Have you ever heard of a short-haired husky?
It wasn’t until recently that I noticed a surge in popularity in the so-called ‘short-haired husky,’ with several other websites covering them like they were a new breed.
Short-haired huskies are not a recognized type of husky and, in my opinion, are often confused for Alaskan Huskies, which are often seen with shorter coats due to the nature of the crossbreeding involved. Some Siberian Huskies have shorter coats due to genetics, but this isn’t something any breeder should be working towards as it doesn’t have any benefits.
In this guide, we’ll explore the official breed standard for Siberian Huskies, why ‘short-haired’ huskies are not an official breed, and why you should avoid breeders who act like they are.
Let’s get into it.
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Siberian Husky Breed Standard
The official AKC standard for the Siberian Husky states that the coat must be medium length without obscuring the clean-cut outline of the dog.
It states absolutely nothing about ‘short-haired huskies,’ and this is for a good reason; short-haired huskies are not a recognized separate breed.
What Is A So-Called ‘Short-Haired’ Husky?
A short-haired husky is just a husky that has naturally shorter fur than a typical husky or one that conforms to the breed standard.
This shouldn’t be specifically bred for, as it has no advantages over the medium-length regular husky coat.
Remember that husky coats are designed to provide warmth in cold temperatures, meaning the shorter coat has no advantages to what it was originally intended to do.
Are Short-Haired Huskies A Separate Breed?
Short-haired huskies are not a separate breed.
It’s become common for people to label huskies with different characteristics as their own breed, but this is not the case. If you’ve heard of miniature or wooly huskies before, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.
Short-haired huskies are just huskies with naturally shorter coats, which occur due to genetics that are passed down.
How Does The Short-Haired Husky Coat Compare To A Normal Husky Coat?
Short-haired huskies (Siberian Huskies with naturally shorter coats) still have double coats; it’s just that the outer guard layer is shorter in length.
This means they still shed just as much as a ‘normal’ husky and still require regular grooming.
Essentially, there is no benefit to breeding towards this type of coat whatsoever, which makes me question any breeders who label their huskies as ‘short-haired.’
Click here to learn about husky mixes that don’t shed if this is a concern for you.
Do Short-Haired Huskies Require Different Care?
Caring for a ‘short-haired’ husky is the same as a ‘normal’ husky.
A short-haired husky is still double-coated, so it doesn’t mean they will shed any less or require less grooming.
What About The Alaskan Husky?
Alaskan Huskies are not an officially recognized breed, unlike the Siberian Husky.
Instead, they are a crossbreed that originates from the Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute, bred specifically to enhance their sledding capabilities.
They are usually larger than Siberian Huskies in weight and height while smaller than Alaskan Malamutes. They have also been mixed with several other dog breeds to enhance certain aspects of their performance, such as greyhounds, labradors, and more.
The important thing in the context of this article is that Alaskan Huskies tend to have shorter coats than Siberian Huskies. This means that Alaskan Huskies are often labeled as short-haired Siberian Huskies, which is completely inaccurate.
As an unofficially recognized breed, no standards are set for this breed. Given how many dogs are mixed into this breed, it’s not surprising to see examples with very short hair and some with longer hair.
What If A Breeder Advertises Their Husky Puppies As Short-Haired?
Any breeder who advertises their Siberian Huskies as short-haired should be avoided.
This is because it is a clear red flag of their inexperience. For one, they will not be registered with the AKC as these breeders follow the breed standards (i.e., medium coats) to ensure optimal health.
Breeders who aren’t registered are also likely not doing the required testing that all husky puppies should have, including eye and hip evaluations to screen for potential health issues.
Secondly, things like this are often used as a way to make a dog look ‘unique,’ and it shows that the breeder is purposefully breeding towards this for profit.
In Summary
No one officially recognizes short-haired huskies; they are either Siberian Huskies with genetically shorter hair than normal or Alaskan Huskies with shorter coats mistaken for Siberian Huskies.
If your husky has shorter hair, it isn’t a problem at all; it just means that they are not as close to the ideal breed standard as huskies with medium-length coats, but this doesn’t make much of a difference unless you plan to show them in competition.
I would still advise avoiding breeders who label their huskies as ‘short-haired’; it just shows their inexperience, and it is likely that they are not following best practices.
