Husky Poodle: Your Complete Guide
20 minutesThe husky poodle mix has a number of nicknames, including huskydoodle, huskypoo (huskipoo), siberpoo, Siberian huskypoo, hoodle, and poosky. This breed is friendly, energetic, and loving. They’re wonderful dogs but aren’t the best choice for everyone.
Let’s learn more about this breed so you can determine if the huskypoo is right for you. This article will share information about the huskydoodle’s history, temperament, intelligence, trainability, energy level, housing needs, grooming needs, health risks, and much more. If you have a question about the husky poodle, we have an answer.
A Quick Look at the Husky Poodle
This chart offers a quick overview of husky poodle mix. Look at this to determine if it’s worth your time to keep reading about this breed.
Weight/Height | Standard: 35-60 lbs, 20-25 in.
Mini: 15-35 lbs, 12-20 in. |
Coat Type | Medium length, wavy or straight |
Grooming Needs | |
Shedding | |
Temperament | Friendly, playful, affectionate, and outgoing |
Good With Kids | |
Good With Other Animals | |
Intelligence | |
Easy to Train | |
Energy Level | |
Barking Habits | |
Lifespan | 10 to 18 years |
What Is the History of Husky Poodles?
No one knows exactly when, where, or by whom the first husky poodles were bred. However, it is believed that breeders wanted to create a dog with the beauty of a husky but with an allergy-friendly coat. To learn more about this mix, we can look at the history of the parent breeds.
Poodles find their roots in Germany as duck hunters. However, the breed eventually became popular among the French nobility; even today, the poodle is the national dog of France. Because of their showy looks and penchant for learning, the poodle also spent time performing in European circuses. Today, poodles are largely kept as companions but are still used for hunting and retrieving fowl.
As for the Siberian husky, their ancestors were originally bred by the Chukchi people in northeastern Asia. The Chukchi used their dogs to haul light loads over vast distances of frozen tundra. Knowing the breed’s original purpose, it’s no surprise that the Siberian husky remains a sled dog to this day.
In 1925, a team of Siberian huskies traveled 658 miles in five and a half days in order to deliver a lifesaving serum to Nome, Alaska, where a serious outbreak of diphtheria was plaguing the people. This event and the dogs who took part in it became so famous that movies were made about them.
What Do Husky Poodles Look Like?
Husky poodles tend to be medium to large breed dogs. Some have prick ears like the husky, whereas others have hanging ears like the poodle. They often have quite a shaggy look, with the hair on their faces resembling that of a wirehaired pointing griffon whose owner has let the furnishings grow out.
Owners who dislike this shaggy look have groomers clip the hair so that it lies shorter around the body, muzzle, eyes, and ears, leaving the dog looking much more neat and prim. Though many husky poodles can be seen with straight, shaggy, medium-length hair, you can also find huskydoodles with wavy hair.
This breed can come in many different colors, including the grey and white shades of a husky and the beautiful caramely red of a poodle. Some huskypoos keep a husky’s mesmerizing stormy blue eyes, whereas others have brown or topaz eyes. Heterochromia is also a possibility.
What Size Is a Husky Poodle?
Poodles come in three different size varieties: toy, miniature, and standard. We most often see huskies being bred, with the largest of these being the standard. However, it is possible to breed a husky with a miniature or even toy poodle. Therefore, the size of this mixed breed can vary greatly.
Huskydoodle enthusiasts have subsequently split the poosky into two categories: standard and mini. The standard is said to weigh between 35 and 60 pounds and stand between 20 to 25 inches tall. The mini weighs an average of 15 to 35 pounds and stands between 12 and 20 inches tall.
What Is a Husky Poodle’s Coat Type?
We often see husky poodles with coats of medium-length, dense fur that may feel somewhat coarse. The fur can be straight or wavy. There is also a chance for a husky poodle to have a double-layered coat like the husky.
What Is a Husky Poodle’s Temperament?
