Alaskan Husky

Alaskan Husky Scientific Classification

Kingdom

    Animalia

Phylum

    Chordata

Class

    Mammalia

Order

    Carnivora

Family

    Canidae

Genus

    Canis

Scientific Name

    Canis lupus

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Alaskan Husky Conservation Status

    Not Listed

Alaskan Husky Locations

    North-America

Alaskan Husky Facts

Fun Fact

    The Alaskan Husky is one of the most common sled dogs in the world

Temperament

    Energetic, hard-working, and affectionate

Diet

    Omnivore

Alaskan Husky Physical Characteristics

Color

        Brown

        Grey

        Red

        Black

        White

Skin Type

    Hair

Lifespan

    12 – 16 years

Weight

    65 lbs

Alaskan Husky as a Pet:

General Health

Energy Level

Shedability

Trainability

Intelligence

Tendency to Chew

Size

Family and kid friendliness

Dogs Quiz: How Well Do You Know Them?

Yappiness / Barking

    Moderate

Separation Anxiety

    High

Preferred Temperature

    Cold climate

Exercise Needs

    High

Friendly With Other Dogs

    Group

Pure bred cost to own

    $1,000 to $1,500 on average

Dog group

    Working

Male weight

    35-65 lbs

Female weight

    35-65 lbs

This post may contain affiliate links to our partners like Chewy, Amazon, and others. Purchasing through these helps us further the A-Z Animals mission to educate about the world's species.

discover animals

WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more.

Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day.

Alaskan Husky Pictures

View all of our Alaskan Husky pictures in the gallery.

Image Credit © Valmedia/Shutterstock.com

View all of the Alaskan Husky images!

Find your favorite Animals!

Share on:

    The Alaskan Husky is bred to be the ultimate sled dog. They can easily burn 10,000 calories a day in the grueling race.

The Alaskan Husky is an athletic working dog that arose from a cross between several similar yet distinctive breeds, most likely originating almost 10,000 years ago. Genetically, it’s a close relative of the Alaskan Malamute and the Siberian Husky. It was later crossed with a few European breeds, including German pointers and the Saluki. Some of these animals even have some recent wolf heritage. It was bred to perform specific tasks needed in areas of Alaska and Canada, like transportation, hauling logs, sled racing, and delivering supplies to remote locations.

See all of our expert product reviews.

Capable of enduring the harsh climates of the frigid north, the Alaskan Huskies are excellent sled dogs and companions that belong to the spitz group. The spitz dogs are characterized by thick white fur, pointed ears, long muzzles, and curled tails. However, because there isn’t a set breed standard, the Alaskan Husky can come in many different physical permutations and characteristics. They’re bred for speed and endurance, not for looks. As a result, they need to have an efficient gait, a warm double coat, and webbed feet that act as snowshoes. It’s also covered with a mixture of white, black, gray, brown, and even red fur.

Alaskan Husky Vs. Siberian Husky

The Alaskan Husky resembles its Siberian relatives in many respects, including its strength and its friendly behavior, but physically it looks quite different as a result of recent crosses with European dogs. It tends to be slightly larger and leaner than the Siberian Husky with a much wide range of fur colors and patterns.

Alaskan Husky Vs. Alaskan Malamute

The Alaskan Husky is not quite as large as the Alaskan Malamute, but it still retains many of the same characteristics, including its athletic body, friendly nature, and intelligent mind.

Articles Mentioning Alaskan Husky

    Alaskan Klee Kai Progression: Growth Chart, Milestones, and Training Tips

    Eyeshine: The Reason Cats’ Eyes Glow When the Lights Go Down

    How Smart Are Huskies? Everything We Know About Their Intelligence

    8 Best Types of Alaskan Dog Breeds

    What Were Chow Chows Bred For? Original Role, Jobs, History and More

    How Do Sled Dogs Survive Such Intense Cold and Winter Storms?

    Miniature Husky vs. Klee Kai

    Alaskan Klee Kai vs Alaskan Husky: The Key Differences

    Alaskan Husky Vs Siberian Husky: What’s the Difference?

    Types of Husky Dogs

See all of our entertaining and insightful animal articles.

3 Pros And Cons Of Owning An Alaskan Husky

Pros! Cons!

Strong and Athletic

The Alaskan Husky is a great exercise companion and hard worker. High Intensity

This dog has a voracious need for exercise. It is probably not suited for apartment living.

Friendly and Affectionate

This dog will form a deep bond with its owner. Headstrong

This dog can be a little stubborn at times.

Intelligent and Trainable

The Alaskan Husky is able to learn lots of different human commands. Needy

The Alaskan Husky needs a lot of attention from its owner.

Alaskan husky sled dogs ready to go into the Arctic mountain wilderness.Alaskan husky sled dogs are ready to go into the Arctic mountain wilderness.

©iStock.com/HenrikNorway

Size And Weight

The Alaskan Husky is a medium to large animal with an athletic body. It has clearly been bred for speed and endurance, but it also needs to be strong enough to pull a sled over great distances. Because there are no breed standards, the Alaskan Husky can come in a large variety of different sizes.

Health and Entertainment for your Alaskan Husky

See all of our expert product reviews.

Height (Male) 23 to 26 inches

Height (Female) 23 to 26 inches

Weight (Male) 35 to 65 pounds

Weight (Female) 35 to 65 pounds

Common Health Issues

Despite being generally healthy, with an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years, the Alaskan Husky may be at risk of several health conditions, including hypothyroidism, progressive retinal atrophy, and other common eye disorders, obesity, cancer, a congenital deformation of the larynx (which results in wheezing), and a set of rare metabolic disorders called lysosomal storage disease.

