Sometimes referred to as the Beaski, the Beagle Husky mix is a cross between a Beagle and a Siberian Husky. Since the mix is fairly rare, it’s difficult to know how these dogs will turn out. However, you can learn a lot more about what to expect by considering both of the parent breeds. Here’s a closer look at the Beagle Husky mix, its appearance, grooming needs, temperament, health, and other essential information to consider.
Origin and History
Although hybrid dogs have become very popular within the past 20 to 30 years, it’s often difficult to know how they were started. We don’t know where, when, or by whom the Beagle Husky mix was first started. While it’s difficult to know much about the origins of the mix, we can learn more about these dogs by looking at the origin and history of both the Beagle and the Siberian Husky.
The origin of the Beagle is quite obscure, although the breed is believed to trace back thousands of years, perhaps back to ancient Roman times. During the 1700s, small hounds called Beagles were bred within England, but it wasn’t until later in the 1800s that the dogs we think of as Beagles today would be bred within the southern part of the United States. Small dogs were bred in the south to use for hunting, and these dogs were imported to England where the breed would be refined. It wasn’t until 1885 that the American Kennel Club would recognize the Beagle as an official breed.
The Siberian Husky was created in northeastern Siberia and created as endurance sled dogs to provide the Chukchi people with transportation. When the dogs weren’t working, they were around women and children, and they were bred to be great with the family as well as good working dogs. Eventually these dogs were important to Alaska and they began racing in Alaskan sled dog races. In 1930, the American Kennel Club accepted the breed, and later they would be used in World War II by the United States military to help with search and rescue in the Arctic Circle.
Appearance
The Beagle and the Siberian Husky are very different in their appearance and size, so it’s difficult to know how the Beagle Husky mix will turn out. While Beagles are generally only 13-15 inches in height, the Husky can get to be between 21 and 24 inches in height. These hybrid dogs can range anywhere between those figures, depending on which parent they take after. Beagles usually weigh 30 pounds or less, while Huskies can weigh between 35 and 60 pounds, so expect your Beagle Husky mix to fall somewhere in that range.
The Husky has a thick double coat and the Beagle has a dense, short coat, so the coat of the Beagle Husky mix can vary from short to long and thick. Their coat can come in many different color combinations, including tricolor, white and red, black and white, copper and white, pure white, and gray and white.
Beagle Husky Mix Temperament
Both the Beagle and the Husky are very playful, curious, and smart, so expect your Beagle Husky mix to have these characteristics as well. They are very friendly and affectionate, so this hybrid will make a great dog for the whole family. Of course, these dogs will love to be active, so you need to make sure that they get plenty of exercise. Since they are so smart and love to play, it’s important to ensure they get both physical and mental exercise daily. Sometimes the Beagle Husky mix may have a bit of a stubborn streak from the Beagle side, but with early training and socialization, these dogs are generally quite easy to train. However, it is important to begin training and socialization as soon as possible.
Grooming
The grooming needs of the Beagle Husky mix will vary, depending on the type of coat they end up with. If they have the longer, heavier coat of a Husky, they’ll shed a lot, particularly twice a year when they blow their coat. Dogs with a thicker, longer coat will need to be brushed multiple times per week to control shedding and prevent the formation of mats. If their coat is more like a Beagle’s, then brushing their coat just once or twice a week is usually fine. No matter what type of coat they have, these dogs generally only need to be bathed as needed, since they don’t usually get smelly and you don’t want to strip their coat of the natural oils that keep it healthy. Ears on the Beagle Husky mix should be checked weekly and cleaned regularly. They also need to have their teeth brushed several times a week to keep them healthy and to prevent bad doggie breath.
Working Roles
It’s unknown what type of working roles the Beagle Husky mix is suitable for. However, Beagles often work as hunting dogs and Huskies are working dogs used for pulling sleds.
Health
Usually the Siberian Husky lives to be between 10 and 14 years old, while Beagles generally live to be between 12 and 14 years old. This means you can expect your Beagle Husky mix to have an average lifespan of between 10 and 14 years. In most cases, a mixed breed will have fewer health problems than a pure bred dog, but you still need to be aware of the potential health concerns of the parents. Some of the health problems that may affect the Beagle Husky mix include:
- Hepatitis
- Hypothyroidism
- Cataracts
- Beagle pain syndrome
- Cherry eye
- Ear infections
- Glaucoma
- Chinese Beagle syndrome
- XX sex reversal
- Narcolepsy
- Anemia
- Corneal dystrophy
- Hypochondroplasia
- Pulmonic stenosis
- Lymphosarcoma
- Pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism
- Deafness
- Basal cell tumor
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Nasal depigmentation
- Hip dysplasia
- Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome
- Von Willebrand disease
- Osteochondritis dissecans
- Crystalline corneal opacity
- Juvenile cataracts
- Oral eosinophilic granuloma
- Perianal gland adenoma
- Epilepsy
- Chronic superficial keratitis