Although Siberian Huskies have been very popular and loved lately, wooly huskies are not getting the same amount of attention.
If you are interested in these types of canine things, you have probably seen that the American Kennel Club judges are not fond of woolies.
What could be the reason for that?
Woolies have a little bit different outside appearance because of their outer, long guard hairs. But, that should not be the reason why they receive critique in comparison to purebred Siberian huskies.
This article will show you many of the qualities that these wooly huskies possess, so stick around through this guide and find out more about these woolies that deserve your love and attention.
Meet The Wooly Husky
Wooly huskies are a breed of long-haired dogs that varies from the traditional medium-haired breed. Breeders made them have a longer wooly coat so that they are more of a pet husky than a working dog.
They are characterized as woolies when there are feathers around their legs. Their tail, ears, and face are also covered with feathers.
Their long coat doesn’t fit the breed standard, and it is considered faulty because long guard hairs cover the shape of their body. This is the reason why the AKC considers them unappealing. And, for that, they are not “invited” to the show ring.
Husky’s Double Coat
Coat type can vary due to length, thickness, and grain of the fur, so you can’t see two of the same wooly huskies. A double coat is one of the things that makes them special.
Their double coat serves them as protection from cold weather conditions. Long guard hairs make up the outer coat, which gathers snow and water. They tend to drop because of their weight, and look most like the coat of a Collie dog.
The undercoat is softer, light-toned wool, and is very thick.
Standard Coat Vs Wooly Coat
The outer standard coat consists of darker-colored hairs that are long, straight, and harsh. They will shed dirt and water to some degree. Meanwhile, the wooly coat consists of guard hairs that take longer to dry when wet with water. For that, guard hairs don’t protect them from cruel climates like a standard coat protects a Siberian Husky.
Coat Colors
Speaking of coats, there are plenty of Husky coat color variants than the stock standard.
Black And White
The coat color that is probably the most common is black and white. Their guard hairs are black monochrome, and they are mixed with white guard hairs that have a grayish undercoat. In order for a husky to be black and white, both parents must be carriers.
Agouti And White
They will have joined-up guard hairs, with black on the outer and red, cream, or tan in the center; Agouti guard hairs must be joined up as dark, light, and dark.
On agouti and white, we can often see grayish tones through their undercoat, and reddish tones all over their outer coat. Their white markings seem more cream-colored than clean white.
Black
Blacks have a black outer coat with little to no white guard hairs on their chest, face, or feet. Their undercoat is also very dark. They often have black nails and black paw pads.
White
Whites have their white color due to their white blanket that hides their true color, and they are also recessive.
Red And White
A red and white Huskies’ parents carry the red gene, so there is no chance that their huskies have black pigment.
Brown And White
Brown and white Huskies, just like red and whites, don’t have black in their coat, and they are recessive.
These huskies have a copper undercoat, and because of that, they seem much darker.
Black, Tan, And White
This coat-colored Husky has black guard hairs and a black or fusain undercoat; its markings seem to be more willingly tan than white. We can see the markings on the face and legs, and it sort of vanishes along the black coat.
Gray And White
This is the most common color we can see on Siberian Huskies. Their black-tipped guard hairs are white at the root, and they have a whitish or tan undercoat. Of all Husky colors, this is the one you would see very often in a variety of shades.
Sable And White
Sable and whites are very similar to gray and whites, and agouti and whites when they are puppies, but sable and whites have an orange, copper, or cream undercoat, so for that, we can mainly distinguish them.
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Where Did The Husky Get His Wooly Coat From?
Genetics plays an important role in breeding woolies. Their long fur is caused by a recessive gene. They must carry two pairs of the recessive genes to be considered a true wooly husky breed, which means both parents must pass on their genes.
DDC Veterinary explained that there are three possible genotypes of Siberian Huskies:
1. Clear Siberian Huskies that have two pairs of normal alleles.
2. Carrier Siberian Huskies that have one pair of the long-hair mutation, and the other of the normal allele.
3. Affected Siberian Huskies that have two pairs of long-hair mutation.
So, the odds of a Siberian Husky having a wooly coat are this: if both of their parents are affected, they will develop a wooly coat, but even if one of their parents is affected, there is a 50% chance that they will manifest a thick coat.
