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The Husky is a medium-sized working dog that’s outgoing, loyal, and known to be naughty from time to time. They’re also one of the top sledding dogs in the world. Huskies have a thick double coat of fur available in many colors and patterns.
Join us as we examine these colors and patterns. We’ll discuss the many varieties and whether there is any meaning behind them. Let’s dive in!
Siberian Husky or Alaskan Husky
Most people know about two types of Huskies: the Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Husky. The Siberian Husky is a purebred with well-documented traits and characteristics, while the Alaskan Husky is a mixed breed. Since the colors of the Alaskan Husky depend on the parents, we will be discussing the Siberian Husky here.
Husky Color History
The Siberian Husky, like all other dog breeds, shares a common ancestor with the modern wolf. The modern Siberian Husky can display several colors and patterns.
Colors and Genetics
The genetics of coat colors and patterns is a very complex subject that requires many years of study if a breeder wishes to consistently breed specific colors or patterns. In many cases, it can be challenging to identify a gene that causes a pattern or color to appear.
Breeders also need to worry that the same genes responsible for a certain color or pattern may also be accountable for other processes in the body.
Siberian Husky Colors
Below, we’ve separated the colors into recognized breed standard and non-standard colors. While they might not be considered standard breed colors, such Huskies can still be registered by the American Kennel Club if they have a confirmed purebred status, but may end up being disqualified from showing.
Breed Standard Siberian Husky Colors
These colors are recognized by the American Kennel Club for the Siberian Husky.1
Standard Siberian Husky Colors
1. Agouti and White Husky
Agouti includes several colors to make a pattern known as “wolflike” or “wild.” The undercoat of an agouti pattern is typically very dark, while the outer coat has lighter hairs of varying colors. The overcoat hairs are darker toward the base and lighter toward the tip. The Agouti Husky is a beautiful dog.
2. Black and White Husky
The black-and-white pattern is one of the most common patterns in the Siberian Husky. The black can vary in intensity and spread. Sometimes, the black can lighten to the point it appears silver.
3. Grey and White Husky
Like black, gray can appear in different intensities. It can look like a dark, stormy gray, have a yellowish tint, or even be silvery.
4. Red and White Husky
The red color in a red and white Siberian Husky ranges from deep, almost brown-red to light copper. There is usually no black in the red and white Siberian Husky.
5. Sable and White Husky
Sable is another combination of color and pattern. The sable undercoat is red or copper, while the top hairs are red near the skin and black near the tip.
6. White Husky
The white hairs of a white Siberian Husky can be pure white, or they may have a yellowish tint. There can also be a few black guard hairs present.
Non-Standard Siberian Husky Colors
Here is a short list of other popular colors on a Siberian Husky. As they are generally not breed standards, the American Kennel Club reserves the right to disqualify a dog from conformation shows.
Non-Standard Husky Colors
7. Black Husky
A completely Black Husky as such is extremely rare. Generally there is a combination of the black and white pattern. While the black can range in intensity, it’s almost always accompanied by white markings on the chest, belly, legs, and often the face.
8. Black/Grey and White Husky
The black, gray, and white coat can have several shades of gray along with black throughout the coat with various markings on the head.
9. Black/Tan and White Husky
The black, tan, and white coats are very similar to the black, gray, and white coats, except that instead of shades of gray, there are several shades of tan along with the black.
10. Black and Tan Husky
A Siberian Husky described as ‘black and tan’ may feature a black body with tan points on the muzzle, above the eyes, on the chest and legs. They often still have white markings on their chest, belly, and parts of their legs and face, making them a tri-color pattern (black, tan, and white).
11. Brown Husky
A Husky is typically not fully brown, rather they have a brown and white pattern. The brown can vary in shade from a light tan to a rich chocolate, and it is almost always accompanied by white markings on the chest, belly, legs, and often the face.
12. Brown/Black and White Husky
The black, brown, and white coat features a tri-color pattern where the primary color is black, but there are also brown markings, sometimes referred to as “points”, on the legs, face, and under the tail, along with the standard white markings.
13. Brown and White Husky
The brown and white coat resembles the black and white Siberian Husky with brown pigment replacing the black.
14. Copper and White Husky
The copper and white coat is a red and white coat with a diluted red color that takes on a copper appearance.
15. Gray and Black Husky
The gray and black Siberian Husky is primarily gray, ranging from light silver to a darker charcoal, often with black tipping on the guard hairs or black markings on the body. They should still have white markings on their chest, belly, legs, and face, and are tri-color (gray, black, and white).
16. Tan and White Husky
The tan and white coat features a tan color but is always accompanied by white markings on the chest, belly, legs, and often the face.
Merle Pattern Health Concerns
According to the Siberian Husky Club of America, the Merle pattern that occurs due to outcrossing and automatically leads to disqualification, comes with serious health concerns. Problems associated with the Merle pattern include eye problems, deafness, decreased immune system function, and a condition called Double Merle.
Double Merle
Double Merle is a genetic condition that makes the health conditions associated with the Merle pattern more severe. It occurs when both parents have the Merle gene. This condition can cause the puppy to be stillborn or to have missing or poorly developed eyes. There is an increased risk of them being deaf and blind.
Siberian Husky Patterns and Markings
As we can see from the list of colors above, many Siberian Huskies have a white underside that extends to their face and paws.
1. Agouti Pattern
When we discussed colors, we mentioned the agouti pattern. It usually features a dark-colored undercoat and topcoat in several colors, a dark base and tip, and a lighter color in the middle.
2. Sable Pattern
The sable pattern is another pattern we mentioned, and it features a red or copper undercoat and a topcoat that features hair with a red base and black tips.
3. Piebald Pattern
The piebald markings are known as Pinto in the American Kennel Club. This coat features large, irregular patches of color on a predominantly white body. The colored patches can appear anywhere on the dog and the amount of white can vary significantly, often covering more than 50% of the body.
Summary
The rarest Siberian Husky coat color is white, while the most unusual pattern is piebald. We didn’t mention Brindle or Merle patterns because there is evidence that they are not possible in the purebred Siberian Husky. The Merle pattern, in particular, can be dangerous to your dog’s health, so most breeders recommend avoiding it.
We hope you enjoyed reading over our quick look at the vast array of colors available in the Siberian Husky.
Featured Image Credit: e-Kis, Shutterstock
