Huskies have grown in popularity in recent years. They are currently America’s 12th most popular dog breed. The piebald Husky is particularly appealing, thanks to their unique appearance. They have patches of white, as well as another color.
Piebald Husky Facts
The piebald Husky is a pattern of the Siberian Husky. Huskies are descendants of the Taimyr wolves of Siberia. They were first domesticated by the Churchuri tribe, who used them to pull their sleds. They came to Nome, Alaska, in 1908. Eventually, they became popular across the U.S. as pets, as well as sledding dogs.
Piebald Husky Appearance
Piebald Pattern
The Piebald color is actually a pattern, instead of a color. It means that the dog has patches of white on a solid background. Some dogs with this pattern will have smaller areas of white, usually on the legs and shoulders. At least 30% of their body must be white to be considered piebald.
On the other end of the spectrum, a piebald Husky can be almost completely white, with only a small patch of another color.
Huskies with only a small patch of coloration are often considered white, but they are technically piebald. Pure white Huskies are very rare.
Piebald Huskies are also rare. They can be black, gray, or red in addition to white.
Piebald Husky Price
The price of a Husky is typically around $1,000 for a registered puppy. It can range from $1,000 to $3,000. Piebald Huskies are rare, so you’ll probably pay more than $1,000.
Show quality Huskies are typically about $3,000. You can find unregistered Husky puppies for less. They are usually $400 to $800.
Piebald Husky Rarity
Piebald Huskies are rare, because the piebald gene is rare. It’s also recessive, which means that the puppy must inherit the gene from both parents.
Piebald Husky Life expectancy
Piebald Huskes have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. It is determined by genetics. However, a healthy diet, exercise, and routine veterinary care can help your pooch live their best and longest life.
Piebald Husky Size and weight
There are two sizes of Husky. These are standard and miniature.
Females are a little smaller than males. They grow to 20-22 inches tall, and weigh 35 to 50 pounds. Males can reach 22-24 inches in height, and weigh 45-60 pounds.
Miniature Huskies are, of course, smaller. They have the same genetics as their full size counterparts. The smallest standard Huskies were bred. Over time, the desired miniature size was reached. They are 13-17 inches tall, and weigh 20 to 35 pounds.
They are not recognized by the AKC. They go against the breed standard for Huskies, because of their small size.
Since the AKC hasn’t declared them a separate breed, there’s no way to register them. However, they are popular as companion pets, particularly those who have homes with limited space.
Piebald Husky Health
Piebald Huskies are considered relatively healthy. There are a few health conditions that are common within the breed, including arthritis and eye problems. Piebald Huskies are also at a risk of deafness.
Eye Conditions
Piebald Huskies are at risk for a few eye conditions. One of these is Progressive Retinal Atrophy, or PRA. This condition essentially programs the eyes to go blind, typically 2 to 3 years old.
Glaucoma is another concern. Glaucoma causes increased eye pressure, which causes pain and vision difficulties.
Huskies can also develop cataracts. This causes a film to form over the eye. Cataracts don’t cause pain, but they do affect your dog’s vision.
Cataracts typically occur in older dogs. However, Huskies can also develop the condition when they are young. This is known as juvenile cataracts.
Joint Conditions
Piebald Huskies can develop a few joint conditions. One of these is hip dysplasia. This happens when the hip joint doesn’t form correctly.
This leads to pain and can limit their movement. The condition is genetic, so it’s passed on from parents to pup. However, a healthy weight and exercise can reduce your dog’s risk.
Hip dysplasia is becoming less common in Huskies, because many breeders perform genetic testing before breeding. If a dog has a high risk of hip dysplasia, they will not be bred. This prevents them from passing the gene on to others.
Another joint condition that can affect Huskies is arthritis. If you haven’t experienced arthritis personally, you probably know someone with the condition.
Humans and dogs have the same basic symptoms, which include painful and swollen joints. This affects their mobility. Osteoarthritis is the most common type. This occurs as dogs age, and their joints begin to wear.
Medication can help manage the condition, along with exercise or physical therapy.
Epilepsy
There are three types of epilepsy that can affect piebald Huskies. Secondary seizures are the result of trauma to the brain. This can occur due to strokes or head injuries.
Reactive seizures typically occur due to a metabolic issue. These include low blood sugar, or eating something toxic.
The type that Huskies are at a higher risk for are primary seizures. These seizures have no clear underlying cause. Primary epilepsy typically begins at 6 months to 3 years of age.
Seizures cause dogs to lose muscle control. They may fall down, drool, and kick their legs. They may also lose control of their bladder or bowels. Seizures can last from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.
Primary epilepsy can’t be cured, but medication can help to manage the condition, so your pooch can live a normal life.
Deafness
The piebald gene is linked to deafness in many breeds, along with the merle gene. This is because the gene actually covers the other color in the white areas. It does this by blocking the color cells, known as melacytes, in these areas. A white and black Husky is actually a black Husky, with certain areas of the coat covered by white.