Health Of A Wooly Husky Dog
If you give your dog genuine care, it can live from 14 to 15 years. But, if you use your wooly husky as a sled dog, its lifespan may reduce due to the possibility of injuries in doing their “job” in cold weather.
If they are doing their tasks in snow, their coat will get wet, and that is where the problems may occur. The reason? The wooly coat is very thick; therefore, drying is prolonged. This may lead to hypothermia.
Besides this, the wooly Husky is prone to these diseases:
• Glaucoma: This is caused by insufficient drainage of fluid from the eye of your Husky It manifests in watery discharge from the eye, eye pain, dilated pupils, and whites of the eye turning red. It can damage your dog’s vision if not quickly treated.
• Hip Dysplasia: Due to this rather big breed, they are keen to developing hip dysplasia, which is the state where the hip joint rubs and grinds instead of sliding smoothly. This causes them to have problems with walking and running.
• Epilepsy: This is also known as a seizure. Seizures can look like a twitch and shaking that your dog cannot control. They may collapse and lose consciousness. Make sure you take your furry friend to the vet as soon as possible and give him medication that will help him.
If you are worried that your pet may have any of these conditions, make sure to consult with the breeders so you can have insight into their genetics and possible health issues in order to avoid such problems as much as possible.
Height And Weight Of A Wooly Husky Pet
There’s a very slight difference between the sizes of male and female Huskies; it’s the weight where you can notice a bigger difference.
Normally, female woolies can grow from 20 to 22 inches at the withers, while males can grow from 21 to 23 and a half inches.
In terms of weight, male Huskies can expect to weigh from 45 to 60 pounds, while females may weigh from 35 to 50 pounds. Let’s say they achieve their maximum height when they turn one year old.
Wooly Husky Personality
A wooly Husky’s personality is not different from a standard Siberian Husky. If you have ever encountered a Siberian Husky puppy, or if you own one, you have probably seen that they are very intelligent, but can be quite stubborn and on their own.
They love being surrounded by people, and it is actually good for them, but they need training in order to behave. Their primary purpose was to run, so don’t be surprised if your dog sometimes prefers running rather than being with you.
They are very friendly to people and children. Also, they are friendly to other dogs. But, they also have a high prey drive and can hunt cats and cattle.
They like to make themselves comfortable in any area, so they dig to make space for themselves, especially when it is warm. The interesting thing is that they don’t do barking … that is too mainstream for them. They do howling.
You must be willing and able to meet the breed’s standard needs and handle their behaviors.
As mentioned above, they are highly intelligent, so they can escape from anywhere, and they will often try to because they want to watch you run down the street yelling their name and looking like a fool.
Wooly Husky Eye Colors
One of the more prominent features of a Husky are his eyes, which come in a variety of colors.
2 Blue Eyes
They are known for their beautiful blue eyes. Their blue eyes are not a sign of some issue with vision, but are normal and healthy. Any color of a Siberian Husky can have blue eyes.
2 Brown Eyes
Siberian Huskies often have brown eyes. Brown eyes somewhat fit the breed standard. Brown eyes are found on any black Siberian Husky.
2 Amber Eyes
Only genetically red Siberian Huskies can have amber eyes. Sometimes, their eyes are green when they are puppies, but they turn to amber while growing.
1 Blue Eye, 1 Brown Or Amber Eye – We Call Them Bi-eyes
Siberian Huskies frequently have bi-eyes, and they are appreciated in the show ring. Bi-eyes can be one blue eye and one amber eye, or one blue eye and one brown eye.
Parti Eyes – 1 Or 2 Eyes With Brown And Amber Or Blue In The Same Eye
This special and rare feature is also appreciated in the show ring. Parti eyes are partially brown and blue, or amber in either or both of a Siberian Husky’s eyes.
A Guide To Look After A Wooly Husky In The Proper Way
• Shedding
Huskies regulate their temperature with their coat, so it is best to comb out all of the dead undercoat instead of shaving it. They are known for their shedding twice a year, after the spring and fall.
Huskies shed their winter coat before summer, so they can withstand the hot summer months. They take three to five weeks to shed.
• Grooming
Having any dog breed is not easy peasy, but having a wooly husky is a big responsibility. Huskies need to be groomed every week because of their coat length. They shed twice a year, but their hair won’t fall off.
First things first, you need to prepare yourself with good grooming equipment in order to help with that process.
