Shiba Inu Siberian Husky Mix: Husky Inu Breed Information

The Shiba Inu and Siberian Husky mixed pup, also known as the Shiba Husky, is a relatively new designer dog with a Shiba Inu parent, and a Siberian Husky parent. While his parents might look somewhat similar with their fluffy coats and wild appearance, their personalities are very different. But just like chalk and cheese, opposites attract. The puppy product of the Shiba and the Husky is a very charming canine indeed.

While the Husky Inu is adorable, they aren’t for everyone. It’s important to learn about him and what you should expect. Cute, loving, affectionate and fun describe the Husky Inu well. But they can also be intense, energetic, and stubbornly difficult. This can be a challenging pup to say the least, but very worth it if you can properly train them.

There are a lot of other cute Shiba Inu and Siberian Husky mixes, such as the  Shiba Corgi and the  Pomsky, but the Shiba Husky ranks high in the cuteness and personality competition, so let’s take a closer look at this popular mixed breed pup. 

Parent Breeds

To gain a better understanding of what to expect from the Shiba Husky, it’s important to understand both parent dogs. This is particularly important when it comes to a mixed breed dog. With mixes, you can never be certain as to what set of characteristics they will inherit, so here is a brief outline.

Shiba Inu

The Shiba Inu, until the 1950’s, was a closely guarded national treasure of Japan, but in 1954 he was imported into the United States by a military family, and our love for the Shiba Inu began as soon as his paws touched down on American soil. He is an ancient breed who is believed to originate from 300 B.C, and whilst he was originally bred to flush birds and game, and occasionally when he was feeling brave to hunt wild boar, he is now more commonly bred to be a canine companion.

In 2020, he is ranked as the 44th most popular dog in America, and he is described as alert, active and attentive. He has a bold personality, and this foxy dude struts his stuff around the neighborhood. He is very intelligent, but very independent and stubborn, so he is quite the difficult pup to train. While he makes a wonderful family pet, he can be very possessive. It’s important to socialize them from a very young age to avoid overprotective behaviors.

Siberian Husky

The Siberian Husky is also full of personality, but he is more of a crazy clown compared to the Shiba Inu. He is also an ancient canine who originates from Siberia. Huskies were originally bred to transport heavy loads from tribe to tribe in the arctic conditions of Russia. Built for speed, the Husky is full of beans and needs to be placed with an energetic family.

In 2020, he is ranked as the 14th most popular dog in America, and he is described as loyal, outgoing and mischievous and he is loved as a family companion. The Siberian Husky is also known to be very independent, and can be stubborn. Huskies would often rather be playing games than participating in a training session. It doesn’t help that their minds can be just as energetic as their bodies. Huskies are popular as the parent breed of many designer dogs, such as the Husky Shepherd mix or the Husky Lab mix.

Shiba Inu Siberian Husky Mix

The Shiba Husky’s parents are very different in terms of their temperament, so it is important to understand that you cannot guarantee whose personality he will inherit. The following guide will set out what you can typically expect from a Shiba Husky. Be warned, Husky Inu’s may be a serious contender for your next family pup! Why not check out  Kevin or Arki’s Instagram account, where you can follow these Shiba Huskies and see how much mischief they get up to.

Temperament

The Shiba Husky, just like his parents, will be a challenging dog for any person, and many say that he is not suited to a novice dog owner, or one who is meek and mild. His master needs to be able to set boundaries and stick to them. Should the Shiba Husky exhibit any overprotective characteristics, his master needs to correct them immediately with obedience training. We will discuss training further down, but it is likely that the Shiba Husky’s training will be a lifelong commitment.

However, if this is something you can commit to, and succeed in, then the Shiba Husky makes a loving and loyal family dog who will win the hearts of every family member. The Husky Inu is very affectionate. If you can expel their energy levels, they will eventually settle down into the nook of your arm for a sofa snuggle. He is not picky, and whoever is willing to give him a belly scratch will be his best friend. His sociability also extends to other family pets just as long as he is socialized well as a pup, so he is a perfect all-rounder.

He will likely be a mix of fun and clumsy energy, just like his Husky parent, and grand extravagance inherited from his Shiba parent. The Husky Inu is an entertaining dog who will provide you and your whole family with hours of fun. His high spirit is notorious for keeping everyone happy! He is a very curious dog who is always up for an adventure, and this can sometimes get him into trouble, so be sure to keep his on a leash and secure your backyard.

Size & Appearance

Both of his parents are wild in appearance with wolfy and foxy looks, so you can definitely expect him to look like a wolf fox mix. He will sport the triangular shaped ears that will stand to attention. The Husky Inu will also have a long muzzle with a fleshy square nose. His eyes will either be dark, amber, or bright blue in color, and there is also the possibility of inheriting the different colored eyes of the Husky.

He will typically weigh between 25 and 50 pounds and he will measure between 15 and 20 inches from paw to shoulder, so this medium sized pup will suit the average sized family home. He is a muscular and well-proportioned canine who will typically look like the perfect blend of both of his parents.

Coat & Colors

The Shiba Husky is guaranteed to have a fluffy coat whichever parent he takes after, which will keep him very warm and keep his master’s clothes very hairy! His coat will have two layers, a dense undercoat and softer outer coat. The outer coat will need extra attention when it comes to your grooming routine. You’ll also want to look at shampoos specifically formulated for Huskies when it comes to bathtime.

His coat will also come in a wide variety of colors, such as black and tan, red, cream, red sesame, agouti and white, sable and white, black and white, gray and white and brown and white. He is also likely to take the markings or either parent, but there is also the possibility of him being one solid color too. 

