Chow Chow Husky Mix Breed Guide (Price, Size, & More)

The chow chow husky mix, also called a chusky, chowski, or chow husky, is becoming a more and more popular breed. They weren’t always popular and are actually a new breed that was introduced at the beginning of the millennium.

This chow chow husky mix breed guide will tell you everything you need to know, including their price, size, and more. This mixed breed is typically sold as low as $200 or as high as $800 depending on location and breeder. This dog is highly energetic and will need an active caregiver.

This article has everything you need to know about chuskies and how to care for them, so let’s jump right in.

Breed History

Not much is known about the origin of the chusky. It’s a highly active dog that can live in colder climates thanks to their energetic Siberian husky traits and their fluffy chow chow traits. Let’s take a look at the history of each breed so we can get a better understanding of how the chusky came to be.

Siberian Husky

The Siberian Husky is a type of sled dog that is closely related to the Alaskan husky and the Alaskan Malamute, all of which came from Siberian sled dogs. These dogs came from the Taymyr wolf from North Asia. The Taymyr wolf is where domestic dogs originated from, and this breed of wolf is now extinct. 

The average Siberian husky can live up to 16 years and is usually a healthy dog, although it can be prone to some diseases. Even though this breed is now usually kept as a house pet rather than a sled dog, it still has some hunting tendencies and is full of energy. They like the companionship of people and other dogs because of their instincts to be in a pack.

Chow Chow

The chow chow, or sometimes simply called a chow, is said to have originated in China 2,000 years ago. It’s possible that they originated a thousand years earlier and migrated from Arctic Asia to China.

Chow chows were also used as sled dogs but were also possibly war dogs, as well. A legend claims that a ruler once had 5,000 chow chows and that the breed may have been bred to be eaten by humans. Much of it can’t be known for certain.

Chow chows are highly susceptible to autoimmune diseases and skin melanoma, which is a type of cancer. However, their lifespan can be as long as 13 years if they stay healthy. They require constant grooming because of their fur and should be bathed regularly since their fur can house fleas. 

These dogs aren’t highly active, but they do require some kind of exercise each day. They can get bored or antsy if they don’t get to go on a walk. They become very attached to the people they’re around the most and also have hunting instincts.

Chusky (Chow Husky mix)

It isn’t clear why this dog started to be intentionally bred by dog breeders. It’s possible that chuskies have always been around if a Siberian husky and a chow chow mated, but it wasn’t intentional until the early 2000s. This breed is seen as a “designer dog” and is quite popular but can be hard to come by.

As you read about chuskies in this guide, you will see the different traits that came from each of their parents. Their active ancestors have created an active dog that loves attention and activity.

Breed Basics

Chuskies can grow to be large dogs. They’re energetic and social but quite gentle, so they work well with children and other dogs.

They need plenty of exercise or they’ll get antsy, much like their chow chow parent. Because of their active lifestyle, they need quite a bit of food each day – about 3 cups of dry dog food. They have a moderate chance of becoming overweight, so if they don’t get the right level of activity, their diet could lead them to gain too much weight. A chusky shouldn’t weigh more than 60 pounds.

Characteristics

Chuskies are loveable dogs that have great personalities and come in a variety of different colors. They have a distinct look that makes them different from all the other breeds. 

Appearance

Chuskies come in five basic colors:

• Cream
• Black
• Brown
• Red
• White

A dog can be a solid color or a mix of several colors. Chow chows are typically reddish-brown and cream colors. Siberian huskies are typically black and white but can sometimes be solid white, or a mix of red, grey, and white. Because of its colorful parents, a chow husky mix can have several color variations that will depend on what their parents look like.

Chuskies have long fur, but its fluffiness will vary from its parents. Sometimes they’re fluffy all over like their chow chow parent, or they’re only fluffy in some areas of their body like a husky. 

Chow chows and huskies have distinctive faces that are quite different from each other. Sometimes their puppies will look more like a husky, or it might look more like a chow chow.

 If you want a specific type of chusky, it’s best to meet the puppies in person rather than rely on pictures posted by the seller online to make sure you get the dog that is advertised. 

Personality

Chuskies are playful, active, and very social creatures. They’ll appreciate having a large yard to run around in and will love it even more if they have someone to play with. They can live in apartments, but you’ll need to make sure to take them on 1-2 walks per day so they can release their built-up energy. Just like their chow chow parent, they’ll get anxious if they sit for too long.

They’ll also get anxious if they’re left alone for too long. Chuskies can suffer from separation anxiety if you leave them alone. If you have to be away from the house all day or for several days at a time, you need to make sure someone can be with them that will be willing to play and be active.

Once your chusky is part of the family, they will become protective and will bark if they see an intruder – an “intruder” could simply be a delivery person ringing the doorbell. They’ll also be protective of kids, which makes them great pets to have.

Chuskies will most likely be friendly with other dogs. If you’re bringing them home to another dog or want to take them to a dog park, you should introduce them slowly, so neither dog gets scared. If a chusky gets along with children, it will most likely get along with other dogs.

The most important part of a chusky’s personality is their activity level. It’s crucial that they get exercise, so if you don’t have an active lifestyle or a big backyard, a chusky might not be the best fit. If you promise to be more active upon adopting a chusky, you’ll have to keep that promise for the well-being of your new friend.

Care Guide

Caring for a chusky might be difficult for someone who has never owned a dog before due to their activity levels and how frequently they need to be groomed. However, they’re still relatively easy to care for. 

Diet

An active dog requires a generous diet, but chuskies have a moderate chance of becoming overweight. It’s recommended that they’re fed a total of 3 cups of dry dog food throughout each day. Two servings of 1 ½ cups of dog food are ideal. If your chusky isn’t consistently active, they risk becoming overweight by eating this much.

