Vizsla Husky Mix Dog Breed Info: Pictures, Temperament & Traits
Updated on
Vizsla Husky mixes are naturally active dogs with huge energy reserves and a strong sense of loyalty toward their families. Their coats and attitudes greatly vary based on the parents’ genes, but both breeds are naturally athletic and love spending as much time as possible with their humans. In this informative article, we’ll go over all the key characteristics of the breed, what they need, and plenty more relevant info. Keep reading.
| Height: | 20–24 inches |
| Weight: | 35–55 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 11–15 years |
| Colors: | Black, white, brown |
| Suitable for: | Highly active families with older kids, singles with a very active lifestyle |
| Temperament: | Playful, intelligent, loyal, affectionate, energetic |
The Vizsla Husky Mix is a cross between the Vizsla, a trusty hunting hound, and the free-spirited Siberian Husky. Both breeds are very intelligent and loyal, but the Husky is far more outgoing. Their offspring are also very bright, hyper, and loyal dogs, but their attitude toward strangers can veer either way depending on the parents’ genes.
As a mixed breed, the Vizsla Husky Mix can inherit either the Vizsla’s short, dense coat or the Husky’s fluffy double coat.
Vizsla Husky Mix Breed Characteristics
Vizsla Husky Mix Breed Puppies
Like any mixed breed, Vizsla Husky Mixes are highly variable as puppies due to the parents’ genes mixing in potentially unpredictable ways. One puppy in a litter may have thick, fluffy fur like their Husky parent, while others may have a shorter Vizsla-like coat. The same goes for their personalities. Vizslas are a bit more subdued than Huskies, and their puppies can display any mix of these temperaments.
Finding a Vizsla Husky mix puppy will prove difficult because crossbreeds have no pedigree and breeders don’t cross their purebred dogs. As such, your best bet will be to check out local animal shelters or rescue organizations. You may have luck with marketplaces on Facebook or Craigslist, but crossbreed puppies don’t come with the same health and pedigree guarantees you’d get buying a purebred dog from a breeder.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Vizsla Husky Mix 🧠
As you can tell from our ratings above, this is a good overall breed to have. They are playful and hyper, but also intelligent and loving. Better yet, they are naturally social. However, you definitely need to be willing to keep up with their high energy levels.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
They can be, but we wouldn’t suggest a Vizsla Husky mix for families with young children. They’re large, intelligent dogs with stubborn streaks on both sides, and it takes consistent training to teach them how to act around kids. The same goes for the kids, who need to be taught how to respect and safely interact with the dog.
The biggest challenge would be keeping up with their exercise requirements, which makes them best for people who live active lifestyles. Think hiking, biking, running, and other similar activities. If you’re committed enough, a Vizsla Husky mix can fit in great with almost any active family.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?
Both Huskies and Vizslas have a strong prey drive, which makes getting along with cats and small mammal pets challenging. As with any breed, early socialization is imperative to control their prey drive and prevent aggressive behavior toward cats or other pets.
Vizsla Husky Mixes do really well with all types of dogs if properly socialized from a young age, but like other big dogs, might not know their own strength and get too rough with smaller dogs. Huskies have a reputation for being willful, and if that trait pops up you may want to visit an experienced dog trainer to weed out behavioral problems.
Things to Know When Owning a Vizsla Husky Mix:
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
Vizsla Husky Mixes need high-quality dog food to stay healthy, though meal sizes might vary based on their size. Opt for a brand with meat as one of the first two ingredients and avoid grain-heavy kibble that’s mostly filler. Cheaper dog food also uses a lot of chemical preservatives that you want to stay away from. Bred from high-energy dogs, you need to fuel the Vizsla Husky Mix’s growth with the highest quality food you can find.
Exercise 🐕
A Vizsla Husky Mix will need at least an hour of high-intensity exercise per day, and you’ll have to factor in mental stimulation as well. Games like tug of war and puzzle feeding toys get out their energy and tire out their minds, which helps reduce anxiety.
Without enough exercise and mental stimulation, a high-energy breed like the Vizsla Husky Mix can get very bored. Too much boredom can trigger destructive behaviors like digging and chewing, so make sure you plan for plenty of playtime with your pup.
