Miniature Siberian Husky vs Chinook - Breed Comparison

Miniature Siberian Huskies – also known as mini huskies – are your regular Siberian husky bred to be that much smaller than what the breed standard dictates.

They’re sought after by those who love the regular sized Siberian Husky but who find the larger dog too large and boisterous. They come complete with the looks and the temperament of the Siberian Husky but they are smaller.

The origins of these gorgeous Mini huskies is conflicting though as some believe they originated in the USA. The name of Bree Normandin is bandied about when talking of the breed’s origin while other refer to Linda S. Spurlin from Alaska. She became interested in them when her full-sized husky became pregnant by a small dog.

Spurlin used Siberian and Alaskan Huskies as well as small Schipperkes and American Eskimo Dogs to bring about the mini version. They’ve got the same pedigree as the Siberian Husky, but it has been selectively bred for its smaller size, also coming from the Spitz family of dogs.

The Miniature Husky is genetically the same as the larger Siberian Husky and the AKC doesn’t recognize it as a separate breed, but sees it as a different size variation of the working-group Siberian Husky.

In the early 20th century, in the small town of Wonalancet, New Hampshire a new breed of dog called the Chinook was born. Developed by Arthur Treadwell Walden, the breed is named after the first male ancestor who was named Chinook. The breed is a rare sled dog and the official dog of the state of New Hampshire. The Chinook was born of a cross between a large Mastiff-like street dog and huskies that were part of the Peary North Pole expedition.

Walden was an experienced slender and looking for a dog that was stronger, faster and had more stamina than his current sled dogs. Walden had years of experience including being the trainer and lead on Byrd’s 1929 Antarctic expedition and plenty of Yukon experience. Once he had the male Chinook he bred him with German Shepherds, Belgian Sheepdogs and Canadian Eskimo Dogs at the very least. He then bred those puppies back to Chinook until he had the type and traits he wanted. Following Walden, Julia Lombard and then Perry Greene took over mastery of the breed. From the 1940’s until he died in 1963, Greene was the only person who was breeding Chinooks. So, there were few left after his death. The breed neared extinction by 1981 with only 11 Chinooks available to breed. These dogs were divided between three breeders who saved the breed from becoming extinct.

In 1991, the United Kingdom recognized the Chinook and they were also registered with the UKC. At that time there were about 800 dogs in the breed. To increase the breed, there was a cross-breeding program that took Chinooks and bred them back to the breeds they considered to be apart of the original Chinook lineage. These 4th generation dogs might meet the standards of the Chinook Owners Associations Cross Breeding Program and be accepted as purebred.

In 2001 the Chinook was entered into the AKC Foundation Stock Service and added to the Miscellaneous class of the AKC in 2010. In January of 20113, the Chinook was finally granted full recognition and breed status within the AKC in the working group. He is a large working dog, rugged, patience, loyal and intelligent. He is one of the rarest breeds in the AKC.

Known also as the Alaskan Klee Klai,the Miniature Siberian Husky stands at 33-39cm in height and weighs between 8 - 11kg.

These mini huskies are like the larger huskies and can also come in a range of color variations such as grey and white, black and white or red and white for instance. In typical Spitz dog fashion they have the erect ears and long bushy tail. A striking feature of these dogs is the beautiful eyes – they can be brown but also a mesmerising blue.

Temperament:

This Miniature Siberian Husky is an intelligent dog and you’re not going to have any trouble with him teaching him some basic commands such as sit, lie-down and stay.

You need to know that these dogs aren’t going to be content lying around all day and that they want to be kept busy almost around the clock. They have always been working dogs so he will need plenty of mental – and physical exercise to keep him content. A bored, frustrated Mini Husky will just develop problem behavior through no fault of his own. People who buy high energy dogs have a responsibility towards them to keep them busy and well exercised.

These dogs are similar to their genetic ancestor, the wolf, and instead of barking, you may find him trying to communicate with a howl. One thing is sure, they make great family pets, and their gentle nature allows them to get on well with children and also not to show aggression with other dogs. They’re loyal, outgoing and charming.

