Alaskan Husky Vs. Siberian Husky: Choosing The Perfect Hound

You can find many differences between the Alaskan Husky and the Siberian Husky.

Both these dog breeds are quite popular for pulling sleds in the Arctic region and because of the climate in these regions, these sled dogs have thick double coats to protect them from the cold.

Along with these similarities, Siberian Huskies are a different breed from Alaskan Huskies since most Siberian Huskies are family pets while Alaskan Huskies are usually working dogs.

The Husky breed is very popular and there is a great demand for them among dog lovers and dog owners. They are wanted for their unique Nordic roots and icy-blue eyes.

The Husky breed was initially bred for the purposes of hunting, sled pulling, and racing. But what many people don't know is that not all Huskies have blue eyes and variations exist across breeds.

Both the Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Husky are similar in temperament and are friendly, even with strangers! The two breeds are lively and high-energy dogs so they do not serve the purpose of guard dogs.

The Siberian Husky is a much more popular dog today than the Alaskan Husky and is very domesticated all over the world. They can be a bit stubborn at times but appropriate training helps to an extent.

The Alaskan Husky is not given as a family pet yet only because they are still largely used as a working sled dog. As the names of these dogs breeds go, the Siberian Husky comes from Siberia and the Alaskan Husky comes from Alaska.

Originally, Siberian Huskies came from Eastern Siberia and these dogs existed for almost thousands of years. Alaskan Huskies were introduced to the world through Canadian and Alaskan mushers to perform daily tasks!

Siberian Huskies are highly intelligent, playful, and behave like a puppy at times which makes many dog lovers and pet owners love them. Both breeds are also known for not having many health issues.

Another difference between the Alaskan Husky vs. the Siberian Husky is the purpose that they're bred for. The Alaskan Husky, according to dog experts, is more a type of dog than a breed.

It is a mixed breed of the Siberian Husky, Eskimo dog, Inuit Husky, Greyhounds, German Shepherd, and the Alaskan Malamute. These dogs are bred solely for performance.

Siberian Huskies are bred for their hard work, intelligence, and high energy. They make amazing family pets and need a lot of exercise, attention, and care when being outside in the cold.

The Siberian Husky can also become quite destructive when it is left alone or bored. Specifically, Alaskan Huskies are widely used as racing sled dogs.

It is quite easy to tell apart an Alaska Husky vs. Siberian Husky due to some evident differences in their appearance.

Alaskan Huskies often have brown eyes while Siberian Huskies are well-known among dog lovers for their blue eyes. It has also been found through research and scientific evidence that the Alaskan Husky dog breed can also develop heterochromia where their eyes have different colors.

In sled-pilling competitions and races, Alaskan Huskies are used in longer-distance races due to their leaner build while Siberian Huskies are used frequently in shorter-distance races.

These two dogs also weigh around the same which is roughly about 60 lb (20-27 kg) in males.

In both breeds, the female Siberian and Alaskan are smaller than the male dogs. The coat of these dogs is usually gray, red, black, or white but with Alaskan Huskies, their coat can be fully white or fully black.

The Siberian Husky and the Alaskan both go through a period in a year where they 'blow the coat' or shed the entire underside of their coat.

Yet another difference between the Alaskan Husky vs. Siberian Husky is that the Siberian Husky is registered with the American Kennel Club or the AKC under the category of a working group while the Alaskan Husky is not.

This is due to the fact that the Alaskan Husky is a crossbred dog and is not registered with any other breed organizations in the world too.

The rarest Husky breed is the Sakhalin Husky and there are only a few dogs of this breed that are left.

All in all, Siberian Huskies are a breed that is more suitable for homes and families only because Alaskan Huskies are working dogs and bred for that sole purpose alone.

Both these dogs can be given food like raw lamb meat, beef, chicken, vegetables, specific fruits, and fish as well. Ensuring that they see a vet at regular periods can avoid serious health issues or problems in them and provide overall well-being.

Provide socialization at an early age so that can deal with strangers and reduce certain strong natural instincts.

Alaskan Husky Vs. Siberian Husky: Which one is better for you?

