Miniature husky dogs are great companion dogs, but they are also considered as working dogs. Usually, they weigh about 20 to 35 pounds and have a size of 13 to 17 inches.
Miniature husky’s personality can be like the standard Siberian husky. These dogs are outgoing, playful, and active.
The Miniature husky was developed by a breeder named Bree Normandin in the 1990s. The breed has a wolf-like appearance, medium length, erect ears, and fluffy coat, which comes in different colors.
Miniature Husky Temperament
Just like the standard Siberian Husky, Miniature husky is an athletic and active dog. You must provide them with daily exercise to stay healthy and happy. They need mental and physical activities to keep them active.
They are a loyal and friendly dog who likes attention. So, you must shower them with love, care, and attention that they deserve.
They are also social dogs, so they need socialization with people and other dogs. These dogs are friendly with kids.
However, you still need to supervise them because of their high energy levels. Remember that you must not let Mini husky left alone the whole day because they tend to be anxious and destructive.
They tend to chew, dig, and try to escape, so you must supervise them. This breed is also prone to trouble, but you can prevent it by providing lots of attention and exercise. They are not aggressive, so they are not ideal to be guard dogs.
What Does Miniature Husky Dog Look Like?
Miniature husky has similar coat coloring to standard Husky. They only differ in their weight and height.
These breeds are popular for heterochromia. It is a condition wherein their one eye has a different color to their other eye.
They have erect ears, and Male miniature huskies have a size of 14 to 17 inches tall and have a weight of 25 to 35 pounds.
On the other hand, females have a size of 13 to 16 inches and 20 to 30 pounds. They come with different coat colors, including black, white, brown, red, and sable.
It is also natural for them to have unusual patterns or markings on their body and face. They have a double coat, which protects them against cold snow.
They have a medium-length coat that has a dense and soft undercoat. They have a straight outer coat.
You must take note that their undercoat can shed on the shedding season. They also shed a bit throughout the year, but they still need regular brushing weekly.
Fun Facts About Mini Husky
- Miniature husky loves to howl, and they are very vocal.
- They are also considered as excellent escape artists.
- They can squint and keep snow out of their eyes with their almond-shaped eyes.
- This dog is among the fog breeds that have piercing blue eyes.
- They can withstand the cold weather with their double coat.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Miniature Husky
Do you plan to get your Miniature husky? The following are some of its advantages and disadvantages that can guide you.
Advantages
- Very smart dog
- Well-tempered, loyal and friendly
- Playful
- Good athletic companion
- Outgoing and energetic
Disadvantages
- Very vocal dog
- They are prone to destructive behavior due to boredom
- Notorious escape artists
- They have a strong prey drive
- Sheds a lot because of their double coat
- They can be stubborn sometimes
Health Problems of Miniature Husky
Mini husky dogs are also prone to some health problems. With that, you must be responsible for keeping them healthy and fit.
The life expectancy of this breed is about 12 to 14 years. Some health problems that this dog may suffer from may include the following:
- Hip dysplasia
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Hypothyroidism
- Cataracts
- Blindness
- Follicular dysplasia which can lead to abnormal hair growth, patchy hair loss and scaly, infected skin
- Zinc deficiency
To better understand the health of the Miniature husky, let us discuss more these possible health issues.
- Cataracts
Cataracts can affect about 10% of Miniature huskies. It can affect your dog during their young age as three months old. You can conduct a DNA test to determine if your dogs carry genes for cataracts.
- Eye Diseases
Eye diseases are common for these types of dog breeds. They are popular for having striking ice blue eyes.
Meanwhile, they are prone to blindness and corneal dystrophy. Corneal dystrophy is the condition wherein the clouding of the cornea can affect both of their eyes.
If not given immediate attention, it can result in blindness. They can also suffer from progressive retinal atrophy, which can also cause blindness.
With this, you can opt for the Optigen test to know if your dog carries the gene for this eye disease.
Another eye disease that may suffer by your pet is Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome.
This eye disease can also affect the coat and skin pigmentation. It is common to male Mini huskies and can also lead to blindness.
- Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is also a common disease for Miniature Husky. It is a very painful condition for your dog.
The treatment for this health problem is an expensive surgery. Therefore, you must keep your dog healthy and happy by providing them their basic needs.
Another common disease for this breed is skin problems. They are more prone to follicular dysplasia. It is a genetic problem that can result in abnormal hair growth, patchy hair loss, and infected scaly skin.
