Cost of Owning a Siberian Husky (2024): Purchase, Vet Bills, and More

The initial purchase price of a Siberian husky can vary greatly based on many factors, including whether you adopt an adult dog from a shelter or buy a new purebred husky puppy from a reputable breeder. Siberian huskies are a popular dog breed, coming in as the 24th-most popular dog breed in the U.S. in 2023, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).^[1] 

Here’s what you need to know about how much these beautiful, goofy, and enigmatic dogs cost so you can form a solid financial plan for your pup.

How much does a Siberian husky cost?

Dog breeders typically charge an average of $600–$1,500 for a husky puppy. Adopting a homeless husky from a shelter comes with a much lower price tag, ranging from $150 to $400.

Most people know that Siberian huskies were originally bred as sled dogs, and it’s still common to see all-Siberian teams at races in Alaska and other northern U.S. states even today. Those factors also translate into some interesting challenges for pet lovers. For example, you should generally always keep your husky on a leash, and they go through twice-yearly shedding cycles.^[2]

Siberian huskies are a great choice if you’re looking for an active companion. Canine sports like skijoring or bikejoring — in which teams of one to three huskies pull you on cross-country skis or a mountain bike — are a good way to exercise. These activities translate well to pet households since you can even compete with full-sized kennels with just a single “house” husky.

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Costs of owning a Siberian husky

The cost of buying or adopting your new husky friend is just your first expense. You’ll pay far more for a Siberian husky’s ongoing care, so it’s important to make sure you factor these expenses into your yearly budget.

Vaccination and vet visits

Huskies are pretty healthy overall. They’re bred to be sturdy and serve as the main source of transportation for the Chukchi people over great distances. Siberian huskies generally need the same type of regular veterinary care as other large-breed dogs.

Some items to include in your veterinary budget include:^[3]

• Annual exam: $50–$250

• Annual vaccinations: $20–$30 per vaccine

• Spaying or neutering: $160–$220

• Preventative medications: $31–$38 per month

Food and supplies

All huskies are different, and each will have its own specific needs and associated costs. But here’s a rough range for what you might pay annually to keep your pup happy and well-fed:^[4]

• Toys: $60–$100

• Food: $360–$900

• Training: $145–$2,500

Grooming and maintenance

Huskies are sturdy dogs with thick double coats. Twice a year, a husky will “blow” its coat, which is an apt description. Without daily grooming at this point, your dog will look like an exploded cotton candy machine with its floofy undercoat flying around everywhere, especially in the summer months.

You can handle your Siberian husky’s grooming at home with the right tools. You’ll need to invest around $100 in quality nail clippers and a set of brushes, including an undercoat rake, deshedding blade, and a slicker brush.^[5]

Pet insurance

Pet insurance for dogs costs an average of $204 per year for an accident-only policy and $676 per year for an accident and illness policy, according to data from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association.^[6] Most Siberian husky owners pay around $30–$50 per month for pet insurance, according to pet insurance company Embrace.

If you plan to pay out of pocket for any surprise veterinary expenses, you may not need pet insurance. But since vet bills can get extremely high — particularly if your dog should ever develop something like cancer — many pet owners prefer the extra peace of mind that pet insurance policies can offer.

Pet insurance doesn’t cover all veterinary expenses, but it can protect against some of the largest. If you’re looking to save money, most insurers also offer affordable plans that only cover accidents. You can also find add-on wellness plans that cover many routine veterinary expenses, like annual vaccinations and parasite-prevention medications.

Factors influencing the price of a Siberian husky

The cost to adopt or buy your best friend can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. It just depends on what type of husky you want. Here’s a look at some of the different factors affecting the cost of a Siberian husky.

Where you purchase from

Breeders typically charge higher prices for a purebred Siberian husky because they’re hoping to make a profit from the sale of their puppies or at least recoup their costs. Reputable breeders typically charge even more because they put a lot of work into verifying that their pups are healthy and properly socialized, which isn’t an easy job.

If you plan to show or breed your new Siberian husky in the future, you may pay even higher costs to retain full breeding rights. Many breeders also offer pet-quality huskies to good homes at a lower price.

Animal shelters, on the other hand, are often full of huskies and husky mixes that former owners surrendered or that were found abandoned. You can also find many breed-specific rescues around the country that help place huskies in good homes. Adoption fees are typically more affordable for these dogs than buying a puppy from a breeder, and you get to save a life.

Coat color

Huskies come in a wide range of coat color patterns. Breeders sometimes charge higher prices for dogs with rare coat colors, such as all-white dogs, although shelters and rescues typically don’t base prices on a dog’s looks.

Age and gender

Puppy ownership comes with many extra costs compared to adopting an adult Siberian husky, starting with the initial price tag. Siberian husky puppies are cute fluff balls that are in high demand, so breeders and even shelters can charge a premium based on the dog’s age.

Common health issues in Siberian huskies

Siberian huskies aren’t known for many genetic problems, but they’re prone to a few. Some health problems to watch for include:^[7]

• Cataracts: Just like in people, a husky’s eye lens can become clouded and obscure its vision, eventually leading to blindness. Cataracts affect about 10% of Siberian huskies.

• Hip dysplasia: An abnormally formed hip socket is common in many large-breed dogs and can eventually lead to arthritis and lameness.

• Zinc deficiency: Some huskies are prone to zinc deficiencies and require extra supplements to avoid hair loss on certain parts of their body.

• Hypothyroidism: Another similarity to people, this treatable condition results from an underactive thyroid gland and can cause weight gain, lethargy, and hair loss.

• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): This common genetic condition causes early degradation of the cells in a dog’s retina, eventually leading to blindness.

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Comparing costs: Siberian husky vs. other breeds

Dog lovers who browse puppy classified ads on Craigslist or scroll through adoption pictures on Petfinder often come across several other related breeds from northern environments, some of which were also originally bred as sled dogs.

Here’s how the cost of Siberian huskies compares to some of these other breeds:

Siberian husky FAQs