Are you searching for a gentle, friendly furry friend for your family? Beluskies are perfect for families, but you need to ensure a comfortable, interactive environment so it can give back to you.
Beluskies are people-friendly, protective, and highly loyal dogs, making them perfect for families. If you consider getting one, you need to understand their behavior, needs, and everything in between.
In this article, you will learn everything about Beluskies, including their essential needs, characteristics, health issues, etc. At the end of the article, you will clearly understand whether or not a Belusky is a perfect fit for your family.
What is a Belusky
The Belusky comes from two breeds, the Belgian Malinois and the Siberian Husky. They are also known as Belerian, Malsky, or Huskinois, all derived from the parents’ names.
Beluskies are friendly, gentle, and intelligent dogs that are adaptable to cold climates. They are great protective dogs and blend well in families with kids or without. They are generally easy to maintain as long as their immediate needs of food and exercise are met. making
The History of Beluskies
Having come from two breeds, the Belgian Malinois and the Siberian Husky, there is no definitive history on Beluskies specifically. But, the origin of the two original breeds is known. Below is a brief description of the history of each breed.
The Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois originated from Maline, Belgium, as one of the sheepdogs developed in the 1800s. This breed was initially developed for shepherding owing to its high energy levels and work ethic.
The intelligence and sensitivity of the Malinois made it a famous protective dog. Its loyal character contributed to its popularity among families then and continues to be in today’s age.
The Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky was developed in Russia and was popularly known as a sled dog. Having come from Russia, their development brought about a coat that was ideal for the cold temperature.
Surprisingly, the coat is easily adaptable to hot temperatures, making this dog an excellent choice for any climate. Siberian Huskies have topped the list of athletic dogs over the years, making it one of the best dogs for adventurous people.
As high-energy and athletic as it comes, the Siberian Husky is sensitive, affectionate, and loyal. Like the Belgian Malinois, it is intelligent and non-aggressive, therefore, ideal for families with kids.
The Belusky, therefore, takes after the two breeds in variable measure. That said, no Belusky is equal to the other as some characteristics of one breed may manifest more than those of the other breed. And that’s the beauty of crossbreed dogs like the Belusky.
The Characteristics of Beluskies
Size and Weight
The Belusky has a medium-sized, sturdy body. It can be as high as 23 to 25 inches for both males and females; therefore a strong, relatively large breed. The coat of the Belusky varies from short to medium featuring layers of soft and harsh hair.
Like other crossbreed dogs, the weight of the Belusky depends on the dominant characteristics it takes from the parent as far as weight goes. Bt generally, Beluskies wight between 45 to 65 pounds. They can be heavier or lighter again, depending on nutrition and activity levels.
Appearance
Beluskies vary in appearance depending on the characteristics each takes from the parents, the Belgian Malinois and the Siberian Husky. That said, some Beluskies will look more like the Siberian Husky, while others will take the features of the Belgian Malinois.
When it comes to the color of the coat, Beluskies come in various colors with either black or white marks. The dominant color can be one of the parents’ colors or a combination of both.
The ears are usually erect and can range in color depending on the dominant genes of the parents. On that note, the ears may be smaller and rounder like those of the Siberian Husky or large and pointed like those of the Belgian Malinois.
The tail is usually long with brush-like hair but can be longer if the genes from the Belgian Malinois are dominant.
Like other features, the head may take the shape of either parent. It can be thicker and rounder like that of the Siberian husky or maybe flatter with a long snout like that of the Belgian Malinois.
The eyes of Beluskies are usually almond-shaped in a Belgian chocolate color or blue like the Huskies. Depending on which eyes your Belusky takes after, it may present a friendly expression like the Husky or an alerting, questioning expression like the Malinois.
Personality and Temperament
The temperament of Blueskies can take either side of the parents or be a combination of both. Your Belusky can be aggressive and alert like the Belgian Malinois or gentle, friendly, and loving personality of the Siberian Husky.
As a combination of the two personalities, your Belusky can be friendly, athletic, and intelligent, taking the dominant personalities from each breed. If your Belusky takes after the sweet, soft side of the Husky, it has an easier time around people, will love everyone, and interact freely.
If it takes after the Malinois herding heart, it will portray protective tendencies and might show aggression to people and other pets. This personality can make it challenging to train your Belusky since its instincts make it behave that way.
Generally, Beluskies are active, friendly, interactive, and loyal. Most of them blend well with families and interact well with other dogs or pets upon training.
The intelligence that the Belusky has leaves room to get bored when they have nothing interesting to engage in. On this note, if you leave your Belusky alone with nothing to engage them, they may result in destructive behavior to expend their built-up energy.
Therefore, you need to incorporate various interactive games and toys to keep your Belusky engaged. Also, you can take it outdoor regularly to help it explore its adventurous trait.
