White Huskies are beautiful with their snow white fur and blue eyes. They are highly energetic and friendly, which makes them a great pet for active dog lovers.
White Husky Facts
White Huskies aren’t a breed. Instead, they are a rare color of the Siberian Husky. Their beautiful white coat is the first thing you are likely to notice about them.
Like other Huskies, they are affectionate, friendly, and energetic. There’s never a dull moment when you have a White Husky. Caring for them can be time consuming, but it’s well worth the effort.
White Husky Appearance
White Huskies have a graceful appearance that is impossible to forget. They are often called “polar bear” dogs thanks to their snow white color. They have a long glossy white coat. This is paired with a black nose and mouth, and bright blue eyes. They have large pointed ears, and long thick tails.
Isabella Husky
The Isabella Husky is very similar to the white Husky. However, rather than white, the coat is a light cream color. The color can be so light that you need to see it in the light to notice the cream color.
Instead of a black nose and paws, an Isabella Husky will have brown or liver color in these areas.
Albino Husky
An albino Husky can be easily mistaken for a white Husky. Both pooches have solid white fur. However, albino huskies have white fur because they can not produce color pigment.
They may have the genes for any color fur, as well as the albinism gene. This gene prevents color from being expressed. Albino Huskies will have pink noses and paw pads, and very light blue eyes due ot the lack of pigment.
It’s important to note that white huskies can experience health issues, which we will discuss in an upcoming section.
White and Other Colors
A white Husky must be completely white to meet the breed standard. However, Huskies with white and another coat color are part of the Siberian Husky breed standard.
These colors include red, sable, agouti, black, brown, and gray. For example, a Husky with a red and white coat would be known as a Red and White Siberian Husky.
White Husky Price
White Huskies are surprisingly affordable. In fact, they are less expensive than standard Siberian Huskies. A standard Husky typically costs $700-$1,4000. A white Husky, on the other hand, can be purchased for $600-$1,000.
Why they are less expensive isn’t clear. However, fears about health concerns or albinism may play a role in their lower price.
White Husky Rarity
White Huskies are rare. In fact, there’s debate over how the genes for white got into the Husky breed. Today, white Huskies are very rare for two reasons.
First, the gene is recessive, and known as the piebald gene. This means the dog must inherit the piebald gene from both parents for the white color to be displayed. Two white Huskies will produce white Husky puppies.
However, if one Husky parent is white and the other isn’t, the puppies can only be white if the other parent carries one copy of the piebald gene.
The second reason for white Huskies being rare is because the gene is not only recessive, it’s rare as well. This makes it difficult to find white Huskies suitable for breeding.
White Husky Life expectancy
White Huskies are a long lived breed, which is good news. They have an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years, which is a little better than the average for dogs.
White Husky Size and weight
The size of a white Husky will depend on whether it’s a standard or miniature Husky. They are comparable in size to other Siberian Husky colors.
A standard female Husky will weigh between 35 and 50 pounds. Males are larger than females, and they will weigh between 45 and 60 pounds.
Females will grow to 20 to 22 inches tall, while males can reach 21 to 24 inches in height.
Miniature Huskies are, of course, smaller. They typically weigh between 20 and 35 pounds, and reach 13-17 inches tall.
White Husky Health
White Huskies are considered healthy. However, there are some health issues that can affect the breed, and at least one issue that is linked to their white coat.
Eye Conditions
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, known as PRA, is a genetic condition that leads to blindness. The eyes are programed to go blind, usually at 2 or 3 years of age.
Cataracts are also common in Huskies. Cataracts occur when a white film forms on the eye, which impairs vision.
Corneal Dystrophy is another condition that can affect Huskies. This condition causes changes in the cornea. These conditions usually get worse over time, and can lead to vision difficulties or blindness.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid doesn’t function correctly. It functions more slowly. This can lead to hair loss, unexplained weight gain, and lethargy.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a problem for many medium or large sized dogs. It’s an inherited condition, but lifestyle also affects your dog’s risk.
Hip Dysplasia occurs when the hip joint doesn’t form correctly. This means it comes out of place easily. The symptoms include pain and loss of mobility, depending on the severity.
You can reduce your Huskies risk by helping them maintain a healthy weight and giving them proper exercise.
Deafness
Deafness is more common in white dogs. This is because the piebald gene that causes a white coat prevents melanocytes from forming. Melanocytes have a role in coat and eye color. Melanocyte stem cells also help create the inner ear. If the inner ear isn’t formed properly, the dog can be deaf.
In addition to white Huskies, other dogs with a piebald gene are at a risk of deafness. These include gray or merle colored dogs, and Dalmations.
