Siberian Huskies are like royalty among dogs. It’s just something about the way a Husky looks and walks, not to mentions those mesmerizing eyes that sets these dogs apart from their peers.
Siberian Huskies are in a category of their own and because they seem so special many people bulk at the idea of buying such a wonderful dog as they are afraid it might be too expensive.
On average, Siberian Huskies cost between $700 and $2,500 to buy. However, there are additional costs to owning a Siberian Husky that will make the amount you pay over time higher.
Keep reading for more information on the cost of buying and owning Siberian Huskies and, no, don’t be afraid, it’s not as much as you think it is.
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Siberian Husky Prices
Up straight, a Siberian Husky might cost anything between $700 and $2,500.
Remember this is a national average and you might find cheaper or more expensive Huskies in your state. (For a detailed discussion of Husky prices in various American states see below.)
If you’re lucky enough to find one at a shelter, the adoption fee might be around $300-400. That’s a steal and you also do a good thing by providing a home to an animal in need.
On the other hand, if you’re extremely picky and want a dog with a great lineage and certain physical traits you can expect to fork out upwards of $6,000.
Why do prices vary so much? Well, the price depends on who you’re buying the dog from and if you shop around a bit you will discover there’s a great difference between what various breeders charge.
Also, there are certain features that are considered more desirable in a Siberian Husky and a puppy that has them all will obviously cost more, sometimes a lot more.
Which Are the Most Expensive Siberian Husky Puppies?
The most expensive Huskies are show-quality dogs. These dogs will meet all the standards of the breed, as defined by the AKC.
To get your hands on such a prized dog it will have to come from a certified premium breeder who can provide proof of the dog’s lineage.
A dog coming from award-winning parents will obviously cost thousands of dollars, but that’s the price you have to pay if you want to show off your dog at national competitions.
However, if you just love Huskies and want to own one you can look for a pet-quality dog.
These dogs are also purebred and the breeder can provide proof of their lineage but the it’s possible that their parents don’t fit the very strict description of the breed by AKC rules.
If that’s not important to you, you can easily settle for a pet-quality Husky and have a great dog by your side.
The cheapest type of Siberian Husky puppy is still purebred, but doesn’t have a pedigree certification. Does this matter to you or to your kid who’s mad about Huskies? Probably not!
You need to keep in mind that the different prices set by a reputable breeder have nothing to do with the health state of the dog.
A cheaper puppy doesn’t mean that it’s sickly or anything, it’s mostly about lineage and pedigrees.
Also, keep in mind that even siblings from the same litter might have different prices depending on their features.
You should still be wary of very cheap dogs from breeders who won’t give you the health information on the parents.
This could mean very bad news for you that costs you thousands of dollars down the road due to vet costs from a genetic condition.
Features that Influence the Price of a Siberian Husky
As soon as a new litter is born the breeder will examine each puppy to determine how much it is worth.
What he looks at are the features that will determine the looks of the adult Husky. Let’s have a look at how each characteristic affects a puppy’s price.
Coat
Siberian Huskies’ coats come in a variety of colors.
According to the AKC, a purebred Siberian Husky can be any color between white and black. A Husky’s fur can be tan, gray, sable or even red and the dog might have certain markings on the head.
Snow white puppies are the most expensive and it’s not hard to understand why, just imagine how amazing a grown dog with the whitest of fur and a pair of striking blue eyes looks!
Expect to pay over $2,500 for such a splendid animal.
Silver Siberian Huskies are also quite expensive.
One feature that might cut down the price of a Siberian Husky puppy is a woolly coat, which falls outside the standards for this breed.
Theoretically, a woolly coat is less desirable because it takes longer for the snow to dry when it gets caught up in the long wavy hairs.
Obviously, this is a problem for the Siberian Huskies that spend their time up north pulling a sled.
If your pet is only going to see snow a couple of times per winter it doesn’t really matter how long it takes for its coat to dry. Just let him lie in front of the fireplace for an hour and he’ll be fine.
Gender
There’s really no difference between the price for a male or female Siberian Husky. If anything, you should take into account that a male dog is a bit heavier and will probably need more food, but this doesn’t matter much. (For the costs of feeding a Siberian Husky see below.)
Eyes
Most people looking for a Husky would love to get a pure white one with blue eyes, which is not at all surprising.
However, some breeders will try to convince novice dog parents that a puppy born with heterochromia, or eyes of different colors are more rare, more sought after and therefore more expensive.
