Chow Chow Husky Mix (Chusky): Owner’s Guide

The Chusky, a mix between a Husky and a Chow Chow, sometimes also called the Chowsky, is a stunningly beautiful and unique dog. These pups often display a regal air of authority that they inherit from their Chow Chow parent but still have the fun-loving disposition of the Siberian Husky. They can definitely be a bit standoffish around strangers, but they love their families fiercely.

Key Questions Answered

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Siberian Husky Essentials

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Chow Chow Husky Mix Traits & Characteristics

• Intelligent
• A bit stubborn
• Protective of family 
• Loyal

Traits Summary Table

Appearance

Chuskies are usually described as looking like an extra fluffy Husky. The Chow is known for having what looks like a lion’s mane around its neck, and that trait often transfers through to the Chusky puppy.

Chows are considered brachycephalic since their face is a little bit smooshed in. They may have some wrinkles on their muzzle and around their nose. Or they may develop more of the elongated and smooth snout of the Husky. The Chusky could have straight, tall triangular ears or teddy bear ears like the Chow.

Color

The Chusky can look more like the Chow with red, cinnamon, cream, blue, and black coloring or more like the Husky’s standard white and black coloring. These pups will often have the warm brown eyes of the Chow but may get one or both eyes colored blue from the Husky.

Further reading: Husky colors

Coat & Shedding

The Chow Chow has two types of coat. A rough-coated Chow Chow will have an abundant but coarser outer layer of fur that is medium in length, along with a thick, soft undercoat underneath the outer layer. A smooth-coated Chow Chow will have the same undercoat as a rough-coated Chow Chow, but its outer coat will be shorter and softer.

Whether the parent Chow is rough coated or smooth, you can be sure that a Chusky will be one fluffy double coated dog! They will need frequent brushing to help with shedding, especially when the seasons change. When the seasons change, these dogs tend to “blow” their coat, or in other words, their undercoat starts to seriously shed to prepare for new hair growth.

Size

The Siberian Husky stands between 20 and 23.5 inches and weighs between 35 and 60 pounds. The Chow Chow stands between 17 and 20 inches and weighs between 45 and 70 pounds. The Chusky usually will be somewhere in between their two parent breeds. They usually stand at about 18 to 23 inches and weigh between 40 and 60 pounds.

Temperament & Personality

While the Husky is fun-loving and playful with just about everyone it meets, the Chow Chow is considered more aloof and standoffish to strangers but is always entirely devoted to its family. In terms of the Chusky, it is hard to predict which characteristics the pup will develop and if it will be more like the Chow Chow or more like the Husky. Though in some cases, they can exhibit a little bit of both behaviors!

A well-trained and properly socialized Chusky won’t have any problems interacting with other humans and animals. But an untrained Chusky may have more of a tendency to not get on well with strangers and other animals. A Chusky will also have a strong prey drive, so they typically aren’t recommended for folks with cats or other small animals around. However, any dog can learn to live peacefully with any kind of family member, some just take longer to learn!

Lifespan

While the average Husky lives anywhere from 12 to 14 years of age on average, the average Chow Chow has a bit shorter life expectancy averaging anywhere from 8 to 12 years, primarily because of its stockier build and size.

Large dog breeds tend to grow faster as well as age faster, making them more susceptible to fatal diseases at a younger age. A Chusky’s expected lifespan will fall somewhere in between the two breeds and will probably be between 8 and 12 years. With proper nutrition, exercise, and preventative health care, a Chusky will be able to live a long, happy, and healthy life.

Further reading: How old is my Husky in humans years? 

Intelligence

Both the Siberian Husky and the Chow Chow are intelligent dogs. However, The Husky in the Chusky, as well as the Chow Chow, may tend to have a bit of a rebellious or obstinate streak. This just means that training will be a must, and you’ll probably need to find a really delicious treat to convince them that it’s worth listening to you!

Activity Level

The Chusky will require daily walks, as well as a moderate amount of playtime. However, they aren’t likely to be interested in intense exercise due to their tendency to experience breathing problems. Their thick fluffy coat probably doesn’t help!

These pups will need at least thirty minutes to an hour of exercise every day. If they have too much energy or become bored, they can develop bad habits that get them into trouble!

Are Chow Chow Husky Mixes Good with Kids?

Chuskies can do just fine with kids with proper socialization and training. However, they are not known for being patient with children and should never be left unsupervised with young children. Like many dogs, they may not appreciate a child who is pulling or grabbing at them. Supervision and teaching young children how to behave around dogs will be important.

Speed, Strength & Endurance

Huskies are fast dogs, even when they are pulling a big heavy sled behind them! They also have the stamina to travel long distances. In fact, trained huskies have been known to run as many as 100 to 150 miles per day.

While Chow Chows are not necessarily known for their speed, they are known for being quite strong. Though their first job was being a companion, they often helped out and pulled their own weight, so to speak, by helping out with chores by pulling or hauling heavy loads. Chances are a Chusky will inherit both strength and speed from the parents!

Behavior

The Chusky will be happy so long as it’s around its humans. They may not be as friendly and loving to strangers, though, and instead will save all their love for their owner. Training will be a must to get them well-socialized.

Both parent breeds also have a strong prey drive, so they may not be the first choice of breed for folks with small pets in the home or a neighborhood with lots of squirrels!

The Chow, because of its guardian background, is more likely to take aggressive action when it’s upset, so training early on will be a must. It would be well worth it to get a private dog trainer with experience with both parent breeds if you are new to this mix breed!

Visit our Husky Behavior hub to learn more.

