Black and white Huskies are very popular, thanks to their unique appearance and friendly nature. Huskeis are beloved pets today, but they began their existence as sledding dogs.
Black and White Husky Facts
Black and white Huskies are a color of Siberian Husky. They have a black and white coat. Like other colors of Husky, they have a double coat, which includes a dense undercoat, and a topcoat.
Black and White Husky History
The Husky is a descendant of the ancient Taimyr wolf of Siberia. They were domesticated 4,000 years ago by the Churchuri tribe of Siberia. The tribe used them to pull sleds, but they also provided needed companionship.
They appeared in America in 1908, at the All Alaska Sweepstakes. They eventually became popular in New England as sled dogs. Over time, they became popular pets across the country.
Black and White Husky Appearance
The black and white Husky can have a surprising variation in their appearance. However, they do share features other than their coat with other Husky colors.
General Husky Appearance
Huskies are graceful dogs. They are slightly longer than they are tall, and have long powerful legs. Their body is sleek and athletic. They have medium erect ears, and a medium length muzzle.
They have a long bushy tail. In cold weather, they will wrap the tail around themselves to keep warm.
Their eyes can be blue, brown, or green. Blue and brown are common colors, and green is rare.
They often have two differently colored eyes, which is known as heterochromia. They can also have parti-colored eyes, which means they have two colors within each eye.
Black and White Husky Appearance
Their undercoat can be white, charcoal gray,or beige. Their top coat can be a dark black. However, if they have the dilute gene, the coat will be a lighter black, close to a gray color.
Some also sport a red tint to the black areas of their coat. This typically appears when they spend a lot of time in the sun. This is rare in Huskies.
Because their undercoat is a lighter color than the topcoat, they often look lighter when their coat is blow out. They may resemble gray with a blow out.
Of course, they also have white areas. This typically occurs on their underside, and can extend from their belly to the underside of their chin.
Their paw, nose, and mouth are typically black.
Black and White Husky Price
Registered Huskies typically cost about $1,000. The price for a registered Husky typically ranges from $1,000 to $3,000. Show quality Huskies are more expensive, usually about $3,000.
Rarely, those from prestigious bloodlines or rare colors can cost more than $3,000.
On the other end of the spectrum are Huskies who are not registered. They are less expensive, usually about $400 to $800.
Black and White Husky Rarity
Black and white Huskies are common. Black is a dominant color, which means only one black gene is needed for the Husky to be black. Most Huskies also have the piebald gene, which causes them to have white areas in addition to black.
Black and White Husky Life expectancy
A black and white Husky typically lives for 12 to 14 years. You can maximize your dog’s life expectancy by providing regular exercise, a healthy diet, and routine veterinary care.
Black and White Husky Size and weight
Black and white Huskies are medium sized dogs. Females are a little smaller than males. They grow to 20-22 inches tall, and weigh 35 to 50 pounds. Males are 22-24 inches, and weigh 45 to 60 pounds.
In addition to standard sized Huskies, miniature Huskies also exist. These Huskies are genetically the same as their full size counterparts. The smallest Huskies were bred, until the smaller desired size was reached.
Miniature Huskies grow to 13-17 inches tall, and weigh 20-35 pounds. While they are purebred Huskies, they can’t be registered with the AKC, because they don’t meet the breed standard for size. Perhaps the AKC will eventually recognize the miniature Husky as its own breed, but this hasn’t happened yet.
Black and White Husky Health
Siberian Huskies are a healthy breed. However, like all breeds, they are susceptible to some health conditions. Many health conditions are passed on genetically, from parents to offspring.
Today, genetic testing can reveal a dog’s risk of genetic health issues. If a dog has a health condition that can be passed on to puppies, a responsible breeder will not breed them.
If fewer dogs with these problems are bred, fewer puppies with these issues are born. Over time, this reduces the number of Huskies with these health problems.
Eye Conditions
Siberian Huskies are prone to a few eye conditions. Huskies with a lot of white fur may be at a greater risk for these conditions than other colors of Husky.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, or PRA, is one of these conditions. The disorder causes the eyes to go blind at 2 or 3 years old. It’s not painful, the eyes are simply programmed to stop working at a certain age.
Glaucoma is another problem that Huskies can experience. It causes increased eye pressure, which leads to pain and vision impairment.
Cataracts are another issue that can affect Huskies. They occur when a film forms over the eyes. The condition isn’t painful, but it does affect vision.
Cataracts typically occur in older dogs, as well as humans. However, Huskies can develop juvenile cataracts, which occur at an early age.
Joint Conditions
The good news is hip dysplasia, which is a common problem for many breeds, is rare in Huskies. This condition occurs when the joint doesn’t form correctly. This allows the hip to slip out of place easily, which causes pain.
