Huskimo: 11 Things You Didn’t Know About

Last Updated on 11/05/2020 by Veronica Jones

What do you get when you cross the beautiful and energetic Siberian Husky with the loving and loyal American Eskimo Dog? You get a Huskimo of course — a high-energy breed that thrives on human companionship.

Huskimos are playful, affectionate and downright gorgeous, and they make wonderful pets when paired with committed owners. However, before you add one of these adorable doggos to your family, you’ll need to learn all about the temperament, care requirements and potential health issues of Huskimos.

To help make the process easier, we’ve put together this list of the 11 things you didn’t know about the Huskimo.

1. Meet the parents

To get a better understanding of the care requirements of any crossbreed, you first need to meet its parents. In the case of the Huskimo, that means finding out more about the Siberian Husky and the American Eskimo Dog.

As the name suggests, the Siberian Husky was developed in the harsh climate of Siberia, where it built an impressive reputation as a sled dog. With his strength and endurance, the Husky worked in extreme conditions pulling sleds across mammoth distances.

Today, the Siberian Husky is also known as a playful and affectionate companion. He’s devoted to his humans and has a definite cheeky streak, but needs firm training and regular exercise to be a well-behaved family pet.

Meanwhile, the American Eskimo Dog was actually developed in the American Midwest as an all-purpose farm dog. Originally known as the German Spitz, this beautiful breed boasts style and substance, combining movie-star good looks with a friendly and intelligent nature.

The American Eskimo also comes in three different sizes — standard, miniature and toy — and needs to be treated like part of the family to be truly happy.

2. Origins of the Huskimo

The Huskimo is a relatively new arrival to the dog world. The breed’s origins can be traced back to the 1990s, when breeders decided to cross the Siberian Husky with the American Eskimo. With both breeds intelligent, athletic and suited to cold conditions, they seemed like the perfect pairing.

As a crossbreed, the Huskimo isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club. However, it is recognized by other groups such as the American Canine Hybrid Club.

3. Physical appearance

Because the Huskimo is a hybrid breed, it’s not possible to say with any certainty exactly how a dog will turn out. Your Huskimo pup could grow up to look more like a Siberian Husky or an American Eskimo Dog, or somewhere in between.

To give you an idea of what to expect, let’s take a look at the key measurements of the Huskimo’s two parent breeds

Siberian Husky

Height: 21-23.5 inches (male), 20-22 inches (female)

Weight: 45-60 pounds (male), 35-50 pounds (female)

The medium-sized Husky is an athletic and graceful mover. He’s compact, agile and has erect ears, while those beautiful almond-shaped eyes can be brown or blue.

American Eskimo Dog

Height: 9-12 inches (toy), 12-15 inches (miniature), 15-19 inches (standard)

Weight: 6-10 pounds (toy), 10-20 pounds (miniature), 25-35 pounds (standard)

The American Eskimo Dog is instantly recognizable thanks to the lion-like coat around his chest, his intelligent expression and that distinctive plumed tail. Agile and alert, the Eskie packs a lot of dog into a compact package.

Huskimo coat

While it’s impossible to predict exactly what your Huskimo will look like, you can expect your dog to boast a dense double coat. This includes a rough outer layer and a smoother undercoat, providing an impressive level of protection against cold conditions. The Huskimo’s coat is surprisingly easy to maintain despite its gorgeous looks, but we’ll get to that a little later.

In terms of color, expect some variation based on the acceptable colors for the Husky and the Eskie.

Siberian Husky coat colors. Any color from black to pure white is accepted, with gray, red, black and brown some of the common varieties.
American Eskimo Dog coat colors. Pure white is preferred, while a variation known as “white with biscuit cream” (sounds delicious!) is also allowed.

4. Huskimo temperament and behavior

What can you expect if you welcome a Huskimo into your family? For starters, you can expect a playful and energetic companion, and one that is always up for a game or an adventure.

Huskimos are loyal and devoted dogs that love spending a whole lot of quality time with their humans. They’ve got lots of affection to share with you, but can be slightly reserved around strangers.

The main thing you need to remember if you’re thinking of buying a Huskimo puppy is that these dogs love human companionship. They’ll be bored and unhappy if left alone in a backyard for long periods of time, so you’ll need to welcome your dog into the home and make him part of the family.

The other important factor to keep in mind is that Huskimos are highly intelligent dogs who love being given a job to do. If you can give your Huskimo lots of mental stimulation through training sessions, regular outings and puzzle toys, he’ll be a happy and healthy pet.

5. Training a Huskimo requires patience

Training is essential for dogs of all ages and breeds, so make training part of your Huskimo’s daily routine from the day you bring him home.

