There’s nothing cuter than a baby Husky. These adorable pooches are little fluffy bundles of joy and energy. Before you bring one home, you should take the time to learn about them. Then, you can be sure they are the right puppy for you.
Baby Husky Facts
Baby huskies are Siberian Husky puppies. They are medium sized dogs, with a fluffy double coat. Expect them to be very friendly, affectionate, and energetic.
Husky History
The Siberian Husky was originally domesticated by the Churchi people of Siberia. They were companions as well as sled dogs. They made their way to America in 1908, when they participated in the All Alaska Sweepstakes.
Eventually, they became popular sled dogs in New England as well. The AKC recognized the breed in 1930. Their popularity began to spread, making the pooches popular pets as well as working dogs.
Baby Husky Appearance
Baby Huskies are puppies, so they are relatively small. Their body type will be rounder than that of an adult Husky, who has an athletic and graceful body.
Adult Huskies have medium sized erect ears. However, baby Huskies have floppy ears. They have a double coat, which consists of a thick undercoat and a medium length topcoat.
Their coat can be black, brown, gray, red, or white. It’s common for Huskies to be white along with another color. For example, a gray Husky will have areas of white and gray.
Each color also has a wide range of potential shades. Brown, for example, can range from light tan to dark chocolate brown.
Their eyes are typically brown or blue, but they can be green as well. Heterochroma is common in Huskies, which mean they have two differently colored eyes.
Baby Husky Price
A registered Baby Husky costs about $1,000, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Puppies who are from prestigious bloodlines or are a rare color typically cost $3,000. Show quality Huskies typically cost about $3,000 as well.
Unregistered Husky puppies are less expensive, and usually cost $400 to $800.
Baby Husky Rarity
Baby Huskies are not rare. They’ve grown in popularity in recent years. They were 24th in popularity a decade ago, and are now 12th in popularity.
Their popularity means there are lots of Husky breeders to meet the demand for Huskies.
Baby Husky Life expectancy
You can expect your baby Husky to live for 12 to 14 years. You can maximize their lifespan by providing a proper diet, regular exercise, and routine veterinary care.
Baby Husky Size and weight
Baby Huskies start out small, but they grow into medium sized dogs.
You can bring your Husky home around 2 months old. At this time, they should weigh 8 to 15 pounds. They will be 10-12 inches tall.
At 3 months old, they will have gained more weight. They will weigh 13 to 23 pounds, and still be 10-12 inches tall.
At 6 months old, they will be 13 to 23 pounds, and 14-19 inches tall.
By their first birthday, they have grown considerably. They will be near their adult height and weight. Females will weigh 34 to 49 pounds, and be 20 to 22 inches tall. Males will weigh 43 to 57 pounds, and be 22 to 24 inches tall.
Baby Husky Health
Huskies are considered healthy dogs, but they are susceptible to some health issues. Adult Huskies are at a risk of arthritis, eye problems, and seizures. However, there are other health problems that can occur in baby Huskies.
Intestinal Parasites
Intestinal parasites are common in puppies. They are typically passed on from their mother in her milk. Once the puppies ingest the worms, they make their home in their intestinal tract.
Parasites can cause diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, and a poor coat, because they take nutrients from the dog. Parasites are easily treated by the vet, and are typically given as a part of routine puppy care.
Preventable Diseases
There are several preventable diseases that puppies are particularly at risk of. Distemper causes a runny nose and a loss of appetite. Unfortunately, it will attack the nervous system, and can cause lasting damage.
Parvovirus is another serious concern for puppies. It’s spread from one dog to another, and is highly contagious. Most puppies who contract pavo do not survive.
A less serious disease is kennel cough. It’s essentially the canine version of bronchitis, and causes a honking cough. Most pups recover from it, but it can take a few weeks for them to get better.
All of these diseases are preventable by getting your baby Husky vaccinated.
Seizures
The last condition you should be on the lookout for is seizures. Epileptic seizures have no clear cause. They typically begin between 6 months and 3 years old.
A puppy that is having a seizure will lose muscle control. This can cause them to fall over, drool, or lose control of their bladder and bowels.
Baby Husky Behavior/Characteristics
Baby Huskies are charming. They are very friendly, and they are always happy to get attention. They are playful, energetic, and curious.
They are pack oriented, which means they need plenty of interaction with their pack, or family. They also need to socialize with other dogs.
They don’t do well when left alone for long periods. They will get lonely or bored, which leads to behavioral issues.
Huskies are notoriously independent. They love affection, but they aren’t great at taking orders. They were originally bred to pull sleds across frozen tundra. This requires them to make quick decisions, without a lot of owner input.
All Huskies, even those who are pets, have this trait. This makes training them a challenge. You’ll need to establish yourself as the alpha of the pack by staying calm and using positive reinforcement.