Huskies are at a risk of arthritis. The condition is common in Huskies and people. It causes the joints to swell, which leads to pain and loss of mobility.
Dogs with arthritis may have difficulty walking, particularly early in the morning. You may also notice that they are in pain, particularly when they are moving.
Epilepsy
Huskies have a higher risk of epilepsy. There are three types of epilepsy that can affect dogs.
Secondary seizures occur due to brain trauma. This type of seizure can be caused by strokes or head injuries.
On the other hand, reactive seizures are usually triggered by metabolic issues, like low blood sugar or toxin ingestion.
Primary seizures differ from the other types, because they don’t have a clear cause. Huskies are at a higher risk of this type of seizure. These seizures typically begin when the pooch is 6 months to 3 years old.
Seizures cause the dog to lose muscle control. They may drool, fall down, or kick their legs. It’s also common for them to lose control of their bladder or bowels. They typically last from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.
Black and White Husky Behavior/Characteristics
Black and white Huskies are highly energetic, and very friendly. They are wonderful with children. They are gentle with them, and they are always up for a play session.
They get along well with other dogs, and people, including strangers. If they will be around smaller animals, like cats, they must be trained and socialized with them. If they aren’t, they will likely see these animals as prey.
They do need plenty of time with their family, and other dogs. They are very social, and pack oriented. If they don’t get enough attention, they can become lonely or depressed. This can lead to behavioral problems.
How to care for a Black and White Husky
Huskies do require quite a bit of care. Before you get a black and white Husky, it’s important to know how to care for them.
Exercise
Huskies are very high energy. They can run 150 miles in a day, and reach speeds of 30 mph. Don’t worry, you won’t need to travel cross country with your Husky.
However, they do need 1 to 2 hours of exercise a day. Another way to think about it is that they need to run or walk 3 to 5 miles at least 4 days a week.
Huskies do well with a large fenced in yard, because this gives them some room to run. However, they are great escape artists. You’ll need to be sure they can’t dig under or jump over the fence.
Many Husky owners state that two Huskies are easier than one, because they can play together. However, they still need to exercise with you.
Grooming
Huskies do require regular grooming, like other double coated breeds. They are lower maintenance than most double coated breeds, however. They don’t need their hair trimmed, because their coat self regulates its length.
You’ll need to brush your Husky at least twice a week. When grooming, begin by combing out any mats. Then use a paddle brush to remove any dirt and shed hair. Start with the undercoat, and then brush the topcoat.
When they are shedding, you’ll need to brush them daily. This will speed the shedding process, and reduce the amount of hair that gets everywhere.
A deshedding tool is helpful. You may also use a deshedding shampoo.
Training
Like other breeds, Huskies require training. They are powerful and energetic, so proper training is important. Because they were originally bred as sled dogs, they are very independent.
When pulling a sled, they must be able to make decisions quickly, often without input from their owner. This can make training them a challenge.
If you aren’t experienced with training a strong willed dog, obedience classes are a great idea. This will get you and your pooch off to the right start.
Diet
Huskies do best with a diet a bit different from most breeds. In the arctic, they developed to eat high fat foods, like seal and whale blubber. The polar bear also has this adaptation, which allows them to eat high fat without heart issues.
While whale blubber isn’t on the recommended diet plan, a high protein, medium fat diet is. Many Husky owners prefer to feed a mix of raw and commercial dog food.
It’s best to speak to your vet about your Husky’s diet. If you choose to feed them commercial food, you should choose one high in protein, with a higher fat content as well.
Foods listed as high protein or for active dogs are good choices.
How do you buy a Black and White Husky?
When buying a black and white Husky, the most important thing is to choose a reputable breeder. Reputable breeders are responsible, and want to better the breed as a whole with their breeding choices.
Irresponsible breeders are either ill informed, or only interested in profits. Unfortunately, they can produce puppies with health issues, which are harmful to the dogs themselves and the breed as a whole.
Breeder Registries
The easiest way to buy a black and white Husky is to find a reputable breeder through a breeder registry. The breeders included in registries are ethical, because the requirements typically exclude unethical breeders.
The AKC has a breeder registry, which only features breeders and dogs who are AKC registered. You can also check out the Siberian Husky Club of America, which is closely affiliated with the AKC.
Finding Reputable Breeders
Breeder registries aren’t the only way to find reputable breeders. You can also locate them through an internet search. However, you’ll need to take extra time to be sure that the breeder is ethical.
One way to determine if a breeder is ethical is to ask a few questions. How do they determine which dogs they will breed? How do they ensure their dogs and puppies are healthy?
You should also expect the breeder to ask you questions. Reputable breeders want to be sure their dogs are going to good homes. Expect them to ask about the living conditions the dog will have, and what your intentions are for them. They may also ask about your previous dog ownership experience.