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Huskimo (Siberian Husky & American Eskimo Mix): Pictures, Info, Care & More

Written by: Nicole Cosgrove

Last Updated on April 17, 2024 by Dogster Team

Huskimo (Siberian Husky & American Eskimo Mix): Pictures, Info, Care & More

Huskimo dogs were introduced back in the late 1990s, and these dogs are a mix of Siberian husky and an American Eskimo. They are beautiful, bubbly, loving, affectionate, loyal, and playful dogs full of energy. It is wise to keep them active because if they are not, controlling them can be challenging.

Breed Overview

Height:

21 – 24 inches

Weight:

40 – 60 pounds

Lifespan:

12 – 15 years

Colors:

Red, gray, black, white, brown

Suitable for:

Active families, those looking for a companion dog

Temperament:

Loyal & loving, intelligent, easy to train, friendly, social, gets along with other pets

They are a perfect breed to keep in a home setup since they are good with kids, strangers, and owners. In addition, Huskimo dogs are intelligent, expressive, social, and very obedient. With such character traits, they are trainable and can adapt to any family.

However, their intelligence makes them unable to differentiate how to behave around their owners. As a result, they tend to take the leadership role making themselves top dogs. That makes them disobedient if the owners don’t show them who their leader is for them to follow.

Huskimo Characteristics

Energy
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High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
Trainability
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Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
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Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
Lifespan
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Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Sociability
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Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.

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Huskimo Puppies

Huskimo puppy with blue eyes
Image Credit: JStaley401, Shutterstock

The Huskimo dogs have a strong pack instinct, so you must be very firm with them. If you don’t have time for training, make sure you enroll them in a puppy training class. That is because they tend to be disobedient if not shown the right direction to follow.

So, they need leadership skills to be instilled in them at an early age. They have a double coat, thus an inner and outer coat. That makes the Huskimo dogs tolerant to cold and hot weather. If you opt to train them during the hot weather, take precautions since they get a heatstroke.

But they are incredible, and their health score is to reckon with. Huskimo dogs are not a nuisance in health matters, which is evident when you look at their lifespan. Moreover, though the dogs require to be handled by an experienced person, they are trainable; thus, anybody can train them.

Parent_breeds_Huskimo
Image Credit: Left – Scarlett Images, Shutterstock | Right -jpgordijn, Pixabay

Temperament & Intelligence of the Huskimo

Huskimo dogs are good dogs that are social and energetic. These character traits come from their parents, Siberian husky, and American Eskimo.

These two are known to be hard-working dogs that are intelligent and loyal. However, the Huskimo dog’s intelligence betrays them.

When Huskimo dogs are left alone, they tend to be naughty and disobedient. This is because they get bored quickly, so you need to keep the dogs busy.

Further, make sure you train them at an early age to show them leadership. They love to please and make their owners happy.

So, if well trained, they will unlikely become antisocial or uncooperative. In addition, Huskimo dogs are less aggressive, and that’s why they make excellent human companions. Train them well, and you will enjoy their loyalty throughout.

Unfortunately, they don’t make good watchdogs. This is because they will warm up once you show them your good side, even if you are a stranger. That means they will make friends with anybody who seems good to them and forget their role.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

Yes, Huskimo dogs are very good with the family. This is because they are playful, loyal, and less aggressive. However, since they are hyper, everyone in the family will have a duty to exercise them. That will make them active and fit comfortably in your family.

Besides, they are good with children. If you socialize them early enough and teach the children how to play and interact with them, then you are good to go. That will prevent lots of accidents like scratching, aggression, and biting unnecessarily.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

When it comes to crossbreeds, you don’t know what to expect. Their behavior is unpredictable, which is normal. With Huskimo dogs, if the dominant husky character is present, they may be aggressive towards other pets, especially smaller ones.

So, they tend to chase them around and look at them as prey. However, this is not common, so it should not worry you. That’s why we stated earlier that it is a good idea to socialize the dogs with other pets early.

Things to Know When Owning a Huskimo

Raising Huskimo dogs is not demanding. However, they need to be taken care of just like other dogs of their size. Feed them regularly with well-balanced foods. Groom them regularly and ensure they exercise for around 90 to 120 minutes daily.

Food & Diet Requirements

Huskimo dogs are known to consume foods that an average dog of their size can’t finish. That is because they are active dogs. In extreme cases, if you don’t feed them well, they can even steal food. You have to give them enough food to avoid that.

The recommended size of food is 2.5 to 3 cups daily. The foods should be commercial foods, nutritional raw foods, or mixed diets. All these foods contain different nutrients that are good for Huskimo dogs. However, avoid feeding them with excess since they are prone to obesity.

Exercise

Huskimo dogs are very active because they are breeds from Siberian huskies and American Eskimos. So when you engage them in any physical exercise, the chances are they don’t get tired easily. So it would help if you combined physical activities of 90-120 minutes daily with mental exercises to keep them busy.

