller. During her 1937 tour of Japan, Keller was gifted an Akita puppy that she decided to take home with her.
36 years later, Akitas became an American Kennel Club registered breed.
Siberian Husky
If you thought that the lineage of Japanese Akitas is ancient, you’ll be surprised to know that their history pales in comparison to that of Siberian Huskies.
These dogs are over 4,000 years old. The first time they appeared in recorded history was as the primary animal companion of the Chukchi tribe. This tribe called the icy region of Siberia home, and riding on sleds pulled by Huskies was their main way of getting around.
Huskies didn’t make their first appearance in North America until several millennia later when they were brought to Alaska in the early 20th century to participate in sledding competitions.
The most notable chapter of Husky history would definitely have to be the breed’s role during the diphtheria epidemic. These dogs saved many lives by transporting medicine to Nome, an Alaskan city that was being ravaged by the disease.
Eventually, the Siberian Husky became an official American Kennel Club registered breed in 1930.
Characteristics of the Akita Husky Mix
Now that we’ve covered the origins of its parent breeds, it’s time to get into more detail regarding the features of Huskitas.
How Big Are Akita Huskies?
Both Akitas and Huskies are large dogs. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the hybrid that results from crossing them is also rather big.
Huskitas can reach a weight of up to 75 lbs and a height of 25 inches. Dogs of this breed that are considered small are typically around 22 inches tall and weigh roughly 50 pounds.
Most Huskitas that you’ll encounter won’t have measurements around these extremes. Instead, their height and weight are likely to fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. Of course, the exact size of a Huskita heavily depends on the genes received from its parents.
You’ll also notice that female Huskita dogs are generally smaller and shorter than male ones, like most dog breeds.
What Do Akita Huskies Look Like?
The appearance of Huskita dogs is a blend between the aesthetic of their Akita and Husky parents. Needless to say, the breed that results from crossing these two dogs is as beautiful as they come.
Fur Coat
Huskitas have a double-layered coat consisting of dense, soft, short to medium-length hair.
This fur coat can come in an array of colors. These colors include black, white, gray, or combinations of all three. Huskitas’ fur can also be brown, sable, or silver.
Ears
The ears of Huskitas are erect and are located high on top of the dog’s head. In terms of shape, these dogs’ ears are wedge-like and are small relative to the size of a Huskita’s head. As for their color, Huskitas’ ears are typically the same color as the rest of their fur.
Tail
The tails of Huskitas are quite interesting. These dogs have long, thick, bushy tails that curve upwards quite distinctly and lie on their backs.
Head
Huskita dogs have quite a strong jaw and a short muzzle. These characteristics are in line with both parent breeds.
At the tip of a Huskita’s muzzle, you’ll find its round, black nose.
The overall expression on a Huskita’s face is one of curiosity and friendliness.
Eyes
Huskitas typically have the almond-shaped eyes of their Husky parent. Their eyes can be brown, but they can also be the striking blue that gives Huskies their beautiful appearance. It depends on their genes.
Personality and Temperament of Akita Huskies
Since both Huskies and Akitas are highly intelligent dogs, Huskitas are also an incredibly smart breed regardless of which parent they take after.
They’re also very energetic and in tune with their environment, sensing the slightest of changes. Therefore, it’s important to not subject these dogs to overly dynamic surroundings before they’re properly trained. Failing to do so may trigger anxiety and lead to aggressive behavior.
Huskitas are also quite independent. This means that they don’t need as much attention from their owners as other dog breeds. Their independence doesn’t diminish their affectionate and protective instincts though. Huskitas are incredibly loyal and would do anything to ensure their owner’s safety.
How Much Do Akita Huskies Cost to Buy?
Oftentimes, the best way to gauge how much a mixed breed dog will cost is to check the going prices of its parent breeds. However, Huskita dogs seem to be an exception to this rule.
The typical price you’d find a breeder offering Husky pups for is around $1,500. As for Akitas, they’re often sold at a whopping price of $4,500.
However, you can get a Huskita from most breeders at a much lower price than this. You can find this hybrid breed at prices as low as $500 and as high as $1,200.
