Huskies are known for being highly energetic, and very friendly. They began as a sledding breed, and can still be found pulling sleds today. However, they’ve won the hearts of pet lovers everywhere, which makes them a popular pet as well.
Fluffy Husky Facts
The fluffy Husky is a Siberian Husky with a fluffy coat. They were originally domesticated by the Churchuri tribe of Siberia. The tribe used them to pull sleds, but they were also close companions.
Huskies first arrived in America in 1908, when they were brought to Nome, Alaska. They performed well in the All Alaska Sweepstakes. They soon became popular in New England as sled dogs as well.
They were recognized by the AKC in 1930. In the last decade, they’ve greatly increased in popularity. They climbed from 24th place to 12th place.
Fluffy Husky Appearance
Huskies are well known for their striking coats. They come in a range of colors, including gray, brown, black, and red. Typically, their coat includes one or more of these colors, and white.
The most common Husky colors are gray and white. Solid white is considered the rarest color.
They typically have blue or brown eyes, with green also being possible. Hetereochroma, or having eyes that are different colors, is common in the breed.
They have a graceful athletic body shape. They are slightly longer than they are tall. They have long bushy tails, and medium sized erect ears.
Husky Coat Types
In addition to the coat color, there are also variations in the Huskies coat. Their coat can be either fluffy, wooly, or short. Fluffy is considered the breed standard, and it’s the most common.
The fluffy coat is known as plush. It is the only coat type that meets the breed standard. All Huskies have a double coat, which means they have a plush undercoat, and longer guard hairs which make up the topcoat.
The fluffy Husky has medium length guard hairs. This offers them protection during cold winters, without hiding the graceful lines of their body.
A Husky with a wooly coat has longer guard hairs. The coat is thicker, and gives the dog a stockier appearance because it hides their body lines. Short-coated Huksies have short guard hairs.
Factors that Affect a Fluffy Coat
There are a few factors that affect how fluffy your dog’s coat may be. First, you should know that the pooch must be at least 20 weeks old to determine their coat type.
Their coat type is determined by the genetics passed on from their parents. Most Huskies have a fluffy coat, but some are fluffier than others.
Typically, dogs from racing lines will have less fluffy coats, because the focus is on their function, rather than appearance. Dogs from show bloodlines have fluffier coats, because appearance is more important.
Other factors that affect your Huskies’ coat are diet and grooming, which we will take a closer look at in an upcoming section.
Fluffy Husky Price
A fluffy Husky typically costs around $1,000. The price ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 for a registered fluffy Husky puppy.
Generally, Huskies bred as pets are on the lower end of the price spectrum, and show quality Huskies are closer to $3,000. Bloodlines and color can also affect the price.
Huskies that are a rare color or have a prestigious bloodline will cost more than the average Husky.
If you choose an unregistered Husky, you can expect to pay less. They range from $400 to $800.
Fluffy Husky Rarity
Fluffy Huskies are very common. Fluffy or plush coat is the breed standard, which means most purebred Huskies will have a fluffy coat.
Fluffy Husky Life expectancy
Huskies have a life expectancy of 12-14 years. Generally, their lifespan is determined by their genetics and health. You can maximize your Huskies lifespan by providing a healthy diet, exercise, and routine veterinary care.
Fluffy Husky Size and weight
Fluffy Huskies are medium sized dogs, with females being a bit smaller than males. Females weigh 35-50 pounds, and reach 20-22 inches tall. Males will grow to 22-24 inches tall, and weigh 45-60 pounds.
In addition to standard Huskies, miniature Huskies are also available. They are genetically the same as their full-size counterparts. They were created by breeding the smallest standard Huskies, until the desired miniature size was reached.
Miniature Huskies are 13-17 inches tall, and weigh 20-35 pounds. Miniature Huskies can’t be registered, because they don’t meet the breed standard for the Husky due to their small size.
However, they are becoming popular as pets, particularly for those with limited space.
Fluffy Husky Health
Fluffy Huskies are considered a healthy breed, but they are at risk of a few health issues. Many health issues are genetic, which means they are passed down from parents to their offspring.
Genetic testing has become common, which allows breeders to know which dogs could pass diseases to their puppies. These dogs are not bred, to avoid passing on conditions.
Over time, this has improved the health of many breeds, including Huskies.
Eye Conditions
There are a few eye conditions that can affect Huskies. One of these is progressive retinal atrophy. This condition strikes when the dog is 2 or 3 years old. The eyes are essentially programmed to go blind at this age.
Cataracts are another concern for Huskies. Cataracts cause a film to form over the eyes. This isn’t painful, but it does affect their vision.
Cataracts typically affect other dogs. However, Huskies can develop juvenile cataracts, which affects them at a younger age.
Joint Conditions
Huskies can also be affected by arthritis. It affects them just as it does humans. Arthritis can cause pain and inflammation. You may notice them having difficulty moving or walking, particularly in the morning.
