Types of Dogs Like Huskies: 22 Breeds That Look & Act Similar

When most people think of dogs that look like huskies, they picture the classic Siberian Husky — blue eyes, thick coat, wolf-like face. But the husky isn’t a single breed. It’s an umbrella term covering a wide family of spitz type dogs and northern sled dogs that share the same origins, traits, and look.

There are 22 types of dogs like huskies — from the popular Samoyed and Alaskan Malamute to rare husky type dogs that most dog lovers have never heard of. This guide covers all dog breeds, husky type, what they look like, how they behave, and the key stats you need to know.

Whether you’re searching for different type of husky breed dogs to adopt, or simply curious about dog spitz types and their history, this complete guide has everything you need.

1. Siberian Husky

Siberian Husky owners all tell the same story: “I had no idea what I was getting into” — and they’re always grinning when they say it. Bred by the Chukchi people of Siberia to run far in brutal cold, that background shows up daily — the endurance, the independence, the 2am howling at nothing. They don’t need you the way other breeds do, which makes the moments they choose you feel earned. Heavy shedder, escape artist, destructive when bored. Worth every bit of it.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Medium	20–24″	35–60 lbs	12–14 yrs

2. Alaskan Malamute

The Alaskan Malamute is basically a husky with the volume turned all the way up — more muscle, more coat, more stubbornness, more dog. Bred to haul heavy freight across snow, not to win races. That working mentality never left. Malamutes are loyal to their people and completely indifferent to everyone else. Owners call the experience loving but humbling. If you’ve only had eager-to-please breeds before, a Malamute will reset your expectations fast.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Large	23–25″	75–100 lbs	10–14 yrs

3. Samoyed

There’s a reason the Samoyed consistently tops lists of the most beautiful dog breeds. That cloud-white double coat and permanent upturned smile — known as the “Sammy smile,” which actually prevents drooling — make them look like something out of a fantasy film. They were bred by the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia to herd reindeer, haul sleds, and sleep in tents with their owners for warmth. That last part explains a lot about their personality: Samoyeds genuinely want to be wherever you are. They’re warm, social, and vocal in a charming way. The coat, however, is a commitment — it requires regular brushing and sheds enough seasonally to stuff a small pillow.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Medium	19–23.5″	35–65 lbs	12–14 yrs

4. Chinook

Most people who encounter a Chinook for the first time don’t recognize the breed — and that’s part of what makes it interesting. It doesn’t look like a typical husky type dog at all. Less wolf, more Labrador-with-muscle. The Chinook was developed in New Hampshire in the early 1900s by a musher named Arthur Walden, who wanted a powerful sled dog with a calm, trainable temperament. The result is one of the friendliest and most family-oriented breeds on this entire list. Despite being AKC-recognized since 2013, it remains exceptionally rare — finding a reputable Chinook breeder takes real effort. If you do find one, owners consistently describe them as the easiest large dog they’ve ever had.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Large	22–26″	55–90 lbs	12–15 yrs

Table of Contents

Spitz Type Dogs That Look Like Huskies But Aren’t

5. Alaskan Husky

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Medium	23–26″	38–50 lbs	10–15 yrs

Here’s something that surprises a lot of people: the Alaskan Husky isn’t actually a breed. It’s a category — a purpose-built working crossbreed developed by mushers who cared about one thing and one thing only: performance. Speed over long distances, in brutal conditions, day after day. The Alaskan Husky is the most common sled dog in the world, used in events like the Iditarod, and it can outrun a Siberian Husky over short distances. Appearance varies enormously because breeders mixed in Greyhound, German Shorthaired Pointer, Saluki, and others depending on the traits they needed. As a pet, it’s a lot of dog — high energy, high drive, and a deep need for work or structured exercise.

6. American Eskimo Dog

The name is misleading — the American Eskimo Dog has no historical connection to Eskimo cultures whatsoever. It was developed by German immigrants in the United States and originally called the German Spitz, before anti-German sentiment during World War I prompted the name change. It comes in three sizes — toy, miniature, and standard — all sharing the same bright white coat, sharp dark eyes, and quick intelligence. They were once circus performers, trained to do tricks because they learn so fast. That intelligence is a double-edged thing at home: they need regular mental stimulation or they’ll find their own entertainment. Cheerful and loyal, but definitely a vocal dog.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Small–Medium	9–19″	6–35 lbs	13–15 yrs

7. Akita

The Akita looks like a husky but has none of the social energy. It’s reserved, dignified, and bonds with its family in a way few breeds match. Hachiko — the Akita who waited at Tokyo’s Shibuya Station every day for nearly a decade after his owner passed — became Japan’s most beloved dog. His statue still stands there today. If you want to understand Akita loyalty, that story says it all.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Large	24–28″	70–130 lbs	10–14 yrs