The husky poodle mix is an affectionate breed that adores their family and is sometimes considered clingy. They’re friendly toward strangers and good with kids in part because they’re so high energy. However, being high-energy means huskydoodles require quite of bit of exercise, or they may exhibit unwanted behaviors.
Are Husky Poodles Affectionate?
Husky poodles are very loving toward their family members. They enjoy both giving and receiving affection and are likely to snuggle in bed or on the couch with you. Some people even consider this mix to be clingy.
If you like having people over, you won’t have to worry about how your siberpoo will react to strangers. Most love meeting new people and warm up to strangers quickly.
Are Husky Poodles Good With Kids?
Husky poodles are likely to be a good match for a family with children. Poodles tend to be easy-going and patient, and huskies are known for being social, playful, and outgoing. Neither breed is known to be skittish or reactive toward kids. As such, the huskydoodle is likely to be a dog that can keep up with kids but will also be safe around them.
No matter how friendly or perfect a dog may seem, parents should always supervise children and dogs. It’s also vital that parents teach children how to interact with pets respectfully.
Are Husky Poodles Good With Other Animals?
If you read our history section, you’ll know that the poodle was bred to hunt and is still used for hunting today. Even though Siberian huskies were originally used to pull sleds, they are known for having a strong prey drive.
Being born of such parents, the husky poodle is also going to be a hunter. So you should expect a huskypoo to chase squirrels and other animals in the yard.
If you own or want to own small pets that are typically prey animals, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, etc., we would not recommend the huskydoodle as your perfect dog.
However, they can sometimes get along with cats. With socialization during puppyhood, some huskydoodles can live peacefully with cats.
Are Husky Poodles Aggressive?
Neither huskies nor poodles are known for being aggressive. In fact, both breeds tend to be very friendly when meeting new people.
However, any breed can develop aggressive tendencies if they are not properly socialized during puppyhood. Dogs that aren’t socialized tend to be a lot more fearful, and fear can be a strong motivator for aggression.
Do Husky Doodles Bark a Lot?
The interesting thing about Siberian huskies is that they don’t actually bark that much, but they’re still quite vocal. Poodles, on the other hand, do have a tendency to bark.
Because both parent breeds enjoy the sound of their own voices, you can expect a huskypoo to be a bit on the noisy side. Unfortunately, this (among other reasons) means they may not be the best choice for apartment living.
Are Husky Poodles Intelligent?
Poodles are among the most intelligent dog breeds, whereas huskies are smart, but their intelligence is considered average. So whether your husky poodle turns out to be a whiz like the poodle or a pup of average intelligence like the husky will all depend on genetics.
Are Husky Poodles Easy to Train?
Even if your huskypoo ends up being as smart as their poodle parent, that doesn’t necessarily mean they will be easy to train. This is because their other parent, the Siberian husky, is known for being independent and stubborn. Huskies have always been considered one of the more challenging breeds to train, and this trait could be passed on to their hoodle offspring.
Poodles, on the other hand, are eager to please. If your huskypoo ends up taking after the poodle both in intelligence levels and in trainability, then you’ll have a rather easy time of things. However, you won’t know your puppy’s personality until you’ve spent some months with them.
Therefore, we definitely recommend hiring a professional to help you train your huskydoodle. This will help you achieve the best possible results so you can have a well-mannered and obedient dog rather than a menace.
Are Husky Poodles Energetic?
Huskypoos are incredibly high-energy dogs. Because of this, they are not the right choice for everyone. They require a fair bit of activity both in the form of exercise and in the form of mental stimulation (which can be provided via training or puzzle games).
You should expect to spend no less than two hours per day exercising a siberpoo. They should be walked every day or be brought to a safe space where they can run. The huskypoo loves to run and should be able to do so at least a few times per week (daily is even better, if possible).