The most common type is osteoarthritis, which affects dogs as they age. The joint becomes worn over time, which leads to this type of arthritis.
Arthritis can’t be cured, but it can be treated with medication. An exercise program can also be beneficial for Huskies with arthritis.
Epilepsy
Fluffly Huskies are also at risk of epilepsy. There are three types that they can develop.
Secondary epilepsy occurs when there’s damage to the brain. Strokes and head injuries can cause this type of seizure.
Reactive seizures are usually caused by a metabolic issue, like low blood sugar, or ingesting something toxic.
The last, and the type that fluffy Huskies are at a higher risk for, is primary epilepsy. This type doesn’t have any clear cause. Primary epilepsy begins from 6 months to 3 years old for most dogs.
When a Husky has a seizure, they lose muscle control. This can cause them to fall over, kick their legs, or drool. They may also lose control of their bladder or bowels.
These seizures can last from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Primary epilepsy can’t be cured, but it can be managed with medication.
Fluffy Husky Behavior/Characteristics
The fluffy Husky is very friendly. They are very pack oriented. They view their family as their pack, so they develop close relationships with their loved ones.
They do very well with children. They are gentle with kids, and they are always ready to play.
They are highly social, and get along well with strangers and other dogs. In fact, they need regular socialization with other pooches. Without enough human and canine interaction, they can become lonely and even depressed.
They do have a high prey drive. If they will be around smaller animals, like cats or birds, you’ll need to socialize your Husky with them. When trained and socialized, they are safe around smaller animals. If they aren’t, they will view them as prey, and may attack them.
How to care for a Fluffy Husky
Caring for a fluffy Husky requires a significant amount of work, but Husky owners believe they are well worth the effort.
Grooming
If you want to keep your Husky as fluffy as possible, you’ll need to groom them well. Huskies need to be brushed at least twice a week. Brushing them more often may make their coat fluffier, because it stimulates the skin and distributes the oils that keep their coat soft.
Begin by using a comb to remove any tangles. Then use a paddle brush to remove any dirt and shed hair. Start with their undercoat, and then move to the topcoat.
Huskies shed twice a year, in the spring and fall. When they are shedding, you’ll need to brush them daily. This will reduce the hair that they shed everywhere, and shorten the time shedding takes.
Huskies need to be bathed, but not too often. They only need a bath about once every 3 months, because they don’t produce a lot of oils from their skin.
Bathing them more often than once a month can dry their skin and coat, which makes their coat less fluffy.
Diet
Your Husky also needs a healthy diet. This is important for their health, and their coat. Huskies do best with a diet high in protein. They also need a significant amount of fat, and low carbohydrates.
A high protein commercial dog food is a good choice. The first few ingredients in their food should be protein. You may also want to supplement their diet with Omega 3s to keep their coat as healthy as possible.
Exercise
Huskies are very active. In fact, a fluffy Husky can travel up to 150 miles in a day, and reach speeds of 30 mph. Their high energy and endurance levels mean they need lots of exercise.
Huskies should walk or run 3 to 5 miles at least 4 days a week. If you prefer their exercise requirement in a time format, they need at least 1, and preferably 2, hours of exercise each day.
Huskies do well with a large fenced in yard, because this provides them with exercise opportunities. However, they are great escape artists, so be sure they can’t get out of the fence.
You may also find it’s easier to care for two Huskies, rather than one. This is because they can play together.
However, you’ll still need to spend time exercising them yourself.
Training
Huskies do need training. They are very independent. This is because they were bred to pull sleds. Sledding requires them to make quick decisions, often without input from their owner.
This independence makes training them a challenge. If you aren’t used to training strong-willed pooches, consider enrolling them in an obedience class. This will get you both off to a good start.
How do you buy a Fluffy Husky?
When buying a fluffy Husky, it’s important to be sure you purchase them from a reputable breeder. Unfortunately, there are unethical breeders within every breed. These breeders are concerned with profit, instead of the health and wellbeing of their dogs.
Should You Get a Puppy?
Most pet lovers want puppies. However, if you have your heart set on a fluffy Husky, you may want to choose an older puppy. They must be at least 20 weeks, or 5 months old, to determine the type of coat they have.
Breeder Registries
The simplest way to buy a fluffy Husky is through a breeder registry. Registries require breeders and dogs to meet high standards, which eliminates unethical breeders.
The AKC breeder registry only lists AKC registered Huskies. You can also check out the Siberian Husky Club of America‘s breeder registry. They are closely affiliated with the AKC, and are considered reputable.
Finding Reputable Breeders
Breeder registries aren’t the only way to find a fluffy Husky. You can also perform an internet search. However, you’ll need to take the time to be sure they are ethical.
Breeders who register their Huskies are generally ethical, because of registration requirements.
If you want an unregistered Husky, you should ask the breeder a few questions. How do they determine breeding pairs? How do they ensure their dogs and pups are healthy?
You should also expect them to ask you a few questions. Ethical 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 for the dog are.