Husky Puppies: Pictures, Adoption Tips, and More!

Husky puppies are some of the most adorable canines around. With their striking blue eyes, thick fur, and energetic personalities, it’s no wonder why so many dog enthusiasts are drawn to these beautiful creatures.

However, adopting any dog is a big commitment. It’s important that you approach the process correctly by considering the cost of the dog and finding a quality breeder. After you bring your puppy home, proper care is also essential to their wellbeing.

In this article, we’ll look at exactly how you should go about adopting and caring for your husky puppy.

The Cost of Husky Puppies

Owning a dog can be quite expensive. There are upfront costs to consider, including the cost of the dog and all the equipment you need to care for them. Plus, there are also reoccurring costs that come with owning a dog, such as their food.

Typically, husky puppies cost anywhere from $600 to $1,800. The price may go even higher for puppies from a particularly renowned breeder or those with unique coat colors.

As you might imagine, this is the most substantial upfront cost. We’ll dive deeper into finding reputable breeders in a later section, but it’s important to remember that the purchase price isn’t the only financial consideration.

If you adopt a husky instead of purchasing one from a breeder, then you may pay lower adoption fees. For instance, most rescues charge between $50 to $500 for adoption. However, you do have to consider the difficulty of finding a husky puppy at a rescue. It is nearly impossible!

You’ll need to spend about $200 to $500 on initial startup costs, including a dog bed, crate, and other needs.

Owning a husky puppy will also cost a substantial amount over the year. You’ll have to pay for dog food, grooming supplies, toys, and preventative health. These expenses can average around $1,000 to $2,000 per year. Dogs with serious medical problems may be triple that, though.

Tips on Finding Reputable Breeders

If you’ve decided to bring a husky puppy into your life, your first step should be to find a reputable breeder. Finding a responsible breeder is important, as it ensures the health and well-being of your future canine. Breeders put a lot into their dogs, which is why they charge so much.

Start by researching breeders in your area. The AKC keeps a list of breeders on its website, which is a great place to start. Check out the breeder’s website and any online reviews you can find. See if they provide information on how their puppies are raised and what they require from you to adopt.

(If a breeder doesn’t ask any questions or make you fill something out, that’s a red flag. Most breeders are pretty concerned about where their puppies end up.)

Whenever possible, visit the breeder in person. A breeder that won’t allow you to see where the mother and puppies are kept may be hiding something. This is a huge red flag for it potentially being a puppy mill.

When visiting, check the cleanliness and safety of the area. Puppies should be well-socialized and raised indoors as part of the family. Otherwise, they may not be well-adjusted when they reach your home.

Meet the puppy’s parents if at all possible. While the breeder may not have the father, they should have the mother available for you to meet. Don’t be shy about asking questions and reviewing the dog’s medical history.

Reputable breeders should test their dogs for common health conditions and genetic disorders. Ask for documentation for these genetic tests. If they don’t have them, that is a poor sign.

You should also ask for the puppy’s health records. Quality breeders will have vet records available and may even have already gotten the puppy their first round of shots. If they don’t have any health records, it could be a sign that they aren’t getting the puppies proper health care.

Growth and Milestones of Husky Puppies

After you adopt your puppy, they will go through many different milestones. It’s important to understand these so that you can provide the proper care at the right time.

• Newborn Puppies: Husky puppies are typically born in litters of 4 to 8 pups. At birth, they are blind, deaf, and completely reliant on their mother for warmth and nourishment. After 10 to 14 days, the puppy’s ears and eyes start to open. They’ll start to understand their surroundings. This first period is crucial for socialization, which is one reason it’s important to adopt from a quality breeder. The breeder needs to begin socialization weeks before you bring your puppy home.
• 3 to 12 Weeks: Once again, this stage is vital for socialization. Basic training should also be started, including simple commands like “sit.” Puppies should start housebreaking as early as possible, which many making some progress before they’re even adopted.
• 3 to 6 Months: At this point, your puppy should be home and settling in. Your puppy will likely begin teething at this point, so providing chew toys is important. Continue with obedience training during this phase to reinforce good behaviors.
• Adolescence: As your puppy approaches a year old, they may become more independent and begin pushing boundaries. They also start being more active and stubborn. Often, you’ll need to spay or neuter your dog during this time or even before, depending on the recommendation from your vet.
• Adulthood: Finally, around the age of 2, your dog will reach maturity. They may start to calm down, and they should understand basic commands and good behavior at this point.

Preparing for the Arrival of Your Husky Puppy

Now that you understand how your puppy may act at different ages, it’s important to prepare for your puppy before you even bring them home. You may have to adjust your puppy-proofing as your dog ages, as you’ve seen from the explanation above.

