If you want to learn more about the American Bulldog mix – a super rare and unusual crossbreed – then you’re in the right place.
This mix can easily reach 100 lbs and has a very high energy level, making it difficult for first-time owners. They’re also not great with other small dogs or cats unless raised together from a young age, but it isn’t all bad news.
American Bulldog Husky mixes are incredibly affectionate and loyal and ideal for families with the time to socialize and exercise them correctly.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything there is to know about this mix, so let’s get straight into it.
Contents
Quick Overview
Here’s a quick rundown of the top facts about the American Bulldog Husky mix:
- Other Names: American Bullsky, American Husky
- Average Lifespan: 10 to 15 years
- Average Height: 20 to 25 inches
- Average Weight: 50 to 100 lbs
- Coat appearance: Short to medium and double coated, lots of colors possible
- Grooming Frequency: Low to moderate grooming needs
- Typical Temperament: Protective, Loyal, Affectionate
- Daily Food Consumption: High
- New Owner Friendly: Can be challenging due to size and exercise needs
- Suitable to live with children? Usually great with children and babies but requires lots of socialization and supervision
- Suitable to live with other dogs? Need to be socialized with small dogs from a young age due to prey drive
- Suitable to live with cats? Need to be socialized with cats from a young age due to prey drive
Appearance
There’s no denying how unique the American Bulldog Husky mix is in terms of appearance.
These dogs have a muscular build, broad shoulders, and a larger skull that takes after the American Bulldog.
Many hints of the Husky can be seen, though, from blue eyes to pointed ears and a more fluffy, curled tail and coat. The appearance varies a lot depending on the parents, though, so it’s possible to see many different types of American Bulldog Husky mixes.
Siberian Husky Appearance & Background
Siberian Huskies have a classic wolf-like appearance, with several Spitz-type features, including erect ears, a thick double coat, and curled tails.
Huskies come in many colors and patterns, including all white, red and white, Agouti, and many more.
Their piercing eyes can also come in various colors, from blue to brown and everything in between.
Huskies were originally domesticated by the Chukchi people of Siberia and used as sled dogs who were capable of pulling light sled loads for miles at a time.
Due to this, they have a slender build and are very energetic.
American Bulldog Appearance & Background
American Bulldogs ascended from the English Bulldog and reached the United States in the 1800s, where they were used as all-round working dogs on farms.
They were used as livestock guardians, as well as stock and catching dogs.
American Bulldogs have a large and muscular physique, with a large, broad, flat skull and moderate muzzle. They’re traditionally white, but any color combination of colors with white is acceptable.
Average Size
American Bulldog Husky mixes are medium to large in size, weighing anywhere from 50 to 100 lbs and reaching 20 to 25 inches in height at the shoulder.
They have a muscular but lean physique and are very strong. This is important to keep in mind because they have a tendency to pull while on a leash.
Coat Appearance
The American Bulldog Husky mix’s coat is often short and dense and can be either single or double-coated. A slightly longer coat can be possible, although it is much rarer.
White is the most common color, along with many other color markings and patterns possible.
Grooming Guide
Grooming this mix is not a big commitment if they have a short coat.
They’ll only need a quick groom with a standard comb a few times per week to help remove dead hairs and get rid of tangles, and that’s about it.
In the rare case that this mix has a longer, thicker coat, it’ll need to be groomed a few times per week properly to target both layers of the coat, and the details for this process can be found here.
They will show some seasonal shedding as well as they transition into their summer coats roughly twice per year, and during this time, they will require more regular grooming.
Bathing
The American Bulldog Husky mix can be bathed quite often thanks to the short coat.
Just make sure to use a pH-neutral, soap-free shampoo and conditioner, and only bathe them when their coat actually needs cleaning.
Temperament
Temperament is one of the most important things to consider with any dog.
It’s crucial for large and active dogs, like the American Bulldog Husky mix, as they can quickly become problematic if you aren’t prepared to handle them.
Affectionate
The American Bulldog Husky mix is highly affectionate and loves spending time with you and your family.
American Bulldogs are known for their gentle and affectionate nature and have a strong devotion to their family.
Huskies are also very affectionate and love socializing with as many people as possible.
Very Active
American Bulldog Husky mixes require a lot of exercise – ideally 2 hours – daily.
This is thanks to the energy levels of both parent breeds, particularly the Husky, which can pull light sled loads over miles at a time in rough terrain.
This strict exercise need does make the American Bulldog Husky mix very demanding for most people as you will run into problems if you don’t give them an outlet for their energy.
