Husky Chow Chow Mix: Avoid This Mix? (The Truth)

The Husky Chow Chow mix is certainly raising some eyebrows. When you mix these two awesome breeds together you get what is known as a Chowsky, or some people prefer Chusky.

In this complete Chusky guide, we will cover the temperament, traits, feeding requirements, exercise needs, grooming, and general caring for this fascinating mix breed dog.

Some people consider the Chusky to be aggressive and dangerous, so we’ll highlight the truth, and whether or not owners should avoid this mix.

Origin of the Chusky

The Chusky consists of the Siberian Husky and the Chow Chow, both of these breeds have their own distinct origins and history. However, the Chusky history is a little more unclear.

The Chusky has only recently just been recognized as a designer dog breed in the last few years or so and the complete history of this crossbreed breed is unclear.

No one actually knows exactly when the Chusky mix first came in to play, but an educated guess would suggest it was in the last 20 years or so, like most mixes we have today.

Other Husky Mixes to check out:
Husky Pug Mix
Husky Australian Shepherd Mix
Husky Akita Mix
Husky Rottweiler Mix

Origins of the Chow Chow

The Chow Chow has a lot of history and is even considered by some to be one of the oldest breeds in the world.

The Chow Chow has even been spotted in ancient artifacts dating back to 206BC during the Han Dynasty.

Originally used in Ancient China as a royal companion dog for those of nobility. During the Tang Dynasty, one emperor apparently owned more than 5000 Chow Chows at once.

The Chow Chow makes a great guard dog and still to this day serves as a royal guard dog in some areas of China. On top of guarding, Chows Chows are known for hunting, hauling, and labor-intensive tasks.

Large and powerful, extremely loyal and fiercely protective best describes the Chow Chow. In general, Chows will be a great family pet as long as firm training and socialization are put into place from the beginning.

⭐ Popular Article: Husky German Shepherd Mix (Gerberian Shepsky!)

Origins of the Siberian Husky

The Siberian Husky also has its fair share of history, originally bred by the Nomadic Chukchi People of Eastern Siberia thousands of years ago.

The Chukchi People bred Huskies to help them with their hunter-gatherer/nomadic lifestyle. Huskies were primarily used for helping the Chukchi’s transport their goods and fellow tribes across large distances in extreme weather conditions.

After many generations of enduring this hard lifestyle, the Siberian Husky has become one of the most resilient, hard-working, energetic breeds. Capable of running more than 100 miles per day.

In fact, due to the Siberian Husky’s ability to cross vast distances in record-breaking time, they were used to help save a small Alaskan town called Nome, in 1925. After the town was struck with a Diptheria epidemic, the only way possible to get the life-saving anti-toxin in time was by using a team of sled dogs.

These sled dogs covered 674 miles in just 6 days in some of the harshest weather the country had seen in decades. This elite pack of Siberian Huskies saved hundreds of lives.

Appearance and Physical Traits

The appearance of a Chusky can vary as both parents have strong individual looks that are not very similar. What your Chusky may look like will depend on which genes they take on the most, the Husky or the Chow Chow.

Let’s take a look at both breeds, then we can imagine what a mix could produce.

Chow Chow Appearance and Physical Traits

The Chow Chow has thick coarse, almost bear-like fur. This is a very unique physical feature to the Chow Chow which makes them stand out dramatically amongst many other breeds.

Sometimes you cannot even see their full face due to fluffy fur covering the edges of the facial features.

The Chow Chow has a compact, strong body and doesn’t stand as tall as the husky. The average height of a Chow Chow is 17 inches to 21 inches. The average weight of a male is 55-70lbs, female 45-60lbs. Heavier than the husky.

The normal color for a Chow Chow is golden brown, but you can get white, cream, or black coats as well.

• Very Thick Coarse and Fluffy Coats
• Short and Stocky
• Golden Brown, Cream, White, Black
• Short Snout
• Small & Hard to See Eyes

Siberian Husky Appearance and Physical Traits

The Siberian Husky also boasts a thick double coat, although it certainly is not as long or fluffy as the Chow’s.

Huskies have very distinct markings, typically on their faces. Usual coat color for Siberian Huskies is White, Grey, Black, and Red (less common)

Strong upright triangle ears with a distinct jawline and long snout best describe the face of a husky.

