The Pointer Husky mix, also known simply as the Eurohound, is a high-performance, athletic sledding dog bred to pull sleds quickly over long distances.
These dogs are not easy to own, requiring lots of exercise and mental stimulation. In an ideal world, they should also be working or allowed to pull sleds daily for activity.
In this article, we’ll break down the history of the Eurohound to learn all about this rare sledding dog.
Let’s get straight into it.
Contents
Quick Overview Of The Pointer Husky Mix
Before we jump into the main details, here’s a quick overview of the Pointer Husky mix:
- Other names: Eurohound, Eurodog, Scandinavian Hound
- Average Lifespan: 12 to 15 years
- Average Height: 21 to 27 inches
- Average Weight: 40 to 80 lbs
- Coat appearance: Short to medium, with lots of color combinations and markings possible
- Grooming Frequency: Low to medium
- Typical Temperament: Very Friendly, Intelligent, Energetic
- Daily Food Consumption: Medium
- New Owner Friendly: Not suited for new owners
- Suitable to live with children? Great with children but require supervision due to high energy
- Suitable to live with other dogs? Good with other dogs
- Suitable to live with cats? Problematic due to high prey drive
History Of The Eurohound
The Pointer Husky mix is a specific type of dog created for sled racing.
After World War 2, certain types of sled racing, known as skijor and pulka, that relied on small and fast teams of dogs became popular in Norway and other Scandinavian countries.
Only purebred dogs were allowed, and the German Shorthair Pointer quickly emerged as the ideal choice due to their speed. Over time, in the 1970s, longer-distance sled races became popular, and mushers began importing Alaskan Huskies.
They initially weren’t allowed to compete as they were a performance crossbreed, but in 1985, the Norwegian Sled Dog Racing Association removed this requirement, and mushers began to cross their sled dogs for performance.
This resulted in the Eurohound, a mix of the Alaskan Husky and German Shorthaired Pointer. The first-generation Eurohounds were 50:50, with shorter coats and a high capability for sprinting.
However, most distance mushers prefer a stronger influence from the Alaskan Husky (1/8 pointer genetics) to increase endurance and for a thicker coat in sub-zero temperatures.
Other Pointers (see list here) can also be mixed with the Husky, although the majority of the time, German Shorthaired Pointers and Alaskan Huskies are chosen specifically for sledding.
Appearance
The appearance of the Eurohound can vary a lot.
Eurhounds with a more significant percentage of Pointer have shorter coats and a leaner build, whereas those with more Husky have longer coats and a stockier build.
It’s also very common for other breeds to be mixed in, and Alaskan Huskies can also vary a lot depending on the breed stock used.
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Pointer Husky mixes are generally leaner than your average Husky and have either short or medium double coats.
Many coat colors and patterns are possible, and they often have ears that curl over from the Pointer rather than erect like the Husky.
I’ve included as many examples as possible in this guide to give you a better idea of the appearance of Eurohounds.
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.
Their coat comes in various colors, and they’re known for their piercing blue eyes (although these can also be brown or shades of brown/blue).
Huskies were originally domesticated by the Chukchi people of Siberia and used as sled dogs capable of pulling light sled loads for miles at a time.
They are still used for this purpose in many places today and have a lean but muscular build that helps them perform impressive feats of endurance.
(German) Pointer Appearance & Background
As German Pointers are most often mixed with (Alaskan) Huskies, we’ll focus on their appearance. Other pointers look similar but vary slightly in size and overall build.
German Pointers are medium in size and have a short, dense coat. They have floppy ears that sit close to the cheeks and a long, well-proportioned snout.
German Pointers were bred specifically for hunting and are a top-winning breed in competitive hunting today. They have a keen sense of smell and can sprint in bursts at a very high speed.
Average Size
Pointer Husky mixes are pretty big, reaching 21 to 27 inches in height and 40 to 80 lbs in weight, classifying them as medium-sized dogs.
The size can vary depending on the type of Pointer, but the overall build should be lean and athletic.
Coat Appearance
Pointer Husky mixes typically have a shorter coat, although those bred with more Husky in their genes tend to have slightly longer, thicker coats to help them withstand colder temperatures while sledding.
Many colors and patterns are possible, and the coat is often double-coated rather than single-coated.
This means that the fur is split into two distinct layers: a short, wooly undercoat and a longer guard layer to protect the fur and skin below.
Grooming Guide
A short, single-coated Pointer Husky mix will require grooming relatively infrequently – a quick brush once or twice per week should be more than enough using a regular grooming comb.
Those with a longer, double coat should be groomed a few times per week properly using the process below:
- The grooming process starts with a slicker brush, which is designed to target the undercoat and remove loose hairs.
