Are you keen to know what a cross between Siberian Husky and the dog version of cheetahs will yield? You are right on track to finding out.
The Husky Greyhound Mix is not a pedigree dog. It is a mixed breed that combines the energetic Siberian Husky with the gentle and regal Greyhound. Loyal, tolerant and friendly, they makes great family dogs. However, their high prey drive may endanger smaller animals around.
Regardless, they are adorable hounds with loving personalities. Barking is never an issue with this breed but they may howl aggressively like Huskies and draw the attention of your neighbors.
If your hound turns out like the Greyhounds, you are most certainly going to have a quiet dog that would often snuggle your cozy couch when they are not busy.
Because the Husky Greyhound dog is a relatively new mixed breed and lacks breed standards, he will not be accepted by most kennel clubs until there are at least three pure generations of this breed.
I have delved into some of the interesting facts about the Husky Greyhound Mix that you ought to know.
Husky Greyhound Origin
Like most hybrid dogs, there is little to no information about when and where they originated. But we’re sure that this breed is a cross between a Siberian Husky and Greyhound. We still have a lot to learn about the history of this Fido by looking at the parent breeds.
History of Siberian Husky
Well-known for their endurance, affection and keen expression, the Siberian Husky has a history lost in antiquity. However, recent genetic studies have classified this dog breed under the Spitz family.
Records suggest that the Siberian Husky were bred by the Chukchi in North Siberian, a tribe known for game hunting and nomadic culture. The Chukchi kept Huskies as hunting companions. During the drastic fall in temperature in Siberian, they were forced to relocate and relied on Huskies to transport their belongings by pulling a sled through a vast expanse of land.
The Chukchi tribe was home to the Husky until 1908 when the importation of these dogs to North America began. Since then, the usefulness of this breed as a sled dog has been appreciated more and more. In fact, they contested in the All Alaskan Sweepstakes, a 480-mile sled dog race and took third place.
The popularity of this breed saw a huge rise during the diphtheria outbreak. Siberian huskies led by Leonhard Seppala traveled 658 miles to carry a lifesaving serum to Nome in Alaska. In 1930, the American Kennel Club (AKC) granted the Siberian husky official recognition.
History of Greyhound
The Greyhound is thought to be the oldest pedigree dog in canine history and various art depictions suggest that they were held in high esteem in prehistoric times.
A Celtic poem about hunting as far as the 8 AD made reference to the Word “Vertraha” which translates to a greyhound.
Recent archeological findings in the pyramids have also revealed ancient Egyptian artifacts with carvings of Greyhound-like dogs.
Greyhounds have captured the imaginations of an ancient Roman poet, Augustus, who describes them as “swifter than thought or a winged bus bird it runs”. King Solomon also mentioned them in the Bible.
In the course of history, Greyhounds have been idolized as gods by the people of Rome and as well admired for their incredible hunting ability. They are known to hunt by sight rather than scent and are incomparably the fastest dog breed in the canine world. Up until 1700, only the noblemen were entitled to the ownership of Greyhounds.
The popular appeal of Greyhound in the modern world was spurred by the inception of coursing sport and dog racing. These sports were deemed cruel as the dogs were severely injured and sometimes euthanized due to the lack of winning potential.
Also, abandoned Greyhounds and other racing dogs in rescues and shelters saw a drastic increase leading up to the legislating of laws prohibiting dog racing.
In 1885, Greyhounds gained official recognition by the American Kennel Club.
Husky Greyhound Mix Info and Facts
Size & Appearance
As the physical features of both parents are determined by their individual genetic makeup, it is virtually impossible to make an accurate prediction of the traits the resulting offspring will certainly embrace.
But observing your pup’s parents, siblings or other close relatives can give you a clearer picture of the traits they may end up with.
Prospective dog parents often wonder, how big does a Husky Greyhound Mix get?
