Siberian Huskies are a popular pet these days, but they were originally bred for sledding. Huskies are very energetic and affectionate. They are a great breed for active families, and are excellent companions. Silver Huskies are particularly beautiful, thanks to their silvery coat color.
Silver Husky Facts
Silver Huskies are beautiful silver colored medium sized dogs. They were originally bred for sledding. The breed is at least 4,000 years old. They are descendants of the Taimyr wolves of Siberia. Today’s Huskies can still be found in the same colors and patterns of their wolf ancestors.
They were originally bred by the Churchuri tribe of Siberia. They would pull sleds and provide companionship for the tribe. In 1908, they came to Alaska to participate in the All Alaska Sweepstakes.
Over the next few years, they became popular with American sledders. Eventually, they became popular companions as well.
Silver Husky Appearance
When it comes to color, there are three shades of gray Husky, with many finding the Silver Husky to be the most beautiful.
Wolf Gray Husky
Wolf gray Huskies have a warm gray coat. They will have red, tan, or beige in certain areas, typically their ears, back, and legs. They have a gray topcoat, and a beige undercoat. They also have areas of white on their coat.
They have a wild appearance, which is strikingly similar to the Siberian wolves they are descended from. Wolf gray is typically found in racing lines, and is rare in companion lines.
Silver Gray
The Silver Husky has a silver gray coat. They do not have the agouti gene. When a Husky has an agouti coat, the hairs have bands of beige and black.
Silver Huskies have no brown or red in their coat. Instead of a beige undercoat, theirs is white. They have patches of white along with gray, and can have black tips on the hairs of the topcoat.
Silver gray Huskies can have a blue tinge to their coat. If they have the dilute gene, the black tips on hairs are muted, which gives them an even stronger silver or blue hue.
Medium or Dark Gray
A dark gray Husky is the most common gray Husky. They have a silver and beige undercoat. They often have the red or brown of a wolf coat, but it’s muted. They are essentially a blend of the wolf and silver coats.
Husky Basic Appearance
Color isn’t the only aspect of Husky appearance. They have a double coat. The undercoat is very dense, and provides insulation for the Husky. The top coat has longer hairs, known as guard hairs. This gives them a luxurious thick coat.
When you look at a Husky, the eyes are one of the first things you’ll notice. Huskies typically have either blue or brown eyes. They may also have one blue eye and one brown eye, which is known as Heterochromia.
More rarely, Huskies may have eyes that feature both blue and brown in each eye. This is known as parti-colored.
Silver Husky Price
The average Siberian Husky price is $1,000 for those who are intended as pets. Show quality Huskies are more expensive, beginning at $3,000.
Silver Huskies are typically a bit more expensive, with pet quality Huskies costing an average price of $1,230. Silver Huskies range from $900-$15,000.
In addition to color, the bloodline can affect the price of a Husky. Puppies from well known bloodlines typically start at $2,000 to $3,000, and can cost more.
Not all breeders register their puppies. You can purchase unregistered Huskies for $400 to $800.
Lastly, your location can affect the price. The average price of Huskies in Texas is $1,500. In Minnesota, on the other hand, the average cost of a Husky puppy is only $750.
Silver Husky Rarity
Silver Huskies are relatively rare. White is the rarest color. When it comes to gray Huskies, silver is the rarest color. Medium to gray Huskies are more common.
Silver Husky Life expectancy
Huskies have a reasonable life expectancy for their size. They live an average of 12 to 14 years.
Your Huskies life expectancy is determined by genetics. However, a healthy lifestyle can make a difference. This includes a healthy diet, exercise, and routine veterinary care.
Silver Husky Size and weight
Siberian Huskies are medium sized dogs. In addition to standard Siberian Huskies, they also come in a miniature size.
Standard Huskies are a bit longer than they are tall. Females are slightly smaller than males, and weigh 35-50 pounds. They grow to 20-22 inches tall.
Males weigh 45 to 60 pounds, and reach 21-24 inches tall.
Miniature Huskies are smaller. They are technically a Siberian Husky, with the same genetics as their full-size counterparts. They were bred by breeding the smallest standard Huskies, until a desired size was reached.
Technically, miniature Huskies go against the breed standard, because they don’t reach the size requirement for Huskies. The AKC has not declared them their own breed, so they can’t be registered at this time.
However, they are highly desired as pets. Miniature Huskies are more feasible for those living in apartments or small homes thanks to their compact size.
They weigh 20 to 35 pounds, and are 13-17 inches tall.
Silver Husky Health
Siberian Huskies are a healthy breed. However, they are susceptible to certain diseases, like all breeds. Genetic testing can reduce the risk of many of these diseases.
Many diseases that can affect silver Huskies are passed on from parents to offspring. Genetic testing allows breeders to know if a dog is able to pass on a disease, and avoid breeding the dog if they have a genetic disease.