Being white doesn’t mean a Husky will be deaf. It simply makes deafness more likely.
White Husky Behavior/Characteristics
White Huskies are playful and a joy to own. They are incredibly affectionate. They make terrible guard dogs, because they are friendly with anyone.
They form very close bonds with their family. They need lots of love, so they don’t do well if they are left alone for long periods of time.
They are an excellent pet for families. They can be so energetic that it takes several people to tire them out. This makes them great for kids, because they can spend a lot of time playing together.
Despite their energetic nature, they are also very gentle. Your family will be perfectly safe with your White Husky.
They do best when they have an owner who is experienced with dogs. They require a patient but strong owner to be the alpha of the pack.
They are pack dogs, which means that they get along very well with other dogs. In fact, you may find it’s easier to care for two Huskies, rather than one.
How to care for a White Husky
White Huskies do have some specific needs that you should be aware of. The most important things to consider are exercise and grooming. Huskies require a lot of time and work, so you’ll need to be prepared before getting a new canine companion.
Grooming
You may find grooming your White Husky intimidating when you look at their lush white coat. However, grooming a Husky is easier than grooming most double coated breeds.
You’ll need to brush your Husky at least once a week. Use a comb to remove any mats, and then a paddle brush to remove stray hairs and smooth the coat.
You’ll need to begin with their undercoat. Once that is done, you’ll brush their over coat.
When the weather begins to change, your Husky will start shedding. They shed a lot of hair. Brushing them daily, particularly with an undercoat rake, can speed the process and help save your furniture and clothes from permanent whiteness.
They can be bathed as much as once a week, or as little as every 6 weeks. In fact, it’s recommended to bathe them once a month, because their coat doesn’t produce a lot of oil.
Their coat doesn’t need to be trimmed. Instead, it will adapt in length and thickness to the weather in your area.
Exercise Needs
Huskies are very energetic. They need at least one hour of exercise each day, preferably 2 hours. Many experts recommend that much of this exercise needs to be running or jogging to help them burn their energy.
Other experts recommend that Huskies get at least 3 to 5 miles of exercise, at least 4 days a week.
This is a lot, which means owning a Husky isn’t for everyone. They are a great choice for active individuals and families.
If 2 hours of exercise each day seems too daunting, there are a few things you can do. Consider pairing your Husky with another energetic dog. This could be another Husky, or any breed that enjoys playing with other canines.
You’ll also need to consider your dog’s play area. They do best with a large fenced in yard. This gives them the opportunity to run and exercise on their own.
If they don’t have a large yard to run in, daily walks are absolutely essential. If they don’t get enough exercise, they will become bored and develop behavioral issues.
Mental Stimulation
In addition to their high need for physical activity, your White Husky will need plenty of mental exercise. They are intelligent, and were originally bred as working dogs.
They are at their best when they get enough mental exercise to challenge their mind. You can do this by teaching them new tricks or commands, and giving them puzzle toys.
You can also play games with them. Scent games and hide and seek are a few options that should be fun for both of you.
Training
Huskies are not easy to train, thanks to their breeding. They were bred to be sled dogs. Sled dogs are independent.They know what their job is, and they complete it with little input from their owner.
Huskies are highly affectionate and love their owners. However, they are not a fan of being told what to do.
How do you buy a White Husky?
It’s best to purchase a white Husky from a reputable breeder. The good news is there are a few ways you can find a white Husky breeder in your area.
Breeder Registries
The easiest way to find a reputable Husky breeder is through a breeder registry. You can check the AKC Breeder Registry or the UKC Breeder Registry.
These registries have high standards for breeders, which typically weeds out unethical breeders. Going through a registry also means that the dog will be registered.
Registered Huskies can be more expensive than non registered puppies. However, this provides you with their ancestry. Breeders who register their dogs also have them undergo health testing. This can prevent you from getting a Husky with serious health conditons.
Determining if a Breeder is Ethical
Regardless of whether your breeder is registered, you should do a little homework. Ask them questions. How do they determine which dogs to breed? How do they ensure that their dogs and puppies are healthy?
Reputable breeders will consider the health and temperament of their dogs first, and color second. Unethical breeders are concerned with profit, and have little concern for the health and well being of the dogs
You should also expect them to ask you questions. Reputable breeders want to ensure that their puppies are going to good homes.
They may ask about the living conditions the pooch will have. Some breeders will even want to visit your home. They will also ask what your intentions are with the puppy. Do you plan to breed them? Do you want a working dog, or simply a companion?
In addition to health concerns, you should choose a reputable breeder because it can affect your pups temperament. Puppies born to dogs who have little human interaction are more likely to have behavioral issues than those who are well cared for.