- After that, use a dematter comb, which gently removes stubborn tangles with a serrated edge.
- A gentle undercoat rake is then used to target the undercoat further and get rid of any remaining loose hairs.
- Lastly, a general grooming comb is used to get rid of any loose hairs or matter areas.
Another consequence of the double coat is something called blowing coat, which is seasonal shedding that happens twice per year on average.
During this time, they will blow or shed most of their undercoat to prepare for the changing weather.
When they’re blowing coat, you may need to groom them using the steps above daily, although this period should only last a week or two. You can find a full rundown of the grooming process here.
Bathing
Bating frequency again depends on the type of coat.
Shorthaired Pointer Husky mixes can be bathed more frequently when needed, once every six weeks or so, whereas the longer coated versions benefit from less frequent bathing a few times per year.
Longer, double-coated breeds don’t need to be bathed often because their coat is designed to keep itself clean, and frequent bathing can dry out the coat and cause more problems.
It’s essential to use a soap-free, pH-neutral shampoo, and conditioner while bathing to keep the coat in good condition.
Temperament
Let’s take a close look at the temperament you can expect from the Pointer Husky mix.
Friendly
Both the Pointer and Husky are known for their friendly temperaments, and they love to spend time around people.
Huskies tend to be friendlier towards everyone, including strangers, whereas Pointers can be more apprehensive, but with the proper socialization, a Pointer Husky mix will be nice with everyone.
Very Active
Pointer Husky mixes are obviously very active, given that they were bred specifically for sled races.
They’ll need at least 2 hours of exercise daily and benefit significantly from an active home where they can do various training and other activities.
Can Be Stubborn
Pointer Husky mixes are prone to being stubborn at times, mainly from the Husky side.
Huskies are known for being stubborn, and this is a common trait seen amongst many Spitz-type dogs. Pointers are much more eager to please, so Pointer Husky mixes generally tend to be easier to work with.
Trainable
Since the Pointer Husky is prone to being stubborn at times, they can be challenging to train, but they aren’t as tricky as a purebred Husky, thanks to the eagerness to please of the Pointer.
Those with more Husky will be harder to train than the first generation type, with a 50:50 split between the German Pointer and Alaskan Husky.
Intelligence
There is no denying the intelligence of the Pointer Husky mix.
Pointers are incredibly intelligent and were bred to work closely alongside humans to assist with hunting. They’re highly trainable and learn quickly.
Huskies are also intelligent but in their own way; they’re much more independent and stubborn, so they often refuse to listen to their owners out of choice rather than misunderstanding.
Very High Prey Drive
Huskies have a high prey drive naturally, and Pointers also have a super high prey drive, which gives them the ability to excel in hunting.
This means Pointer Husky mixes will always have a high prey drive, which has several implications for daily life.
Using a leash will be important to stop them from running off and chasing after small animals, although they will also need lots of time off leash in secure places.
They are also not suited for living with cats or small dogs due to their high prey drive.
Prone To Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is when a dog may develop stress and exhibit destructive behaviors when left alone for long periods.
Pointer Husky mixes are prone to separation anxiety because they thrive with being around people, and if they haven’t had enough exercise or mental stimulation, they will become bored quickly when left alone.
Requires Lots Of Socialization
Pointer Husky mixes benefit from socialization from as early as possible.
They should be introduced to many new sounds, sights, and smells from a young age to build their confidence and give them mental stimulation. They thrive on human contact, so it’s important to provide them with lots of contact with new people as well as focus on their strict exercise needs.
Is The Pointer Husky Mix A Good Family Dog?
Pointer Husky mixes can make great family dogs, but they are a primarily working breed that needs to be exercised and mentally stimulated for hours daily.
They’re definitely not for everybody, but they are very friendly dogs that love to be around people.
How Much Do They Cost?
The average prices of each parent breed can be found below:
- Huskies cost anywhere from $800 to $1,500 on average
- Pointers cost between $500 to $1,500 on average
Remember that most Pointer Husky mixes are bred specifically for racing, so there’s a very slim chance that you would ever be able to purchase one from a breeder unless you’re involved with that activity.
Others can be found in animal rescue or dog shelters, but you need to know how much work they are.
In Summary
The Pointer Husky mix, or Eurohound, is a fascinating mix designed for sled performance.
They vary in appearance greatly and require a very active and committed owner who can exercise and ideally let them pull sleds daily.
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
- Sheltie Husky Mix [Sheltsky] – Full Profile, Pictures, Q&As
- Husky Coonhound Mix: Full Profile, Pictures, Q&As
- Husky Rottweiler Mix [Rottsky]: Full Breakdown & Pictures
- Bullmastiff Husky Mix [Bullsky Mastiff] – Complete Profile
