Siberian Huskies are popularly known for their steely blue eyes (sometimes multicolored) and their unique facial masks. They are beautiful dogs with distinctive markings on their thick coat and triangular ears. Their unique wolf-like look draws pet lovers to them, and a lot of people want to own huskies.
Huskies might look like wolves, but they are a friendly breed. They are loyal and loving to humans and cope well with other dogs. Although beautiful and friendly, they are hard to train, so many people go for dogs that look like huskies but smaller or easier to train.
Luckily, several dogs are similar in appearance; we have compiled a list of the dogs that look like huskies. They might be smaller, have an all-white coat, or even look the same with only subtle differences.
Here are the top 10 dogs that look like huskies:
1. Malamute:
Alaskan Malamutes are easily confused as Siberian Huskies. This dog breed has been around for up to 4000 years; they have been used as hunting dogs and for pulling sleds like Huskies.
Alaskan Malamutes are an intelligent breed that descended from wolves. Hence, they are highly energetic and require proper attention and training due to their intelligence. They are larger than Huskies but have less energy. Either way, they still require a lot of space and activities to burn up that energy.
Unlike Huskies, they are less independent and are loyal to their owners instead of a pack. They are playful, gentle, and friendly with humans and other dogs. They have a lifespan of 10-12 years.
2. Tamaskan Dog:
’They might look like wolves, but Tamaskan dogs have no wolf DNA. They are a crossbreed of Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, and Alaskan Malamute. They are loyal, friendly with humans, and are also gentle with children and smaller dogs.
Just like Huskies, they are highly intelligent and energetic, so they need a lot of physical and mental stimulation. They might look like guard dogs, but they are not; they are soft at heart. They can live up to 15 years, which is longer than the average Husky lifespan of 13 years.
3. Akita Inu:
The Akita Inu is a giant dog breed developed in Japan in the 1600s. They are bigger than Huskies, which are a medium-sized breed. They are brave, fearless, and aggressive, which makes them good hunting or guard dogs.
Although they might be aggressive, they are extremely gentle with their family and take it upon themselves to guard the family. They are cautious and highly suspicious of others. Like Huskies, they are energetic and need a lot of space to run around and play. This dog breed can live up to 12 years.
4. Finnish Spitz:
They are dogs that look like Huskies but aren’t, well you would be able to tell from their thick double coat that comes in shades of golden-red. Originating from Finland, the Finnish Spitz is an aggressive, brave, and courageous medium-sized dog.
They are highly conversational, meaning they bark and howl a lot to communicate. This might affect you and your neighbors if you don’t train this dog well. They are good guard dogs but not in any way quiet.
Even with their fierce nature, they behave well with kids and their owners. These dogs can live up to 12-15 years.
5. Alaskan Klee Kai:
Alaskan Klee Kai are dogs that look like mini Huskies; they have similar eyes and coat patterns. They are also highly energetic and intelligent. They also shed a lot like huskies, which is something to consider if you would like one.
The difference is their smaller size and different temperaments; they are shy around strangers, while Huskies will approach strangers. They are also easier to train than other Husky breeds. These dogs live for up to 18 years.
6. American Eskimos:
American Eskimos are one of the several white dogs that look like Huskies. They are easily confused with Samoyeds; that’s because of their fluffy white coat and small size. They are energetic dogs that require space and a lot of attention; they tend to destroy things when bored.
Unlike Huskies, they are more obedient but less tolerant of kids and other dogs. If you want a family dog, this might not be it, but their alert nature makes them good guard dogs. They have the same lifespan as huskies.
7. Saarloos Wolfdog:
What do you get when you crossbreed a German Shepherd and a wolf? A Saarloos Wolfdog. These dogs are bigger than Huskies but have their high energy and intelligence. They require proper training, which involves asserting your dominance.
Their prey drive is intact, so you have to supervise them if around kids and smaller pets, but we’ll advise you not to have one while with children. They aren’t good guard dogs because of their shy attitude towards strangers.
These dogs can live up to 12 years.
8. Utonagan dog:
This large dog breed was developed in the 1980s; it is a blend of Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, and German Shepherd. They are friendly giants; they are good with kids and friendly with people.
They are very energetic, so they need a lot of exercise. Like other Husky breeds, they need a lot of grooming as they shed often. Utonagan dogs can live up to 15 years.
9. Samoyed:
The white and fluffy Samoyed are small dogs that look like Huskies. They are very friendly and hate being left alone. They are very territorial, which means they can act guard dogs.
They can be kept in your apartment, but the downside is their constant shedding. They can live for up to 12-14 years.
10. Icelandic Sheepdog:
They are medium-sized dogs that are like Huskies; they have a thick coat that can come in different colors. They were bred to herd sheep and chase away predators. These working dogs are easy to train and friendly.
You can also be sure about the intelligence of Icelandic Sheepdogs, and they can live up to 15 years if taken care of properly.
This ends our list about dogs that look like Siberian Huskies. Some of these dogs might look similar but have different traits to Huskies. If you have ever considered getting a Husky, but you want something smaller, a dog like the Alaskan Klee Kai would do, if you want a bigger one, an Akita Inu is a fine option.
These dogs have a high resemblance to Huskies and are as beautiful, intelligent, and energetic. Remember, every dog is unique if you want to get one do an in-depth study about their behavioral patterns and needs.
Do you know of any other dogs that look like Huskies? What do you love about Huskies?