Guarding Instinct
American Bulldogs are known for their strong protective instinct and carefully watch over their family and territory.
However, huskies are the opposite in this respect and have little to no guard instinct. In fact, Huskies are more likely to befriend a stranger than anything else.
Some American Bulldog Husky mixes can take after the Bulldog parent and be protective, although this trait isn’t as likely to be as strong as it would be in a purebred American Bulldog.
High Prey Drive
A high prey drive is guaranteed for the American Bulldog Husky mix, as both the parent breeds have a high prey drive.
This means they will often chase after smaller animals like cats or small dogs without giving it a second thought. This can put not only the animal being chased in danger but also the dog itself as they lose awareness of where they are going when they chase.
With high prey drive dogs, using a secure leash is essential, as socializing them with other cats from a very young age if they are going to live together.
Even then, there can still be issues, so I’d recommend reading our page on Huskies with cats for more information.
Prone To Separation Anxiety
Active, affectionate dogs are more prone to separation anxiety because they form close bonds with their owners and can become bored quickly.
American Bulldog Husky mixes are highly prone to separation anxiety due to their temperament, which means they can become stressed and exhibit destructive behaviors when left alone for long periods.
These behaviors may include excessive barking and chewing, so it’s important to address separation anxiety early and ideally not leave them alone for long periods regularly.
Intelligent
American Bulldogs are very intelligent and eager to please.
Huskies are pretty smart, too, but they’re smart in a different type of way. Huskies are very stubborn, which means they’ll often choose not to listen to you, which can sometimes make it seem like they don’t understand a command when, in fact, they are just ignoring you.
The mix of these two is highly intelligent but can be independent and stubborn at times, so you’ll have to be patient during obedience training and always use positive reinforcement.
Tendency to Pull
Huskies are known for pulling, which is no surprise given it’s what they have been bred to do for such a long time.
When you combine this pulling tendency with the raw strength of the American Bulldog, you get a dog that can quickly pull you over if you aren’t expecting it.
Addressing pulling on the leash can be very useful for this mix; they won’t all be prone to pulling, but it’s a serious issue if they are.
It’s also better to use a harness rather than a collar if they’re prone to pulling, although a collar does have its place for addressing pulling during training.
Is The American Bulldog Husky Mix A Good Family Dog?
The American Bulldog Husky mix is an ideal family dog if socialized from a young age.
These dogs are incredibly affectionate and loving and want to look after the family, including watching over them and keeping them safe. They’re super active, though, so they’re only suited for families who are able to meet their intense exercise needs.
Requires Lots Of Socialization
Socialization is extremely important for the American Bulldog Husky mix.
Introducing them to as many new people, environments, and noises as possible from the puppy stage will have a lot of benefits:
- Socializing will benefit their protective instinct a lot. This mix can be dangerous in the wrong hands, and socializing from a young age is part of making sure they are comfortable around other people.
- It will also help them to control their excitement when meeting new people. Given the size of this mix, this is very important to stop them from jumping up at people and hurting them.
There are many other benefits of socialization, but it’s of utmost importance to ensure the American Bulldog Husky mix has no aggression toward other people.
How Much Do They Cost?
It’s much more common to see American Bulldog Husky mixes in rescues given how rare this dog is, but if you do come across a breeder, the puppies could be expensive based on the prices of the parent breeds:
- Huskies cost anywhere from $800 to $1,500 on average
- American Bulldogs cost anywhere from $1,800 to $3,500 on average
Remember that rescue American Bulldog Husky mixes can face issues due to a lack of socialization and might be challenging to keep with other dogs or cats.
In Summary
The American Bulldog Husky might be rare and intimidating, but they’re gentle giants beneath the appearance and need responsible owners to meet their needs.
If you’re up to the task of at least 2 hours of daily exercise and handling their larger-than-life personalities, then they’re a super rewarding dog to own.
If you’re interested in learning about more Husky mixes, you can check out some of our recent articles below:
- Husky Border Collie Mix [Borsky]: Full Guide With Pictures
- Husky Yorkie Mix [Yorksky] – Full Guide With Pictures
- Husky Newfoundland Mix (Newsky): Full Guide With Pictures
- Siberian Husky Staffy Mix [Staffsky] – Profile & Pictures
- Husky Doberman Mix [Dobsky] – Full Guide & Pictures
- Husky Rottweiler Mix [Rottsky]: Full Breakdown & Pictures
- Siberian Husky Great Pyrenees Mix: Full Profile & Pictures
- Irish Wolfhound Husky mix [Irish Wolfsky] – Full Profile
