Brindle Huskies have a unique look. They are considered rare, and they are certainly beautiful. However, they are also controversial.
Brindle Husky Facts
Many organizations, including the Siberian Husky Club of America, do not recognize brindle Huskies. This is because there’s concern that they aren’t pure bred.
The Siberian Husky is a descendant of the Taimyr wolf of Siberia. In fact, many Huskies still sport the colors and patterns that are found in the wolves of today.
The brindle pattern is not found in wolves. This doesn’t mean it’s not a part of Husky genetics, however. The problem is that the brindle pattern doesn’t seem to be a part of the Husky breed.
It is found in other breeds of dogs, including Pitbulls, Mastiffs, and some Hounds. So, it’s believed that any Husky with a brindle coat pattern gets it because it is not pure Husky.
Brindle Genetics
To better understand a brindle Husky, let’s take a look at the brindle gene. The brindle gene is dominant. This means if a dog inherits a brindle gene from one parent, they will be brindle.
Two brindle dogs will produce at least 50% brindle puppies, and potentially all puppies could be brindle. If there’s one brindle parent, you can expect at least 25% of the puppies to be brindle.
This further suggests that brindle isn’t a natural gene for Huskies, because it is rarely seen in the breed.
Brindle is a different gene from color. Instead, it’s a pattern gene. So, a gray Husky would be gray. A gray brindle Husky would be gray with black stripes.
Brindle Husky Appearance
Brindle Huskies have a brindle coat pattern. The easiest way to understand this is to think of a tiger. Like a tiger, a bridle dog has black stripes.
The stripes can exist on any coat color in the breed. For the Husky, these include red, brown, gray, white, and black.
Husky Appearance
Huskies are a bit longer than they are tall. They can have blue or brown eyes. They may have one eye of each color, which is known as heterochroma.
They have a long, bushy tail. They have medium sized erect ears, and an elongated snout.
Mixed Husky
When talking about Husky appearance, we are referring to a dog that is purebred Husky. Since the brindle pattern likely indicates a dog with other genes in addition to Husky, their appearance may differ from a standard Husky in some ways.
A dog that has one Husky parent and one parent from another breed will inherit characteristics from both breeds. They may be similar to a Husky, with a few characteristics of the other parent.
They may also greatly resemble the other parent, with a few Husky traits. It’s also possible for them to seem to inherit half the traits of each breed.
Brindle Husky Price
It’s difficult to determine the price for a brindle Husky, because they are often mixed breeds. Some breeds are more costly than others. Some Husky mixes are popular, so they will cost more money.
The price for a standard Husky is about $1,000 for a registered pup. Show quality Huskies typically cost around $3,000.
Brindle Huskies can’t be registered, which can lower their price. However, they are also rare, which can increase their price.
Brindle Husky Rarity
Brindle Huskies are considered rare. Pure bred brindle Huskies are likely non-existent. Husky mixes are beginning to gain popularity, but they are still relatively rare.
No matter how you look at it, brindle Huskies are not common.
Brindle Husky Life expectancy
The life expectancy of a Husky is 12 to 14 years. If they are mixed with another breed, the life expectancy of the other parent will also impact their longevity.
You can maximize your Huskies lifespan by providing a healthy diet, regular exercise, and routine veterinary care.
Brindle Husky Size and weight
There are two sizes of Husky available today. The standard Husky, and the miniature Husky.
Females are slightly smaller than males. You can expect them to grow to 20-22 inches tall, and weigh 35-50 pounds. Males can reach 22-24 inches tall, and weigh 45-60 pounds.
Miniature Huskies are 13-17 inches tall, and weigh 20-35 pounds. They are genetically the same as their full-size counterparts. They can’t currently be registered, because they don’t meet the breed standard for Husky size and weight.
If a Husky is a mixed breed, they may be smaller or larger than a standard Husky. This will depend on the size of the other parent.
Brindle Husky Health
Huskies are a healthy breed, but they are susceptible to some health issues. If your Husky is a mixed breed, they may also inherit health conditions from the other parent. However, mixed breeds are at a lower risk of some conditions. There’s currently a debate over whether mixed breed dogs are healthier than pure breeds.
Eye Conditions
There are a few eye conditions that can affect brindle Huskies. One of these is Progressive Retinal Atrophy, or PRA. PRA typically affects dogs who are 2 to 3 years old. It essentially programs the eyes to go blind.
Glaucoma is another issue. The disease causes increased eye pressure. This leads to pain and vision problems.
Huskies can also develop cataracts. Cataracts causes a film to form over the dogs eyes. This condition doesn’t cause pain, but it does affect the dog’s vision.
Cataracts typically occur in older dogs. However, Huskies can be affected by juvenile cataracts as well. This happens when a dog develops cataracts at a young age.
Joint Conditions
Brindle Huskies can also develop joint issues. One of these is hip dysplasia. This occurs when the joint doesn’t form correctly.