It’s always a good idea to ask your breeder to provide proof or certification that their dogs have been tested for common issues. This will not necessarily stop any health problems from ever arising, but combined with regular checkups at the vet, it will give your dog a better chance at a high-quality life. In summation, these are the most common health problems of the Alaskan Husky:

    Obesity

    Eye Disorders

    Cancer

    Hypothyroidism

Temperament

Alaskan husky dog enjoying the winter on the top of a mountain.

Alaskan huskies form strong bonds with both people and other dogs.

©Valmedia/Shutterstock.com

The Alaskan Husky has many personality traits specifically bred for its original purpose as a sled dog, but you don’t need to be a sled racer to enjoy these fascinating dogs. Because they work together in large teams, Alaskan Huskies need to get along very well with people and other dogs or animals. They form strong bonds with both alike.

Built for speed and endurance, they also need plenty of room in which to run and play, so they are not very well-suited for apartment living. Alaskan Huskies have a curious and playful nature, sometimes shading into the rambunctious. They can even test the patience of the most understanding owner, especially if the dogs feel bored or ignored. They need almost constant mental or physical stimulation to be satisfied. Owners should prepare to spend a lot of time with this dog.

How To Take Care Of The Alaskan Husky

The Alaskan Husky is probably not suitable for novice or casual dog owners. They need an experienced and engaged owner who has the time and ability to care for their considerable needs. If you have any other questions or concerns about owning this mix, then you should consult with your vet.

The Best Dog Food For Alaskan Huskies

Alaskan Husky vs. Siberian Husky - Alaskan Husky

Alaskan huskies have a tendency for hypothyroidism and snacks should be kept to a minimum.

©Elena Sherengovskaya/Shutterstock.com

An active adult Alaskan Husky needs to be fed high-quality food, preferably high in both protein and fat. The amount of food depends on its size, age, and activity level. Given its tendency for hypothyroidism and obesity, owners should limit the number of snacks and opt for food that helps build and maintain lean muscle through exercise.

Purina Pro Plan Sport, Energy & Vitality Support, High Protein 30/20 Salmon Dry Dog Food & Wet Dog Food has a protein-rich nutritional profile that keeps Alaskan Huskies active and fit.

With a balance of 30% protein and 20% fat, the amino acids in this real salmon food fuel muscle growth while glucosamine supports mobile joints. Additionally, vitamin A may help keep your Alaskan Husky’s eyes healthy.

Find Purina Pro Plan Sport, Energy, and Vitality Support High Protein Dog Food on Amazon or Chewy.

Best Fish Recipe

Purina Pro Plan Sport Performance 30/20 Salmon & Cod Formula Dry Dog Food

Purina Pro Plan Sport Performance 30/20 Salmon & Cod Formula Dry Dog Food

    Purina Pro Plan Sport Performance 30/20 Salmon & Cod Recipe

    High protein dog food contains 30% protein and 20% fat for lean muscle and metabolism needs

    Glucosamine and EPA for joint health and mobility

Check Chewy

Check Amazon

Maintenance And Grooming

These dogs have a thick double coat that will need to be groomed at least once or twice a week to remove loose hair and prevent matting. Once the shedding season begins, you may need to brush the dog once a day. This should be complemented with the occasional ear cleaning, good dental hygiene, and regular nail trimming if the nails start to get out of control.

Training

isolated Alaskan Klee Kai puppy

It’s a good idea to start training your Alaskan Husky at an early age.

©iStock.com/kali9

With the speed with at it can learn human commands, it might surprise you to learn that these dogs can be a little headstrong and stubborn. It’s a good idea to start training this dog immediately, as soon as eight weeks of age, when it’s the most malleable and trainable. If you wait until it’s more than six months old, then it’s likely to be more difficult to train. Positive and patient reinforcement methods work best to coax your dog into accepting its training.

Exercise

These dogs are not for the faint of heart. This is a strong, athletic dog with amazing endurance. After all, it was bred for the very purpose of pulling heavy sleds through the snow. The dog will require at least an hour of exercise every single day, but slow walks alone will not suffice. This mix needs to engage in plenty of free running, hiking, sports, games, and other strenuous activities. It’s not necessarily a good idea to let your dog off the leash, because it does have a tendency to wander and explore. A fenced yard is very useful to control these natural tendencies.

Puppies

As mentioned previously, a puppy needs to undergo training and socialization as early as possible. Starting around 10 to 12 weeks old, doggie classes or daycare are ideal places to familiarize your dog with lots of new faces and situations so it can become a well-adjusted adult. Just make sure your puppy has received all of the necessary vaccines first before it interacts with other dogs. Crate training, though not strictly necessary, is also a good option to deal with early anxiety and house training issues.

Five Alaskan husky puppies looking out from their house.Alaskan husky puppies should begin doggy classes at 10-12 weeks.

©Jana Caposova/Shutterstock.com

The Alaskan Husky And Children

These dogs are a great choice for families with children. Their friendly and playful nature will appeal to people of all ages.

Dogs Similar To The Alaskan Husky

If you’re a fan of spitz-type sled dogs, then you might want to check out the following breeds:

    Canadian Eskimo Dog – This powerful and athletic sled dog fits the traditional mold of a spitz: it has erect ears, a curved tail, and a thick white coat with a variety of different black or brown markings. However, this breed might be hard to find in the United States. It’s recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club but not the American Kennel Club.

    Samoyed – Originating from the Samoyedic people of Siberia, this big fluffy all-white spitz was bred for the purpose of herding, hunting, and sledding. Today, these friendly, playful dogs, whose mouth always appears to be arched in a smile, make for great companions in the home.

    American Eskimo Dog – These fluffy all-white dogs, which actually originated from Germany (but, due to anti-German sentiment during World War I, had their name changed), was bred more as companions than a working dog. They have a bright, upbeat temperament and a smart, playful personality.