10 Surprising Reasons Why Your Husky is So Small (+ What To Do)

Huskies make an excellent family pet. Known for their loving dispositions, they are medium to large dogs that can grow up to 60 pounds. 

If you think your husky is too small, you are not alone. Studies show that many people ask the same question. Why is my husky so small? It is perfectly normal for your husky to be undersized. 

There are several reasons why some huskies may not grow as big as others. If your husky exercises a lot or your friend gets anxious, both can influence its size.

Why is My Husky So Small?

Best known as sled dogs, huskies are playful, energetic, and make faithful companions when trained. With their thick coats of well-groomed fur almond-shaped-eyes of blue or brown, they are a gorgeous breed that can make the perfect pet for many dog lovers.

According to the Siberian Husky American Kennel Club Standards, the average male husky can grow up to 23.5 inches high and weigh up to 60 pounds. On the other hand, female huskies are considerably smaller. The average female husky can weigh up to 50 pounds and grow 22 inches tall.

Despite their average height and weight, huskies come in many shapes and sizes. If your husky is on the smaller side, do not be alarmed. There are perfectly normal reasons why your husky might be undersized. 

Because huskies are active dogs, they are usually very energetic and love running, playing, and working in the cold outdoors. Their high energy levels can cause huskies to burn many calories. 

Therefore, they can also sometimes be underweight as a result. Before a husky becomes neutered, they burn much more energy when running around. This abundance of energy may also lead to skinnier than the average huskies.

As long as you have an active, healthy husky dog, there is no need to worry too much about its smaller size. As a husky ages and its energy level tapers off, huskies will most likely put on more weight.

However, it is also not good to have an underweight husky either. Signs that your dog might be too skinny may include:

  • Protruding rib bones
  • Lack of body fat and muscles
  • Low energy levels
  • They are not eating their food
  • Appear extremely thin for their height

When Will My Husky Reach Full Growth?

Huskies usually reach their full growth potential within their first year of life. Some breeds of huskies may continue to grow in height until they are 18 months old. After that, most huskies will still put on weight. But, they will not get any taller. 

When a husky has fully grown to its maximum height, it will develop stronger muscles and a larger frame until around three years old. It will also change in physical characteristics from a puppy to an adult. Its physique will become more defined. 

Huskies are also intelligent dogs and will master their obedience skills during their first three years.

10 Reasons Why Your Husky is So Small

Although huskies can come in all different shapes and sizes, here is a list of ten reasons why your husky might be smaller than other huskies:

1. Anxiety

The anxiety level your dog is experiencing plays a role in its size. If your dog is anxious all the time, it will burn more calories. Fewer calories can result in a husky that is on the skinnier side.

2. Exercise

The amount of exercise your husky gets contributes to its growth potential. When a dog is very energetic and gets frequent exercise, it will burn more calories. Frequent overexertion can cause your dog to become skinnier than other huskies.

3. The Runt of the Litter

Perhaps your husky is small because it is the runt of the litter? Evidence shows that the runt is smaller than its siblings. It might be smaller not only because it was born the tiniest puppy. But also because it has a more difficult time getting to the mother for feeding when its siblings can outcompete it.

4. Not Finished Growing

Maybe your pup just has not finished growing yet. Give it some more time to catch up with the other huskies in the neighborhood to see its full growth potential. Some huskies are known to take up to 15 months to reach their full growth potential. 

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5. Improper Diet

A proper diet rich in nutrients is beneficial for growth. Because huskies are an active breed, they require food high in protein, calories, and nutrients to maintain a healthy weight and keep them from being too skinny.

6. Breed Variety

There are several breeds of huskies that may vary in size. Perhaps your husky is a smaller breed variety. Different types of huskies may include:

  • Alaskan 
  • Siberian 
  • Labrador 
  • Samoyed 
  • Miniature

7. Health Conditions

Poor health conditions could cause your husky not to grow properly. Ensure your husky has a clean bill of health from your local veterinarian to rule out any health concerns causing it to be underweight.

8. Reputable Breeder

Reputable breeders are essential to ensure your husky is a proper size.

Purebred breeders can estimate how much your dog should weigh based on the results of other dogs they have raised.

9. Age of Neutering

The age of neutering may also be a factor in your dog’s size. Neutering your dog before it reaches one year old can stunt its growth. Sometimes if a dog gets neutered too early, it will stop growing.

10. Genetics

The genetics of your dog is also a factor in its growth potential. Studies by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concluded that genes control aspects of canine growth, including skull shape, leg length, and body size. 

What Can You Do About Your Huskies’ Small Size?

Even though it is perfectly normal for some huskies to grow more than others, some owners may still want their dogs to grow faster. Here is a list of ideas to help your husky grow quicker and put on some weight:

1. Change Your Dogs Diet

The leading cause of your husky being small might be an inadequate diet. To help your husky gain weight quicker, try changing its diet. Here are some suggestions that might be beneficial for promoting weight gain in your under-sized husky:

  • Feed your husky smaller meals more often
  • Offer your dog plenty of treats and snacks
  • Mix wet dog food in with dry food to boost your dog’s appetite
  • Try changing the brand of dog food 

2. Rule Out Any Health Problems

Another cause of weight loss in huskies may include health conditions. Ensure your husky has regular check-ups with your local veterinarian to rule out any medical conditions causing it to be underweight. 