Care and Maintenace of Beluskies
Nutrition
Beluskies are high-energy, active dogs that require high-quality food to meet their energy requirements. The best dog food for your Belusky should have adequate protein, be dense in calories, and be packed with carbohydrates.
You can mix dry food and wet food as long as each portion meets its nutritional requirements. Wet food is easier to bite and is generally packed with high protein amounts.
If you start with your Belusky as a puppy, make sure the food has all the essential nutrients to help your dog grow and develop. Pay attention to the ingredients and ensure they contribute to bone, muscle, skin, and coat health.
More to this, your puppy will most likely expend energy more, therefore needing more calories each day. That said, you can start with two to three meals a day and transition to once a day as they grow older.
Grooming
Beluskies shed and therefore require regular brushing to keep shedding at bay. The parents, the Belgian Malinois and the Siberian Husky, feature double coats which are relatively high-shedding.
The hair of the Belusky tends to stick to clothes and furniture if brushing is irregular. If you can, it is advisable to brush the coat every day or every other day. You can use a de-shedding tool to reach the undercoat and remove loose fur that you may not get with a regular brush.
That is majorly the only grooming your Belusky will need, other than the usual nail clipping, once in a while groomer’s shave, and regular brushing of the teeth.
Training
Beluskies are easy to train; however, they need regular reinforcement as their high-energy trait can make them pretty impatient. They learn quickly, but they often have an issue with sitting still, especially as puppies.
Their brains are always racing fast, trying to think of the next thing they can do, making it challenging to control them. That said, you have to find a balance between having control over them and matching up to their energy.
Like most dogs, Beluskies do well with positive reinforcements over punishments. But, you need to be firm with your words and tone to ensure they pick up on what you are trying to train them on.
As a beginner with such a dog, you may feel overwhelmed getting it to obey commands. This is where you seek the help of professional dog trainers that understand how Beluskies respond to training.
Exercise Needs
Beluskies are highly active designer dogs, requiring more than an hour of activity each day. Since they tend to build up energy quickly, Beluskies need at least two hours of moderate to intense exercise daily.
You can keep your Belusky active by taking it out on a walk in the morning, running around the park, or playing with interactive toys in your backyard. If you enjoy running, consider taking your dog out for a run; it will enjoy the adventure and exercise at the same time.
Since Beluskies require quite an active lifestyle, they may not be the best for apartment living. They are relatively big dogs that need ample space to jump and run around. Also, they need a secure fence as they can get overly exploratory as they play.
Regular exercise for Beluskies is an essential need that you have to commit to once you keep one. If not, your Belusky may develop destructive behavior from the built-up energy.
Common Health Issues of Beluskies
Beluskies are prone to health issues such as Cataracts, Hip Dysplasia, Corneal Dystrophy, Pannus, and Laryngeal Paralysis. They, therefore, need occasional checkups to detect problems with the eyes, hips, and heart.
Beluskies are also prone to developing allergies; therefore, you may need professional advice when choosing the most appropriate food.
Are Beluskies Good Family Dogs?
Beluskies are great for families with proper and timely training. They can quickly go off entitled behavior, hence the need to train them early on as puppies. This is particularly important if you intend to have your Belusky out in social situations often.
Beluskies are generally great with young kids; however, it is important to supervise their interaction as playfulness can quickly go overboard. Additionally, they are pretty large dogs, and being super high-energy can knock down your little ones when playing.
If you have small children, it would be best to train the dog and kids too on how to relate to each other. That way, they can both respect each other’s spaces and interact safely. All the same, they make perfect playmates for active families.
One more thing, Beluskies are naturally protective dogs and will stay loyal to loved ones. On this note, they will pay attention to people’s behavior, run to the door to answer knocks, and stay alert always.
How Long Do Beluskies Live?
Beluskies can live a minimum of 10 years of age with proper care and maintenance. With an active lifestyle and adequate feeding, they can exceed 14 years of age.
How Much Does a Belusky Cost?
Beluskies can cost between $1000 to $1500. The price can go higher or lower depending on the age of the puppy, the breeder type, etc. If you get one, ensure you get a veterinarian’s opinion to detect any health issues your Belusky may have.
Are Beluskies Hypoallergenic?
Beluskies are not hypoallergenic since they are considered shedding dogs. The coat tends to tangle and has loose fur that regularly sheds; therefore not suitable for people with pet allergies.
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Final Thoughts
Beluskies are friendly furry friends, perfect for families. Their high intelligence levels and protective nature makes them suitable for adventurous families, not forgetting how much energy they have.
Beluskies will give back all that love to your family with the right food, exercise routine, and interaction. Their playfulness will keep everyone active and engaged all day, which most family dogs have to offer.