Husky puppies are very curious and love to explore. Therefore, you’ll need to secure anything that may harm them, like toxic plants and chemicals. They may also swallow small objects and choke, much like a human toddler.

Invest in a sturdy crate or playpen for your puppy to use when you can’t watch them closely. This isn’t a permanent feature – just until they learn how to behave properly. Ensure that electrical cords, shoes, and other items your puppy might chew on are out of reach. Huskies are also very skilled escape artists and often smarter than they let on.

Ensure you purchase everything your puppy needs, too. They’ll require a dog bed and crate, as crate training is absolutely necessary. These dogs are prone to isolation anxiety, so they must be trained on how to be alone from a young age.

You’ll also need to purchase food and water bowls, as well as quality puppy food. Choose a puppy food that meets your dog’s needs, as nutrition for puppies is vital.

Your canine also needs a collar, leash, and ID tags. These are essential for outdoor walks and safety. Toys and chews are absolutely necessary, especially when your puppy starts teething.

We recommend investing in grooming tools, too. Huskies have thick coats, so they require regular grooming to control shedding. A slicker brush can work wonders.

Set up a feeding schedule for your puppy using the suggestions from the breeder. Puppies usually need to be fed at least three times a day, but you can drop one feeding once they start getting bigger.

Consider how you plan to housebreak and crate train your puppy. It’s best to have regular potty breaks planned based on the feeding schedule. If you want to limit indoor accidents, more trips are often better.

Training and Socializing Your Husky Puppy

Training and socialization are critical aspects of raising a well-behaved and well-adjusted Husky puppy. This breed is known for its intelligence and independent spirit, making consistent training and early socialization particularly important.

Otherwise, these dogs may simply decide to do whatever they want.

Start basic obedience early – as soon as your puppy walks through the door. Puppies are like little sponges, so they are most receptive to learning during this time. Use positive reinforcement techniques such as treats, praise, and play to reward good behavior. Huskies respond well to rewards and will be more motivated to learn if they are rewarded for their efforts.

These dogs tend to be exceptionally food-driven, which can make training a bit easier.

As we’ve already explained, be sure to start crate training early, too. Housebreaking should start as soon as your puppy comes home. There is a chance that your breeder already started this process, so you should continue it right away.

Early socialization is important. Begin socializing your puppy right away. Expose them to as many people, animals, and places as you can as early as you can. As soon as they have their first puppy vaccinations, you can begin socializing them.

Puppy group classes are exceptionally helpful at this stage. Not only do these provide training advice, but classes also provide socialization in a safe environment.

Puppies are still learning. You can expect them to try out poor behaviors, like chewing on what they shouldn’t or digging. Huskies have a natural instinct to dig, but you can correct this with training. Most behaviors can be corrected with training, so it’s important to teach these basic good behaviors right away.

Caring for the Health and Well-Being of Your Husky Puppy

Caring for your husky puppy can be a lot of work. You need to ensure your puppy gets the proper healthcare, grooming, and exercise.

All puppies require regular vet visits for vaccinations. These protect your dog from very serious (often deadly) diseases, so don’t skip them. They usually need to be administered at specific intervals.

Regular deworming and parasite control are also vital for your puppy’s health. Huskies can be prone to intestinal parasites, as they have a tendency to dig and eat dirt.

Huskies have thick double coats that also require regular grooming to minimize shedding. Invest in a quality slicker brush to remove loose hair and prevent matting. Even though small puppies don’t require much grooming, you should start ASAP to get your dog used to the process.

Luckily, these puppies won’t need frequent baths. Their coats have natural oils to protect them, and bathing too much can strip them of these oils. Instead, you should only bathe your puppy every few months.

You’ll also need to keep your puppy’s nails trimmed to prevent overgrowth. Overgrown nails can be very important and may even cause infections and similar issues. Regularly clean your husky’s ears, too, as they may be prone to infection. Like all dogs, huskies also need their teeth cleaned at least a few times a week.

Huskies are active dogs, so they require daily exercise. You should never force-exercise a puppy, though, as this can cause joint and bone problems. Aim for several play sessions throughout the day to keep your puppy healthy. Walks can also be a great way to exercise (and practice leash walking). However, they should be kept short.

Along with physical exercise, provide mental stimulation through puzzle toys, obedience training, and interactive play. Huskies are very smart, so they require more mental stimulation than other dogs. Otherwise, they can quickly turn destructive as they try to make their own fun.

Your puppy also needs a high-quality diet that works well for their age. Until your dog stops growing, they should continue eating puppy food. Once they reach puberty, you can slowly switch to adult food.

Be sure to watch your dogs. They are often very food-driven, which means they tend to overeat.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © ULADZIMIR CYARGEENKA/iStock via Getty Images