Siberpoo

With plenty of energy and brains to spare, the Siberpoo is not a breed for the faint-hearted. Inheriting the work ethic of the Siberian Husky and the happy-go-lucky nature of the Poodle, the Siberpoo is a spirited dog that enjoys keeping busy. They require dedicated owners who have time to spare and can be a handful without adequate training.

With wiry bodies and long limbs, the Siberpoo is built for both speed and stamina, outperforming many other breeds when it comes to running and keeping active. They usually have a rounded skull and drop ears with a face that carries a keen and alert expression. Fur type varies from dog to dog but many will have a dense and wiry coat.

About & History

You may know the Siberpoo by the name Huskydoodle or Poosky; a mix between the ever-popular Poodle and the intelligent Siberian Husky. It isn’t known exactly when the first Siberpoo was bred but they are certainly a relatively new breed with only a small population. While little is known about the history of the Siberpoo itself, we know a great deal about its parent breeds.

The Siberian Husky

The Siberian Husky is a truly ancient dog that is thought to have originated roughly 3,000 years ago when it was first bred by the Chukchi Indians in the Arctic. Over time, the breed naturally emigrated to Alaska and then to Canada and America. Originally, Siberian Huskies offered their masters a great deal, acting as sled dogs, hunters, guard dogs and companions.

They were consciously bred to be obedient and good with people, ensuring a well-rounded dog that could integrate with the family, as well as work efficiently. Nowadays, the Siberian Husky is a popular breed though, sadly, many individuals will develop behavioural issues and a high proportion end up in rehoming centres. This is mainly due to new buyers not doing their research and not being able to provide this wonderful breed with the exercise and attention that they crave.

The Poodle

The Poodle is an adaptable breed that has many positive features, resulting in it featuring in a large number of the newer hybrids. It is the Standard Poodle that is bred with the Siberian Husky to produce the Siberpoo. While people tend to associate Poodles with France, we know that they are in fact a German breed. They were used within Germany to hunt, mainly pursuing ducks.

Their characteristic haircut was actually a result of hunters wishing for more practical fur when getting wet at work, rather than seeking out a fashionable pooch! Today, the Poodle is an extremely well-known dog with all three variants (Miniature, Toy and Standard) ranking highly internationally.

Appearance

As is the case with any hybrid, it is impossible to predict what a Siberpoo will look like and even pups in the same litter can end up with quite different features. Some will look more like their Husky parent, while others will take after the Poodle. Generally, they will end up being a good mix of both and over the years we can expect this new breed to standardise further.

Measuring from 33cm to 56cm and weighing between 20kg and 27kg, the Siberpoo is a medium-sized dog that has a lean and athletic body with good muscling. Most individuals will have quite large and rounded heads with ears that hang down to the side of their face. However, a small number will retain the prick ears of the Husky. Their large nose is a prominent feature of their face and they have small eyes that may be a piercing blue, deep brown or amber.

The coat of the Siberpoo is highly variable, meaning one Siberpoo tends to look quite different to another. Fur can be long and silky or tightly curled. They have a thick, double coat that could be any combination of black, white, grey and brown. Rather than being the solid colours of the Poodle, most will retain the Husky markings.

Character & Temperament

Though undoubtedly kind and loving, the Siberpoo is a full-on breed that needs near constant attention and very dedicated owners. This is not a dog that will be content lazing about on the sofa and needs to have structure and routine in its life. They like to keep busy and are happiest when given tasks to do. A working dog through and through, owners need to provide these guys with adequate exercise and mental stimulation at all times.

Happiest when in the company of lots of people, the Siberpoo does well around children and loves to play goofily with them. Most have the ability to get on well with other pets but do need to be introduced to them sensibly from a young age.

It is not advised to leave the Siberpoo alone for prolonged periods as they quickly become bored and often revert to destructive tendencies. They will make short work of any furniture and are notoriously good at digging up gardens!

Trainability

To avoid any unwanted dominance or behavioural issues, it is critical that the Siberpoo is trained consistently from a young age, with the whole family being on board and playing their role. They need to be exposed to a wide range of situations during puppyhood and should always be reassured with praise and treats.

Punishing any bad behaviour is not advised as this will only result in resentment and will not achieve the desired results. Instead, owners should always focus on the positives. As is true of many things in life, ‘prevention is better than cure’ and it is always far easier to avoid bad behaviours than to try and curb them after they have developed.

Health

Even though cross-breeding pedigrees is a good way to reduce disease within the canine population, there are still certain diseases that we see more often in the Siberpoo then in the average dog.

Hip Dysplasia

Poorly formed hips will lead to arthritis as a dog gets older and will inevitably cause issues with mobility and chronic pain. Hip dysplasia is easy to monitor for within a population and it is recommended that all breeding adults have their hips scored with X-rays when over the age of one.

Doing so means that those dogs with bad hips can be removed from the breeding pool, ensuring only the healthiest dogs pass on their genetics and the incidence of hip dysplasia within the Siberpoo population should decrease over time.

Bloat

A condition that has the potential to be utterly devastating, dogs affected with bloat become suddenly very unwell and can pass away within hours if left untreated. Siberpoo owners should make themselves aware of the symptoms, which include a noticeably bloated abdomen and a dog that appears in distress and is unable to settle. Many will retch and pant, often salivating profusely. If the stomach has twisted over dogs will need veterinary intervention urgently if they are to survive.

Hypothyroidism

Those with an underactive thyroid may have subtle symptoms that develop over time and can be hard to spot. Commonly, these symptoms are mistaken with normal signs of aging. Dogs may become lethargic, gain weight and develop chronic skin infections.

If a vet’s suspicions are raised they will order some bloodwork which should diagnose the condition. Thankfully, hypothyroidism responds well to medication, which will need to be given throughout their lifetime.

Exercise and Activity Levels

It would be foolish to underestimate the exercise needs of the exuberant Siberpoo and owners need to understand what they have gotten themselves in for. They should be brought on a couple of long and interesting hikes each day and these walks can be supplemented with time spent off the lead in the garden. On top of this, the Siberpoo needs plenty of mental stimulation so should also be given the opportunity to participate in various canine activities, such as agility classes.

As well as enjoying long walks in the local hills and parks, the Siberpoo would relish any opportunity to get wet and go for a swim, regardless of the weather!

Grooming

As the coat of the Siberpoo differs considerably from individual to individual, each Siberpoo will have unique needs. As a rule of thumb, most should be brushed through a few times a week. They do not tend to shed a lot and will benefit from professional grooming a handful of times a year.