How is this related to deafness? The inner ear has small hairs, known as cilia. The suppression of melanocytes can also cause these hairs to not develop correctly.
Melanocytes typically develop in the stria vascularis. Without them, the vascularis doesn’t function correctly. This damages the cochlea, which is essential for hearing, because it doesn’t provide proper bloodflow to the area. This leads to congenital deafness.
It’s important to note that not all piebald Huskies will be deaf. However, they are at a high risk for deafness. White and merle Huskies are also at a high risk of deafness.
Piebald Husky Behavior/Characteristics
Piebald Huskies are very energetic and friendly. They are always up to play, and are very gentle with children. This makes them the perfect dog for active families. They do not make good guard dogs, because they are friendly with everyone, including strangers.
They get along well with other dogs. In fact, they need regular interaction with other pooches. However, they do have a high prey drive. They may try to attack prey animals, like squirrels and cats, if they aren’t properly trained and socialized.
How to care for a Piebald Husky
Piebald Huskies can be a handful. Their high energy levels and curious nature make them challenging, but worthwhile. Caring for a Husky involves plenty of exercise and regular grooming.
Exercise
If you are very active, a Husky can be a perfect companion. They were originally sled dogs, so they have high levels of energy and endurance. They can travel 150 miles in a single day, and they can reach speeds of 30 mph.
It’s obvious that they need lots of exercise. One way to view their exercise needs is that they need to walk or run 3 to 5 miles a day, at least 4 days a week.
You can also measure their exercise by time. They need 1 to 2 hours of exercise every day.
Huskies need plenty of time with their family, so it’s not a good idea to leave them outside all the time. However, a large fenced in yard is an excellent place to allow them to run and play.
Many owners claim that it’s easier to care for two Huskies, because they can play with each other.
However, playing in your yard or with another dog is not a substitute for you exercising them. You can take your Husky for walks or runs. Fetch or other games are a good way to expend some energy as well.
Grooming
Like other double coated breeds, your Piebald Husky will need regular grooming. You’ll need to brush their coat at least twice a week. Start by combing out any tangles. Then use a paddle brush to remove any shed hair and dirt. Begin with their undercoat, and then brush their topcoat.
Huskies do shed during the spring and fall each year. They have a lighter coat in the summer, and a thicker warmer coat in the winter. This process does prevent their hair from needing trimmed.
However, you’ll need to brush them daily when they are shedding. This will help remove shed hair. Brushing will reduce the amount of hair you find everywhere, and speed up the shedding process.
Training
Huskies need training, as all canine companions do. They are highly intelligent, but they are also independent. This can make them difficult to train.
They were bred for sledding. They must be able to make quick decisions, with little input from their owner when sledding. This requires them to be independent. Of course, it’s great for sledding, but not so great for training.
If you are inexperienced in training independent dogs, it’s a great idea to sign up for obedience classes. This can teach you how to interact with your pup as well as teaching them important commands.
Socialization
Huskies are highly pack oriented. They don’t do well with being alone. Huskies need plenty of time with their family. They also need to interact with other dogs.
If they are an only dog, you should schedule regular doggie play dates, or bring them to the dog park.
Without enough social interaction, behavioral issues can develop. They may become lonely or depressed. This can cause them to be lethargic, or develop compulsive howling or licking.
If you plan to have your dog around smaller animals, like cats, squirrels, or birds, you’ll need to socialize them with these animals early on. This can prevent your Husky from viewing these smaller animals as prey and attacking them.
How do you buy a Piebald Husky?
There are a few ways to buy a piebald Husky. However, you should research a breeder before choosing a puppy. Not all breeders are ethical. Unethical breeders can be problematic for you, the dog, and the breed as a whole.
Breeder Registries
One way to buy a Piebald Husky is through a breeder registry. Registries have strict standards that breeders must uphold, which prevents unethical breeders from being listed.
The AKC has a breeder registry. All the breeders on the registry are AKC registered, and all dogs listed are as well.
You can also check out the Siberian Husky Club of America. They are closely affiliated with the AKC.
Finding a Reputable Breeder
If you don’t want to go through a breeder registry, you can simply perform an internet search for piebald Huskies. However, you will need to be sure the breeder is ethical.
Breeders who sell registered puppies are likely to be ethical, because registration requires adhering to certain standards.
However, not everyone wants a registered pooch. Unregistered puppies are typically less expensive. Genetic testing isn’t required if they aren’t registered, which can increase the risk of health issues.
To determine if a breeder is ethical, it’s helpful to ask a few questions. Ask how they determine which dogs to breed, and how they make sure their puppies are healthy.
You should also expect them to ask you questions. Ethical breeders will want to be sure their dogs are going to good homes. They will likely ask you about the living conditions the dog will have, and what your purpose is for them.