It’s in your dog’s best interest to feed them high-quality dry dog food that isn’t made with fillers. These types of dog food are usually more expensive, but they’re much healthier for your dog. They have balanced levels of carbs, fat, and protein. Cheap brands usually have fillers that make the dog food cheaper in both price and quality. Fillers also make dog food more carb-heavy, making the diet unbalanced. 

For treats, turkey and chicken are excellent sources of protein to reward your dog for good behavior or just to give them something special to snack on. Give them snacks that are healthy and avoid cheap treats sold in stores that have filler ingredients. You can occasionally feed them salmon or flaxseed so they can get a dose of omega fatty acids to keep their coat shiny and healthy.

Consult a veterinarian if you have any questions about what to feed a chusky or if you have concerns about their diet. Each dog is different and their individual needs might vary from the general recommendations.

Environment

Siberian huskies and chow chows both have ancestors in Siberia, so it’s no surprise that their chusky offspring prefer colder climates. If you live in a hot area, be sure to provide cool air indoors and plenty of shade outdoors for your dog to play in. 

Continuous grooming is important when it’s hot. Chuskies will shed quite a bit when it’s hot in order to stay cool, so you’ll need to brush them almost daily. Just like their parents, chuskies have a second coat of fur that is meant to keep them warm in cold climates. This can make warm climates highly uncomfortable for them.

Exercise

As mentioned before, exercise is important for keeping a chusky satisfied. Take them on a walk every day regardless of if you have a backyard for them or not. Taking a walk will allow them to release built-up energy. Since they’re social dogs, they’ll appreciate having a walking buddy, too.

If you have a backyard, let them out to play frequently, but remember that they don’t like the heat. If you don’t have access to a backyard or park area, a second walk later in the day might be beneficial. A chusky might get anxious and rowdy if they have to stay indoors and have pent up energy.

Grooming

Grooming is an essential part of caring for a chusky. Their coat should be brushed almost every day. Four days a week should be the minimum. They’ll shed a lot, especially in the summer, so brushing them consistently will cut down how much hair you have to vacuum off the furniture. Yes – you will need to vacuum frequently because a lot of hair will fall off as they lay there.

Frequent baths will help alleviate how much hair they shed. They should be given a bath at least once a month. This will also aid in reducing fleas and ticks since their deep fur coats make for a great place for bugs to live. 

Although it isn’t necessary, semi-frequent trips to the groomer’s will benefit your dog. If you trim up their coat at the beginning of the summer, it will help them not get so hot when they’re outside. They also need their claws trimmed when they get too long. If you don’t want to do it yourself, you can get this done by a groomer or a veterinarian.

Health

Purebred dogs tend to have a higher chance of getting ill because of small gene pools. Since Chuskies are a mix, they’re less likely to become ill. These dogs are typically very healthy, but they can have problems with their eyes or hip dysplasia. If their parents had a disease or other problem, they might be more susceptible to having that illness.

Training

Your chusky will be stubborn. Puppies are easier to train than adult dogs because the adults are set in their ways and are less receptive to directions. When training your chusky puppy, be firm and let them know that you’re in charge. They will try to disobey and will lose interest when you’re training them, so it’s important to stay firm and keep the lessons short.

Begin crate training as soon as possible. Since these dogs suffer from separation anxiety, they’ll need to be convinced that their crate is a safe space for them. They’ll eventually become comfortable with it but will likely still not like to be left alone in it for too long. 

Always introduce your chusky to other dogs. They’re protective animals and might be standoffish when it comes to meeting other dogs, so try to make it a habit to let them meet other dogs, so they’ll know that they’re safe to be around.

Price

Because they’re popular and are seen as a designer breed, these pups can be quite expensive and hard to find. Long term expenses aren’t much different than the expenses that other dog breeds require. 

Your chusky might cost between $500 and $1,000 to purchase. The upfront costs including microchipping and buying supplies can cost about $600. Yearly costs of supplies and grooming will cost about $1,000.

Anticipate spending between $2,100 and $2,600 in the first year of owning your chusky and about $1,000 for each of the following years.

Purchase or Adoption

You will most likely have to purchase a puppy from a breeder. Depending on the location, breeder, and availability, a chusky can be sold between $500 and $1,000. Check with the breeder frequently for pricing. Their price may vary depending on the availability of chusky puppies.

If you would rather adopt a dog than purchase one from a breeder, you might have difficulty finding one because so few people have them. But, sadly, chuskies tend to end up in rescue homes or shelters because their owners underestimated how much hair would be in the house or how active they would have to be every day. Adoption prices will vary greatly and will depend on the pricing of your local animal shelters and rescues.

You might have to look around for a long time if you want a chusky. Constantly search online for local breeders and shelters to see if they have chuskies available. They’re popular dogs, so they’re likely going to be adopted or bought soon after they’re listed. Check surrounding cities as well if you’re willing to travel to find your chusky.  

Care Expenses

One-time purchases, including microchipping, neutering or spaying, and care supplies like a leash and crate, can cost up to $600. This price will vary according to the prices of your local veterinarian.

Yearly expenses will also vary but anticipate spending about $1,000 per year on food, grooming supplies, toys, vaccines, and trips to the veterinarian. You might occasionally have to make an emergency trip to the veterinarian. Although you can’t plan on the costs, it’s wise to have some money set aside in case it ever happens.

Conclusion

The chusky is an active and lovable dog that is sure to fit right in with your family. When you bring home a chusky, it’s important to remember that:

• They thrive in cold climates, so they need frequent grooming.
• They’re highly active dogs who need daily exercise.
• They’re social animals who need lots of attention.
• They can be stubborn and difficult to train.
• Because they’re a designer breed, they might be expensive to adopt.
• Their energetic personality is sure to bring joy to your home.