A Miniature Husky (a.ka Miniature Siberian Husky) is exactly what it sounds like, a smaller sized Siberian Husky than the normal ones you would normally find out there. Miniature Huskies first came to life around 20 years ago when someone chose to breed for the specific purpose of producing small sized Siberian Huskies, a process which ultimately proved to be a success.
If it weren’t, there wouldn’t be anything such as Miniature Huskies today.
Many people go absolutely bonkers for Siberian Huskies, but always wish they could bring home a tiny sized Siberian Husky instead of the normal sized ones you see all the time.
Well, if you’re one of these people, your wish may just come true with a Miniature Husky!
Miniature Husky Recognition
When it comes to being recognized as a distinct breed of its own, the American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize Miniature Huskies as such, because a Miniature Husky is the exact same dog as a Siberian Husky, except for the difference in size.
Miniature Husky Appearance
If you’re wondering what the Miniature Husky dog exactly looks like, all you really have to do is imagine a smaller sized version of a typical adult Siberian Husky.
A Miniature Husky will have almost all the same physical characteristics that a normal Siberian Husky has, except for the fact that they are smaller in size.
Size, Height & Weight
On average, a healthy Miniature Husky will weigh anywhere between 30 to 40 pounds, which is anywhere between 10 to 25 pounds lighter than what a normal Siberian Husky would weigh on average.
Be wary of breeders who want to offer you a Miniature Husky that weighs significantly less than 35-40 pounds, as this is usually accompanied with many health risks the Miniature Husky may face in life.
As for its height, a Miniature Husky will stand (on average) anywhere between 14 to 17 inches tall.
For many people, especially first time dog owners, the smaller size the Miniature Husky has in comparison with a normal sized Siberian Husky helps them out a ton with such a new experience handling and taking care of a dog for the first time.
Miniature Husky Temperament
Similar to the way the Miniature Husky looks exactly like a normal Siberian Husky except for the smaller size, a Miniature Husky will have almost all the same personality traits that a normal Siberian Husky has.
Exercise & Physical Activity
A normal sized Siberian Husky will require a significant amount of exercise on a day to day basis, because this is just part of its nature, being a fairly athletic working dog and all.
Some purebreds require minimal amounts of exercise on a daily basis, while other purebred require a plethora of exercise on a daily basis, and the Siberian Husky falls under the latter category.
The good news is, though, that a Miniature Husky will require less amounts of exercise than a normal sized Siberian Husky because of its smaller size.
A general rule of thumb is that larger sized dogs require more exercise than smaller sized dogs, and this is exactly the case with Miniature Huskies.
But, this doesn’t mean that a Miniature Husky owner can slack off on the amount of exercise they give this pooch!
They still need to get a decent amount of exercise on a daily basis, a whole lot of it in fact, just not as much as a normal sized Siberian Husky.
Affection
Siberian Huskies absolutely love to spend quality time with their owners and family members, and Miniature Huskies are absolutely no different.
Play time is eexceptionally important in improving the relationship between you and your Miniature Husky and developing the affection they hold towards you, so make sure you set aside time for that on a regular basis, and your Miniature Husky will pay you back for it in spades with all the loyalty and affection you could ever imagine.
Training
Just like a normal sized Siberian Husky, the Miniature Husky is also a very smart dog, meaning you’ll have a good time training one.
Let’s not forget that Siberian Huskies are working dogs, and they wouldn’t be given such tasks to complete if they didn’t have the required intelligence levels to comply.
With the correct training methods coupled with consistency and patience, your Miniature Husky will learn what you want it to learn in no time.
And, don’t forget the one practice that holds true for all dogs, purebreds and mixed breeds alike – the sooner on your start training them in life, the easier the results will be to come by, and vice versa.
However, you have to keep in mind that since Siberian Huskies are known for their shorter than average attention spans, you should ideally keep your Miniature Husky’s training sessions short and sweet.
Make them more frequent if need be, but keep them short on time because the longer they are, the more you risk losing your Miniature Husky’s attention.
Digging
Any Siberian Husky dog owner will know first hand how much these dogs love to dig their way out of specific places, for whatever reason that may be.
