A Husky Poodle mix is a crossbreed between a Siberian Husky and any of the three types of Poodles. These dogs are sociable, energetic, tend to be larger in size, and highly intelligent. They make great pets for adult owners who are active and have no other pets.
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Appearance
The Husky Poodle mix will vary greatly in all aspects of its appearance, with its size mostly depending on whether the Siberian Husky parent is bred with a standard, miniature or toy Poodle parent. Typically, the Huskydoodle ends up being a medium-to-large sized dog.
Weight & Height
This mix typically weighs between 40 pounds to 60 pounds (18 kg to 27 kg) as an adult, and 12 inches to 25 inches (30 cm to 64 cm) tall, though can be either larger or smaller than those ranges. Females are usually slightly smaller.
Length
Siberian Huskys are around 30 to 34.5 inches (76 to 88 cm) long, while Standard Poodles are around 24.5 to 32 inches (62 to 81 cm) long, so a mix with a Standard Poodle parent would likely be between 27 to 33 inches (69 to 84 cm) long.
Coat Color
Huskydoodles with black and white combination coats have been the most popular recently. This type of mix can also have a solid-colored coat. Its colors will come from its parents, and you could find gray, red, apricot, brown or cream colors in its coat.
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Coat Length & Thickness
The Huskydoodle usually has a short, almost medium coat length. It may end up with a single coat like the Poodle or a double coat like the Siberian Husky. This mix tends to have a wavy texture to its fur but can end up having curly fur.
Temperament
The Husky Poodle mix is typically affectionate, high-energy, and loves to be active outdoors. It has destructive behavioral tendencies, so it needs to be sufficiently physically and mentally challenged on a regular basis to keep it from misbehaving. Like all mixes, its personality can come from either of its parents.
Does Not Like Being Alone
The Siberpoo has separation anxiety and can become destructive and soil the floor in the house when left alone if it is not trained and socialized well. If it takes after its Poodle parent, it could be high-strung and hypersensitive to noise, or after its Siberian Husky parent, stubborn.
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It Is Dominant and Territorial
The Husky Poodle mix is generally a territorial and dominant animal around other dogs. Both of its parents display this trait, and so use caution when it is around other animals. Also, you will need to correct its excessive instinct to “mark its territory” inside your house.
Will Chew If Bored or Teething
The Siberpoo mix is known to chew if it is bored, if it has teething problems, or when it is suffering from separation anxiety. Its chewing can be very destructive to your possessions and should be corrected early in its life.
Mild Weather Is Likely Best
The Huskydoodle has a wide array of coats, so its ideal weather depends on its coat length and whether it has a single or double coat. Its Poodle parent does not do well in temperatures below 35℉, so most likely, this mix would do best in mild weather.
Companion or Suitability Factor
The Husky Poodle mix is a high-energy dog who is a great therapy and emotional support dog, and can be okay with older children depending on your dog’s inherited personality. It is not the best choice for apartment living, for senior citizens, or as a watchdog.
Kid-Friendly with Caution
Siberpoos who are both socialized and introduced to children while still puppies will likely be okay around small children. If a child bothers them, they can snap at the child, and overall, they tend to do better with older children. Caution should always be taken when dogs are around children.
Is Not Apartment Friendly
This type of mix has an enormous amount of energy and is somewhat large, making it less than ideal for apartment living. If it were sufficiently physically and mentally stimulated and trained for apartment living, it might do okay, but there are much better dog choices for an apartment.
Not a Good Watchdog
Huskydoodles are not known to be good guard dogs. From the Siberian Husky parent, the mix would be more interested in playing with someone than determining whether or not they should be there. From the Poodle parent, the mix would likely be overly friendly to strangers.
Not Very Senior Citizen Friendly
Even though Siberpoos are loving and intelligent, they are not best for senior citizens because of their high energy levels. Senior citizens often experience a decreased or slower activity level, which does not pair well with an extremely active dog.
A Great Therapy and Emotional Support Dog
This mix is a great therapy dog and an emotional support animal. It may be a good service dog. The Siberian Husky parent has mostly been limited to sled dog services, and, depending on its size, it could be too small for the physical work required from a service dog.
Best as the Only Pet
The Siberpoo may be okay with other dogs if raised together but will likely chase cat pets if not properly socialized due to the Siberian Husky’s high prey drive. Satisfying the Siberpoo’s high energy level and stimulation needs will help but not guarantee peace between your pets.
Training & Intelligence
The Husky Poodle mix is a fiercely intelligent dog, but you may have some difficulty training it due to its Siberian Husky genes. Like most dogs, it should be trained as a puppy and shown that you are the alpha.