Both the parent breeds are known for being talented escape artists, so we highly recommend you have access to an open, secure space where your dog can’t dig or squeeze between any gaps. A nearby dog park is a godsend too, but sadly, that’s not possible for everyone.
Training 🎾
Positive reinforcement is the best method to successfully train any dog, and the Vizsla Husky Mix is no exception. You should associate desired behaviors and commands with getting a reward and redirect bad behaviors instead of punishing them. Coming from two highly intelligent, emotional breeds, you can permanently damage a Vizsla Husky Mix’s confidence and trust in you with negative punishments.
Clicker training can be a very useful tool for newer dog owners that helps introduce positive reinforcement concepts to both you and your furry friend. Consistency is going to be your best friend throughout the whole training process, so be patient!
Crate training is another invaluable resource. A crate with a divider you can gradually open up as your puppy grows up is best so you don’t have to buy a new one later. A dog’s crate should be their den with all their favorite bedding and toys and should never be used as a punishment.
Grooming ✂️
Grooming a Vizsla Husky Mix can vary from dog to dog, whether they get the short, smooth Vizsla coat or the dense double Husky coat. The former may only take a brief session monthly with a de-shedding comb, while the latter will need more frequent grooming. Expect to brush the thicker Husky coat once every week or two with a slicker brush. These coats shed a lot, too, so investing in a good vacuum would be smart.
Health and Conditions ❤️
Like all dogs, each breed is prone to certain health conditions. Listed below are some serious and minor conditions that you should always be on the lookout for when you own a Vizsla Husky mix.
- Hyperthyroidism: A metabolic condition stemming from the thyroid gland, this condition can make dogs exhibit depression-like symptoms like loss of appetite and extreme fatigue.
- Obesity: This Vizsla trait can lead to overeating and excessive weight gain, which calls for special dietary plans.
- Zinc Deficiency: A minor Husky condition, this can call for a special diet with zinc supplements as recommended by your vet.
- Hip Dysplasia: Common in Huskies and Vizslas, this joint condition leads to painful arthritis later in life.
- Eye Conditions: Both Huskies and Vizslas are vulnerable to a range of eye conditions, including cataracts and retinal atrophy.
- Bleeding Disorders: Vizslas are prone to a blood clotting deficiency known as Von Willebrand’s Disease, which can pass down to Vizsla Husky Mixes.
- Epilepsy: Though not always fatal, this neurological condition can lead to shortened lifespans in Vizslas and their mixed offspring.
Male vs Female
Male Huskies and Vizslas are bigger than their female counterparts, and the same goes for Vizsla Husky mix puppies. Some males tend to be a bit more outgoing and rambunctious than females; however, there won’t be major noticeable differences when it comes to overall temperament and personality.
The 3 Little-Known Facts About the Vizsla Husky Mix
1. They’re Not AKC-Recognized
Like all mixed breeds, the Vizsla Husky Mix has no breed standards and therefore isn’t formally recognized by organizations like the American Kennel Club. This makes finding puppies harder too because most reputable breeders don’t deal with crossbreeds.
2. They Have Diverse Appearances
Vizsla Husky Mixes can look like either of their parents or a mix of the two, and every dog has its own unique twist on the mixed genes. You may have a fluffy white and brown pup, or maybe a smooth-haired Vizsla lookalike. You never know what you’ll get, even from the same litter of puppies!
3. They Can Inherit Numerous Health Conditions
From painful hip dysplasia to more serious bleeding and eye conditions, Vizsla Husky Mixes are at risk of more health problems than some breeds. That makes a trustworthy vet your best friend if you own one of these hyper dogs.
Final Thoughts
Vizsla Husky mixes are an unusual cross between two of the most high-energy breeds out there, so would-be owners better be prepared to give them plenty of playtime. At the end of the day, this is a combination of two awesome dog breeds that many people love on their own, so you can imagine how great they are when combined.
See Also:
- Vizmaraner (Vizsla Weimaraner Mix): Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits
- Vizsla German Shepherd Mix: Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits
Featured Photo Credit: Left – Vizsla (Vizslafotozas, Pixabay) | Right – Siberian Husky (Saira Sustaita, Unsplash)