Zinc deficiency is also common in Miniature huskies. Fortunately, it can be treated using a zinc additive that is advised by your veterinarian.
The symptoms of this skin problem include hair loss and itching.
- Hypothyroidism
This disease is also a common disease for Miniature husky. It is the condition of abnormal secretion of the thyroid gland.
Some symptoms of thyroid issues are lethargy, weight gain, and patchy bald spots on your dog’s coat. This illness can be developed anytime, so your pet must be checked every two years.
By being responsible for your miniature husky health, you can prevent them from different illnesses that are mentioned above.
You must give them proper care and attention to prolong their lifespan. Even more important, they can also experience a happy and healthier lifestyle that they deserve.
How to Get Miniature Husky Dogs
You can get Miniature husky dogs through the following methods:
- Develop new breeds with genes that can lead to dwarfism that can make miniature
- Crossbreeding, or breeding smaller breeds with standard breeds
- Breed runts together to make a miniature
Bree Normandin develops Miniature husky through breeding runts together to make a miniature.
Proper Care for Mini Husky
Miniature Huskies are also prone to some health problems due to their small size.
With this, you must give them proper care to extend their lifespan.
In this section, you will learn about caring for your beloved Miniature husky.
You must provide your dogs with mental and physical stimulation. They are lovely companions that can provide you with fun, joy, and entertainment.
You must give them a walk regularly and mental challenges since they get easily get bored.
Thus, boredom can make them destructive. With their high energy levels, they need to release it through mental and physical activities.
How do Mini huskies exercise?
If you want your Miniature husky to be happy, you must provide them with lots of exercises daily.
Give them a walk and other activities that can help them release their energy.
You must give them an enclosed yard since they are known as great escape artists. These smart dogs can always find a way to get under or over.
You must provide your little best friend at least two walks daily. They need about more than 60 minutes of exercise every day.
Nutrition and Feeding
Proper nutrition is crucial for the overall health of your Miniature husky.
Since they are energetic and athletic dogs, you must feed them with the right diet to sustain their energy levels.
You must monitor their growth through their weight.
You must consult your veterinarian when it comes to their diet. Usually, a low-fat, low carb diet with meat is a good diet for your dog.
The good news is that they can control their food intake, so you don’t need to worry about overfeeding.
Adult Miniature husky needs to eat two times a day. You must feed them 2 hours before exercise as well as 30 minutes after exercise for proper digestion.
Do Huskies need to be groomed?
Mini huskies spend time for self-cleaning and self-grooming. They don’t want to be dirty.
Despite this behavior of your dog, you must still be responsible for their proper grooming.
You can brush them weekly during the non-shedding season. In shedding season, they need additional brushing sessions.
These dog breeds are not hypoallergenic because of their heavy seasonal shedding. Proper grooming can reduce their shedding sessions.
Cost of Miniature Husky
The cost of Miniature husky is about $1500.
Training your Mini Husky
Miniature husky is a smart dog that can learn things quickly. Meanwhile, they can also be stubborn sometimes.
Therefore, you must provide them with a training program to enhance their skills.
Training your dog can be fun for you and to your Miniature husky. Take note that training needs repetition, time, dedication, and, most of all, patience.
You can give your dog a treat as a reward for their achievement. It can motivate them to improve their performance during training.
The best way to train your Mini husky is outdoors. They love running activities because of their high endurance and energy levels.
It is also beneficial for their health since they can release their energy through exercise.
You can also allow them to enjoy cycling. It requires leash and harness so that they can run with you as you cycle.
Give them agility training since they are fast and light on their feet.
Another activity training you can provide them is a dog race. They can pull things in a long distance.
This training can give them fun and thrill, which can help them release their energy and prevent boredom.
You may not know it, but their training can be beneficial in the future. They are strong and loyal so that you can be amazed by their running skills.
Is Miniature Husky A Good Family Dog?
Yes, Miniature husky can be a good family dog. They are friendly with kids and anyone in your family.
They also love the attention of humans to treat them as one of your lovable family members.
You just need to train them to enhance their socialization skills.
Remember that you must not leave them alone all day because they get easily bored, which leads to their destructive behavior.
They are happy if they are busy doing tasks, so give them regular exercise and mental stimulation.