While it is true that Siberian Huskies are well-known for having one eye of one color and the other a different one, they are not the only breed prone to heterochromia.
You can find dogs with such unusual eyes among Alaskan Malamutes, Dalmatians, Border Collies, and Great Danes, to name just a few breeds.
Heterochromia in Siberian Huskies is a congenital trait and is the result of the uneven distribution of the pigment called melanin.
It doesn’t affect the eyesight, nor does it make them more likely to win a dog-show, so there’s no real reason why they should be pricier. But they do look interesting, you have to admit!
Pedigree
As it is to be expected, a puppy from a good lineage and exceptional parents will cost quite a lot, certainly more than $2,500.
That is because such dogs generally come from premium breeders who can provide documents attesting to the puppy’s impeccable pedigree.
One reason such puppies are so expensive is that often enough another breeder might purchase them to add some variety to their own stock and avoid inbreeding.
You can save some money by going for a pet-quality Siberian Husky if you’re not interested in stuff like lineage.
Where you Buy a Siberian Husky
If you know what’s good for you and for pets in general only buy a dog from a reputable breeder. What you need to keep in mind is that some breeders are registered with the AKC and this is a costly process.
Generally, each puppy has to be properly registered and certified so expect to pay more for your new pet.
There are however serious and trustworthy breeders who are not registered with the AKC, exactly to cut costs.
Before deciding on a certain breeder make sure to investigate their credentials and make sure they are responsible people who breed for health and not looks. Also keep in mind the quality over quantity factor.
Stay away from puppy mills and remember that most of the doggies in the window of the pet store come from such horrid places.
Also be extremely cautious with backyard breeders unless you know those people and know they only breed their Siberian Huskies once in a while, not using them as cash cows.
Buying a puppy from a breeder that cannot or would not be bothered to screen for genetic defects and cannot provide adequate conditions might prove a costly mistake.
The money you save on the price of the puppy will go towards vet bills so in the end you’ll be paying a lot more, not to mention the heartache of seeing your pet suffering.
Buying A Siberian Husky The United States
According to the AKC, the Siberian Husky is ranked 15th among the most popular breeds in the United States, and this is quite a feat considering the fact the club takes into account over 200 dog breeds.
Remember that cheaper is not always the best option and look if you can find a dog breeder in a neighboring state that might be closer to your home than the ones in your state.
If at all possible go visit the place yourself to see the sanitary conditions on the premises and how the dogs are kept.
Buying a dog from a breeder in another part of the country is not such a good idea.
Having a dog flown to your home state can be quite expensive and not totally safe for the animal. It’s best if you can pick up the dog and drive home with it.
Another thing you need to consider is that the most reputable breeders have long waiting lists for the next litters so it’s not like going to the pet store to pick an animal.
In most cases you will be asked for a non-refundable deposit on a puppy in the next litter, usually around $200.
Breeders often have more than one expecting female so you can choose which do you prefer and wait until she gives birth.
Adopting an Adult Siberian Husky
Why would a beautiful Siberian Husky end up in a shelter? The answer is irresponsible pet owners who buy a dog on a whim and later get bored with it or decide it’s too much trouble for them.
A few years ago, Huskies became very popular as similar-looking dogs were featured in the ‘Game of Thrones’ series, but then many owners decided to abandon their dogs.
For an adult dog, that is older than one year the fee is around $300-$400, while puppies will cost even more as they are in high demand.
Fees for senior dogs are significantly lower and this is something worth considering as they deserve a loving home, too.
How Much Does Owning a Siberian Husky Cost?
If the price of Siberian Husky puppies has got you thinking, don’t worry, taking care of your new pet won’t cost all that much.
Not more than caring for a dog with a less impressive pedigree and an AKC registration.
Siberian Huskies are generally healthy. They are prone to some diseases but that’s true of most dogs.
Cost of Feeding a Siberian Husky
Since you’ve paid a neat sum of money on your Husky you won’t scrimp on food, obviously.
You won’t feed your splendid pet dinner scraps, as, in fact, you shouldn’t feed any dog dinner scraps.
If you want, you can feed your Husky home-cooked meals, but you will have to provide a balanced food, with plenty of protein, minerals and vitamins, and let’s not forget about fiber.
Keep in mind that, originally, Siberian Huskies are working dogs. They come from Asia, the northern part of the continent and were bred to pull sleds.
This means that this breed is quite energetic and Huskies need a lot of exercise, and a lot of food.
They won’t need as much food as a huge German Shepherd since they’re considered medium-sized dogs, but still.