The Husky stands a little taller than the Chow Chow at around 21 inches – 25 inches. The average weight of a male husky is 45-60lbs a female is 35-50lbs. A little lighter than the Chow Chow.

• Double Coat, Shorter than Chow Chow
• Distinct Markings on Face and Body
• Gray, White, Black, Red coat colors
• Strong Upright Triangle Shaped Ears
• Long Snout
• Long Fluffy, Curly tail

Chusky Appearance and Physical Traits

Height ⭐

The Chusky is likely to be a medium to large dog ranging from 17-25 inches in height. If your Chusky takes on more genes from the Siberian Husky, it’s likely to be on the larger side.

Weight ⭐

It’s likely that the Chusky will be a heavy dog, not only is it possible to have the huskies large size, but also the bulky muscular body of the Chow Chow. Weight range will likely be anywhere between 45-70lbs. Gender will of course also affect this.

Coat, Color and Markings ⭐

Expect a thick, long, and, coarse coat that will shed like no tomorrow! If you’re not ready for a steady grooming routine then think twice about getting a Chusky.

The color will vary greatly depending on which genes your Chusky takes on the most. The most common color of Chusky is a faint golden brown on the face and upper body which fades into a lighter white/gray/cream on the underbelly and lower paws.

Facial markings are usually still present like the Siberian Husky, just less bold and visible.

Face and Head ⭐

The Chusky usually has a face that is a perfect blend of both the classic Chow Chow features and Siberian Husky features. The snout becomes medium in length, the face is slightly more visible and distinct than a normal Chow Chow. Ears are small to medium-sized, upright and triangle-shaped.

Eyes ⭐

Eyes will typically just either be dark or in rare cases, blue. Heterochromia which affects most huskies is practically never seen in Chow Chows. It’s likely your Chusky will have two dark brown eyes.

Personality and Temperament of the Chusky

Suspiciousness and Trust Qualities

The Siberian Husky is a trusting breed who is not overly suspicious when meeting strangers, in fact, they are known to befriend almost anyone. The Chow Chow is very different from this and is considered to be very aloof to strangers. The Chow Chow is a natural watchdog/guard dog who is not trusting of anyone they do not already know well.

Affection and Loyalty

Despite this difference in trust, both the Husky and Chow Chow love human company and are very affectionate, but its true they will show it in different ways. A Husky loves everyone, the Chow Chow will love just the owner and other close companions. Your Chusky will certainly be a people person and will be very loving, but probably not so much with strangers. Training will be absolutely necessary to ensure a friendly, affectionate dog

Stubbornness and Independence

If your Chusky takes on more of their Husky Parent they could be more stubborn and independently minded than you may have expected. Siberian Huskies are known for being somewhat stubborn and only seem to do what they want. However, the Chow Chow does not usually display this behavior. Regardless of both, a firm training regime will always be needed to ensure a well behaved, obedient Chusky.

Strong Prey Drive Instincts

The Chow Chow and the Husky have strong prey drives, so your Chusky will almost always have this too. If you have a cat or any other small animal. Your supervision will always be needed. Training can be done to help your Chusky gain more self-control when in a situation where distractions like small animals are present, however, instincts can never fully be trained against. This is definitely something to keep in mind.

Aggression

The Siberian Husky is not regarded as an aggressive breed although, after some negative headlines in the last decade, they have been given a bad reputation. There will always be exceptions to the norm, but in general, huskies are not aggressive. However, the Chow Chow is known to have a mean streak. This can be seen from being overly suspicious and aloof to strangers. It’s reasonable that a Chow Chow would bite a stranger. Hopefully, your Chusky takes on more Husky in this respect. Training and socialization will be super important from puppyhood to ensure a friendly mature dog.

Attention Seeking

The Siberian Husky has officially been declared as the No.1 most attention-seeking breed. Huskies NEED a lot of your time and attention in many different ways to be a satisfied, happy dog. The Chow Chow, on the other hand, does not need or want a lot of attention and has even been described as cat-like. This complete contrast can leave you with something nicely balanced, or in complete favor to one or the other.