This causes pain. It also affects mobility. It is passed on from parents to puppies. Genetic testing can determine a dog’s risk. If the dog has a high risk, it should not be bred to avoid passing on the condition.
You can reduce your dog’s risk of the condition by helping them maintain a healthy weight and exercising.
Another joint condition that can affect Huskies is arthritis. It’s a common problem in people, as well as dogs. The most common symptoms are pain and stiffness. This can affect your dog’s ability to walk or run if it’s severe.
Medication can help manage the condition. Exercise can also be beneficial.
Epilepsy
There are three types of epilepsy that can affect Huskies. Secondary seizures occur due to trauma to the brain. Strokes and head injuries are common causes for this type.
Reactive seizures typically occur due to a metabolic issue, like low blood sugar. Ingesting something toxic can also cause this type of seizure.
Huskies are at a higher risk for primary seizures. These seizures have no clear underlying cause. This type of epilepsy usually begins when the dog is 6 months to 3 years old.
When a dog has a seizure, they lose muscle control. This can cause them to kick their legs, fall over, and drool. They may also lose bladder and bowel control. Seizures typically last from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.
Brindle Husky Behavior/Characteristics
You can expect your brindle Husky to be very friendly and energetic. Huskies are wonderful family dogs. They do very well with children, and love to play.
They are friendly to everyone, including strangers and other dogs. You won’t have to worry about them being aggressive with other pooches. However, they do not make good guard dogs because they are so gregarious.
They need plenty of interaction with other dogs and humans. If they don’t get enough attention, they can become lonely and even depressed. They may howl or lose interest in activities.
It is important to note that if dog is a mixed breed, their behavior is more difficult to predict. They can inherit traits from either or both parents. Your pooch may have the behavior of a Husky, or the characteristics of the other parent. They will likely have some behavioral traits of each parent.
Of course, if your pooch is mostly Husky, they are more likely to have Husky traits. For example, they may have a grandparent of another breed, and still inherit the brindle coloring.
How to care for a Brindle Husky
Huskies are considered a high maintenance breed. They require regular grooming and plenty of exercise.
It’s important to note that if your brindle Husky is a mixed breed, their needs may vary somewhat from the needs of a purebred Husky, particularly when it comes to exercise.
Exercise
Huskies can travel 150 miles in a day, and run at speeds of 30 mph. You don’t need to travel a 100 miles with your Husky, but they do need to walk or run 3 to 5 miles a day at least 4 days a week.
Another way to think about it is that they need 1 and preferably 2 hours of exercise each day.
Without enough exercise, Huskies become bored. They may develop obsessive howling or barking, digging, or other destructive behaviors.
Grooming
Huskies have a double coat, so they need regular grooming. You’ll need to brush them at least twice a week. Begin by combing out any tangles. Then, use a paddle brush to remove dirt and shed hair.
Begin with their undercoat, and then brush their top coat.
Huskies do shed twice of year in Spring and Fall. During these times, they need daily brushing. This will reduce the amount of hair all over your house, and speed up the shedding process.
Socialization
Huskies need plenty of socialization. They are heavily pack oriented. This means they need regular interaction with other dogs. They also develop a close bond with their families. They need plenty of affection and attention from their family members, which htye view as their pack.
If they will be around smaller animals like cats, rabbits, or birds, include these animals when socializing them. Huskies have a high prey drive.
They will naturally think these animals are prey, and want to chase and potentially attack them. If you teach them early on that these animals aren’t prey by socializing them, they can be trusted around them.
Training
Your brindle Husky will also need training. Huskies are very independent. This is necessary because they were originally bred as sledding dogs. When pulling a sled, they must be able to make quick decisions, often without input from their owner.
This independence can make training them challenging. If you aren’t experienced with training a strong willed dog, consider enrolling your Husky in an obedience course.
How do you buy a Brindle Husky?
Buying a brindle Husky can take some searching. However, the most important thing to consider is whether the breeder is ethical.
Where to Find a Brindle Husky
Brindle Huskies can’t be registered, because the brindle pattern isn’t part of the breed standard. This means that you can’t search breeder registries to find a breeder.
Instead, you’ll need to do an internet search for brindle Husky puppies near you.
Ethical Breeding
Unethical breeders are problematic for you, the dog, and the breed as a whole. Unethical breeders have no concern for the health and well being of the dog. They are simply focused on making a profit.
When you buy a registered pooch, this isn’t really a concern. The registration process typically weeds out unethical breeders.
Determining if a Breeder is Ethical
One way to determine if a breeder is ethical is to ask questions. What does the breeder look for when choosing a breeding pair? How do they ensure the health of their dogs and puppies?
You should also expect the breeder to ask you questions. A reputable breeder will want to be sure their pooch is going to a good home. Expect them to ask about the living conditions the dog will have, and why you want a dog.
Another way to be sure you have an ethical breeder is to visit them. Check out the dogs living conditions. Unethical breeders don’t take good care of their dogs, while reputable breeders will ensure they have good living conditions.
This also gives you a chance to meet the breeder in person, and visit with the dogs before making a choice.