Unlike other dogs, Huskies are not greedy and will only eat if they are hungry, even if you leave food out all day long.
Now, the general recommendation is to feed an adult Siberian Husky two cups of dry food per day, which means roughly one pound of dog food per day. Top quality dog food costs between $25 and $35 for a 30lb bag.
So there you have it, the food will amount to $25-35 per month, plus the occasional treat, which won’t cost more than $5-10.
A puppy will only eat about half of the amount, spread over three meals. A grown-up dog is quite happy with 2 meals per day.
Grooming
Siberian Huskies are low-maintenance dogs, at least as far as grooming is concerned.
They’re very good at keeping themselves clean so they generally don’t need more than a few baths a year.
You will need to give that lustrous coat a good brushing every week though.
The only tricky part is getting the dog’s nails trimmed every now and then.
If you can manage to do that at home, good for you, but otherwise you should see a professional groomer. Nail clipping costs around $10 per session.
Training your Siberian Husky
Siberian Huskies are very intelligent dogs, but they are a bit independent, so they do need a good trainer, especially if you have little experience with dogs.
The cost of training your pet depends on the reputation of the trainer and also on whether your pet will receive individual lessons or go to dog school with other puppies in the area.
You might think that individual classes are better as the trainer will focus solely on your dog, but Huskies are not that stubborn and difficult to train so group classes work just fine.
Besides, being part of a group is a good opportunity for your puppy to develop some social skills.
The cost of a 4-8 weeks course of one hour group sessions is somewhere between $50-$125, which is not that much.
Vet bills
Oh, well, visits to the vet can be quite expensive, no matter the breed.
One of the things you must be careful of when buying a puppy from a breeder is checking the medical documents, and read them carefully.
Make sure the puppy has been examined by a canine ophthalmologist, as Siberian Huskies are prone to juvenile cataracts. Surgery for this condition costs around $4,000.
Let’s have a look at other health problems your Husky might develop.
Hip dysplasia is a common health issue for dogs and surgery might cost between $1,000 and $6,000.
Corneal dystrophy is another eye problem that might affect your dog and fixing it can cost between $300 and $3,000, depending on the severity of the issue.
Entropion is a condition that affects mostly puppies, of all breeds, and is characterized by the eyelid rolling inwards.
Eye-drops and ointments can relieve the symptoms, but usually surgery is needed to correct the problem, so you’re looking at vet bills anywhere between $300 and $1,500.
Deafness caused by an infection can be cured and the cost of treatment is $100-$300.
Follicular Dysplasia is a condition that appears between the ages of three to four months and means basically hair-loss or developing bald spots. The cost of the treatment varies between $200 and $500.
Uveodermatologic Syndrome is a condition common in Nordic breeds and is characterized by loss of pigmentation, especially in the nose, eyelids and lips. Treatment can cost between $1,000 and $3,000.
Not even the most reputable breeder can guarantee that your dog won’t be affected by such problems, but it’s essential to make sure they do their best to breed out genetic defects and ensure good living conditions for the puppies so when you take your new pet home he’s as healthy as can be.
As a pet owner, you might want to consider dog health insurance which costs around $35 a month.
Health Bills for Your Husky Puppy
When you get your puppy from a breeder you’ll be taking him home at 6 – 10 weeks of age.
You will have to make sure the puppy gets the recommended vaccines and is microchipped, which will cost around $90-$120.
At the same time, if you don’t want to breed your dog you will have to have the puppy neutered or spayed which will land you with another $150-$300 vet bill.
Miscellaneous costs
As all new parents you will probably want to buy a lot of things for the newest member of your family, but experts recommend you stick with the basics.
You will need a crate, a collar and a leash, food and water bowls, all of which will cost roughly $100, or even less.
And you’ll have to think about toys. Siberian Huskies are great chewers so be prepared to invest some $15 in toys each month.
He might outgrow this habit at some point, especially as he grows up and gets the occasional bone to chew.
Want a Husky? What are you waiting for?
Siberian Huskies are smart outgoing dogs and make excellent pets, so it’s not just the looks.
Prices vary considerably, but if you have your heart set on a Siberian Husky buying one from a reputable breeder is certainly worth it.
A purebred dog with a good lineage might cost upwards of $1,400, but you can get a beautiful Husky without the impressive pedigree for far less.
Feeding and caring for a Siberian Husky is by no means much more expensive than taking care of another type of dog.
Basically, the only difference between getting a Husky or another dog is the initial cost, after that it’s pretty close in cost.