10 Dog Breeds Similar to the Siberian Husky

The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized dog bred to work as a sled dog. They have a thick furry double coat and pointy triangular-shaped ears and are part of the Spitz genetic family. Siberian Huskies are originally from Northeast Asia, where the Chukchi people of Siberia bred them for companionship and sled pulling. It was also bred to withstand the cold and extremely harsh environment of the Siberian Arctic, hence its thick fur coat. Siberian Huskies are a very energetic, active, and resilient dog breed that is also friendly, lovable, and gentle with people, especially children. Today Siberian Huskies are a popular choice for house pets.

So what are some dog breeds that are similar to Siberian Huskies? Even though they are popular and have beautiful thick coats and cute blue almond-shaped eyes, some people either cannot seem to find them in a dog shelter near them. Also, they might prefer to have a dog that looks like a husky but is smaller or larger than the Siberian husky. Dog breeds such as the Alaskan Malamute, American Eskimo dog, the Samoyed dog, the Tamaskan dog, and the Czech Wolfdog, to mention a few, are great alternatives to the Siberian Husky. These breeds have almost the same appearance and share most personality traits with the Siberian Husky. If you are looking for a dog resembling the Siberian Husky, you can choose from this list of 10 similar Dog breeds.

10. American Eskimo Dog

The American Eskimo dog is a beautiful white dog that resembles a small husky. Like Siberian Huskies, they have perky triangular ears and a thick double coat of white fur and are members of the spitz family. They come in three sizes, toy from 9 to 12 in, miniature from 12 to 15 in, and standard from 15 to 19 inches. Depending on their sizes and sex, these dogs can weigh anywhere from 6 pounds to 40 pounds with a lifespan of 10-15 years.

American Eskimo dogs first appeared in the United States in the 19th Century. According to Wikipedia, these dogs are from Germany and are descendants of the German Spitz, the White Italian Spitz, the White Pomeranian, and the White Keeshond. Between the 19th and 20th centuries, American Eskimo dogs were bred for performances like circuses. Their beautiful fur, how easy they were to train, and their alert expression made them excellent circus dogs and crowd-pleasers.

Eskies are excellent family dogs; they are loyal and love being around their owners. They are brilliant dogs that are lively and can often be stubborn. Like all active dogs, they need to be exercised every day and are good in a house with lots of activities and children to keep them busy; otherwise, they can become destructive when bored. Eskies need proper training and socialization to help them warm up to strangers. American Eskimo dogs are also known for digging down on fences and staging clever escapes, so they must be in a properly fenced-in home.

9. Icelandic Sheepdog

The Icelandic Sheepdog is a medium-sized dog breed from Iceland that was bred for herding. The extremely furry, double-coated dog is Iceland’s only native dog breed and a part of the spitz family. These friendly Nordic dogs weigh 25 to 30 pounds, stand at 16.5 to 18 inches tall, and can live for 14 years. Icelandic sheepdogs are rare and considered among the world’s oldest dog breeds. According to Spruce Pets, legend has it that more than 1000 years ago, Vikings took their spitz-type dogs to Iceland, which were later bred to become the Icelandic Sheepdog. Over time, these dogs adapted to the Icelandic way of life and were used by the farmers to herd and protect their flock of sheep.

Today, these affectionate and playful dogs are kept as pets. Icelandic sheepdogs are loving and friendly and are loyal to their owners. These fluffy dogs love kids and get along with other animals. They are also very intelligent, have a lot of energy, and therefore need a lot of daily exercise. Due to their working nature as herding dogs, they like chasing after things like cars and small animals and thrive in very active homes. If left home all day, they will get bored and become destructive. Icelandic Sheepdogs like to be close to and active with their owners.

8. Akita Inu

Akitas are large-sized working dog breeds from Northern Japan. These dogs have short double coats, thick necks, perky triangular ears, and furry upright curled tails, making them look like large cuddly dolls. Historically, the Japanese people bred Akitas to be watchdogs and hunt and fight dogs. Being a Japanese native dog, in 1931, Japan declared the Akita a Japanese National Monument. Akitas are relatively large dogs weighing between 70 to 130 pounds and standing from 24 to 28 inches tall.

They can live up to 13 years. Akitas are powerful, athletic, strong dogs and need plenty of exercise. They need to exercise for at least one hour every day because they can be destructive when left alone for long periods. Even though they are loving and affectionate with their owners, they can be wary of strangers and overwhelming for small children. They are not advisable for homes with small children and other pets as they can be aggressive. The fact that Akitas don’t make friends quickly makes them excellent guard dogs.

7. The Saarloos Wolfdog

The Saarloos Wolfdog is a medium to large-sized wolfdog breed from the Netherlands. They have a short but thick double coat with triangular-shaped ears. Saarloos wolfdogs weigh between 66 to 90 pounds, are between 24 to 30 inches tall, and live for up to 12 years. The Saarloos Wolfdog was bred by Leendert Saarloos who was a Dutch breeder.

According to The Animal Corner, he thought German Shepherds had become too domesticated and wanted to create a dog with more wolf-like traits. Leendert decided to breed the German Shepherd with the Eurasian grey wolf. He then paired the dog created with another german shepherd, creating the Saarloos wolfdog. These dogs possess very loving and affectionate traits but are also powerful, high-energy dogs. Because they are wolf descendants, Saarloos wolfdogs have a pack mentality and love the company of other dogs. They can be aggressive and need a lot of training and socialization. Saarloos Wolfdogs are not ideal for families with small children or new dog owners.

6. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a large-sized working wolfdog breed from Czechoslovakia. It has a straight double coat and pointy triangular ears. The Czech wolfdog weighs between 44 and 57 pounds, stand between 23 to 26 inches tall, and live for up to 15 years. In 1955, according to Wisdom Panel, Karel Hartl started to crossbreed German Shepherds with Carpathian grey wolfs as a scientific experiment for the Czechoslovakian Military kennels. Between 1955 and 1965, he crossed breeds until his experiment expired. After that, other breeders took some hybrid dogs and crossed them further with different breeds, including wolves. In 1982, the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog got official recognition from the breeders club.

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a beautiful, hardworking, loyal dog with an independent and dominant streak. They make great family pets with proper socialization and training. It is also a very active dog that requires an active dog owner and a lot of daily exercises to thrive. They are fantastic working dogs that love hiking and running exercises. They also excel in competitive sporting activities. Getting a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog as a first-time dog owner is not advisable as they can be stubborn and overwhelming.

5. The Tamaskan Dog

The Tamaskan dog is a large-sized working dog breed with a wolf-like appearance. The Tamaskans are a relatively new breed of dogs created in the 1980s. They were crossbred with Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and German Shepherds to create a robust domesticated dog breed that looked like a wolf. The result of this crossbreed was the Utonagan dog which then crossbred with the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog to create the Tamaskan dog. They have a thick double coat, perky triangle ears, and a straight furry tail. These dogs weigh 55 to 88 pounds, are between 24 to 28 inches tall, and can live for up to 15 years.

Tamaskans are loyal, intelligent, strong, and energetic dogs like their parents. As stated by Pet Guide, they make great family pets, as well as working dogs. They can be stubborn, so they must be well trained and socialized. Since they are high-energy dogs, they need enough exercise daily to avoid a bored dog’s bad, destructive behaviors. They thrive in active families and are generally friendly and good with children. As active dogs, Tamaskans do well in dog sports like agility, pulling, or flyball.

4. The Utonagan Dog

The Utonogan dog is a large breed of working dog with wolf-like features. They are a relatively new dog breed and are not yet recognized by major kennel clubs. They have thick double coats and pointy ears. Just like the Tamaskan, it was bred in the 1980s by Edwina Harrison, who wanted a dog with wolf-like appearances but had the characteristics of a dog. Edwina crossed the Siberian husky, the German Shepherd, and the Alaskan Malamute to create the Utonagan dog. Depending on their sex, these dogs weigh between 55 to 110 pounds, stand at 23 to 30 inches tall, and have a life span of between 12 to 15 years.

Descending from such powerful working dogs made the Utonogan a beautiful, muscular, athletic, and agile dog. Despite their prominent wolf-like features and strength, Utonagan dogs make excellent family pets. These dogs love to be around their family and become very loyal to their owners. They are gentle and playful, which makes them great companions, especially for families with children. Because they are working dogs, they are highly energetic and active dogs, so they need intense exercises to keep them fit and occupied. Otherwise, they can become destructive when bored.

3. The Samoyed Dog

The Samoyed is a medium-sized herding dog from Siberia. These spitz-type dogs have thick double coats of white fur. Depending on the sex, Samoyeds weigh between 35 to 65 pounds, stand at 20 to 22 inches tall, and can live for up to 14 years. Originating from Siberia, the Samoyede people from Northwestern Siberia bred the Samoyed dog for herding, hunting, sled pulling, and protection. Samoyed dogs are strong, agile, and active dogs. They have a distinctive “Samoyed smile” because of the upward curve in their mouths.

Because they protect their owners, they are fantastic family dogs. They love being around people. If left alone for long periods, they bark a lot. They love to dig and can become destructive when bored, so they must be kept busy. Since Samoyeds are herding dogs, they need a lot of daily exercises to keep them in shape and occupied. They are gentle with children and get along well with other animals too. Due to their thick coats, Samoyeds prefer to live in cold places and shed a lot, so owners brush them at least twice a week.

2. The Alaskan Klee Kai

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a small dog breed from the United States. It has a strong resemblance to the Siberian husky and looks like a miniature husky. Klee Kais come in three different sizes, Toy 6 to 12 pounds, miniature 10 to 18 pounds, and standard 16 to 25 pounds. Depending on the dog’s size and sex, they stand from 13 to 18 inches tall. These dogs have a relatively high life expectancy, can live to 13-16 years, and have a thick double coat of fur. The name Klee Kai means “little dog” in the Athabaskan language. Alaskan Klee Kai is a newer breed as they were bred in the 1970s by Linda Spurlin. According to Dog Time, She mixed the Alaskan husky, the Siberian Husky, the American Eskimo Dog, and Schipperkes to get a smaller husky breed.

Although Alaskan Klee Kais are small dogs, they are very energetic and intelligent dogs that can be stubborn. They need active owners who provide them with an active lifestyle and mental stimulation. They also tend to be wary of strangers, so they need to be trained and socialized early to help them get along with other people. Because Klee Kais have fantastic endurance, they will thrive with an owner who likes hikes, jogging, or long walks. They also do well in dog sports like agility to keep them exercised and mentally stimulated.

1. Alaskan Malamute

The Alaskan Malamute is a large-sized working dog breed from Alaska. It was initially bred by the Mahlemut people of the Norton Sound region in Alaska. They bred it as a sled dog for its strength and endurance to help them pull heavy loads. Naturally, as an Alaskan dog breed, it has thick double coats of fur to protect it from the freezing Alaskan weather and perky triangle ears.

The Alaskan Malamute resembles other arctic breeds like the Siberian Husky, the Samoyed, the spitz, and the Greenland dog, to mention a few. The Alaskan Malamute is a strong, agile, and powerful dog. They are family-oriented dogs that love to play and interact with the family. Since they were bred as working sled dogs, they are very active dogs that must exercise daily. , they can become destructive when bored or frustrated if they are not exercised properly. They are excellent family dogs but can be wary of other animals and pets.

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