Huskies As Pets: Costs, Life Expectancy And Temperament

Are you planning to own a Husky? The decision of owning a Husky as your pet is never going to disappoint you as they are lovely dogs with beautiful and mesmerizing blue eyes. In earlier times Huskies were bred as sled dogs to carry goods from one place to another and that too in very cold climatic conditions.

Huskies are known for their activeness and unbelievable energy which makes it an exercise-friendly dog. They can be a very good workout partner for you as it loves to walk long distances and play all day long. Huskies are good and playful with kids too. They can be a good family dog with a lot of affection and loyalty.

Huskies are considered to be an intelligent dog breed but at the same time, they are stubborn too. Training them at later stages of their life is not easy hence you should start early with them when they are a few months old. Huskies love to grab the attention of their owners and feel jealous when they tend to ignore them. This breed requires a lot of space to move around hence you cannot accommodate them in small apartments.

It is not easy to become a pet owner as with this comes a lot of responsibilities and the same is the case with Huskies also. If you have decided to own a Husky, then you should know all the aspects related to them. In this blog, we will try to touch base with all such elements which will impact you as a Husky owner. This blog will also brainstorm you about Huskies owning cost, life expectancy, temperament, and much more.

Huskies at a glimpse

This breed comes with dense double-coat making it capable to withstand the variations in cold temperature but it may prove vulnerable to the overheating conditions in the summers. Huskies are good at socializing with the people around them and they become friends too easily. They are an independent breed with a little bit of stubbornness in their nature.

Huskies require a minimum of 30-40 minutes exercise twice a day to keep them fit and healthy. The height of fully grown Husky males varies between 23-24 inches whereas females grow to about 21-22 inches. The average weight of both male and female Huskies is normally the same which varies between 22-25 kgs.

Huskies are ideal for children and the families who have active members to make them stay healthy and fit by letting them do exercise. Huskies are well adapted to the house which has a spacious backyard or garden as they like to move around and play freely.

Is Husky the right breed for you?

For any pet lover, it is very important to assess whether the breed which they are opting to adopt or buy is good for them or not. The temperament and traits of dogs vary breed to breed and one should evaluate the same properly before reaching to any conclusion.

Huskies are known to be dogs that are good with families and refrain from being left alone for a longer period. They also love to go for a long-distance walk daily along with 40-45 minutes of exercise. Hence, if you are one of them who lives single and do not have much time to spare for your pet, do not opt for Husky.

Understanding Huskies cost and expenditures

If you have finally decided to go with Husky, it is time for you to calculate the costs involved in buying and raising them. The cost of Huskies may vary depending on various factors, such as coat, color, pedigree, and so on.

Other than the initial cost of buying a Husky puppy there are a lot more expenses that come with it such as a medical, crate, bedding, toys, etc. Many a time some unforeseen expenses can also chip in like vaccinations, and any severe health ailments. Let us try and explore a few common costs and expenses which you may require to bear while owning a Husky.

Cost of Husky Puppy

Huskies of pure pedigree and excellent bloodline from a reputed breeder will cost you somewhere around $2000-$2500. The cost of the puppy can vary according to the breeder, bloodline, age, and health status. If you compromise on a few of them, you may even get Huskies between $1000-$1500.

Most of the reputed breeders focus on quality breeding along with taking care of puppies and their mothers. They also take care of their medicines, hygiene, and cleanliness to ensure a healthy environment for them. Due to all these aforesaid measures taken by breeders, many pet owners feel the price tag of Huskies worth a cost.

Additional costs with Husky

Yes, many other additional costs come with your little furry pal and as a responsible pet owner, you just cannot ignore them. Let us quickly try and look into all those additional expenses and understand their importance.

The first and foremost important cost is of immunity boosters and other vaccines. This is one of the expenses which you cannot discard at any cost. Along with the cost of vaccine shots such as measles, rabies, coronavirus, parvovirus, canine distemper, intestinal parasites, and so on, the cost of veterinarian doctor is also an addition.

Though there are many optional shots which you can skip depending on the place you are living in but you cannot skip initial mandatory shots, such as booster shots for rabies. Getting your canine vaccinated is good for your family as well as the society in which you are living in. In many apartment societies and housing complexes, it is mandatory to submit the vaccination card of your pet to get an entry.

Following a healthy schedule by getting your dog vaccinated annually will add up to $200-$300 per puppy per year. But this cost should not hurt you as this will keep your pet healthy and fit without adding to your medical costs for them. Properly vaccinated dogs are found to have a longer lifespan than the ones which are not vaccinated.

Microchipping and registering your dog is another expense that will hit your pocket. Most of the countries require your canine to be registered and the cost of the same varies place to place between $25-$50 per dog.