For this reason, it’s especially important that you make sure you have something like a proper anti-digging system in place in your backyard, or else you’re potentially going to face a tough time with this naughty fella.
The last thing you want to do is give a Miniature Husky another reason for them to dig, as they don’t need one in the first place, so make sure you do your part to ensure they don’t think about doing this.
The most important thing you can do to take their mind off of digging is giving your Miniature Husky ample amounts of exercise and play time, and supplying them with all the toys their heart desires so they can keep themselves occupied while you aren’t capable of being right there with them for company.
And, make sure you have a proper and secure fence set up in your backyard, as Miniature Huskies love to try their luck in escaping from fenced yards, even if they were to “fall 1,000,000 times, get back up 1,000,0001”. Literally.
Miniature Husky Health
Any health problems you should expect to maybe see in your Miniature Husky are the exact same health problems that larger sized, normal Siberian Huskies are prone to facing in their lives.
Some of the most common health problems that Huskies may face in their lifetimes are:
- Eye problems
- Seizures
- Respiratory problems
The average lifespan of a Miniature Husky dog is anywhere between 12 to 14 years, which is relatively on the higher side of dog lifespans.
Miniature Husky Living Conditions
Kids Or No Kids?
If you’re looking to add a dog to a household with young children in it, then a Miniature Husky may be a very good option for you to consider.
Living Space
If you live in a small apartment and are worried about getting a Miniature Husky because you think the space is too small for them to live comfortably in, you’re in for some good news.
Miniature Huskies don’t need as big a space to comfortably live in as normal sized Huskies do, since they occupy less physical space and can move around more freely in tighter spaces as a result.
So, if you have an apartment and have been looking for the perfect dog to add to your life, the Miniature Husky may just be the dog you’ve been looking for!
And, for those of you who have larger spaced households with backyards, for example, a Miniature Husky will also perfectly fit in and enjoy life over there as well.
The point is, a Miniature Husky will do perfectly well in smaller spaces the same way they will do well in larger spaces, so you’re good to go either way.
Weather Conditions
The ideal weather conditions for Miniature Huskies to live in are moderate to extreme cold climates, simply because they have been created to thrive in these exact weather conditions.
If you have a look at the Miniature Husky’s coat, you’ll notice it’s a dense double-coat that keeps them warm even in the coldest of climates, but one that will make them feel uncomfortably warm in places where the temperature is often hot.
Other Pets – Yay Or Nay?
If you’re worried about adding a Miniature Husky to a household where other pets reside, then don’t worry, Miniature Huskies tend to fit right in, and very well in fact.
Before you know it, your Miniature Husky and other pets you have home will be the closest of friends that have a lot of fun with one another.
However, you have to make sure they have been properly socialized at first and know how to behave around other pets, as dogs that haven’t been properly socialized usually don’t know how to act around other pets, which usually spells trouble (especially when it comes to cats at home!).
Miniature Husky Care
Brushing
We’ve already covered in a subsection above just how dense the coat of Miniature Huskies is, which means anyone who would like to add one of these dogs to their household and family will have to set a strict and very frequent brushing schedule.
Dogs with coats that are as dense as this need to be brushed many times a week, sometimes even more than once a day, or else you run the risk of having them shed excessively (which is something no dog owner looks forward to, unless you like to pick up after your dog’s hair for whatever reason, then be my guest!).
A Note About The Miniature Husky And Unethical Breeders
When it comes to which breeder you’re buying a Miniature Husky from, you have to be extremely careful with who you’re buying from.
The breeding business market out there is absolutely filled with many unethical dog breeders nowadays, and it seems that ethical dog breeders are actually the minority nowadays, given how lucrative of a business model this has proven to be.
The reason we’re issuing this warning to whoever is thinking about buying a Miniature Husky is that these unethical breeders will have dogs that look like Miniature Huskies and will market them to you in a way that will have you believe they are indeed Miniature Huskies.
However, in reality, these dogs weren’t bred to have the true characteristics (especially personality wise) of the Miniature Husky.
