White Huskies with blue eyes are beautiful. They have a luxurious white coat, and their bright blue eyes make them look like the snow dogs they are.
White Husky With Blue Eyes Facts
White Huskies with blue eyes are white Siberian Huskies with blue eyes. Blue eyes are common in Huskies, but a solid white coat is rare.
Types of White Husky with Blue Eyes
White Huskies are often mistaken for albino Huskies. In fact, it’s difficult to tell the difference without genetic testing in some instances. However, the differences between them are important.
Solid white Huskies have an all white coat. They are rare. It’s much more common for a Husky to have a partially white coat, with red, brown, black, or gray also being present.
Albino Huskies are genetically different from white Huskies. Albino dogs don’t produce melanin, and the enzymes that create melanin. They can have the gene for any color, but the color isn’t expressed due to the albino gene.
It’s also possible for a dog to be a partial albino. These dogs have color in some areas, but not in others. Unlike the white coat color, complete albinism affects the skin, eyes, and coat.
Albino dogs can have very pale blue eyes, or pink or reddish colored eyes. They also have a light pink nose, mouth, and paw pads.
White Huskies typically have a black nose, mouth, and paw pads. However, it’s also possible for these areas to be pink or liver colored.
Another type of white Husky is the Isabella Husky. Technically, these dogs aren’t white, although they look very similar to a solid white Husky.
They have a red or cream tint to their coat. This may only be visible when they are in the light. This is because they actually have a red coat, as well as the dilute gene. The dilute gene causes the red to become very faint.
Because they have the dilute gene, they will also have liver or pink colored nose and paw pads, because the color in these areas is diluted as well.
White Husky With Blue Eyes Price
White Huskies with blue eyes are rare, but this doesn’t usually increase their price, surprisingly. Registered Huskies typically cost $1,000 to $3,000.
You can find unregistered Huskies for less, usually $400 to $800. Show quality Huskies typically cost about $3,000. This also applies to Huskies from prestigious bloodlines.
White Husky With Blue Eyes Rarity
White Huskies with blue eyes are rare. The gene for a white coat is recessive. This means a dog must inherit a copy of the gene from both parents to be white.
The piebald gene is common in Huskies, however. This causes them to have white areas, as well as areas of another color. If a dog inherits one copy of the piebald gene, they will have some white. If they inherit two copies of the piebald gene, they will be mostly white, with small areas of another color.
Blue eyes are common in white Huskies. The gene for blue eyes is recessive. However, many Huskies have a mutation of the ALX4 gene. This causes their eyes to only produce small amounts of pigment.
So, a dog with the gene for brown eyes, which is dominant, and a mutation of the ALX4 gene will have blue eyes, even though they lack the gene for blue eyes.
Albinism can also cause a white Husky to have blue eyes. However, albino Huskies will have very light blue eyes. Albinism is very rare in Huskies, and is also recessive.
White Husky With Blue Eyes Life expectancy
Huskies have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. White Huskies iwth blue eyes do have increased health risks, but many still enjoy a long life. You can maximize your Husky’s lifespan with a healthy diet, exercise, and routine veterinary care.
White Husky With Blue Eyes Size and weight
Female Huskies are a little smaller than their male counterparts. They weigh 35 to 50 pounds, and reach 20-22 inches in height. Males weigh 45 to 60 pounds, and grow to 22-24 inches tall.
White Husky With Blue Eyes Health
Genetic testing has reduced the occurrence of many genetic diseases. Responsible breeders test their dogs for conditions that can be passed on to their offspring.
If they have a genetic disease, the breeder will not breed them. Over time, this can reduce the number of dogs with these diseases.
However, white Huskies with blue eyes do have some health concerns not common in other colors of Husky.
Eye and Vision Problems
White Huskies with blue eyes are at risk for several eye problems. White Huskies, particularly albino Huskies, can be born with small eyes, or deformations within the eye. This can cause them to be blind or have vision problems from birth.
Huskies are also at risk for progressive retinal atrophy, or PRA. This condition causes the eyes to go blind, usually at 2 to 3 years of age.
Cataracts are another concern. Cataracts occur when a film forms over the eye. This isn’t painful, but it does impair their vision. Huskies are at a risk for juvenile cataracts as well. Cataracts typically occur in old age, but juvenile cataracts affect younger dogs.
Deafness
White dogs, including white Huskies, are at a risk of being deaf. This is because the same cells responsible for creating pigment, melanocytes, are also responsible for forming the inner ear. In addition, tiny hairs in the ear aid hearing. White dogs may lack the cells to develop these hairs, which causes hearing loss of deafness.
All white Huskies aren’t the only dogs at an increased risk of hearing problems. Dogs with the piebald or merle gene, which causes them to be partially white, are also at risk. Two copies of the piebald or merle gene increase the risk of deafness.