Appearance, Traits, Temperament, Recognition, Price:

Size:	Medium to Large
Weight:	20kg-30kg (45-70lbs)
Height:	17-25 Inches
Coat:	Thick, Long Coarse, and Fluffy. Double Coat
Breed Recognition:	Recognized only by the DRA and American Canine Crossbreed Club as a Chowski (AKC doesn’t recognize this breed)
Average Puppy Cost:	$700 – $1800
Eyes:	Likely dark brown, small chance of blue.
Ears:	Small to medium size. Triangle pointed shape.
Head:	Compact with a small to medium snout.
Markings and Color:	Likely to be light golden brown blending into a white/gray/cream on the underneath. Faint markings on face, mostly blended.
Shedding:	Two distinct shedding periods, with consistent year-round shedding.
Life Expectancy:	12-15 years.
Hypoallergenic:	No.
Training Ability:	Difficult to train but possible with a strong, firm training regime applied daily.
Protective:	Yes.
Good with Kids:	Cannot be trusted with kids until well trained and socialized.
Good with other Dogs:	Generally yes, training and socialization will first be necessary.

Check out this awesome video and find out exactly what the Husky Chow Chow Mix looks like. For your convenience, you can watch the video without needing to exit the page.

Top 20 Husky Mixes & How Much They Cost (Updated)

Should You Get a Chusky? Things To Consider

If you are considering getting a Husky Chow Chow mix then you should consider the following important points about this breed.

Firstly, it’s important to remember that the Siberian Husky and Chow Chow are both independently hard to train.

I will never be the one to say a dog is “too much dog” for someone, even a beginner. Although, you have to be really honest with yourself… Are you ready to take on this difficult, time-consuming task? If so, that’s great.

With the Chow Chow’s slightly aggressive nature, I would be careful with this mix if you have young children or other small animals already in your household (YES, some are absolutely fine with children, this is the exception, not the rule).

Your Chusky may have some of this aggressive nature in them so caution is paramount. Even “good-natured” dogs should never be fully trusted with babies or children, let alone ones known for having a mean streak. Firm training and socialization from the get-go can resolve this but it’s a long process that takes time and dedication.

The Chow Chow and Husky have big prey drives so if you have a cat or any other small pet, this could be a reason to avoid the Chusky. Training can be done to increase self-control, but instincts can never be fully trained against.

The Chusky has an energetic side to them which comes from the Husky. Be prepared to exercise your Chusky 1-2 times per day that isn’t just a casual stroll. Running and chasing their ball will likely be their favorite exercise so be sure you can fit this in every day without fail.

Your Chusky will be an affectionate companion to you, but this will mean they will need your time and attention. Siberian Huskies especially can develop separation anxiety very easily when not around their owners. If you work long hours every day with no one else in your household, this may not be a fair choice.

Summed up key points anyone should know before owning a Chusky:

• Potentially aggressive tendencies, especially with strangers.
• Affectionate and loyal. Requiring a lot of your attention.
• Intelligent and mischevious.
• Firm training and socialization are needed for an obedient, friendly dog.
• Will require an intense exercise routine on a daily basis.
• Shedding will be significant! Hairy floors will be your new life.

If after reading the above you are still confident and sure of getting this beautiful mix, good on you! The above is not to scare anyone off this amazing breed, it’s simply to outline the potential difficulties.

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Psst. Haven’t heard of Brain Training For Dogs? It’s a scientifically-proven method for improving a dog’s behavior and intelligence. By regularly engaging in specific brain training exercises, you can help your dog become more obedient and less destructive in record time.

Husky Chow Chow Mix Puppies for Sale

When looking for any new puppy, you must do good research on the breeder. This is no exception for crossbreed puppies. Whenever you find a breeder that does, in fact, have Husky Chow Chow mix puppies for sale, you must always ask about any health issues with either parent, as well as behavioral issues.

The parent’s health and behavior are commonly passed on to their offspring so be sure that your breeder is able to give you a lot of information on the parents. If your breeder can’t provide this important information, you should seriously consider moving on. That’s never a good sign.

A sign of a good breeder will be that they provide document proof about the parents and that they have been used to breed the Husky Chow Chow.

Finding a breeder by referral and word of mouth is by far the best and most reliable way. Friends and your local veterinarian will be the best people to ask first.

Alternatively, you can look online (PuppySpot), but if you choose to do this you MUST remember to make the same due diligence checks as if you would finding a breeder any other way. It can be easy to find your “perfect puppy” online, but be aware that illegitimate breeders are all over the web. Once you find a puppy, you’ll still have to phone and then meet them for further information.