Exercise & Living Conditions

The Shiba Husky will need at least 60 minutes of vigorous exercise every day, and if he inherits the energy of the Husky then it is more likely that he will need around 90 minutes every day, so you can be sure that this guy is not suited to an inactive family, and only an energetic one will do. If he becomes bored, he will quickly turn on your beloved furniture, so do not underestimate his exercise requirements.

Being a medium sized dog any sized home would be adequate, just as long as his exercise needs are met on a daily basis. With the likelihood of him being very energetic and bouncy this dude would be best suited to a family with older children. The Shiba Husky is also known to be possessive of toys and food, but as long as he is socialized well with other family pets from a young age he could live with other family pets too.

Training

The Shiba Husky is a difficult dog to train, and therefore not suited to all dog owners, particularly those who have never owned a dog before. Due to his guarding tendencies and possessive nature inherited from the Shiba Inu, he needs to be socialized as soon as possible so that he becomes confident around other dogs and animals, and to ensure that he becomes used to sharing the toys, food and humans in the house.

If he inherits his Husky parents temperament, in that he is too busy doing everything other than training then he will be difficult to train, or if he inherits his Shiba parent’s temperament then he will be too independent and stubborn to take part in training in any case, so either way you are in for a difficult time with double the trouble!

But fear not, with persistence and consistency many Shiba Husky owners comment that they have trained their pup enough to listen to the basic commands, and to listen to them most of the time. Positive reward-based training is important here, along with plenty of verbal praise, but consistency is key, for if you give into him once he’ll know exactly how to play the system.

Health

The Shiba Husky is a relatively healthy dog who enjoys a long lifespan of 12 to 16 years, just be sure to keep up to date with all of his vaccinations and regular veterinary checkups. Whilst both of the Shiba Husky’s parents are very healthy canines they do have their own health concerns that all Shiba Husky owner should be aware of:

Hip Dysplasia: this is caused by an abnormal formation of the hip joint which causes increased and painful grinding of the joints which eventually leads to decreased mobility and painful arthritis.

Glaucoma: this is a condition in which pressure is placed on the eye, which causes abnormal fluid drainage, and if left untreated this can lead to total blindness. 

Patellar Luxation: this is where the kneecap becomes dislocated from its normal position on the thigh bone, and it will affect his mobility and can be quite painful. 

Nutrition

The Shiba Husky is an athletic and muscular dog who is constantly on the move, so he would do well on a high protein diet that is designed for medium to large dogs, whichever weight category your pup falls into.

Typically, he will eat between 2 and 2 ½ cups of food every day, and as always, be sure to feed him age-appropriate food that is of superior quality. The Shiba Inu in him will crave treats, so be sure to use them in training, but monitor his daily intake as well.

Grooming

The Shiba Husky will need a lot of brushing, so you’ll spend most days grooming him with a good deshedding tool that will tackle his dense undercoat without damaging his outer coat or skin. Typically, a grooming session every other day will be enough to keep those husky hairballs at bay. During shedding season the Husky Inu will need to be brushed every day. Otherwise, get ready to have dog hair on just about everything you own.

The Shiba Husky will be a very clean dog who will cleanse his coat often. You probably won’t have to bathe your Husky Inu more than once every 8 weeks or so. Other grooming routines such as ear cleaning or nail clipping will be the same as any other dog.

Breeders & Puppy Costs

As he is a relatively new designer dog there isn’t a vast amount of information regarding the pricing of one of these guys, but it is estimated that you should look to spend anywhere between $500 and $1,000 for a designer pup of his size.

It is very important that you work with a reputable breeder who will not only breed healthy pups, but train and treat them correctly. Husky Inu’s can be challenging at a young age. It’s important that your pup has a very sociable start to life to avoid any behavioral problems in the future.

If you are now convinced that that Husky Inu is the perfect pup, the next step is to find a breeder. Finding a Shiba Husky is going to be a much harder task than finding a Labrador Retriever, but start online by looking for breeders who are reputable and have been breeding for some time.

You may have to travel to find a reputable breeder, but once you have found one that you like it is important to meet them in person and ask to see the puppies and their parents, as well as their living conditions and all of their health certificates.

Rescue & Shelters

The Shiba Husky is a rare breed. Breeders are not as common. They can also end up in rescues for a variety of reasons. Many people underestimate how energetic and intense they can be, which can lead to owner surrenders.

Check out your local rescue centers, and be sure to look at dedicated breed rehoming centers who also house breed mixes, and information can be found on the  National Shiba Club of America website and the  Siberian Husky Rescue Site about your dedicated local rescues.

As Family Pets

• The Shiba Husky is a very affectionate and energetic dog that also loves to snuggle. 
• He is very sociable with all members of the family and gets along well with other pets.
• The Shiba Husky is very energetic and needs to be placed with an active family.
• The Husky Inu needs at least 60 minutes of vigorous exercise every day.
• He is an intense dog to look after, and one that is not always obedient. 
• Because of his stubborn streak, he isn’t recommended for first-time dog owners.
• Socialization and obedience training is key due to their stubborn nature.
• The Shiba Husky will need brushing most days to keep his coat looking healthy.
• This pup likes to shed, so use a de-shedder regularly to manage dog hair.
• He should be placed with older children due to his size and boisterous nature.
• Known for being escape artists, the Husky Inu should be kept in a fenced yard.

Final Thoughts

The Shiba Husky is very cute, but also very demanding. This mix needs careful consideration before you welcome him into your home. However, if you have the energy to keep up, the Husky Inu can be a very loyal and loving family companion. As long as you have the time to exercise him every day, as well as be consistent with his training and socialization, then this fun and loving boy will return his love in more ways than you can imagine!