Have you ever wanted to own a wolf just because of how majestic they are? Wolves are magical creatures but unfortunately aren’t always domesticable. But there is a strikingly close option to wolves — the Agouti Husky, a wolf-dog hybrid that you can own and love. Here’s what you need to know about this rare Husky breed.
What Is Agouti Husky?
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Huskies are generally very aesthetic and can be show dogs because of how elegant and beautiful they are. Agouti Huskies, although equally gorgeous, are work dogs who live and breathe the cold.
Agouti is a gene you’ll find in animals like horses, dogs, and even mice; it controls the amount of melanin (dark pigment) and its distribution in the body.
Here are some specifics about the Agouti Husky.
1. Color
Every single strand of hair on the Agouti Husky is striped in black and brown, with a few white markings as well. Their undercoat is almost the color of charcoal.
While the puppies are born gray and white, they mature into pale gray and dark gray as they grow up.
What’s most striking about Agouti Huskies is their eyes: they’re either a soulful brown or the piercing blue that huskies are famous for.
2. Personality
They’re extremely good-natured and super friendly. They’re quite gentle with children too. They thrive on attention and enjoy being around people.
Agoutis can get super goofy! They’re also quite fearless and enjoy exploring. They’re quite like wolves, but without the acute predatory sense and the snarl.
If they love you, you best believe you’re part of their pack as well!
3. Size
Typically, medium-sized, the male Agouti Huskies are a little bigger than the female. While the male can weigh between 45 and 60 points at 21 to 23.5 inches in height, females tend to be between 35 and 50 pounds and 20 to 22 inches in height.
As puppies, they’re around 10-15 pounds and may grow up to reach 60 pounds when adults in some cases.
They gain full maturity in height and weight by the time they’re twelve to fifteen years of age.
4. Temperament
Despite looking like dangerous wolves, they’re quite the opposite. Agouti Huskies are not all that different from the regular Huskies.
Full of energy, intelligence, and love for people, they’re quite the active breed. They aren’t aggressive at all, so they may not make the best guard dogs — even though they can pass for one.
5. Cost
These Huskies will empty your pocket of about $1000. You will not be able to find one south of $700, as the demand for Agouti Huskies is quite high. The prices may even shoot up to $3000 if the huskies are from reputed bloodlines.
How To Train Your Agouti Husky
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Here are a few tips that will come in handy when training your Agouti Husky:
• Begin their training the moment they’ve settled in your home, especially if they’re puppies.
• They can learn bad habits and get reckless very swiftly, so assert your position as the leader of your pack in a respectful yet stern way.
• Positive reinforcement is one of the most useful tools to get them to obey your commands.
• Don’t yell at them; they’re stubborn dogs and will not respect you if they don’t find you trustworthy.
• Keep them on their toes; well-exercised, tired dogs are happy, healthy dogs.
Are Agouti Huskies Rare?
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You’d have to get in touch with breeders who specifically focus on work dogs/sled-dog racing in order to find an Agouti Husky.
They’re quite rare to find amongst the general population, given that they aren’t ones for aesthetics.
Behavior And Destructiveness
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Agouti Huskies have a ton of energy and endless stamina that you may struggle to keep up with at times.
While this is super fun if you’ve got an active family and a backyard large enough to run around in, this energy can become a flipside when they feel bored.
If they’re not given proper attention and training when they’re puppies, they can develop destructive behaviors quite quickly. You’ll find them getting very vocal, howling constantly, and annoying the entire neighborhood, or gnawing on your clothes and shoes. They may also dig as they please, wherever they see fit.
If provoked, they can get quite angry. Provide them with constant mental stimulation so that they don’t take their energy out in improper, destructive ways.
Care and Grooming Tips
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With Agouti Huskies, grooming them is more of a necessity. Brush their coat at least thrice a week so their coat remains knot-free.
Their bath times could be scheduled twice or more within a year, given that they have natural oils that ensure their coats are quite clean. Don’t trim or shave your Agouti’s hair. The coat is essential for all seasons.
If you’re worried that the weather in your area is too much for your Husky, reconsider their habitat instead of endangering their body temperature.
Check their ears frequently, brush their teeth twice a week, and clip their nails once a month.
Most of all, make sure that they have access to water at all times.
Buying An Agouti Husky
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Living with and caring for an Agouti Husky is a lot of work and will take up a large portion of your time and energy. It’s something you need to keep in mind before deciding to own this breed.
You’ll have to begin with searching for breeders who sell Agoutis. As mentioned earlier, this won’t be an easy find. Look for breeders who work with work dogs or sled dogs as this is not a common breed in show lines.
Be prepared to be put on a waitlist.
Can I Rescue An Agouti Husky?
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Although opting for a rescue dog is always a good idea, it’s unlikely you’ll come across this breed in shelters as Agouti Huskies are bred almost exclusively for non-show ring purposes.
However, there are unfortunate instances where huskies do end up in rescue kennels and shelters because of the owner being unable to train them or keep up with the breed’s requirements. In that case, if you do find one in a shelter, scoop him right up!
A Few Parting Words
If you can give an Agouti Husky the lifestyle it deserves, Agouti Huskies can make for the best of your friends. They’re definitely worth the time and energy you invest in them.
Agouti Huskies grow up to be strong, loyal, and extremely rugged beauties that will love you as much as you love them, if not more. Still don’t have your Agouti fix? Check out this guide from Dog Academy which contains additional breed information.