Some generally “trusted” websites that you can use are:

US Websites: Availability will change

• www.puppyspot.com
• www.adpost.com
• www.hoobly.com
• www.americanlisted.com
• www.puppyfinder.com

Canadian Websites: Availability will change

• kijiji.ca (potentially controversial site, always check the breeder)
• getapuppy.ca
• canadapups.com
• puppiesforsaleontario.com

UK Websites: Availability will change

• www.pets4homes.co.uk
• www.dogsandpuppies.co.uk
• www.puppies.co.uk

The Husky Chow Chow is still considered to be a new crossbreed and although is becoming increasingly popular, it may be hard to find online, availability will be changing all the time.

Exercise Requirements of a Husky Chow Chow Mix

Now we have the Yin and Yang of breeds, the Chow Chow does need daily exercise, but not that much. The Chow Chow will likely be satisfied and healthy with a 15-30 minute walk, once or twice per day. They are a small breed and usually do not need much exercise.

The Siberian Husky is the exact opposite of this. The Husky can happily run 100 miles per day… Yep, that’s true. A Siberian Husky will need at least 2 hours of intensive exercise per day, preferably 1 hour in the morning and 1 in the evening. Intense means constant running, chasing, hiking, agility training, sled pulling and even marathon training!

So, when you bring these two breeds together, you will still likely end up with a Chusky that needs a lot of exercise.

For sure, the exercise requirements will be more towards that of the Husky, than the Chow Chow. 1-2 hours per day, one in the morning and one in the evening will be needed. If you do not provide this physical stimulation it can usually lead to behavioral issues fairly quickly.

This should be considered before you decide to get a Chusky, be aware they will need a lot of exercise and require an active lifestyle. It helps if your lifestyle is active, in this case owning a highly energetic breed will not cause you too many problems. You now have a new running partner!

Key points about Exercising a Chusky:

• 1-2 hours per day of medium to intense exercise will be required
• Running, hiking, chasing, agility training will be the best type of exercise
• Having a generally active lifestyle will be ideal even when not out for their walk
• Chusky will have a lot of energy (taken from the Siberian Husky)
• Expect health or behavioral issues if adequate exercise isn’t provided

Training a Husky Chow Chow Mix

The Chow Chow is very intelligent, and with this intelligence comes the unwanted hint of mischievousness. They need firm training straight from when you get them home in order to be a well behaved, obedient dog. If training is not implemented, they’ll likely be unruly, aggressive and destructive.

The Siberian Husky is also an intelligent breed with the ability to be trained to a high level. Although the husky is known for being stubborn and independent.

When you mix these breeds together you get a Chusky that will be very intelligent and cunning. They will push the limits of your patience and you need to be ready for this. Despite being very smart, they will be stubborn and mischevious, ready to do exactly what you do not want them to!

But make no mistake. With the correct Positive Reinforcement Training right from puppyhood, you can train your Chusky to be a very smart, obedient, well behaved dog that you share a mutual respect with.

I have a complete article on how to train a husky puppy which will serve perfectly for the Chusky puppy as well. It outlines the importance of positive reinforcement training and why it works so well. It also goes through in detail all the different commands and training your puppy should receive from the first day home. Save that link to your bookmarks or take a look now. Husky Puppy Training – My Happy Husky

Key points about training a Chusky:

• Training will be difficult and challenging
• Chusky will be very smart and mischevious
• Training should start from the first day home
• Positive Reinforcement Training is the best method
• Socialization early on with other puppies and dogs will be important to ensure a friendly non-aggressive Chusky
• A lot of time and patience will be needed from you

Diet Requirements of Husky Chow Chow Mix

The Chusky will be a medium to large breed that will require a very nutritious diet that’s high in protein, moderate fat and low carbs.

The Husky and Chow Chow are both individually powerful breeds that will need a high-quality diet to be satisfied and healthy. The Husky has been bred for thousands of years on a diet consisting of mostly protein and fat with little carbs. The Chow Chow, being a small compact but muscular breed can gain weight a little easier than a husky, and usually needs their diet and calories to be more closely monitored.

One thing that will also be important to remember is the Siberian Husky’s sensitive stomach. Most Huskies have a sensitive stomach and it’s very likely that a Chusky will have this issue as well.