Then, you start off by brushing gently with the grain of the fur to get out any super loose hairs and prevent matting. This helps keep them relaxed. Make sure it’s as nice of an experience as it can be for your furry friend. It is important that he doesn’t feel restrained.
Now is the Husky’s bath time. Get him in the tub, and mix up his shampoo and conditioner. Get him all wet, then use a grime shampoo to remove dirt and grime. Scrub and lather him well to make sure he is nice and clean. Then, rinse all the first round of the shampoo out so you can add a refurbish deshedding conditioner. While you massage that conditioner, he’ll probably lose more of his coat.
Then, blow-dry the conditioner into the fur and onto the skin, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then, rinse all the conditioner out of his fur, leaving none behind. After he is rinsed, begin the drying process by towel-drying him first and then blow-drying him as he howls the song of his people.
After he is all dry, use your dematting tool to get out any kinks, matts, or tangles he might have in his fur, then use a slicker brush to remove any matts you may have brought to the surface.
After all of that, you know you have done a great and proper deshed when you comb the fur and nothing is coming onto the comb. Now, your husky is all ready and looking good. Great job!
• Training
Huskies require 60 minutes minimum of exercise daily. Yes, daily! Make sure that any activity you planned involves a lot of running. Daily activities are highly important due to their known tantrums they sometimes have.
They wander very easily, and you know they need to be independent from time to time. In order to deal with your husky, you need to train him as a puppy because this dog breed is very stubborn.
• Nutrition
As dogs will usually eat whatever food is put in front of them, you would think that huskies would join the club, but that is not the case.
They require good nutrition, and they have special needs. They need high protein, moderately high fat, and they also have low carbohydrate needs.
It is crucial that they have a proper intake of calories because they are constantly on the move. They require high-energy foods so they can keep up with their daily activities.
But, they are not keen on overeating. If a husky is already full or isn’t very active, it either won’t eat at all or will eat a lot less. They are the hungriest after their daily exercise.
Due to their stubbornness, they may choose not to eat certain food.
However, if they overeat, they can put on weight very quickly, but they won’t lose it the same.
There is no need to say that if your husky is healthy and you feed him right, his life span will be longer.
Are Wooly Siberian Huskies Expensive?
A wooly Siberian Huskies’ price is a bit different than the price of Standard Siberians and Alaskan Malamutes given that they have a long-haired coat. Wooly Husky puppies cost around $1,000 to $2,500 while standard puppies cost from $400 to $1,200.
Not only would you spend $2,000 on a special husky, but you would also purchase essential products in order to take care of him. Essential products are food, a bed, a collar, shampoo that is specially for them, a leash, good-quality grooming equipment, a poop scooper, etc.
If you are interested in these lovable dogs, but you can’t afford this much, we can suggest a couple of places where you can adopt them. For example, Arctic Rescue is devoted to saving abandoned Alaskan Huskies, Siberian Huskies, and Alaskan Malamutes.
Then, we have Texas Husky Rescue, which is also high on the list for helping abandoned Huskies whether they are Siberian or Wooly. Then, there is Free Spirit Siberian Husky Rescue.
FAQs
How Do I Know If My Husky Puppy Is Wooly?
If you own a husky puppy and you are wondering if it is a wooly, the main difference is in the long hairs that cover its body.
Its undercoat is thicker and its outer coat is visibly longer. Its tail is more feathery. Also, it will have fur around its legs, face, and ears.
Is A Wooly Husky Purebred?
According to the American Kennel Club, a Siberian Husky meets the breed standard with a double coat that is medium in length, and therefore, it has the perfect amount of fur to show the body shape of the dog.
The undercoat is not too long and matches the outer coat, and the guard hairs are smooth and don’t stand straight off their body.
Therefore, our wooly friends cannot be considered purebred because their coat does not fit the standard.
To Wrap It Up
Wooly huskies, although not popular in the show ring, leave no one indifferent to their cuteness. Their long coat makes them very unique and special.
These wonderful, long-coated companions are great for families and children. Their need to be active throughout the day will make you more active as well.
You will not be able to resist them, and you will have to keep up with their high energy levels.
A wooly husky will bring so much joy and life into your maybe mundane routine.
Their need for attention, and their loud tantrums, will keep you occupied most of the time.
If you can handle this, then with proper exercise, lots of love and attention, and training, a husky can be your greatest fur companion.
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