History & Origin of the Chow Chow Husky Mix

History of the Husky

The Siberian Husky is an ancient breed whose ancestors are believed to go as far back as 4,000 years ago. The dogs we recognize today as Siberian Huskies are believed to have originated with the Chukchi people in northern Siberia. Huskies were more than just companions for the Chukchi people.

They would pull sleds full of food and equipment and even snuggle up and keep the families warm at night! In the early 1900s, the Siberian Husky made its way to Alaska, where it continued to grow in popularity.

History of the Chow Chow

The Chow Chow is one of the most ancient dog breeds around. It is believed that they originated in northern Siberia. But from there, they eventually made a name for themselves in China. The breed is sometimes called Songshi Quan, meaning Puffy Lion Dog, Hsiung Kou, meaning bear dog, and Hek She, meaning black tongue.

They were known to have existed as far back as 150-200 B.C. During this time, they were companions to the Chinese royals and nobles. But they also worked as guard dogs and hunting dogs and helped with everyday tasks like hauling goods for their owners.

Though an ancient breed, they didn’t start to gain worldwide popularity until Queen Victoria of England adopted one in the 1800s. Though they didn’t come to America until the 1890s, they were shortly thereafter admitted into the AKC in 1903.

Breeding the Chow Chow Husky Mix

Always look for a good breeder who can attest to the health of the parents and the pups. Like many of the husky mix breeds, the Chusky has only recently begun to be purposefully bred. Even then, it is still not a super common pairing.

However, these mix breed dogs are slowly starting to become more popular, with many people believing that mixed breeds tend to be healthier thanks to their larger gene pool.

How to Take Care of a Chow Chow Husky Mix

Nutrition

Chuskies like their food a lot, so it will be important to avoid overfeeding. Focus on foods for active breeds with a high protein content, moderate fat, and low carbs. About three cups of food is the usual recommendation, but this, of course, can vary on the dog’s size and activity level.

Visit our Husky Nutrition hub to learn more.

Exercise

This breed will have a fair amount of energy and will need daily exercise. If the pup inherits more of the Chow parent genes in its facial and body structure, it may be less likely to enjoy strenuous exercise due to possible breathing issues and the risk of overheating, especially in hot climates. In these cases, frequent breaks will be necessary, so the dog has time to catch its breath.

In fact, the best way to exercise these dogs is frequently throughout the day instead of in just one big stretch of time. The Chow Chow just doesn’t need the same amount of exercise as a Husky would, so it will take some trial and error to figure out what works best for the Chusky pup.

Further reading: How much exercise does a Husky need?

Grooming

Even though it may not be their favorite activity, grooming is an important part of keeping a Chusky healthy. A Chusky should never be shaved except in cases of medical necessity. Both breeds making up the Chusky are double-coated. This means that their coat actually provides protection from sun damage as well as protection from extreme cold and heat. Shaving makes it more difficult for double-coated dogs to regulate their body temperature, and it can cause the fur to grow back coarse and even somewhat sharp to the touch.

Instead, deshedding baths and blowouts, and frequent brushing will be the standard for grooming this mix. In addition, they will need regular ear cleaning, teeth brushing, and nail trimming. These are all things that can be done at home as well as at a professional groomer.

Training

Because of the Husky’s stubborn nature and the Chow Chow’s independent and obstinate nature, training a Chusky can be quite a task. It’s best to start training early on using positive reinforcement techniques. This will help the pup realize that it is in their best interest to do as you ask.

Visit our Husky Training hub to learn more.

Chusky Puppies

The puppy stage is, without a doubt, one of the many great parts of being a new dog parent. As puppies, Chuskies are fun and energetic, but they can also be little troublemakers. This is what makes the puppy stage one of the most frustrating stages!

Remember to stick to a routine for potty training and sleep time and incorporate lots of play sessions in between nap times! Though a Chusky puppy won’t be ready to run fast or run for long distances, they will need lots of play sessions throughout the day in between naps to keep them happy, and nutritious food so they have energy for all that play and all the growing they have to do!

Further reading: When do Huskies calm down?

General Health

Overall, the Chusky is a healthy breed. However, like many breeds, there are some health concerns that they may be more prone to experiencing. These include cataracts, entropion, hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat, Wobbler disease, and obesity. Regular visits to your veterinarian’s office for check-ups will be necessary to monitor the health of the dog and address any concerns as they come up.

Visit our Husky Health hub to learn more.

Chow Chow Husky Mix Price

While Huskies are not necessarily an expensive breed, Chow Chows are. A Siberian Husky puppy can cost anywhere from 500 to 1,200 dollars, whereas a Chow Chow will cost at least 1000 dollars, if not all the way up to 3,500 dollars. For a Chusky, expect to pay at least 1,000 to 2,500 dollars.

Visit our Husky Price hub to learn about the maintenance cost of Huskies.

Chusky Pros & Cons

• PROS: Fluffy teddy bear!, loving and loyal to their family, intelligent
• CONS: High maintenance, tendency to be territorial, obstinate and hard-headed

Chow Chow Husky Mix Alternatives

Here are a few Husky mix alternatives you might prefer:

• Border Collie Husky Mix
• Akita Husky Mix
• Malamute Husky Mix
• American Eskimo Husky Mix
• Samoyed Husky Mix

Recommendation 

If you want a dog that is quiet, laid back, and will love you wholeheartedly, the Chusky can be a great dog, especially with proper training. And, of course, their adorable fluffy coat is a huge plus, too!

Have you got a Chusky? Share your experience and photos in the comments below.