8. Shiba Inu

The Shiba Inu is one of those dogs that looks like a stuffed animal and behaves like a cat who has decided, just for today, to tolerate your presence. It’s one of Japan’s oldest and smallest native breeds, bred to hunt in mountainous terrain. Compact, clean, and intensely independent, the Shiba does things on its own terms. It also has a vocal range that includes the infamous “Shiba scream” — a high-pitched, almost human-sounding shriek it produces when displeased, which is both alarming and, once you know it’s coming, oddly funny. It became globally famous as the face of the “Doge” meme. Experienced dog owners love them. First-timers often find the independence baffling.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Small	13.5–16.5″	17–23 lbs	13–16 yrs

9. Finnish Spitz

Finland’s national dog is a golden-red fox of a breed that was developed for hunting birds and small game in the forests of northern Europe. The Finnish Spitz hunts differently from most dogs — it uses its bark to locate and point prey, rocking back and forth and barking rapidly toward the target to guide the hunter in. It’s known as the “barking bird dog” for a reason. That bark is bred in deep, which means apartment living is a challenge unless your neighbors are very understanding. At home with an active family, the Finnish Spitz is lively, affectionate, and genuinely fun — a dog with real personality and a lot of stamina.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Medium	15.5–20″	20–33 lbs	13–15 yrs

10. Norwegian Elkhound

The Norwegian Elkhound is old — genuinely old, in the way that only a handful of breeds can claim. Archaeological evidence suggests dogs of this type existed in Scandinavia as far back as 5,000 BCE. They were bred to hunt elk by tracking the animal over long distances and then holding it at bay, circling and barking, until the hunter arrived. That background produced a dog with extraordinary endurance, a loud confident bark, and a personality that reads as bold and self-assured rather than aggressive. They’re loyal and affectionate with family, but independent enough that they’ll make their own decisions if you’re not consistent with training. A solid, handsome, no-nonsense dog.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Medium	19.5–20.5″	48–55 lbs	12–15 yrs

11. Keeshond

The Keeshond (say it “kayz-hawnd”) spent centuries as the companion dog of Dutch barge workers — living on the boats, keeping watch, and keeping their owners company during long river journeys. That history shaped a dog that is adaptable, alert, and genuinely attached to people. The distinctive feature most people notice first is the “spectacle” marking — the darker shading around the eyes that gives the face a glasses-wearing expression. The silver-grey coat is beautiful but requires consistent brushing. Unlike many spitz type dogs on this list, the Keeshond adjusts surprisingly well to apartment life as long as it gets regular exercise and isn’t left alone for too long.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Medium	17–18″	35–45 lbs	12–15 yrs

12. Pomeranian

A Pomeranian is essentially a Siberian Husky that went through an extreme miniaturization program over several centuries — and still hasn’t fully accepted the memo about its size. They descended from large Arctic sled dogs and retain the wolf-like look and the outsized personality in a package that weighs around 5 pounds. Queen Victoria is largely responsible for the tiny version we know today; she fell in love with a small Pom she encountered in Italy and began a selective breeding program at her kennels. The result is a dog that struts, barks at things several times its size, and expects to be treated accordingly. Confident, charming, and surprisingly bold.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Toy	6–7″	3–7 lbs	12–16 yrs

13. Icelandic Sheepdog

Iceland’s only native breed arrived on the island with Norse Vikings over a thousand years ago and has been working the rugged Icelandic landscape ever since — herding sheep, alerting to aerial predators, keeping livestock together in terrain that would challenge most dogs considerably. The Icelandic Sheepdog is cheerful in a way that feels almost relentless. It greets everyone, including complete strangers, like a long-lost friend, which makes it a questionable guard dog but an outstanding companion. Active, alert, and deeply social — it does best in homes where it’s genuinely part of the family’s daily life.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Medium	16.5–18″	25–30 lbs	12–14 yrs

Rare Husky-Type Breeds Most People Have Never Seen

14. Greenland Dog

The Greenland Dog is one of those breeds that exists at the outer edge of what most people would consider a pet. It’s a true working dog — powerful, independent, and built for conditions that would stop most breeds cold. Used by Arctic hunters and polar explorers for thousands of years, it’s genetically one of the closest living relatives to ancient wolf populations. Roald Amundsen used Greenland Dogs on his expedition to the South Pole. They’re not aggressive, but they’re not particularly interested in pleasing you either. Outside of Greenland and a handful of Arctic communities, they’re rarely kept as companions — and for good reason. This is a dog designed for a life most of us will never live.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Large	22–25″	66–100 lbs	10–15 yrs

