15 Dogs That Look Like Huskies (With Pictures And Videos)

A lot of pet owners choose Siberian Huskies to be a part of their homes because aside from the fact that they do really well within a family set-up, Huskies enjoy the company of other dogs (as born pack dogs do), they are also very trainable and are naturally clean and emit less ‘doggy odor.’

But if you want to own a dog that looks like a husky but a little smaller, doesn’t need as much daily exercise, or doesn’t shed that much, this article is for you!

Here is our list of dogs that look like huskies.

Table of Contents

1. Alaskan Malamute

Most commonly mistaken to Siberian Husky, the Alaskan Malamute bags the number one spot on our list of dogs that look like huskies.

Alaskan Malamute has a powerful built, heavy bone, broad shoulders, dense, and weatherproof coat.

Alaskan Malamutes tend to have a wolf-like appearance and be longer than taller. They also shed even more than the Huskies.

Malamutes are a social butterfly, they are very playful and are extremely affectionate.

This dog breed is family-oriented and well-mannered at home as long as they get enough training and exercise.

Here is a video enumerating the differences between Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute:

Alaskan Malamute Overview

Type: Large
Height: 25 inches (male), 23 inches (female)
Weight: 85 pounds (male), 75 pounds (female)
Life Expectancy: 10-14 years
Temperament: Hardly barks, but ‘talks’ & howls

2. Akita Inu

For a little fun fact, the word ‘inu’ means dog, so if we will talk about the breed, we can call it ‘Akita’

The Akita Inu, as described by the American Kennel Club, has a very courageous, dignified, and very loyal temperament.

They may be good around children, but they tend to be a little more aggressive towards other dogs.

They also require more grooming because they have thicker coats compared to Huskies and the Akita breed needs firm training to prevent them from being aggressive and overprotective.

They also require more exercise to prevent destructive behavior due to boredom.

For first-time dog owners, the Akita breed is not recommended because their aggression might be difficult to handle.

Watch this video for more Akita Inu vs. Siberian Husky information:

Akita Inu Breed Overview:

Type: Extra Large
Height: 26-28 inches (male), 24-26 inches (female)
Weight: 100-130 pounds (male), 70-100 pounds (female)
Life Expectancy: 10-13 years
Temperament: Hardly barks but grunts & mumbles

3. Alaskan Klee Kai

With their distinctive facial mask, thick coat and prick ears and full tail, Alaskan Klee Kai can easily pass as a petite version of Siberian Husky.

They do have similar coat markings with huskies, and they share their loyal, alert and working dog characteristics.

They are very loving to their family as well, just like any other huskies.

However, they are not as great in terms of being friendly to unfamiliar faces which makes them great watchdogs.

Alaskan Klee Kai loves positive reinforcement from their humans and this is why they are very trainable.

This breed requires a lot of exercises because they tend to be moody when they are kept indoors. Although they share a lot of physical similarities with huskies, they don’t shed as much.

Alaskan Klee Kai Breed Overview

Type: Large
Height: 13-17 inches
Weight: 10-15 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12-16 years
Temperament: Hardly barks

4. Samoyed

Best known for being gentle and playful, Samoyed, or Bjelkier as it is called in Europe, can be your dog of choice if you want to own a husky but could not have one.

Just like huskies, they are working dogs and demand a considerable amount of exercise throughout the day.

Sammies are very smart, trainable, and loyal, which makes them even more loved by pet owners who fancy a big ball of white fluff.

They tend to shed a lot, and that might be a downside, but this could easily be solved by brushing their coat at least twice a day and monthly trips to the groomer.

If you have previously tamed an energetic dog like a husky before but would not be able to take care of the same breed because you live in an apartment, then this dog is perfect for you.

Samoyed Breed Overview

Type: Medium
Height: 21-23.5 inches (male), 19-21 inches (female)
Weight: 45-65 pounds (male), 35-50 pounds (female)
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Temperament: Hardly barks

5. Tamaskan Dog

A hybrid of Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, and German Shepherd, Tamaskan dogs are the perfect dog for you if you want a pet that doesn’t shed as much as huskies.

Tamaskan Husky is a good family dog, gentle with children, they get along well with other dogs, smart and they enjoy agility and obedience training.