The Chinook is a muscular dog, making him a perfect fit to be a sled dog or a hauler of any type. He has a deep chest and powerful muzzle with enduring teeth. The ears can be pricked up or bent and wind-blown. The nostrils of the Chinook are solid black and wide, while the lips are black, the eyes look like almonds and are dark with intelligence in their glance. The feet are firm and oval, the pads cushioned and with dark pigmentation. The tail should not be docked.

The breed has a double coat and hair of medium length The undercoat is soft and thick while the outercoat is close to the body and coarse. The Chinook is usually a tawny, reddish color.

Your cuddly Mini Siberian Husky is such an intelligent dog, active and social and guaranteed to make you a splendid pet.

Being somewhat wary and aloof with strangers, they also make good watchdogs. They do well with children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

With good care your dog can reach up to 15 years of age, providing you with many years of superb friendship.

This is a playful, affectionate and loyal breed. They have a special love for kids and always want to learn and please you. They are intelligent and very trainable. The Chinook is good with other dogs and as a sled dog they love to work in packs. They can be reserved but they are never aggressive or shy.

Your Miniature Siberian Husky is a healthy dog and you won’t have to spend too much money on him at the vet. However, just like with any other dog, he can battle with some of the common dog diseases -

Cataracts:

This eye problem affects about 10% of all Siberian Huskies and its not limited to old dogs. Juvenile cataracts can affect young dogs too. Luckily the problem isn’t painful for the dog.

Skin problems:

Skin problems can be a concern for the Mini Siberian Husky, especially as one is used to seeing these dogs with thick coats. Follicular dysplasia is a genetic condition that causes patchy hair loss as well as a scaly, infected skin.

Check out that your dog is receiving nutritious food with vitamins and minerals as a zinc deficiency for instance can cause hair loss as well as skin problems.

For the most part, the Chinook is a healthy dog. There are however some issues they do have to contend with including:

Epilepsy

Sometimes know as Chinook seizures this is really a movement disorder and perhaps not a true epilepsy.

Atopy

This dermatitis may be hereditary. It causes itchy skin and is actual an immune system issue.

Gastrointestinal disorders

Chinook are known for a variety of gastrointestinal disorders manifested by diarrhea and vomiting.

Exercise:

The Miniature Husky is an active and energetic breed that is going to require a lot of exercise. He is able to adapt to life in the city or the countryside but wherever you keep him as a pet, he will require regular daily exercise.

Don't Allow him to Overheat:

These dogs are used to cold climates so make sure your Mini Siberian Husky doesn’t overheat. Make sure that when he’s outdoors, there is shade for him and a water bowl. You’ll be doing him a real favor if you provide him with a small paddling pool to dip into on a hot day.

Grooming:

These are clean, odorless dogs that actually require little human help to be groomed. You can give your dog a good brush twice a week.

Diet:

Mini Siberian Huskies, like the larger breed, have a high metabolism, so small amounts of highly nutritious food will do well with them. If you intend feeding your one commercially manufactured food, make sure its the high quality food that comes with plenty of minerals and vitamins. Try and avoid the low quality brands that come packed with unhealthy preservatives and colorants.

Dogs do well on simple, nutritious diets, so some boiled chicken, brown rice and raw and cooked vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and spinach added into the dry kibble from time to time will do him wonders.

Also try and include some raw meat into the kibble from time to time. That's it, as simple as that- no exotic, spicy foods and foods which we humans eat such as nuts, chips and chocolate – all can be toxic for your pet and just give him an upset stomach.

Make sure fresh, cool water is constantly available.

Feeding

Don’t overfeed your dog. Based on how hard he is working for you feed twice a day. Dividing 3 to 5 cups into two meals.

Health issues

In addition to the health issues mentioned above, the Chinook might be prone to:

Hip Dysplasia

Can cause arthritis or lameness

Crytorchism

Only affects males as this is the absence of the testes in the scrotum.

Allergies

Ears should be washed on a regular basis to prevent allergies and infections.

Exercise and games

Although the Chinook is still active in recreational sledding, he is mostly a family pet these days. Given this the Chinook need a good deal of exercise and competition. They are great at search and rescue, dog packing, agility, obedience, herding, carting and skijoring. They need some form of solid exercise for 30 to 60 minutes every day.