Not Easy to Train
The Husky Poodle mix has a high likelihood of being difficult to train because its Siberian Husky parent is notorious for being hard to train, along with the Siberian Husky being strong-willed, independent, and stubborn. If your dog takes after its Poodle parent, it will be easier to train.
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Highly Intelligent
Huskydoodles are known to be highly intelligent. Its Siberian Husky parent is of only average intelligence, ranking #77 out of 138 breeds by Stanley Coren, but the Poodle has enough intelligence for both parents. The Poodle is the second most intelligent breed in the world, just behind the Border Collie.
Physical Needs
This breed is extremely active and thrives with an active lifestyle. They also love a lot of space to play and run around. Siberpoos love to swim and play with toys. Be careful not to leave extra food out for them, or they may become obese.
Eats About 1400 Calories a Day
Active dogs weighing 50 pounds (23 kg) need about 1358 calories per day of a high-nutrient, protein-rich diet with fatty acids. Calorie requirements depend on activity level, age, weight, and if they have been spayed or neutered. You will need to observe whether your dog is lactose or gluten intolerant.
Needs At Least One Hour of Exercise Per Day
This mix should have an hour or more of exercise per day. While its Poodle parent does well with around an hour per day, its Siberian Husky parent requires two or more hours per day. Their typical lifespan is 12 to 15 years.
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Shedding & Bathing
Siberpoos are often bred to shed less than their Siberian Husky parents, but they still may need to be brushed daily and may still shed their undercoat twice per year. If they get dirty, they could be bathed up to once per week but may not need it.
Background & Pricing for a Puppy
The Husky Poodle may have been around before it formally started being bred by designer breeders. It has become well-known under several names and is increasing in popularity.
Background
Designer breeders started breeding the Huskydoodle in the late 1990s, reportedly in North America, to produce a dog with the good qualities of the Siberian Husky but to reduce or eliminate the shedding of their undercoat that happens twice a year.
Parents & Other Names
One parent, the Siberian Husky, is from Northeast Asia, where it was bred for sled-pulling. The other parent, the Poodle, came from France, where it was used as a waterfowl retriever, and from Germany. This mix also goes by the names Siberpoo, Huskydoodle, Poosky, Siberian Poodle, and Huskypoo.
Price for a Puppy
The Husky Poodle mix is not extremely popular, but still well known. You can find breeders for this mix, and it usually costs from US$800-US$1500. Consider adopting from a shelter or finding a rescue dog, which would be cheaper, fully screened, and come with a behavior assignment.
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Health Issues
The Husky Poodle suffers from the health issues of its parents unless the breeder has been careful to eliminate them. Some of the major concerns are Hip Dysplasia, Legg-Calve Perthes Disease, and Gastric Dilation Volvulus. They also occasionally suffer from Von Willebrand’s Disease, Hypothyroidism, Epilepsy, Addison’s Disease, and Cushing’s Disease.
Bloat (or Gastric Dilation Volvulus)
Bloating is a life-threatening condition that can result in death within an hour or two. It is primarily caused when a large meal causes the stomach to dilate and flip. Your dog might dry heave, salivate, be in distress, have trouble breathing, or getting up.
The preventative surgical gastropexy is said to prevent bloating. You can decrease the chances of bloating by feeding your dog from a bowl on the ground (as opposed to from an elevated surface), feeding it twice a day, and slowing the rate of your dog’s eating.
Hip Dysplasia
Your Siberpoo may develop hip dysplasia as it ages, which is very common in Siberian Huskies who are not getting proper nutrition and exercise. Hip dysplasia will make it hard for your dog to walk, run and jump, and will cause it pain.
Hip dysplasia is hereditary, but preventable, most importantly, by making sure your dog gets adequate exercise. Other preventative measures are feeding your dog a nutritious diet with supplements for bone health and keeping it at a healthy weight. Before purchasing your dog, consider getting its hip score for each hip.
Legg-Calve Perthes Disease
Legg-Calve Perthes Disease is thought to be hereditary and often manifests before one year of age with limping, trouble walking, favoring one leg, and possible pain when the affected leg is moved. It can result in lameness if left untreated.
This disease is not preventable, but in most cases can be fixed within 12 to 18 months with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or with surgery and a rehabilitation plan. Your dog should be examined by a vet if it has any symptoms to avoid muscle atrophy from non-use of those muscles.
Conclusion
The Husky Poodle mix offers a lot to the young-ish active owner who wants a lovable companion for action and adventure. It will typically shed less than a Siberian Husky, but also be more intelligent. Enjoy!
Brandon Miller has a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a seasoned writer who has written over one hundred articles, which have been read by over 500,000 people. If you have any comments or concerns about this blog post, then please contact the Green Garage team here.