If you enjoy activities like biking or jogging, you should definitely train your huskypoo to run with you so that they can reap the benefits of these high-intensity exercises. If you find that your husky poodle is often acting naughty or even destructive, this is usually a clear sign that the dog is bored and has not received enough physical or mental stimulation.
Are Husky Poodles Good Apartment Dogs?
Husky poodles are not the best choice for apartment living. Because they are so high-energy, it’s much easier on owners with fenced-in yards for their huskypoos to run in. Husky poodles adore running, so it’s unfair for them to be cooped up in an apartment, only taken on walks, and rarely able to run.
Though we don’t recommend this breed for apartment living, a dedicated owner could make it work. Of course, instead of being able to let the dog out in the yard to run, owners would have to take their huskypoo to a park.
Are Husky Poodles Good Watchdogs?
Husky poodles make for good watchdogs because they are alert and will usually bark or vocalize when they see something out of place. Their size is often large enough to be intimidating to would-be intruders, as well. However, don’t expect them to be good guard dogs as they’re often friendly toward strangers and may be more likely to beg for pets than to protect the house.
Are Husky Poodles Good Service Dogs?
If a husky poodle takes after the husky in terms of disposition, then it may be difficult to train them to become a service dog. However, if the huskypoo is eager to please like the poodle, then they could potentially be trained for service work, including as a psychiatric service dog.
Though not all huskypoos are cut out for service work, they can be the perfect emotional support animals. Their loving disposition will come in handy when you’re having a hard time and need a warm, fluffy body to hug.
Similarly, huskydoodles could do well as therapy dogs because they tend to be social and get along with both children and adults. Therapy dogs do need to pass the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen test, which could be a bit challenging if your huskypoo is difficult to train. However, even stubborn dogs can become well-trained with enough patience and consistency.
How to Care for a Husky Poodle?
Husky poodles can be taken to a professional groomer for clipping, but this is often up to preference. Otherwise, they need only be brushed two to three times per week. If they have hanging ears like the poodle, the ears should be checked for infection regularly. Nails should be trimmed as needed, and teeth should be brushed daily.
Do You Need to Groom a Husky Poodle?
Some husky poodle owners prefer to have their pups clipped by groomers. This is often for cosmetic reasons to keep the dog looking neat, but there may be some huskypoos whose fur is similar enough to the poodle’s that clipping reduces the amount of coat care one must do at home.
In general, a huskypoo should be brushed at least twice per week with a wire brush. This will help prevent matting and remove any hair that is being shed.
Do Husky Poodles Shed?
How much a huskypoo will shed depends on which of their parents they take after more. Poodles hardly shed at all, whereas huskies shed quite a bit. If you’re looking for a hypoallergenic breed, we would not recommend the huskydoodle as there is no guarantee that they won’t be heavy shedders.
What Should a Husky Poodle Eat?
A husky poodle should eat the highest quality dog food you can afford. The best dog foods are formulated by veterinary nutritionists, follow AAFCO guidelines, and undergo feeding trials.
To determine how much to feed a huskypoo, you can follow the guidelines on your preferred dog food. Otherwise, you can calculate your dog’s caloric needs yourself or use an online calorie calculator. Doing so can help you factor treats into your dog’s diet and prevent obesity.
What Health Problems Do Husky Poodles Have?
Husky poodles are at risk for the same diseases as poodles and huskies. These include hip dysplasia, idiopathic epilepsy, sebaceous adenitis, von Willebrand’s disease, bloat, juvenile cataracts, Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, and Addison’s disease.
This list may seem scary, but luckily, many of these health risks can be tested for. A responsible breeder will have their dogs undergo such tests to ensure they will not pass any identifiable diseases on to their offspring. Be sure to ask a breeder about health testing before purchasing a puppy from them.
How Long Do Husky Poodles Live?
Huskies have a lifespan of 12 to 14 years, whereas poodles have a lifespan of 10 to 18 years. You can expect a huskypoo to have a similar lifespan.
Are Husky Poodles Expensive?