It can also help to improve your relationship with your beloved pet. Some activities they love include obedience, agility, and rally.
Will a Mini husky protect you?
Unfortunately, Miniature husky is not good guard dogs. They are not aggressive and don’t bark more. They make vocalizations the same with their wolf descendants.
- Destructive Behaviors
The bad news about Miniature husky is its destructive behavior.
If you leave them alone for a longer time, they will experience boredom and tend to be destructive.
With this, your home can suffer from damage, which is quite disappointing.
They are very playful, but they are non-aggressive types of dogs. They are also friendly with kids making them excellent family and companion dogs.
However, it is important that you must supervise them with your little ones. Although the dog is not clingy, you must be alert of their destructive behaviors.
Can They Live in a Hot Climate?
Yes, this dog breed can live in a hot climate despite their double coat. Meanwhile, you must make sure that they are always hydrated.
There must always be available water for your beloved Miniature husky.
It is a good decision if you will offer them with small outdoor inflatable pool.
Take note that shaving your dog’s coat is not advisable to keep them cool during the hot weather.
Thus, it is needed to protect them from the sun. Although they can survive in a hot climate, they can do better in cold climates.
Their dense coat can offer them protection against the harsh cold climate.
Is it Difficult to Train Miniature Husky?
Miniature Huskies are very smart dogs; however, they are also stubborn and independent breed.
So, there are some instances that they will not follow your commands. So, you must train them properly.
You need a high level of patience and dedication when it comes to training your beloved pet.
This type of dog breed comes with an average attention span. With this, you must only provide them with short but fun training sessions .
So, they can easily learn and absorb what you are teaching to them. You can also give them treat as a reward for their achievements during the training.
With the help of positive reinforcement like treats and praise, they can be more motivated to improve their training performance.
It is helpful to convince them to follow your commands. You must be consistent and patient when training your dog.
There is some time that you may disappoint, especially if they are stubborn, but you must not give up.
Is a Miniature Husky Good as a Pet?
If you are a dog lover who plans to get a Miniature husky, you must have the dedication to train your dog in the best possible way.
If you know how to handle your dog, they can be your best friend. They need proper training and socialization to get well with you and other people.
These dogs also come with destructive behavior, so you must be responsible for supervising them to prevent damage in your home.
They have high energy levels, so you must keep them active by providing them with physical and mental stimulation.
Well, Miniature Husky is a good pet if you are responsible for taking care of them.
You need to provide them with proper nutrition, regular exercise, and good grooming to keep them healthy and happy.
With this, you can spend more time with your beloved Miniature husky.
Miniature husky is a good pet that can also be friends with your kids. If you want a cute family dog, this breed is a good choice.
Finding a Responsible Breeder
If you want to have a healthy Miniature husky, you must find a responsible breeder.
A good breeder will show you where the dogs live. They will also allow you to meet the parents of your puppy.
You must ask the breeder some questions about the background of the puppy and their breeding practices.
It is also advantageous if the breeder knows the welfare and health problems with the miniature breeds.
They must also have health tests for genetic issues. By considering these factors, you have the assurance that the time, effort, and money you invest for the puppy are worth it.
With that, you can have a healthy Miniature husky you can spend in your home. You can have a family member that you can enjoy.
Make sure to prevent bad breeders from preventing disappointments in the end.
Additionally, you must also be responsible for keeping your dog healthy and fit. With that, you can spend more time with them.
Conclusion
To sum it up, Miniature husky can be your perfect companion dog. They are very loyal, friendly, and well-mannered.
However, you must provide them with the right training to improve their socialization skills and improve their behavior.
These dog breeds are very energetic and easily get bored. So, you must shower them with lots of love, attention, and care.
They can be destructive, so keep them active and happy by providing daily exercise and proper nutrition.
It is also essential to give them a training program to be your lifelong friend in your family.
They love outdoor activities, so you can have a best friend you can walk in the street.
They can satisfy you if you can offer them with mental and physical stimulation.
Also, for sure, you always want your Miniature husky to be healthy. With this, you must take responsibility to offer your dog with their basic needs.
It can help them prolong their lifespan so that you can spend more quality time with your beloved pet.
Do you want to have a loyal, smart, and friendly companion? What are you waiting for?
Get your Miniature husky today! They can be your best companion whenever you need fun and entertainment in your home.
With their high energy levels, you can have an athletic dog that you can walk within your neighborhood.