These two breeds are very efficient and both are good dogs that have no problems when it comes to their behavior and their temperament. Neither breed is better than the other!

Nonetheless, between these breeds, Siberian Huskies have been largely domesticated all over the world and a dog owner will let you know what a great delight they can be.

A Siberian Husky is loving, very intelligent, and affectionate to its owner. It also requires a lot of attention and care and you have to keep an eye on it when it gets bored as it can be destructive!

Alaskan Huskies on the other hand were bred for fulfilling the purpose of a working dog and would not be able to adapt and adjust well to the environment and lifestyle of a home.

Adequate exercise and training must be given to Siberian Huskies as they can be very energetic. A Siberian Husky is a purebred dog, different from the Alaskan Husky which is a mixed breed.

Alaskan Huskies are often confused with Alaskan malamutes because of some similarities that they share.

The Siberian Husky is recognized by the American Kennel Club unlike the Alaskan Husky and it is both a family dog and a working dog. Due to the thick coat in both these dog breeds, they perform better in cold climates than in hot ones as they can overheat.

Alaskan Husky Vs. Siberian Husky Intelligence

When comparing the intelligence of the Alaskan Husky vs. Siberian Husky, both dogs are quite smart and intelligent and there isn't much difference between the two! If you are considering getting a pet Husky and are confused between the Alaskan Husky and Siberian Husky, go for the Siberian Husky.

This is because Siberians are social, affectionate, loving, caring, and friendly, making them amazing family pets.

Siberians are highly energetic dogs and they require a good amount of exercise and attention from you. Alaskan Huskies can be taken as pets too but they are still largely used as working dogs and at times, their temperament can not be as friendly as compared to Siberians.

The Alaskan Husky is an excellent sled dog as well as an efficient working dog.

The Alaskan Husky is not a purebred like the Siberian Husky but is actually a mixed breed. This is the main difference between the Alaskan Husky vs. Siberian Husky.

Training is very important for both dogs.

They can be a bit stubborn when it comes to learning new things so proper training and encouragement can be given to these dogs in order to make them learn acceptable behavior. Training can be given from an early age and they respond well to it too!

Appearance Differences Between Alaskan And Siberian Huskies

There are significant differences in the appearance of the Alaskan Husky vs. Siberian Husky. Both these Husky breeds have a unique 'wolfy' look.

The Siberian Husky is slightly smaller than the Alaskan Husky but both dogs are medium-sized on average. The Alaskan Husky is much leaner than Siberian making it an advantage for them when it comes to sled-racing.

Siberians generally come in the colors of gray, black, white, light brown or red, or even a mix of gray, black, and white. Occasionally, both the Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Husky have subtle markings on their fur and if you look closely, you can spot the differences between the two.

In the puppy stage, their colors are bolder. The colors of the eyes in Alaskan Huskies and Siberian Huskies are also different.

Alaskan Huskies have brown eyes while Siberian Huskies have striking, electric blue eyes. It has recently been found that that Alaskan Huskies can develop heterochromia where one eye has multiple colors!

In weight, Siberian Huskies are slightly heavier than Alaskan Huskies. Since these dogs are adapted to a cold climate they have a thick and dense coat.

This coat keeps them warm when the weather becomes severely cold. This is also why these dogs won't do well in hot or warm climates as they can overheat with their thick coat.

Alaskan Husky Vs. Siberian Husky Health Problems

In general, all dogs are susceptible to some common health issues and problems that can be checked when they are in the puppy stage itself. Some health problems that both these Huskies can suffer from are progressive retinal atrophy, hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, hereditary deafness, and skin problems.

Alaskan Huskies can also suffer from a special condition called Alaskan Husky Encephalopathy.

Apart from these general issues, both the Siberian and Alaskan Husky can be very healthy if their diet and food habits are maintained.

Regular vet check-ups can also ensure that your pet husky is safe from any health issues. Although giving your Husky commercial food can be a cheaper alternative, try switching it up by giving them certain food in raw form as it can benefit their health like beef, chicken, vegetables, fruits without grapes, raisins or prunes, fish, and lamb too!