The price of a husky poodle mix can vary greatly. You may see puppies as cheap as $300 or as expensive as $3,000. The average purchase price is probably closer to $1,000, though. Whatever the price, it’s important to ensure the breeder is ethical (more on that next).
In terms of keeping a huskydoodle, they aren’t any more expensive than other breeds. You don’t have to get them professionally groomed if you don’t want to, so they don’t really have any extra expenses. However, it may be worthwhile to invest in a fence if you do not already have one.
How to Find a Husky Poodle Breeder?
We know that you already know how to find puppies online. Finding the puppies is often the easy part. The hard part is making sure the source of those puppies is ethical.
Here are some questions you can ask breeders to ensure their puppies have been bred responsibly. If they can’t answer or refuse to answer any of these questions, you should move on and find a different breeder.
- What are your credentials? You should learn about how long the breeder has been in business as well as how familiar they are with husky poodles.
- Have the parent animals undergone health testing? Ask to see these tests.
- Can I see where the dogs are kept? A respectable breeder should be happy to show you the dogs’ living conditions.
- Can I meet the parent? This will give you a sense of the parent dogs’ temperaments and the potential temperaments of the puppies.
- How do you socialize your puppies? Socialization is important for puppies to become friendly and confident.
- Are the puppies up-to-date on vaccinations? You need to know your puppy’s health history so that you know which shots are still needed.
- Do you offer a health guarantee with a contract? Some breeders guarantee the health of their puppies: should your puppy come down with a serious illness early on, the breeder may offer to reimburse the purchase price of the dog or even take the puppy back. This will also help you avoid purchasing from breeders who are irresponsible.
- What do you require of potential adopters? Many breeders want to make sure their puppies are going to homes where they will be treated well and kept for life. Therefore, breeders may ask a number of questions about you, your situation, and your experience as a dog owner.
Can You Adopt a Husky Poodle?
It’s rare to see a husky poodle in a shelter. However, that doesn’t mean they are never given up for adoption. Finding a husky poodle available for rescue will be difficult, though. You’ll need to be patient and willing to travel.
The best places to look will often be shelters that are dedicated to either poodles or huskies. These shelters often take mixes, and that’s how you may be able to find a husky poodle available for adoption.
Are Husky Poodles Purebred?
Husky poodles have two purebred parents, the poodle and the Siberian husky, but are not themselves purebred. Furthermore, some husky poodles have husky poodle parents instead.
Can You Show Husky Poodles?
Because husky poodles are not purebred, there is no standard to describe exactly what they should be like. As such, they cannot take part in dog shows.
Are Husky Poodles Good for New Dog Owners?
We would not recommend a husky poodle mix to a first-time dog owner. These dogs are incredibly high energy and can be quite the handful because of it. Most people do not have the time (or willingness) to give these dogs the amount of attention they truly need.
When such high-energy dogs aren’t properly provided for, they can become destructive. Even if you’re looking for a dog that can keep up with an active lifestyle, there are other breeds that can do so without being as high-energy as this one.
Furthermore, some huskypoos can be challenging to train. Someone who has never owned or trained a dog could easily be in way over their head with this breed. They are great dogs but certainly aren’t for everyone.
Is a Husky Poodle the Right Dog for Me?
The husky poodle is an outgoing dog who adores people and is sweet and loving toward their family. They’re good with kids and have nearly neverending energy. Although huskypoos are lovely dogs, they aren’t the best match for everyone. Let’s take a look at who this dog is and isn’t right for.
A husky poodle may be right for you if:
- You live a very active lifestyle and want a dog that can keep up.
- You’re looking for a breed that is social and outgoing.
- You’re looking for a dog that is affectionate.
- You want a watchdog.
- You can afford to hire a professional trainer.
A husky poodle may not be right for you if:
- You want a hypoallergenic dog.
- You’re a first-time dog owner.
- You live in an apartment.
- You can’t provide a minimum of two hours of exercise per day.
- You own or want to own small pets.