How to care for a Baby Husky
Caring for a baby Husky is a lot of work, but it’s well worth it. Before getting a Husky puppy, be sure that you are prepared to care for them.
Exercise
Young Huskies need exercise, but you’ll need to keep the sessions short. Young Huskies will need about 5 minutes of exercise for each month of their age.
A 2 month old Husky should exercise for 10 minutes, and a 4 month old can exercise for 20 minutes.
At 4 months old, you can add sports training to their exercise routine. These dogs were bred to pull sleds. They are working dogs at heart, and harnessing that is a great way to keep them active.
You can do this by putting them in a harness, and letting them pull a cart, bike, or skateboard for short periods. Of course, sledding is a great way to exercise them in the winter months.
Huskies shouldn’t exercise or run for long periods until they are at least a year old. Adult Huskies can travel 150 miles in a day, and run at speeds of 30 mph.
However, if you allow a baby Husky to exercise too much, it can lead to joint problems later in life.
Socialization and Mental Stimulation
Your baby Husky will need lots of socialization. You should socialize them with people, and other dogs. If they are an only dog, schedule regular playdates.
If they will be around smaller animals, you’ll need to socialize your Husky with them as well. If they aren’t socialized with small animals like cats early on, they will view them as prey.
In addition to socialization, they need lots of mental stimulation. They can become bored easily. Just like a child, a bored puppy will find something to entertain themselves. It’s rarely something you want them to do.
Grooming
Baby Huskies require plenty of grooming. They are lower maintenance than most double coated breeds, however. You’ll need to brush them at least twice a week.
It’s important to start grooming them early in life. In addition to caring for their coat, this will get them accustomed to the grooming process. Start by combing out any tangles. Then use a paddle brush to remove shed hair and dirt.
When they are shedding, you’ll need to brush them daily. This occurs in the spring and fall, when the temperature begins to change. Huskies shed a lot, so frequent brushing is essential. You can also use a deshedding tool and deshedding shampoo to speed the process.
There is some good news when it comes to grooming your baby Husky. Their coat doesn’t require trimming, because it regulates itself.
They only need bathing once every 1 to 3 months. Their bodies produce little oil, so they don’t have a strong dog smell. They are also fastidious as far as dogs go, and groom themselves pretty well.
Diet
Huskies have sensitive stomachs, so you’ll need to be sure your baby Husky has the right diet. This is probably because they originat4ed in the Arctic, where high protein, high fat foods were the staple of their diet. In fact, they have a genetic adaptation that allow them to eat a high amount of fat without it affecting heart health. This adaptation is also found in polar bears.
Many Huskies have difficulty with grains, so consider a grain-free puppy food. It’s best to avoid corn, soy, gluten, and wheat in your pups food as well, as Huskies can have sensitivities to these ingredients.
The best food for Husky puppies is one designed for puppies, that has at least 20% meat and 40% animal origin ingredients. Generally, the more meat in the food, the better.
You can choose to feed them a wet food or dry kibble. Wet food is typically higher protein, and provides extra water. If you feed them dry kibble, soak it in water until they are at least 4 months old.
Husky puppies grow at a fast rate, particularly for the first five months. They need 2 times the calories per pound as adult Huskies to support this rapid growth.
To determine how much to feed them, use the chart provided on the food package as your guide. Huskies under 6 months old should have 3 meals a day. Those 6 months and older can eat 2 times a day.
How do you buy a Baby Husky
When buying a baby Husky, it’s important to be sure you purchase from a reputable breeder. Some irresponsible breeders are simply uninformed. Others breed purely for profit, with no regard for the health of their dogs or the breed as a whole.
Know What You are Looking For
The first step in buying a baby Husky is to know what you are looking for. Do you have a certain color in mind? Do you prefer a male or female? Are there specific personality traits that you are looking for? Do you want a Husky to show, to pull a sled, or simply as a companion?
Once you know what you are looking for, you can focus on breeders who provide pups who mede your needs and preferences.
Breeder Registires
The most reliable way to purchase a baby Husky is through a breeder registry. The AKC breeder registry only features dogs and breeders who are AKC registered. The AKC registration process typically eliminates unethical breeders, which eliminates guesswork for you.
You can also check out the Siberian Husky Club of America‘s breeder registry. They are closely affiliated with the AKC, and are highly reputable.
Signs of An Ethical Breeder
You can also find breeders through a Google search, but you should know the signs of an ethical breeder. Ethical breeders put the well being of their puppies, and the breed, before profits.
Expect them to care for the puppies properly. They should start the socialization process, and provide health certificates for puppies.They will not allow the puppies to leave their mother until they are at least 8 weeks old. Some breeders will keep the pups till they are 10 to 12 weeks old.
You can also expect them to ask you questions about your previous dog ownership experience, and the living conditions your puppy will have.