Considering the size of the parent breeds, it doesn’t take an extra intelligence to know that this combination will yield a moderately sized dog. He will measure between 20 to 28 inches tall and weigh as much as 60 to 80 pounds. You can check for the weight of the specific parent breeds in the picture to have a more targeted expectation.
Also, we can equally notice a lot of distinctive characteristics in both parent breeds like their eye shape and color, head shape and muzzle length, coat type and color, body structure, musculature and gait.
Heavily furred to stand cold temperatures, the Siberian Husky is built with a compact body attached to a well-sized head. Their almond-shaped eyes come in diverse colors and convey a genial and mischievous look. They also have erect triangular ears, a bushy sickle-shaped tail and a level topline. Although the most common coat colors and patterns of the Sibes are black and white, they can exist in various colors.
The Greyhound is a lanky and elegant dog bred with high speed and incredible sight in mind. Certainly the reason for their aerodynamic body and prominent eyes, which perfects them as an excellent hunting dog. Unlike humans, they have a 270° field of vision facilitated by their long and narrow head. The coat of Greyhounds is very thin, ears, folded backward and legs, long and muscular. Their coat spans through a wide range of color variations.
That said, we can only rely on genetics and a bit of luck to combine the best traits of both parents and produce an endearing beauty of a breed.
Lifespan
Crossbreeds are entitled to a higher lifespan than their pedigree cousins due to the process of hybrid vigor brought about by the broadening of the gene pool.
The average life expectancy of the Husky Greyhound Mix ranges from 10 to 14 years. It’s rather important that you structure a good healthcare plan with your veterinarian coupled with proper care and exercise to ensure you have a healthy canine with longevity.
Temperament
When you bring one of these pups home, be ready for a real wildcard. You can barely guess right their temperaments until you bring them home or give them the gift of time.
The Husky Greyhound Mix is going to be a smart and independent pooch but will remain loyal to his owners. Establish and maintain the alpha position and show your dog you are in charge, you will be rewarded with a submissive pet. However, this must not be achieved by the use of physical force.
The most interesting combination is the friendliness and bravery of the Husky and the unrivaled speed and hunting instincts of the Greyhound. Amazingly, this breed can co-exist cordially with other dogs but they are quite unreliable around smaller animals.
It is possible that your dog will end up with the happy-go-lucky demeanor of the Husky or the aloof and sleepy personality of the Greyhound. Whatever the case may be, the Husky Greyhound Mix will not excel as a guard dog, not even as a watchdog.
The Siberian Husky is an adventurous escape artist while the Greyhound never fails to chase at the sight of prey. Hence, the Husky Greyhound Mix should only be kept in a securely fenced enclosure with enough roaming space to let out their pent-up energy. For the safety of nearby vermin, never allow them to go off-leash during walks.
Would you like to see a cute one in action? Then, allow me to introduce you to Gooseberry, a well-known Husky Greyhound, who is a rescue from Quebec but now lives in Toronto, Canada. She has a fanbase of well over 10k followers on Instagram. You can check her out but be warned, you may be forced to get a Gooseberry of your own after sneaking a peek of her lean beauty.
Husky Greyhound Mix Basic Needs
Feeding Requirements
First and foremost, a balanced diet is key to healthy nutrition in canines. Be sure to supply them with a high protein diet like chicken breast, beef, lamb, or salmon, supplemented with fresh or cooked vegetables. Due to the fact that some dogs are allergic to poultry, it’s recommended to start with alternative protein diets.
Any high-quality commercial food will have the right balance of proteins, vitamins and fats to nourish your furry pal. Your pooch can also eat high-protein dry kibbles to improve their dental health. Treats can come in handy occasionally or during training.
Greyhounds particularly are a very sensitive species of dog. So, when switching your pooch’s food, it’s best to gradually increase the new food while decreasing the existing one over the course of a week.
Exercise Requirements
Not only does exercise programs provide your dog with increased mental and physical stimulation, but it can also benefit their heart health, maintain their body weight, and curb destructive behaviors.
How much exercise your Husky Greyhound Mix needs will be influenced by the genetic traits inherited from the parent breeds.