If you’re looking to adopt a Huskita rather than buy it, you’re in luck. Unlike most designer mixed breeds, Huskitas are often found at shelters. This is because a lot of people find their size and abundance of energy too much to deal with.
Caring For Akita Huskies
When caring for a Huskita dog, there are certain things that you need to keep in mind.
Here are some tips that might come in handy when dealing with dogs of this breed:
What Is the Ideal Environment For an Akita Husky?
Before you decide to make a Huslita pup the newest member of your household, you should make sure that you’ll be able to provide it with the environment it needs to be healthy and content.
Due to Huskitas’ independent streak and high sensitivity to change, you need to be careful with how you introduce them to other pets you may have. Make sure to expose your Huskita to its animal cohabitants as early in its life as possible to avoid any potential conflict between them.
Another thing you should keep in mind is how much space you have. Huskitas are large dogs that are highly active. Therefore, you shouldn’t get one unless you live in a large house with a spacious backyard in which your Huskita can expend all the energy it has.
While you shouldn’t leave a Huskita unsupervised with toddlers, these dogs are great with older kids. Their protective and affectionate nature will make for hours and hours of mutual entertainment between your little ones and their furry pal.
How to Train an Akita Husky
The intelligence of Huskitas definitely makes it easier to train them. However, their independent nature and occasional stubbornness can also pose some challenges.
However, if you get a Huskita while it’s still a young pup, it’s a lot more likely that you’ll be able to condition that stubbornness out of it right from the start.
Training a Huskita dog should involve a great deal of physical and mental stimulation. If you fail to provide your Huskita with the exercise it needs, you’ll have a dog with a lot of pent-up energy. Dogs in this state are much more likely to be disobedient and destructive.
Finally, you should aim to expose your Huskita to as many different environments as possible from a young age. Start off with static, unintimidating surroundings and then work your way up to more challenging environments. By doing this, you’ll avoid triggering your best bud’s anxiety.
What to Feed an Akita Husky
Huskitas are relatively hefty dogs that are full of energy and incredibly active. Therefore, they require quite a lot of food on a daily basis as you’d expect.
Exactly how much you should feed your Huskita dog depends on its weight. If your dog’s weight hovers around 75 pounds, you’re going to need to feed it four and a half servings per day. Smaller Huskitas will only need around two and a half or three servings to be well nourished.
You should also note that keeping your Huskita healthy and well-fed will come at a significant price tag. These dogs should only be fed high-end dry food that isn’t supplemented with fillers such as corn.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can also feed your Huskita probiotic dog food.
How Often Does an Akita Husky Shed?
Needless to say, the majestic, long, dense fur coat of Huskitas requires plenty of grooming and maintenance if you want your dog to remain healthy. These dogs shed all year long and go through two particularly extensive shedding periods every year.
Therefore, you’re going to want to brush your Huskita’s coat multiple times per week.
What Is the Lifespan of an Akita Husky?
Huskita dogs can live up to 13 years, and can sometimes surpass this threshold. However, many Huskitas can have a shorter lifespan than this if the genes they inherit from their Husky and Akita parents aren’t as strong.
That being said, a healthy Huskita will typically live to reach the age of ten at a bare minimum.
Of course, the figures mentioned above are predicated based on your Huskita being properly cared for and not having any of the health conditions that this hybrid breed is prone to.
Potential Health Issues in Akita Huskies
The health conditions that are most likely to afflict your Huskita friend at some point in its life are hip dysplasias, blood diseases, and blindness
This is to be expected since these are issues that often plague Huskies and Akitas as well.
Conclusion
Both Akitas and Huskies are fascinating ancient dog breeds. Therefore, you may be curious about what an Akita Husky mix would be like in terms of looks and personality.
Mixing these two breeds together results in Huskitas. These dogs are quite large, reaching weights of up to 75 pounds. They’re also intelligent and full of energy just like their parents.
Huskitas are incredibly affectionate and protective. However, they can be a bit challenging to train as they have a tendency to seek independence. The best way to navigate this issue is to get a Huskita pup while it’s still young.