The Siberian Husky Staffy mix is an unusual cross between two highly popular but very different dogs.
The result? A loving and energetic dog that wants to spend as much time with the family as possible. Staffskies are a challenging breed to own, but they are incredibly rewarding.
In this guide, we’ll explore everything there is to know about the Husky Staffy mix to see whether this dog is suited for you.
Contents
Quick Overview
Here’s a brief overview of the Husky Staffy mix:
- Other Names: Staffsky
- Average Lifespan: 12 to 14 years
- Average Height: 15 to 20 inches
- Average Weight: 35 to 50 lbs
- Coat appearance: Usually short and dense, lots of color combinations possible
- Activity Level: Moderate to high, 1 hour to 90 minutes daily
- Grooming Frequency: Don’t need to be groomed very often
- Typical Temperament: Affectionate, loyal, and quite high-energy
- Daily Food Consumption: Moderate
- New Owner Friendly: Can be challenging for new owners
- Suitable to live with children? Great with all children as long as they are socialized properly
- Suitable to live with other dogs? Usually fine, but can benefit from being socialized from an early age
- Suitable to live with cats? Must be socialized from an early age due to high prey drive
Appearance
Staffskies have a unique appearance and will normally take after the Staffordshire Bull Terrier more in size and structure, with other features taken from the Husky like alert, pointed ears and even blue eyes.
Staffskies are smaller and more compact than your average Husky with a more muscular physique. Their skull is larger and broader than a Husky, and they have a very gentle expression.
It really does vary a lot, though, so I’ve included as many examples as possible in this guide to give you a better idea of what to expect.
Siberian Husky Appearance & Background
Siberian Huskies have a classic wolf-like appearance, with several Spitz-type features. These include erect ears, a thick double coat, and curled tails.
Huskies come in many different 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.
The overall build of the Husky is very slender, allowing them to be capable of incredible feats of endurance and excel as sled dogs.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Appearance & Background
Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or Staffys for short, are a very popular dog in the United Kingdom, where they originated.
Staffies were bred from the Bulldog mixed with terriers and were used as pit dogs for fighting.
Staffies are not to be confused with the American Staffordshire Terrier, which is taller and heavier.
Staffies have a classic AKC bull-type appearance with a thick, wide head and muscular body. Although they are associated with aggression and violence, when socialized from a young age, Staffies are incredibly affectionate and make ideal family pets.
In terms of coat color, Staffies come in a wide range of colors, from red to fawn to black and more.
Average Size
Staffskies are medium-sized dogs, typically smaller than your average Husky but larger than a Staffy.
They are well-built for their size and reach 15 to 20 inches in height and 35 to 50 lbs in weight on average, but this can vary depending on the parents.
As you can see in the example above, some Staffskies are taller and more slender, resembling the Husky parent’s build rather than the Staffy.
Coat Appearance
Staffskies usually have a short, dense coat similar to the Staffy. The coat can also be medium in length, although this is much less common.
Various color combinations are possible, with white or black markings very common.
Grooming Guide
Grooming a Staffsky is very easy, thanks to the single-coated short coat that they usually have.
You’ll only need to groom them once weekly at most with a grooming comb to get rid of loose hair, and expect them to shed lightly year-round.
Bathing
Bathing is also very straightforward; bathe them when their coat is dirty and needs a good clean.
You can bathe Staffskies quite often whenever needed, as they have a single coat that can handle frequent bathing well. Just use a neutral shampoo and, ideally, a high-quality conditioner.
Temperament
Now, let’s move on to arguably the most important thing to consider with any dog – temperament.
With mixes that aren’t well established like the Staffsky, it can be hard to predict their temperament, but there are many similarities between the parent breeds, which can give us some clues into how they’re likely to behave.
Friendly
Huskies are incredibly friendly and love to meet new people; they’re even super friendly around strangers.