Siberians are high-energy working dogs and require at least 2 hours of intensive exercise.
But your couch-loving Greyhound is gentle and has less stamina to get through long periods of exercise. Hence, they will have no problems with a one-hour daily and probably walk or preferably, a good run.
Both Sibes and Greyhound will enjoy participating in interesting canine games. You can make your pooch happy by including free play in their exercise routines while providing them with the health benefits of physical activity.
Training Requirements
When you bring home a Husky Greyhound Mix pup, early socialization and proper training is a definite must in order to have a well-rounded dog.
At an early age, it is crucial that your dog interacts with other humans, have a thorough outdoor life and is exposed to different experiences. You can take them on strolls to the bus park or a visit to your friend. It’s okay to invite your family members over as well. These will help to polish your pup’s social skills and prune their aloof tendency.
A Siberian Husky crossed with Greyhound is a very intelligent and fun-loving dog. But if you are faint-hearted, you may have a hard time training them since they can become willful and independent at times.
Therefore, taking “the Alpha position” is one step to ensuring Fido is loyal and devoted to the core. Obedience training should be the foundation of all training. It will help in the development of a strong and positive bond between you and your canine friend while staying in control.
You can start by training your dog’s recall and progress to crate training and leash training. Always make sure you are consistent to get the best possible outcome.
With a Husky Greyhound Mix, be ready to have a sensitive dog and be warned, harsh form of training will not favor your dog’s learning process. It is rather going to have a negative impact and give rise to further bad behaviors.
Grooming Requirements
Caring for their coat will be determined by the type that they would acquire from their Siberian and Greyhound parents.
With a smooth coat like Greyhounds, you can expect minimal shedding so, there would be less grooming required. Just brush their fur occasionally to remove stray hairs and maintain it clean, smooth, and glossy.
The Husky Greyhound Mix that took after his Siberian parents will have a dense double coat that sheds excessively. Though no trimming of hair will be needed, you may need to brush their fur at least once a week to reduce your dog’s hair littering.
Remember to trim their nails and also ensure that you clean your dogs’ ears at least twice a month. Brushing his teeth should also be done twice a week to get rid of plaque, bacteria and tartar buildup.
Your grooming routine should include the examination of your dog for injuries, skin lesions, ear infections, dental caries, flea infections, general discomfort and so on.
Husky Greyhound Mix Health Problems
While crossbreeds are less vulnerable to disease compared to purebred dogs, they also inherit various health issues from their Siberian Husky and Greyhound parents.
If you are familiar with the common health problems of this mix, then you can easily look for signs and symptoms and seek veterinary consultation if any is present in your canine.
The following are some Health Problems common in Husky Greyhound Mix.
| Serious Conditions | Minor Conditions |
| Intervertebral disk disease | Dental disease |
| Cancer | Dermatitis |
| Osteoarthritis | Hip Dysplasia |
| Heart Diseases | Diabetes mellitus |
| Gastric Torsion (Bloat) | Hypothyroidism |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) | General Alopecia |
| Vasculopathy | Epilepsy |
Don’t be too concerned about inherited health problems. The best way to avoid these problems is to keep thorough records of the Husky Greyhound Mix parent’s health history. By doing so, you can see if there are any hereditary issues in the family.
Final Thoughts
A Husky Greyhound Mix dog is a great choice for anyone who wants a sweet, loyal and graceful canine companion with heart-warming affection for all humans including strangers. They may be untrustworthy around small pets but will welcome other canines with open arms.
If you are looking for a smart, patient and gentle new member for your family, the Husky Greyhound might just be right for you. They are not passionate attention seekers but will get bored and destructive if left in lonesome for a long time.
Just like with other dogs, you should be ready to provide regular exercise, effective training, and proper care to your Husky Greyhound. You should be a firm and consistent leader who can spare some time to help harness all the beautiful qualities hidden in this adorable hound.
Also Read: Husky Yorkie Mix: A Comprehensive Guide To The Yorksy