15. Canadian Eskimo Dog

The Canadian Eskimo Dog came closer to extinction in the 20th century than almost any other breed — a combination of snowmobiles replacing sled dogs and a controversial government culling program in the 1950s and 60s reduced the population to near zero. By 2008, estimates suggested fewer than 300 purebred dogs existed in the world. Conservation efforts have brought those numbers back slightly, but this remains one of the rarest breeds on the planet. It’s a powerful, dominant dog that was bred to hunt seal and polar bear alongside Inuit hunters in some of the harshest conditions on earth. Not a breed for inexperienced owners — but one of the most historically significant dogs that exists.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Large	20–27.5″	40–88 lbs	10–15 yrs

16. Labrador Husky

The name causes confusion every time. The Labrador Husky has absolutely nothing to do with the Labrador Retriever — it takes its name from the Labrador region of Canada, where it has lived and worked with Inuit communities since around 1300 AD. It’s most closely related to the Canadian Eskimo Dog and shares that breed’s working intensity and physical toughness. Extremely rare outside of northern Canada — most people will go their entire lives without encountering one in person. It’s worth knowing about, though, if only because the story of these dogs and the communities they served is remarkable.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Large	20–28″	60–100 lbs	10–13 yrs

17. Sakhalin Husky

The Sakhalin Husky — known as Karafuto Ken in Japanese — is critically endangered and may already be functionally extinct as a distinct breed. What keeps its name alive, at least in Japan, is a story from 1958: a Japanese Antarctic research team was forced to evacuate suddenly due to a storm and had to leave their 15 sled dogs behind, chained, with only limited food. When a new team arrived a year later, two dogs — Taro and Jiro — had somehow survived. The story became one of the most beloved in Japanese culture, told in books, museums, and a major film. Taro and Jiro became national heroes. That story is the Sakhalin Husky’s legacy now.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Large	22–26″	66–88 lbs	12–14 yrs

18. Alaskan Klee Kai

The Alaskan Klee Kai was developed in the 1970s in Alaska by a woman named Linda Spurlin, who wanted to create a companion-sized dog that looked exactly like a Siberian Husky. She largely succeeded. The Klee Kai has the same striking markings, the same erect ears and wolf-like face, and the same intense gaze — just in a frame that weighs somewhere between 10 and 20 pounds. The temperament is similar too: smart, energetic, and reserved with strangers in a way that surprises people who assume it’ll be as outgoing as a Husky. It’s loyal to its family and genuinely affectionate at home. Growing rapidly in popularity as more people discover it exists.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Small–Medium	13–17″	10–20 lbs	12–16 yrs

19. East Siberian Laika

Russia has four Laika breeds, and the East Siberian Laika is arguably the most versatile of them. Developed across the vast eastern regions of Siberia, it was used to hunt everything from small woodland animals to large game — bear, elk, wild boar. It’s a tough, adaptable dog with the characteristic spitz build: pricked ears, curled tail, thick double coat in various colors. Almost entirely unknown outside of Russia and parts of Eastern Europe. If you come across one, it’s worth stopping to appreciate a working dog that has been doing its job largely unchanged for centuries.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Medium	21–25″	40–55 lbs	12–15 yrs

20. West Siberian Laika

The West Siberian Laika is the most common of the four Russian Laika breeds and is considered by many Russian hunters to be the finest all-purpose hunting dog in the country. It has a strong prey drive, an exceptional nose, and the endurance to work all day in terrain that would slow other breeds considerably. Wolf-like in appearance, with a rectangular body and a dense coat that handles cold without issue. Outside of Russia and Scandinavia, it’s essentially unknown — which is part of what makes it interesting. A dog that has been doing serious work for centuries without needing anyone’s approval or attention.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Medium	20–24″	40–55 lbs	12–14 yrs

21. Mackenzie River Husky

The Mackenzie River Husky isn’t really a breed in the traditional sense — it’s a historical working type that emerged from the chaos and urgency of the Klondike Gold Rush. Mushers in Canada’s Yukon Territory needed dogs that could haul serious freight through Arctic conditions, so they crossed local sled dogs with large European breeds — St. Bernards, Newfoundlands — to get the size and power the work demanded. The result was a massive, tough freight dog that served mining operations and supply routes across northern Canada. It’s recognized more as a type than a registered breed, and it’s rarely discussed outside of sled dog history circles.

Size	Height	Weight	Lifespan
Large	24–30″	65–105 lbs	10–14 yrs

22. Miniature Siberian Husky

The Miniature Siberian Husky is the answer to a very specific question: what if I love everything about a Siberian Husky but my living situation calls for something smaller? Breeders developed this through selective pairing of the smallest Siberians over multiple generations. The result looks almost identical to a standard Husky but weighs roughly half as much. Here’s what owners are quick to point out: the energy level did not scale down with the size. A Mini Husky in a small apartment with insufficient exercise is still very much a Husky, with all the drama, the howling, and the redecorating that implies. The look is there. The personality is fully intact. Plan your exercise schedule accordingly.