Staffies are much the same and love to spend time around people, so you can bet that any Staffsky will be the same and love to be around people.
High Prey Drive
An important aspect of the Staffsky that owners need to know is their high prey drive.
Huskies and Satffies both have a high prey drive, so this behavior will no doubt be passed down to the Staffsky as well, but what does it mean?
A high prey drive means that a dog is prone to chasing after smaller animals without giving it a second thought.
In practical terms, this means socialization will be required for Staffskies to live with other small pets like cats, and you’ll have to keep them on a leash when outside to keep them safe.
Stubborn Tendencies
Siberian Huskies are one of the most stubborn breeds and choose when to listen to their owners.
Staffies are very similar and also have a very stubborn streak, which means that the Staffsky is all but guaranteed to inherit this trait.
Intelligent
Huskies and Staffies are both intelligent dogs, which means that Staffskies are going to inherit intelligence as well.
They might not score highly on standardized dog intelligence tests, but this results from their stubbornness.
For example, both are ranked in the average working obedience/intelligence category on Coren’s The Intelligence of Dogs. This is actually quite surprising, as these tests rely on the repeatability of new commands, which is not something that stubborn breeds excel at.
Highly Active
Staffskies are quite an active mix, requiring at least an hour of exercise daily and ideally more like 90 minutes split into two walks or runs.
Both parent breeds are highly active, with Huskies especially loving to exercise and needing at least 2 hours per day thanks to their background as sled dogs.
Staffies are pretty active, too, and enjoy lots of exercise, so there’s no denying that the Staffsky is quite a handful when it comes to keeping them active.
Prone To Separation Anxiety & Boredom
Active and intelligent dogs lend themselves to separation anxiety and get bored quickly, and Staffskies are no exception to this rule.
These dogs do not like to be left alone for long periods and may exhibit destructive behaviors if this happens. They’ll also require lots of mental stimulation outside of exercise to keep their minds active and prevent boredom.
Need Socializing & Constant Training
Socialization is an absolute must for Staffskies for several reasons:
- Some Staffies can become aggressive if they aren’t socialized properly from a young age.
- Huskies can get overly excited when they meet new people, so it’s important to teach them how to act when they meet new people.
Of course, there are many other benefits of socializing a dog, but for Staffskies, it’s especially important to prevent these unwanted behaviors and teach them how to behave around others.
Obedience training also fits in here, with the goal of a well-socialized pup who will respond to your commands when needed.
Is The Siberian Husky Staffy Mix A Good Family Dog?
Staffskies are one of the most ideal family dogs that you can find.
They are incredibly loyal, love to be around people and thrive on interacting with family members.
They’re great with all family members, including younger children, and love being active all day. Remember that they need to be raised with other small animals from a young age for success; adult Staffskies with no experience around cats or small dogs are more suited for single-pet homes.
How Much Do They Cost?
Staffskies are not a well-established mix, so there are no breeders I’m aware of, and it’s much more likely to find one in a shelter or animal rescue.
If you were to find a reputable breeder, it’s likely that they would cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000 when you consider the average price of a Husky and Staffy puppy.
In Summary
So that’s it; hopefully, you’ve got a better idea of what the Staffsky is all about after reading this guide.
They might be rare, but if you come across a Staffsky, they are a remarkable cross suited for family life. They need a lot of training, exercise, and socialization, but the effort is worth it.
If you’re interested in learning about more Husky mixes, you can check out some of our recent articles below:
- Husky Chow Chow Mix [Chowsky]: Complete Guide & Pictures
- Siberian Husky Weimaraner mix [Weimarsky]: Guide & Pictures
- Husky Newfoundland Mix (Newsky): Full Guide With Pictures
- Husky Kelpie Mix (Kelpskie): Complete Profile & Pictures
- Siberian Husky Saint Bernard Mix (Saint Berhusky) Full Guide
- Siberian Husky Finnish Lapphund Mix: Complete Profile