However, while the Huskimo is a highly intelligent breed, training him may require some patience. To find out why, we need to look at the trainability of the Huskimo’s parent breeds.

Siberian Husky. While Huskies can respond well to training, they also tend to have a mind of their own. To temper this independent streak, you’ll need to provide firm (but never harsh) and consistent training from a young age.
American Eskimo Dog. Clever and eager to please, the Eskie is typically very easy to train.

The main thing to remember when training a Huskimo is to make it as fun as possible. Keep your sessions short and to the point, avoid asking your dog to repeat the same thing over and over again, and end each session on a positive note.

Use positive reinforcement methods, giving treats and praise as a reward for good behavior, and you’ll soon see the results you want.

Socializing your puppy

Every puppy, no matter the breed, needs to be socialized.

Socialization is the process of giving your pet positive exposure to as many different people and situations while he’s still a puppy. If he has good experiences now, he’s much more likely to be a calm and confident dog as an adult. But if he’s not properly socialized, your Huskimo is much more likely to suffer from fear and anxiety when faced with new situations when he’s older.

The critical socialization period for a puppy ends around 16-18 weeks of age, so start socializing him as soon as you bring him home. Just make sure you chat to your vet first about the best way to socialize your dog in the weeks before he’s fully vaccinated.

6. Huskimos need lots of exercise

If you want to add a Huskimo to your family, it’s best if you live an active lifestyle.

Why? Well, when you think about the fact that Huskies were bred to pull sleds for mile after mile, and Eskies were bred as work-all-day farm dogs, it’s no surprise to find that the Huskimo is a very energetic breed.

Your new pet will need plenty of daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. Huskimos typically love to run, so regular walks/jogs and trips to the dog park are essential. The American Eskimo Husky mix also excels at dog sports, so be prepared to give sports like agility and rally a go.

7. Grooming a Huskimo

At first glance, the Huskimo’s beautiful coat looks like it would require a fair bit of regular care. The reality is that it’s not as not as high-maintenance as you might think.

Thick and dense, the long coat needs to be brushed a couple of times a week to remove loose hair and keep it looking its best.

You’ll also need to be prepared for your pup to shed heavily a couple of times a year. Extra brushing will keep your Huskimo’s coat in good nick, and a little more time spent vacuuming will keep your house and furniture looking neat and tidy.

8. Huskimo health issues

Just like any other dog breed, the Huskimo can be prone to certain genetic health problems. With this in mind, we need to consider the health issues that can affect the Siberian Husky and the American Eskimo.

Siberian Husky health problems

Generally a healthy breed, the Husky can be susceptible to the following genetic conditions:

Eye problems, such as juvenile cataracts
Hip dysplasia

American Eskimo Dog health problems

Hip dysplasia
Progressive retinal atrophy
Other eye problems

In terms of more general health concerns, feed a balanced diet and give your Huskimo plenty of exercise to keep her in a healthy weight range. Keep her nails trimmed, clean her ears regularly and brush her teeth often. Annual vet check-ups will also help you get on top of any health issues early.

Huskimo lifespan

As a general guide, Huskimos have a lifespan of 12-15 years.

So if you’re thinking of getting a Huskimo puppy, please be aware that caring for a dog requires a long-term commitment.

9. Huskimos as family pets

Do Huskimos make good family pets?

Yes, they do — provided that all their care requirements are met. With their playful and energetic nature, Huskimos can be great playmates for children. They love being active and spending time with their humans, and will thrive when included in as many family activities as possible.

However, just like any other breed, they should be supervised around children. Huskimos also need to be properly socialized and trained so they learn the right way to behave, and they need plenty of attention from their two-legged family members.

10. Finding a Huskimo puppy

The Huskimo is still a relatively rare designed breed, so you may need to wait a while for a puppy to become available. Make sure you only buy Huskimo puppies from responsible breeders who provide high-quality care for their dogs.

If you suspect that the breeder is running a puppy mill — for example if they refuse to let you see where their dogs are kept or they won’t let you meet at least one of the pup’s parents — look elsewhere.

Of course, if you don’t want the extra hassle of raising a puppy, you may want to adopt a Huskimo from a rescue shelter near you.

11. How much does a Huskimo puppy cost?

Huskimo puppy prices vary from one breeder to the next.

As a general guide, expect to pay anywhere between $600 and $2,000 for a pup.

The Huskimo may not be the right breed for everyone, but he’s got plenty to offer to a loving owner. If you’re looking for an active, affectionate and simply gorgeous companion, this might just be the breed for you.