Husky Inu – Shiba Inu and Husky Mix

A beautiful Siberian Husky

Siberian Huskies are beautiful and majestic dogs that have a wolf-like appearance. Shiba Inus are also incredibly beautiful and regal dogs that have a fox-like appearance.

When these breeds are combined, you get a stunning and of course beautiful dog called a Husky Inu. Husky – Inu’s are new to the “designer” dog scene because Shiba Inu’s are a relatively new breed in the United States. In fact, there are hardly any examples of true  Husky Inu mixes available on the Internet.

Despite the Husky Inu being a stunning looking dog – this dog is definitely not recommended for everyone.

In fact, currently there should be good and valid reasons for for owners to want to breed these two mixes together in the first place. Responsible dog ownership also means responsible purposeful breeding.

Equally beautiful Shiba Inu puppy

The Drawbacks of Breeding a Siberian Husky With a Shiba Inu

Both Siberian Huskies and Shiba Inu’s can be incredibly challenging  to dog owners who are not familiar with these breeds.

They are both independent dogs with very high prey drive. Both Huskies and Shibas are known for being escape artists. They must always be leashed and have a home with a secure fence or gate if living outdoors – or even indoors.

Huskies are very curious dogs with high energy and can be destructive. Shiba Inu’s are less curious and generally not destructive – but they are typically aloof dogs that don’t show or crave to much affection.

It can be easy to see that mixing these traits together can produce a dog that can only be handled by a certain type of owner.

Those that do not have the skills, temperament, and accommodations to handle a dog with these traits should not own one.

Many Huskies as well as Shiba Inus end up in shelters because new owners simply got these dogs based on looks without understanding the nature of these breeds.

Exercise and Activity

Being that Siberian Huskies are extremely active and energetic, Husky Inus will need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. Obedience training is an absolute necessity for this breed. You must be firm, assertive, and consistent with a Husky Inu – but not overly aggressive or mean.

Huskies normally do not like being left alone and need constant human and / or dog companionship. The Shiba Inu on the other hand loves being left alone and does not crave much attention or affection at all.

photo via: dogbreedinfo.com_s_shiberianshiba_htm

In theory, there is a high possibility that these two traits can be leveled out by crossing these two breeds of dogs together. However, as with all designer dogs, there is very little certainty of what traits will be dominant and what traits will be recessive.

Grooming

Shiba Inus Shed quite a bit. Huskies shed even more. A Husky Inu will require a lot brushing time. Expect a lot of fur around the house.

Nutrition

Here at My First Shiba, we always advocate for fresh home cooked or raw food for all dogs. These type of diets, when administered correctly, is by far the best thing you can do for your dog. Being that a Husky Inu is a very energetic and active dog – and also a fussy eater – these type of diets would suit this breed particularly well.

A Husky Inu will probably require less food than other dogs of equal size because Siberian Huskies process the foods they eat very efficiently. They have evolved to survive on very little food in some of the harshest climates in the world.

Owning and Caring for a Husky Inu

Despite the fact that Husky Inus can be a challenging dog for new or inexperienced dog owners – there are those that love the looks and traits of these beautiful breeds.

These owners typically understand the temperaments of the breeds and know how to manage the challenges.

In general,  a Husky Inu is a very sturdy and healthy breed. The Shiba Inu is a well – proportioned dog with few health issues. Some occasional issues that Shiba Inus face include allergy problems, cataracts, and patellar luxation.

Siberian Huskies are also relatively healthy dogs. Some issues that Huskies face include eye issues like cataracts and glaucoma as well as hip dysplasia.

Responsible breeders of Husky Inus will do the same thorough genetic and health testing of their dogs just as purebred breeders do. Husky Inu breeders should test their Siberian Huskies and Shiba Inus for eye and hip issues.

Physical Characteristics and Lifespan

photo via: dogbreedinfo.com_s_shiberianshiba_htm

A Husky Inu is a well-proportioned, muscular and compact dog weighing between 18 – 30 pounds with a maximum height of around 18″.

They have a fox / wolf like appearance with erect ears and intense intelligent eyes that vary in color. Husky Inus have a brush, “sickle” shaped tail. They are double coated and come in a variety of coat colors. The most common Husky Inu coat color is black and white.

The average lifespan of a Husky Inu would be between 11 – 13 years.

What Exactly is A Designer Dog?

A designer dog is crossbred dog that has two purebred parents of two different breed of dogs. Usually, these parents are registered in their respective breed registry such as the AKC or UKC.

What Are The Reasons For Designer Dogs?

There are various reasons dog breeders breed for designer dogs.

The most common reason is to “hopefully” create a dog that combines the best physical and temperamental characteristics of the two purebred parents. Designer dogs, will also have more predictable characteristics than mixed breed dogs.

The purebred dogs we currently have were all the results of dog hybridization, so creating designer dogs is actually an initial step into introducing a new animal breed.

There’s actually a designer breed registry that register these designer dogs but the standards for verifying the authenticity and quality of the dogs is no where near the level of established registries like the AKC.

Many breeders and supporters of designer dogs claim that breeding two different breed of dogs will increase “hybrid vigor” or Heterosis.

Additionally, supporters feel that hybridizing dogs can control undesirable recessive traits and genetic issues. However, this is a highly contestable claim as many feel that cross breeding dogs can actually cause more illness and physical vulnerability in the dogs.

Drawbacks of Designer Dogs

Sadly, the popularity of these designer breeds have created demand and thus more “puppy – mill” like conditions. Even Hollywood celebrities have been seen promoting their designer dogs with cute names such as “Muggins”, “Chorkies”, or “Malti-Poos”.

These designer dogs also command a “designer” price tag sometimes costing the same or more as purebred dogs.  This fact is bothersome because most breeders of designer dogs have very little breeding experience.

Oftentimes, they are simply hobbyists and do not understand the enormous complexity of breeding for genetic health.

Many breeders who claim to breed quality designer dogs are just casual hobbyists and do not do rigorous genetic health screenings on their breeding stock. Thus, many designer dogs may still be plagued by health issues that the breeder did not properly screen for.

For these reasons, if I had a choice, I would not breed a Shiba Inu with a Husky. I truly believe that these two dog breeds are such beautiful specimens and they should be recognized and admired separately.