Similarly, microchipping is also becoming popular among pet lovers as it proves to help find the lost pets. This chip is not a GPS signal and simply works on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. A lost pet can be scanned by an RFID scanner which will flash a unique chip ID allotted to that pet and the same can be searched in the database to find an original owner. The microchipping may cost you around $25-$50 per dog.

Basic supplies and equipment for your dog when he comes home such as a crate, bedding, toys, leash, collar, grooming supplies, and so on will cost you between $250-$500. Another expense is dry dog food which your pet requires. The average monthly expense of dog food will turn out to be around $50. And by the time your dog grows fully, it requires more feed which will raise your annual cost on dog food to approximately $500.

Grooming a Husky is another cumbersome job due to its high shedding tendency. You need to invest money on a quality grooming comb, gloves, and vacuum cleaner. Huskies tend to shed quite often and in large quantity hence you need to comb them twice a day for at least 10-15 minutes. Huskies do not require bath quite often like other canines and they do not smell foul either.

Training your dog is important as it will teach him obedience and live according to your requirement. This is another cost that a pet owner needs to bear but you will not regret spending money on this as it will only make your furry pal more intelligent and obedient. But be aware of fraudulent trainers and misleading advertisements, investigate the background of the trainer and check the clientele before appointing one for your canine. Giving your dog into the hands of an unprofessional trainer may worsen the situation and nature of your pet.

Health problems with Huskies

Isn’t it quite unfortunate that the beauty, grace, intelligence, and power of Huskies do not make them immune to health ailments? As most of the health problems can be detected at the time of birth itself, there are many which develop as your furry pal gets old. The routine care and checkup along with your vigilance is the only weapon to defend against any serious health ailments. Appended are a few common diseases and health issues which Huskies face in their life.

A cataract is one of the common eye ailments observed in older Huskies. Unfortunately, Husky puppies are also prone to cataracts between the age of 6-18 months. To diagnose if your Husky has a cataract, observe him, and see if he is blinking his eyes frequently and turning head sideways. Along with all these symptoms, if you see white spots in his eyes, he has a cataract.

Arthritis is another degenerative ailment that Huskies suffer. The condition worsens as your Husky grows old. But do not worry as there are many supplements and medications which your vet can prescribe for your Husky which will make him playful again.

Zinc-responsive dermatosis is a kind of skin ailment in which your Husky will develop red, crusty spots on his skin. This situation arises due to the low zinc level in your dog. During this situation, your Huskies coat may be dreary and they may look like a half-starved dog. Your veterinarian can suggest a good supplement and medications help maintain the zinc level in your furry pal.

The life expectancy of your Husky

Husky’s lifespan varies between 14-15 years which is similar to other dogs of the same size such as Labrador, German Shepherd, and Golden Retriever. Do not go by the lifespan guide as there are cases where dogs have lived more than their life expectancy and vice versa. A general canine rule says, bigger the dog, the shorter their life expectancy.

How to maximize the life expectancy of Husky

• Keep your Husky slim and trim by not overfeeding him. Research shows that lean dogs have more life expectancy than the obese one.

• Vaccinate your Husky against common life-threatening diseases and ailments as it will surely help increase his life expectancy to a greater extent.

• Active lifestyle maintenance of your Husky will help him stay healthy and fit. Spend at least 30-40 minutes twice a day to make him play and walk a long distance with you. You should ensure that your pet is getting enough mental and physical exercise to stay fit and live long.

Exploring Husky’s temperament

Huskies are friendly dogs that can very easily get adapted to the environment. They are energetic, fun-loving, and playful with kids. But if you are looking for a guard dog, then Husky is not a perfect choice at all. Huskies are bred as a sled dog, they are intelligent and at times stubborn.

Huskies tend to run away to explore the surroundings, this is their instinct hence you should place firm fencing at your backyard and garden or at the place where you generally take your him to play.

Huskies posses prey instinct hence there is no surprise if you see them chasing the neighborhood cat or any small animals. To avoid such a situation, you should familiarize your dog with the surroundings and neighborhood.

Wrap up

Huskies are an excellent breed to be owned as a pet. It becomes irrelevant at times when you are more concerned about your pet’s cost and additional expenses you have to bear. Having blessed with a companionship of such a wonderful breed is priceless.

Don’t you think that rather than being worried about its cost and life expectancy, you should focus more on its temperament and personality? Yes, you should be more concerned about its temperament which can help you determine whether the breed is perfect for your family or not.

Remember, all they want is your love and time and by devoting this, you will see them live their long life happily as a loyal companion of yours.