No doubt they are intelligent dogs, so they like having something to do rather than sitting idle. In that case, you can opt to take them for a course. Some courses like puzzles or agility are good since they make the dog stay alert mentally and physically.

Training

Training Huskimo dogs should be done early, maybe when they are puppies. The idea is to tame some of the behaviors before they are fully grown. They are intelligent dogs that require lots of patience. A sign of harshness from you makes them scared, anxious, and aggressive.

Ensure you spare a few minutes per day for the training. Since they are intelligent dogs, you may consider teaching them some tricks. Since they have a strong pack nature, make sure you are dominant towards them so that they can listen to you. Praise and reward them when they do well.

Grooming ✂️

The Huskimo dogs have a long thick coat that is so beautiful. But it comes with some costs since it requires high maintenance. Ensure you brush the fur at least three times per week. Also, note that the dogs shed heavily twice per year, so take necessary precautions.

For the teeth, brush them regularly using the dog’s toothpaste. Two times a week is good because that will keep their teeth and gums healthy. When it comes to bathing, do it every other month. Take emphasis on their ears because they tend to accumulate wax, and that can cause ear infections.

Trim their nails regularly, at least once per month. But that will depend on how active your Huskimo dogs are since the active ones don’t require regular trimming. So you can trim once per month when necessary.

Health and Conditions

Huskimo dogs don’t get sick regularly. This is because they are designer dogs, so the most likely health conditions are genetic. But that depends on the breeder because if an expert breeds them, they don’t get genetic illnesses. The most common diseases are eye cataracts, skin infections, obesity, and hip dysplasia.

Minor Conditions
  • Cataracts
Serious Conditions
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Corneal Atrophy
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Minor Conditions

  • Cataracts: A minor condition affecting Huskimo dogs is cataracts. Cataract comes about when the lens of the eyes clouds. It is caused by changes to the proteins within the lens. When the lens is cloudy, no light reaches the retina. That can cause blindness if not treated.But since it is not a fatal disease, your dog can learn to live with it. Alternatively, you can opt to treat it through surgery. The vet can replace the lens with plastic or acrylic through a minor surgery done under mild sedation. The procedure works perfectly well and reverses the dog’s condition.

Serious Conditions

  • Hip Dysplasia: This condition is hereditary and can be caused by the excessive growth rate, the type of exercise the dog engages in, improper weight, and poor nutrition.
  • Corneal Atrophy: This is where several conditions occur in dogs and affect the corneas, and it becomes opaque. There are three major corneal dystrophies, namely, epithelial, stromal, and endothelial. They are located in the different anatomic locations of the cornea.
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy: This is a hereditary disease that occurs mainly in cross breeds dogs. Though it is not very common still, it can affect the Huskimo dogs. The photoreceptor of the retina develops abnormally, causing total blindness.

Male vs. Female

Differentiating between a male and a female is a bit difficult. That is because there is no significant difference between them. However, some people tend to observe some behavior traits that make them different. For example, females tend to be less active, shy, weigh slightly low, and are smaller.

The females also portray a more mature behavior than the males. In addition, they are easy to train since they follow instructions well.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Huskimo

1. Huskimos are a New Breed

The breeding came about in the 1990s, and not many people knew Huskimo dogs existed. However, their ancestors (Siberian husky and American Eskimo) have been in existence for many years. The Huskimo dogs are becoming popular because of the good qualities that make them good family pets.


2. Huskimos Make Good Companions for Hiking and Jogging

Huskimos make good companions for people who love outdoor sports. Those who love hiking and taking long treks, especially in the wilderness, can have them for company.

They are tolerant to harsh weather, according to research. If you take walks with them, you will get tired and leave them feeling energetic.


3. Huskimos Come from Sled Dogs

These dogs are half Siberian husky and half German Spitz, which was given the name American Eskimo. The Siberian husky is a breed of dog created to pull sleds across the frozen tundra.

The American Eskimo originally came from the Nordic breed.  It made its way to the US through German settlers and is known to endure very harsh weather.

Final Thoughts

Generally, Huskimo dogs are good. They fit in most families, and that means they can be well tamed.  Their intelligence and loyalty make them admirable. They are easy to maintain though they require some regular maintenance which means you have to dig deep into your pocket.

If you are patient enough and train your Huskimo dogs, they will obey and dance to your tune. Give them a little freedom, and they will misbehave. So be firm and let them know that you are their leader. They can adapt easily to cold and hot weather conditions.

That is because of their double coat, which cushions them from both heat and cold. Also, if you take good care of your Huskimo dogs, they grow bigger than most dogs. Otherwise, you can keep them in your home, for they are excellent family companions.

See Also:


Featured Image Credit: JStaley401, Shutterstock

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