They tend to be a little destructive when they get bored, but this can easily be solved by ensuring that they get enough exercise throughout the day.

Because they are very sociable, Tamaskan dogs are often trained as therapy and assistance dogs.

They also make excellent rescue dogs because of their heightened sense of smell, agility, and endurance.

Tamaskan Breed Overview:

Type: Large
Height: 25-28 inches (male), 24-27 inches (female)
Weight: 66-99 pounds (male), 50-84 pounds (female)
Life Expectancy: 14-16 years
Temperament: Hardly barks

6. American Eskimo Dog

If you love huskies but prefer a fluffier dog who can pass as both a pet and a teddy bear, an American Eskimo Dog is what you need.

This dog breed may look like Samoyeds because of their distinctive white coat, they are completely different from each other.

Eskies have a more compact build, they have longer and thicker hair around the neck and smoother gait.

They are very obedient and trainable, which is what their owners should work on because they need daily exercise and training since they can be hyper and show aggression at times.

There are three different type of American Eskimos: the toy, miniature and standard.

If you don’t have a lot of space at home but would still love to give an Eskie its forever home, you can opt for the toy or the miniature ones since they don’t need as much exercise as the standard type.

American Eskimo Dog Breed Overview

Type: Small
Height: 9-12 inches (toy), 12-15 inches (miniature), 15-19 inches (Standard)
Weight: 6-10 pounds (toy), 10-20 pounds (miniature), 25-35 pounds (standard)
Life Expectancy: 13-15 years
Temperament: Hardly barks

7. Finnish Spitz

One of the friendliest, most lively dog breeds that resemble Siberian Huskies is the Finnish Spitz.

They are considered as a very “talkative” breed. One of the characteristics that they have which resemble huskies is the fact that they love to bark, and this makes them an excellent alert dog at home.
Finnish Spitz is small and flame-colored dogs that seem to glow under direct light.

They also have foxy faces and prick ears. In terms of behavior, Finkies are intelligent and can easily be trained, but according to American Kennel Club, they require a high degree of exercise since their breed is designed to hunt all day.

With that said, they are also not as good with babies or smaller animals, since their instinct tells them to go after them.

Finnish Spitz Breed Overview

Type: Medium
Height: 17.5-20 inches (male), 15.5-18 inches (female)
Weight: 25-33 pounds (male), 20-28 pounds (female)
Life Expectancy: 13-15 years
Temperament: Tends to be very vocal

8. Keeshond

The AKC calls this Keeshond ‘spitzy’, as they have foxy faces, pointed ears, an abundant coat, and a plumed tail carried high over the back.

They are directly related to Pomeranians and Samoyeds, which explains the resemblance in their physical characteristics.

However, one of the traits that make them very unique is their ‘spectacles’.

You might be intimidated by their thick coat, and it really needs to be regularly groomed, but brushing it once a week is usually enough.

They tend to be very attached to their owner, so once you have one, you have to bring them wherever you go.

If you move a lot, this is the perfect dog for you because they can easily adapt to their surroundings.

They do need exercise, but not as much as a regular husky. They are very excellent in terms of obedience training, so indoor play can be beneficial for your Keeshond.

Keeshond Breed Overview

Type: Medium
Height: 18 inches (male), 17 inches (female)
Weight: 35-45 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
Temperament: Hardly barks; Alerting barks

9. Utonagan

Utonagan Dogs also tend to look like a wolf, since it is a cross between Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, and German Shepherd.

This dog breed also has a powerful built, with coat colors varying from black, grey, and white.

The utonagans are, despite their appearance, are very gentle, friendly, and even-tempered.

This dog breed is not naturally aggressive, but it is not recommended for first-time dog owners because they do need a firm hand for discipline and training.

Just like Siberian Huskies, they need a fair amount of exercise so they are not very ideal for city dwellers.

Utonagan Breed Overview:

Type: Medium
Height: 23-30 inches
Weight: 55-110pounds
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
Temperaments: Hardly barks

10. Swedish Vallhund

Known to be one of the Spitz Herding Dogs, Swedish Vallhund gained its popularity by looking like a miniature version of your usual Siberian Husky.

Swedish Vallhund has fox faces, prick ears, and thick coats just like huskies, but what makes them different is their built.