Your veterinarian will have suggestions for promoting weight gain in your husky based on what they discover in their assessment. Some medical conditions that may cause a husky to be smaller in size may include:

  • Heart disease
  • Worms or parasites
  • Canine cancer
  • Metabolic conditions
  • Kidney problems
  • Gastrointestinal conditions

3. Reduce Excessive Exercise

Huskies can be very energetic dogs. Sometimes they might over-exert themselves while running around and burning off calories. It might be necessary to tie your dog up or contain it in a small fenced area at certain times of the day to ensure it gets adequate rest periods. 

It might also benefit your dog to add a new food source to its diet rich in calories. A high-calorie diet might help to put some weight on your small-sized husky.

4. Eliminate a Lack of Exercise

Just as some huskies are overactive, others might not get enough exercise. If a dog is regularly tied up or confined to a kennel, it’s not getting enough exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

It might be necessary to let your dog out to run around more often to increase its appetite and build stronger muscles. A high-calorie diet rich in nutrients combined with exercise is important for promoting weight gain in your skinny husky.

5. Provide a New Feeding Schedule

As mentioned before, huskies are very active dogs and burn calories quickly running around in the daytime. Try giving your pooch smaller meals in the morning and large meals in the evening just before bed. 

By providing large meals to your husky at night, their body will store its food rather than burning calories during the day when he is more active.

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6. Offer Your Dog Fresh Foods

If your husky is eating its regular dog food but isn’t gaining any weight, perhaps try feeding them some people’s food to help put on a few more pounds. Some favorite people food that is high in protein and calories and might be appealing to huskies may include:

  • Eggs
  • Cottage cheese
  • Raw lean meat
  • Cooked lean meat
  • Rice
  • Peanut butter on top of their food

7. Keep a Health Journal

Keeping a journal of your husky’s daily meals is another great way to help maintain a healthy diet and put on a few extra pounds in your small-sized husky. 

Record daily intake and weight gain or loss to better understand what foods to offer your husky regularly to promote healthy weight gain. A journal also gives you an idea of what foods to avoid.

Other useful items to include in your journal may consist of:

  • Food portion sizes
  • Calorie intake
  • Weight gain/loss
  • Mood changes
  • Behavior changes
  • Change in energy level

8. Weigh Your Dog Often

Get in the habit of weighing your husky weekly. Charting your dog’s weight gain and loss will help maintain a healthier overall weight for your husky. 

Weekly weighing combined with keeping an accurate journal will allow you to monitor your husky’s weight and better understand what food intake your husky requires to gain more weight. 

9. Offer Foods That Are High In Protein

Although a high protein diet can sometimes be more expensive than buying regular dog food for your husky, it is worth the extra expense for your dog to gain some needed weight.

Foods high in protein and fat are helpful for your husky to develop stronger bones and muscles and promote healthy weight gain. To reduce an upset stomach, try mixing dog food half and half. Gradually remove the old food and replace it with the new high protein food.

After replacing the food with a high protein diet, results are visible within a few weeks of starting your husky on a high protein diet.

10. Consult Your Veterinarian

When all else fails, consult your veterinarian for more helpful advice on promoting healthy weight gain in your husky. Veterinarians use body Condition Scores to monitor your husky’s ideal weight for their particular breed and size.

Body condition scores measure your dog’s fat levels and determine if they are within the normal range. 

Some Fun Facts About Huskies

Huskies Have Two Coats of Fur

Did you know that huskies are well-equipped for the cold weather?

Huskies have two layers of fur, including an undercoat that helps them retain body heat and a water-resistant outer coat for extra protection from the elements.

Huskies are Great Escape Artists

Because they are extremely intelligent animals, did you know that huskies make excellent escape artists? 

It’s true. It doesn’t take a husky long to find a way to squirm off their leash or dig their way out of a kennel. Therefore, it’s a good idea to get your husky microchipped.

Huskies Have A Very Long Tail

Did you know that huskies have an extra long tail compared to other dogs?

A huskies tail is so long that it can wrap it around its face at night for extra warmth during the cold winter months or block the sunlight when taking a nap.

A Huskies Nose Changes Colors

Have you ever noticed that a huskies nose can change colors?

Some huskies have different colored noses, including black, brown, and pink, that change colors depending on the season. 

It is known as “snow nose” when a dog’s nose changes from brown and black in the summer to pink in the winter months.

A Huskies Eyes Can Be Multi-Colored

Did you know a husky can have multi-colored eyes?

Some huskies are born with piercing pale blue eyes, while others are born with brown eyes. Even rarer, some huskies with one eye brown and one eye blue. 

Rarer still, some huskies have eyes that are a combination of half brown and half blue.

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Kevin Myers

Kevin Myers is a passionate animal lover, pet enthusiast, and dedicated writer. With over a decade of experience as a professional pet blogger, Kevin has gained a wealth of knowledge and insights into the world of pet care. He firmly believes that every animal deserves a loving and nurturing home, which has driven him to adopt and foster numerous pets throughout the years.

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