Chusky

The Chusky is a mix between a Siberian Husky and a Chow Chow. They are medium-sized dogs weighing approximately 40 to 65 pounds.

These incredibly adorable dogs are fun and curious,  but they are big shedders due to their silky, thick coats. This breed is well adapted for cold weather because of its dense coat.

Because of their playful nature, Chuskies are great with kids and other pets but are stubborn and very demanding, making them hard to train. In addition, they need a firm owner with experience, so they are not the best breed for first-time dog owners.

Four Different Types of Siberian Husky and Chow Chow Mixes

There are several Siberian Husky, and Chow Chow mixes that are too cute for words; these include:

Huskita

The Huskita is an adorable mix of Siberian Husky and Akita. They are faithful friends, devoted to their families. However, they are fiercely independent and may sometimes seem distant or detached. The Huskita is a giant-dog breed that weighs between 70 to 120 pounds.

Gerberian Shepsky

Gerberian Shepskys is a mix between the German Shepherd and Siberian Husky, giving them a striking wolf-like appearance. They are a courageous breed that will defend their families at all costs. There are several names for this hybrid, including:

• Siberian Shepherd
• Husky Shepherd
• Gerberian Shepsky

This breed has a high energy level and does best in mental and physically stimulating environments. In addition, they have a high alpha drive, making them challenging to train and socialize.

Golden Chow

The Golden Chow is a cross between a Golden Retriever and Chow Chow. By crossbreeding these two dog breeds, the Golden Chow has a great mix of traits, like the Retriever’s gentle personality and the Chow’s independence.

They make the best companions and family pets or active families, especially owners who like running or hiking as they love being outside.

One negative trait they inherit from the Chow Chow is wariness of strangers, but they will soon warm up to visitors provided they supply them with some yummy treats.

Pitchow

The Pitchow is a cross between an American Pit Bull and Chow Chow. While this breed loves to play and is very affectionate, they can be aggressive and wary of strangers. However, you can curb this behavior by training and socializing them from pups.

Three Pros and Cons of Owning a Chusky 

Chuskies have a lot of appealing traits, but they have some negative ones that all dog lovers should be aware of before purchasing this unique breed.

Pros

• The perfect breed for active families
• They are protective, good guard dogs, and loyal
• Thrive in colder climates

Cons

• They may be challenging to train and not the breed for first-time dog owners
• Can be aggressive to pets and strangers
• Sheds a lot

The Best Dog Food for a Chusky

Because the Chusky is a large breed, they need a specifically formulated dog food for large breeds. Feeding them high-quality kibble will promote steady growth and long, healthy life. In addition, they should be provided specific food for each stage they’re in; for example, puppy, adult, and senior.

Chusky Size and Weight

The Chusky is tall, measuring 18 to 27 inches, and weighs between 40 to 65 pounds. In addition, males are slightly bigger than females.

Chusky Common Health Issues

One of the Chusky’s most common health issues is that sometimes they are born without all their teeth. This unfortunate problem can directly influence their ability to eat kibble, and they will have to stick to a wet food diet.

Besides that, they are generally healthy pets, but they can inherit some of their parent breed’s health issues like:

• Hip dysplasia
• Patellar luxation
• Diabetes
• Myotonia
• Eye diseases

To prevent any of these health issues, they need regular vet checkups to ensure they are treated as early as possible if they do occur.

Chuskies have a relatively long lifespan of 10 to 13 years for such a large breed.

Chusky Temperament

Chuskies are excellent watchdogs and will alert you when danger is near. However, they are not the best breed for inexperienced dog owners because they are hard to train and control.

But if you are patient, firm, and willing to put in the time, you will have no problem training this stubborn breed.

How to Take Care of a Chusky

Because of their size and fur, caring for the Chusky takes more time and energy than most other breeds.

Grooming

Chuskies are heavy shedders, so they will require daily brushes and several tools to get the job done. Ensure that you have a heavy-duty brush for their thick fur. Otherwise, you might find yourself buying new brushes every week!

In addition, they need their nails clipped every 3 months, along with regular ear cleaning. Finally, to keep their teeth strong and healthy, you must brush them daily with high-quality dog toothpaste.

Training

Unfortunately, the Chusky is not well-adapted for training and wants nothing to do with your silly commands. Therefore, they will constantly test boundaries; only experienced dog owners will break this habit. However, they tend to respond well to positive reinforcement training methods.

Exercise

Chuskies have a very high energy drive since their parent breeds were bred to travel long distances. Therefore, they need to get at least 60 minutes of exercise a day; this can include a leisurely hike at one of your favorite parks. In addition, they enjoy running and fetching games.

They are a blast during winter because of their fondness for running through the snow. But, in the summer months, they prefer to stay cool indoors.

Puppies

Chusky pups can be a handful, so be sure that you can handle their outgoing and mischievous nature. They are very intelligent for their age and are fearless! When choosing a pup, go for the happy and friendly ones. If they are scared or nippy as puppies, it could be a sign of problematic behavior in the future. So, before making your choice, touch their head, ears, and feet, and if they do not react negatively, they are the perfect pup for you!

Obtaining a Chusky puppy might be harder than you think. Reputable breeders usually have long waiting lists. In addition, they are expensive; a pup could cost anywhere from $600 to $1000 depending on the breeder, location, and gender.

Adoption is another option, but finding one in a shelter might be tricky. Call around to local shelters, or Husky/Chow Chow rescues and ask them to inform you if one arrives.

Chuskies and Children

While Chuskies tend to gravitate towards one person in the household, one of their best qualities is their ability to get along with children of all ages. This is due to their pack-oriented genes and their playful nature.

However, no matter how good they are with children, they are big dogs and could accidentally hurt a small child while playing, so they should be monitored at all times when around your kids.

Dogs similar to the Chusky

There are few breeds similar to the Chusky, including:

• The Alaskan Malamute
• The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
• The American Eskimo Dog

Popular Names for a Chusky

Finding the perfect name for your furry companion might be a challenging task; for some inspiration, here are the most popular names for Chuskies

• Bailey
• Cooper
• Chewy
• Zoe
• Milo
• Rocky
• Teddy
• Lola
• Kona
• Winston
• Rex
• Toby
• Shep

Up Next

• The Icelandic Sheepdog Guide
• Saarloos Wolfdog Guide
• 10 Incredible Alaskan Malamute Facts

1. Dog Time, Available here: https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/chusky#/slide/1
2. Pet Guide, Available here: https://www.petguide.com/breeds/dog/chusky/
3. Perfect Dog Breeds, Available here: https://www.perfectdogbreeds.com/husky-chow-mix/#h22