Australian Husky Dog Breed

The Australian Husky is not a dog for everyone. The are best with very experienced dog people, and they need a great amount of highly secure outside area to play in. Families with kids are OK, but they must be socialized and trained very early, firmly and patiently. Not doing so will allow them to nip and bite at children's heels when they attempt to herd them. They are also known to destroy furniture and other things if they don't get their way. They will be rambunctious as pups but will settle down in time if they are managed properly.

Here are some things you should know about Aussie Huskies:

PROS

• Very social
• Extremely intelligent
• Should be easy to train
• Highly versatile working dog
• Water-resistant double coats
• Not prone to separation anxiety
• Their "ghost eyes" are irresistible
• Perfect for very active lifestyles in extreme weather

CONS

• Sheds a lot
• Easily bored
• Escape artist
• High prey drive
• May nip at heels
• May be territorial
• Not hypoallergenic
• Some stubbornness
• Can overeat very quickly
• Can be remarkably destructive
• Requires a great amount of exercise and activity
• Have occasional blowouts that create storms of hair

The Australian Husky is a dog that comes from two remarkably intelligent, extremely energetic and notoriously independent breeds. Like any hybrid, there is a wide range of habits this dog may acquire, but they are always demanding. They tend to mature somewhat slowly, but with the right training and socialization, their seemingly insatiable energy can be channeled away from the destructiveness that often accompanies their puppyhood.

Because these dogs are as intelligent as they are hyperactive, they will seek to escape, and they can jump very high. Agility puzzles are very good, and having tasks that keep them purposefully busy is best. They can learn quickly with the proper training.

Aussie Huskies can be stubborn, and you should be prepared for this. There is a lot that their parent breeds do, and there is quite a bit that these dogs will innately desire too. They tend to not hesitate to start chewing on things — such as furniture — when they get bored.

They need not only a lot of exercise but work and play that will burn their energy. Long daily walks are just the start. If walks are all they are allowed, they usually become stronger but still unfulfilled. If you don't have a large, very secure yard to play in, frequent visits to the dog park to play frisbee and other such games is essential.

The one variation for this hybrid dog tends to be a somewhat rare one: the Miniature Australian Husky. These dogs differ little in appearance from the "regular" sized Aussie Husky; they are simply smaller for having been crossed with a Miniature Australian Shepherd Dog.

They apparently differ in another way, however. Because of the two parent breeds' high-energy drives, these dogs may be extremely difficult to live with. They may have fragile bone structures that cannot handle the hyperactivity of these dogs personality-wise. They may try to leap higher than their legs (or back) can handle on impact, or they may literally get underfoot and become seriously injured. These and other health problems (that tend to accompany very small dogs) may be why the Mini Australian Husky is difficult to find.

Aussie Huskies come from two breeds with very different health profiles. Hybrid vigor will help these puppies to have a much better chance, but the number of issues may also greatly affect them. Some are typical dog problems, some are problems relating to size or age, and some are inheritable. The list below is long, and while each ailment is possible, there are a great number of factors that determine the possibility of something developing. It's always best to perform as much due diligence as possible: health tests, meeting the puppy's parents, visiting the litter, acquiring vet certifications and so on.

• Cancer
• Epilepsy
• Deafness
• Cataracts
• Allergies
• Entropion
• Snow Nose
• Iris coloboma
• Hip dysplasia
• Hypothyroidism
• Drug Sensitivity
• Corneal dystrophy
• Collie eye anomaly
• Follicular Dysplasia
• Pelger-Huët anomaly
• Nasal solar dermatitis
• Crystalline Corneal opacities
• Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD)
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM)

These dogs have an average lifespan of 11 to 15 years, and this is believed to be typical for this mixed breed and dog size.