It’s important to note that not all white Huskies with blue eyes will have hearing or vision problems. They are simply at an increased risk of these issues.
Skin Problems
All white or albino Huskies are also at an increased risk of skin problems. They are susceptible to sunburn, because they produce little to no melanin. Melanin is responsible for coat color, but it’s also responsible for skin color.
As humans, when we are exposed to the sun, our skin develops more melanin. This provides us with natural sun protection. When there’s little melanin, sunburns become much more likely. This is true for both humans and dogs. The increased risk of sunburn also increases their risk of skin cancer.
White Husky With Blue Eyes Behavior/Characteristics
White Huskies with blue eyes are known for being very friendly as well as beautiful. They get along well with humans, including strangers, and other dogs.
They are pack oriented, and need plenty of interaction with other dogs to prevent them from being lonely. They also need attention from their family, which they see as their pack.
They are very energetic, and seem to be happy most of the time. They are excellent with children. They are patient and gentle, and always up for playtime.
White Husky Behavioral Issues
White Huskies can develop behavioral issues if they don’t get enough exercise or socialization. They can become bored, lonely, or depressed.
This can lead them to become destructive. They may also develop obsessive behavior, which can cause them to lick, scratch, or howl frequently.
How to care for a White Husky With Blue Eyes
There are some things you should know about caring for a white Husky with blue eyes. They do require some special care, but Husky owners believe they are well worth the work.
Be Prepared
Before you get a white Husky with blue eyes, you’ll need to be sure you are capable of caring for them.
Do you have the time to devote to them? They require plenty of exercise and human interaction. Do you have enough space to allow them to exercise?
If they develop a medical issue, will you be able to pay for veterinary care? Will you be able to provide the specialized care a dog with hearing or vision issues needs, if they occur in your dog?
If the answer to all of these questions is yes, you are ready to get a white Husky with blue eyes. If you’ve answered no, you may need to consider a different color or breed.
Exercise
Huskies are very active. They can run up to 150 miles in a single day, and travel at speeds of 30 mph. This incredible endurance makes them excellent sled dogs, but it does mean they need a significant amount of daily exercise.
Your Husky should get at least 1 hour, and preferably 2 hours, of exercise daily. Another way to look at it is that they should run or walk 3 to 5 miles at least 4 days a week.
A large fenced in yard can help meet your Husky’s exercise needs. However, you should know they are great escape artists. Be sure they can’t dig under the fence, or jump over it.
Grooming
Your Husky will need regular grooming as well. They aren’t as high maintenance as other double coated breeds. They don’t require frequent baths, and their hair regulates its length, so hair cuts aren’t usually needed.
You should brush your Husky at least twice a week. Begin by using a comb to remove any tangles, and then use a paddle brush to remove shed hair and dirt. Start with their undercoat, and then groom their topcoat.
They shed their coat in the spring and fall, to prepare for the changing weather. During this time, you’ll need to brush them daily. They may also need a weekly deshedding. Giving them a bath, and brushing them frequently will help speed the shedding process.
Limiting Sun Exposure
White Huskies with blue eyes are at risk of sunburn and skin cancer, so you’ll need to limit their sun exposure. Don’t allow them to go outside for long periods between 11 am and 3 pm on sunny days, when the sun exposure is highest.
If they will be outside for a long period, a t-shirt can help protect their skin. You should also apply sunscreen to their nose, belly, and any other areas with little or no hair. You can use a sunscreen for dogs, or children’s sunscreen.
Training
It’s important to ensure your Husky gets proper training. Huskies are very independent. They were bred as sled dogs. When pulling a sled, Huskies need to make quick decisions, often without owner input.
This independence can make training them difficult. If you aren’t experienced with dog training, you should enroll your Husky in an obedience class.
How do you buy a White Husky With Blue Eyes?
When buying a white Husky with blue eyes, it’s essential to find a reputable breeder. This is important when choosing any dog, but it’s particularly important for white Huskies, because they have a higher risk of health issues.
Breeder Registries
The easiest way to find a responsible breeder is to check breeder registries. The AKC breeder registry only allows dogs and breeders who are AKC registered. This typically eliminates irresponsible breeders, because of the registry requirements.
In addition to the AKC, you can check out the Siberian Husky Club of America, which is closely affiliated with the AKC. They also have a breeder registry.
Finding a Reputable Breeder
In addition to registries, you can perform an internet search. Again, breeders who register their dogs are usually ethical. If you choose a dog that isn’t registered, be sure to ask the breeder some questions.
How do they choose breeding pairs? How do they ensure their dogs are healthy? Do they value rare or popular colors, or do they focus on health and temperament?
You should also expect the breeder to ask you questions. Expect them to ask about the living conditions your pooch will have, and what your intentions for them are. They may also ask about your previous dog ownership experience.