Eye Conditions
Siberian Huskies are prone to a few eye conditions. One of these conditions is Progressive Retinal Atrophy, or PRA. This condition causes the eyes to go blind, usually at 2 or 3 years of age.
Glaucoma is another problem that Huskies can experience. It causes increased eye pressure, which leads to pain and vision impairment.
Cataracts can also affect Huskies. Cataracts occurs when a film forms over the eyes. This isn’t painful, but it does cause vision issues. Cataracts are a common problem for older dogs and humans.
However, Huskies are also at risk of juvenile cataracts, which occurs in younger dogs.
Joint Conditions
Silver Huskies are at risk of two common joint conditions. The most common is hip dysplasia. This occurs when the hip joint doesn’t form correctly.
This allows the hip to slip out of place easily. This leads to pain and can cause mobility issues. Exercise and a healthy weight can reduce the risk or severity of the condition.
Silver Huskies can also have arthritis. Arthritis in dogs is similar to the condition in people. Dogs with arthritis experience joint swelling and pain. It also affects their range of motion.
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 includes strokes, and head injuries. Reactice seizures, on the other hand, are typically caused by metabolic issues. These include low blood sugar and toxin ingestion.
Primary seizures differ from the other types, because they don’t have a clear cause. Silver Huskies are at an increased risk of this type of epilepsy.
When a seizure occurs, the dog will lose muscle control. They may fall over, drool, and kick their legs. They may also lose control of their bladder or bowels. These seizures can last from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.
Epileptic seizures typically begin between 6 months and 3 years old.
Silver Husky Behavior/Characteristics
Silver Huskies are very friendly and energetic. They are gregarious, and will get along well with anyone they meet as long as they are socialized as puppies. They are not good guard dogs, but they are excellent companions.
Huskies are very pack oriented. They will view you and other family members as part of their pack. They need lots of interaction with other dogs, and their owners. They require a strong calm owner to be the alpha.
Behavioral Issues
Siberian Huskies can develop behavioral issues. However, this is usually the result of poor care, and not a personality fault. Huskies need plenty of mental and physical exercise, as well as interaction with their family and other animals.
If they dont’ get these things, they will become bored. This leads to behavioral issues. They may become destructive or hyper.
How to care for a Silver Husky
Silver Huskies are wonderful canine companions, but they do require a significant amount of care.
Exercise
Silver Huskeis need plenty of exercise. They were originally bred for sledding, which gives them incredible energy and endurance. In fact, they can reach speeds of 30 mph, and can travel 150 miles in a day.
Don’t worry, you won’t need to take your Husky on a cross country trip. However, they do need at least 1, and preferably 2, hours of exercise each day.
Another way to put it is that they need to walk or run 3 to 5 miles at least 4 days a week.
Huskies love to spend time with their owners, so they make excellent inside dogs. However, a large fenced in yard allows them to play and run. It’s best if you can provide your Husky with a big play area, in addition to exercising them by walking, running, or playing games with them.
Many owners find that having two Huskies is easier than having one, because they will play with each other. However, they still need exercise with their humans as well.
Grooming
Huskies have a thick undercoat and a topcoat. Like other double coated dogs, they require frequent grooming. Start with a comb to remove tangles, and then use a paddle brush to remove shed hair and dirt from their coat. Start with the undercoat, and then groom their topcoat.
Huskeis shed twice a year, in the spring and fall. When your silver Husky is shedding, they will need to be brushed daily. This will reduce the amount of hair that you find everywhere, and speed up the process of shedding.
Training
Huskies, like all dogs, need training. Huskies are very intelligent, which at first glance may seem to make them easy to train. However, this isn’t quite the case.
Because Huskies were bred to pull sleds, they are very independent. They need to be able to make decisions while sledding, with little input from their owner. This independence makes them great working dogs. However, it means they aren’t easy to train.
Train your silver Husky by using positive reinforcement. Never punish them. It helps to have an attitude of working with your dog, instead of giving them orders.
How do you buy a Silver Husky?
When buying a silver Husky, you’ll need to find a reputable breeder. Unfortunately, not all breeders are ethical, so you should do some research before choosing a breeder.
Breeder Registires
The best way to buy a Siberian Husky is to choose a registered breeder. They must meet certain requirements which prevent unethical breeding practices.
The AKC has an extensive breeder registry. This is a good starting point. The Siberian Husky Club of America also features a breeder registry. They are closely affiliated with the AKC, so you are sure to find reputable breeders.
Finding Reputable Breeders
Breeder registries aren’t the only place to find reputable breeders. You can also search the internet for breeders in your area. It’s best to look for breeders who register their puppies.
Just like breeder registries, the requirements for registering puppies weeds out most unethical breeders.
You should also ask a breeder a few questions. How do they choose breeding pairs? How do they ensure the health of their dogs and puppies?
Reputable breeders will always focus on the health and temperament of their dogs. Unethical breeders are motivated by profit, and will breed based on current fads that may make puppies more valuable. Unfortunately, these dogs are more likely to have health concerns or behavioral issues.