Their long but low built at times make them look like Corgis and act like them since they love to play-bite and nip at the ankle area.

Swedish Vallhund may only shed twice a year, but they need regular grooming and constant warm baths.

This breed loves positive reinforcement and loves to please their owners like Siberian Huskies, which is good because this means that they can easily be trained.

Swedish Vallhund Breed Overview

Type: Small
Height: 12.5-13.75 inches (male), 11.5-12.75 inches (female)
Weight: 20-35 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
Temperament: Tends to be vocal

11. Saarloos Wolfdog

If you like a large husky look-a-like, the Saarloos Wolfdog can be your next pet.

This powerful dog have a muscular build, broad neck, prick ears and almond-shaped eyes just like Huskies.

Their short coats come with dense undercoats that come in various colors such as gray, brown, agouti, and white.

Saarloos Wolfdog may be very active and independent in nature, but they are still very devoted to their owners.

They love to please their fur parents and they do really well with clicker and obedience training.

They tend to be very protective of their territories, so they are not recommended if you have kids or other dogs at home.

Saarloos Wolfdog Breed Overview

Type: Large
Height: 24-29 inches
Weight: 79-90 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
Temperament: Tends to be vocal

12. Northern Inuit

If you are an avid fan and would want to own a dog just like the Stark children have, then, you do not have to take a long journey to the North anymore.

You can ask a local shelter or puppy pound if they have a Northern Inuit.

They might not be recognized by the American Kennel Club, but this celebrity dog is loved by dog lovers and Game of Throne fans all over the world.

Their foxy face and almond-shaped eyes, their thick coat with gray, white or black colors and their high energy are the reason why they made it to this list.

They are highly intelligent, easily trained, and very active dogs. Constant exercise is what they need to be healthy and for them to not resort to destroying things at home due to boredom.

Northern Inuit Breed Overview:

Type: Medium
Height: 23-28 inches
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Temperament: Alert barks

13. Icelandic Sheepdog

Icelandic Sheepdog is a very social and well-mannered dog breed. Their long foxy face, pricked ears, and long, curly tail make them look a lot like huskies and their intelligence makes them act like one.

They are very easy to train because they are food motivated and they adore the attention that they get when they obey their owners.

This dog breed may be stubborn at times, that is why they need a firm hand in terms of discipline and training.

They may be energetic, but this dog does not need much exercise as huskies do.

They do not tend to be agitated if you don’t bring them out for a walk unlike other breeds that look like huskies.

Because they have double coats, they require regular grooming and brushing their fur at least twice a day.

Icelandic Sheepdog Breed Overview:

Type: Medium
Height: 16.5-18 inches
Weight: 20-40 pounds Medium
Life Expectancy: 11-14 years
Temperament: Alert or excited barks

14. Czechoslovakian Vlcak Dog

You might have seen Czechoslovakian Vlcak Dog who work hand in hand with policemen and firemen as search and rescue dogs, and you might actually think they are huskies, but they are not.

Their double coat which is often colored gray, black, or brown, their long face, erect ears, and almond-shaped eyes might lead you to think that.

This dog breed is initially made as attack dogs. However, recently, they have been trained by the police to help them with their investigations and rescue missions.

As such, they are quite intelligent and could easily be trained, but they are not recommended for first-time owners and with children at home.

Czechoslovakian Vlcak Dog Breed Overview:

Type: Medium
Height: 23.5-25.5 inches
Weight: 44-57 pounds Medium
Life Expectancy: 10-15 years
Temperament: Alert barks; does not bark often

15. Shikoku Dog

Also known as Kochi-ken, Shikokus, which originally bred as hunting dogs in the mountains of Kochi, are often mistaken as Siberian Huskies because they share the same build.

Their thick coats come in different colors such as sesame, black, brown, and cream with a mixture of white under it.

They have pointy ears and curved tails, but their bodies resemble the Spitz more because of its squarish dimensions.

This dog breed is very loyal and affectionate to their owners, but they need early socialization to prevent aggressive behavior.

Shikokus, just like huskies, need enough exercise to prevent being destructive at home.

They also have the usual prey drive so they are not recommended for first time owners with children or other dogs in their home.

Shikoku Dog Breed Overview