This will mean choosing a brand of food preferably made for sensitive dogs, which does not contain common allergens and ingredients known to cause irritation. I have a complete article on the best food for a husky puppy, which will be the same for your Chusky puppy.

Key points about the diet of a Chusky:

• Highly nutritious with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
• High protein content, preferably from salmon, duck, or fish
• Ideally made for dogs with sensitive stomachs
• Does not contain common allergens, preservatives, wheat, corn, soy or artificial ingredients
• Carbs should be low GI
• Calory dense to help the fussy eater Chusky (huskies are prone to leaving their food)
• Approved by the Dog Food Advisor

Grooming needs of a Husky Chow Chow Mix

Most of the funny Husky memes on the web are about Husky Shedding. Well, the Chow Chow has even more thick fur than the Husky! This pretty much confirms that you’ll need to deal with a lot of hair, on a daily basis

You’ll need to arm yourself with high-quality brushes and grooming products, and ideally a powerful vacuum designed for sucking up pet hair. After this, a solid grooming routine will have to be put in place.

Gradual shedding will be consistent year-round with two big sheds just before the warm and cold weather kicks in. This happens so your double-coated dog can properly prepare for the change in temperature. Their coat is very important in regulating their body temperature.

How often you should groom your Chusky will depend on the time of the year, when they are close and/or going through a shedding period, grooming will be required daily for a solid 30 minutes at a time. Year-round maintenance grooming can be every 3 days for 15/20 minutes each time.

Special attention should be given around the head, neck, and underbelly chest area. The coat here is thicker and will need a little more grooming to remove old dead hair and keep the skin healthy.

Bathing should be given once or twice a month, using a mild dog shampoo made for puppies (during puppyhood). Never use human shampoo or dawn washing liquid. Huskies have sensitive skin and this will likely cross over to your Chusky. One of the safest, most highly reviewed puppy shampoo is from Paws and Pals Natural Puppy Shampoo on Amazon.com

Key points about Chusky Grooming:

• Chuskies will shed heavily twice per year with all-round maintenance shedding
• Quality brushes and grooming products will be necessary
• A solid grooming routine is very important
• Bathing once or twice per month using specially formulated shampoo for sensitive skin. Preferably organic with natural ingredients

Husky Chow Chow Mix Common Health Problems

There are certain health issues that the Chusky will be more susceptible to. While you can never really prevent any health issues that are passed down from parents. You can ensure a healthy active lifestyle to avoid certain health issues that come from diet and exercise, diabetes being one of them.

The common health issues you can expect to find in a Chusky can include:

• Hip and elbow dysplasia
• Cataracts
• Follicular dysplasia
• Hypothyroidism
• Progressive retinal atrophy
• Gastric torsion
• Autoimmune thyroiditis
• Zinc responsive dermatosis (coming from the Husky genes)

The best thing you can do as a responsible dog owner is to have your puppy checked thoroughly by a veterinarian. Despite the costs, it’s wise to schedule routine checkups every 6 months with your vet to be up to date with your dog’s internal health. If you would like to some interesting points about pet insurance I have an in-depth article specific to huskies, which will be of use the Chusky.

Popular Articles on My Happy Husky:
13 Signs That Your Husky Actually Loves
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Thank you for reading and be sure to check out my other article on the HUSKITA a Siberian Husky mix Japanese Akita! This is an even more popular mix that is truly amazing.

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Best Brushes For Husky Shedding ⭐

My two favorite brushes for a beautiful coat are a simple Undercoat Rake and a Slicker Brush. These brushes when used together will de-shed and maintain your husky’s coat better than anything else.

Best Online Training Program For Huskies⭐

Brain Training For Dogs has become increasingly popular with Siberian Huskies in the last few years. It’s now recognized as perhaps the best way to train a husky in the most stress-free, positive way.

Best Husky Puppy Book ⭐

If you would like to support My Happy Husky directly and have an easy to read and entertaining guide for training your husky puppy, check out my book The Husky Puppy Handbook on Amazon. All purchases are greatly appreciated.

Helpful Resources Used:
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/chow-chow/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chow_Chow
https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/dog-breeds/chow-chow
https://www.prestigeanimalhospital.com/services/dogs/breeds/chow-chow
https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/c_dg_siberian_husky
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161014-in-1925-a-remote-town-was-saved-from-lethal-disease-by-dogs