Huskies are among the most popular and common breeds for dog lovers, with their striking blue or bi-colored eyes and furry coats being some of their most appealing features.
While not everyone will get to own this unique dog breed, other breeds come close to matching the husky’s appearance.
Here are the top 16 picks.
Malamute
The Malamute comes closest to the husky’s appearance, with the only difference being that it is heavier and taller and has a muscular build.
The Malamute was bred for pulling loads in the arctic, with its frame designed to help with much heavier loads, hence its muscular build.
The Malamute can often show signs of stubbornness and will require you to invest in lots of training before they can adjust well to family life.
They are also not tolerant of other pets and children, with their intelligent traits making them good watchdogs.
Since they were initially bred for working, they also need a proper outlet for their energy, failure of which can make them destructive and easily bored.
They also love a good cuddle, allowing them to settle well into family life.
Finnish Spitz
The Finnish Spitz also tends to be as talkative as the husky and loves to bark a lot.
Training can, however, help with this, allowing them only to bark when they spot things that may cause concern.
But even with this temperament, they are non-aggressive and extremely friendly with kids and new people they meet.
They were initially bred for hunting, with their alert and active nature making them good guard dogs.
They also enjoy taking part in sporting activities, helping them to keep up with their energetic personality.
American Eskimo
American Eskimos are affectionate, intelligent, and love life, a temperament that significantly enhances their smiling face appearance and black eye rims.
They are neither shy nor aggressive but will often take their time when making new friends.
Due to their curiosity and high energy levels, they love mental and physical stimulation.
Failure to indulge in such challenges will make them bored, leading to destructive behavior.
They are considered Velcro dogs, meaning they will follow you around for the entire day and do not like to be left alone.
Saarloos Wolfdog
The Saarloos Wolfdog is a mix of the German Shepherd and the Siberian Wolf, closely resembling the Tamaskan.
The main difference in these breeds is that the Saarloos Wolfdog tends to have more wolf-like traits.
It is independent and energetic, while its temperament also introduces shy characteristics, cautious features, and stubborn traits.
Due to this, they are protective of their territory, making them a good pet for families without children.
They require lots of outdoor space to roam.
They also love their owners and are devoted to them, while they tend to get wary of strangers.
Tamaskan
Tamaskans may resemble wolves, but their temperament matches that of a dog.
The Tamaskan is a mixture f various dog breeds, namely the Canadian Eskimo, Alaskan Malamute, the German Shepherd, and the Siberian Husky.
While they may not have been a common breed in the past, they are becoming regular around the home.
They are energetic and gentle with other dogs and kids, making them another good pet for families.
Due to their stubborn nature, they will, however, require lots of patience.
They are also intelligent, with agility activities being better suited for them.
If left alone for long periods, the Tamaskan can develop separation anxiety, hence does well in the company of other dogs and humans.
Swedish Vallhund
The Swedish Vallhund can be described as a mix of a Siberian Husky and a Corgi, even though it has no relation to either breed.
They were originally bred for herding, contributing to their high energy.
This also makes them ideal for watching or guarding.
They are cheerful and love games that are mentally stimulating to match their temperament.
They are also highly sociable and fit in well with families that live an energetic lifestyle.
Utonagan
Utonagans are a mix of the German Shepherd, the Malamute, and the Siberian Husky, making them one of the newer breeds that look like huskies.
Their temperament also matches their look-alike, and you are likely to notice their curious, playful, and loyal traits.
Their personality is a key attribute that makes them affectionate to their owners.
They are also playful and have a roaming instinct that suits them in large living areas instead of small apartments.
Akita Inu
The Akita Inu was traditionally bred as a guard dog to protect the royal family in Japan.
They still possess their protective nature to date, are reserved around strangers, and have aggressive traits that require a lot of training.
They are independent and tend to live alone, and may not be friendly around other animals.
Due to their complex personality, first-time owners may find them challenging to keep as pets.
They are, however, loving to their owners, with unwavering support.
They are also talkative, with their frequent barking showing often, and love to carry items like toys.
Northern Inuit
The Northern Inuit is a hybrid of the German Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute, and the Siberian husky, similar to the Utonagan’s ancestry.
It was, however, bred to create the wild appearance of a wolf and the docile nature of a domestic dog.
They are calm-natured, intelligent, and friendly to both their owners and the new people they meet.
They are, however, strong-willed, with early training helping them fit in well with family settings.
First-time owners may, therefore, have a difficult time with the Northern Inuit.
They are also loyal and intelligent and are active dogs that love to spend time in the outdoors.
Due to their energetic nature, they love social activities and may suffer separation anxiety when left alone for long periods.
Shikoku Dog
Shikokus may have been initially bred for hunting, but they fit in perfectly as pets, with their friendly nature being an excellent addition to family settings.
They are also energetic and enthusiastic, with exercises helping them avoid boredom that could make them frustrated and destructive.
Their hunting instincts are still very active and will often have a high prey drive that makes them chase small animals.
Alaskan Klee Kai
The Alaskan Klee Kai resembles a mini husky and is an intelligent, energetic breed.
It loves running around and will often be vocal when its needs are not met.
They also love being the center of attention and are eager to please with enough exercise to help them avoid anxious tendencies that could lead to destructive behavior.
They are wary of strangers and shy, making them ideal as guard dogs.
Icelandic Sheepdog
The Icelandic sheepdog is another breed from the Spitz family with a close resemblance to the husky.
They are good herding dogs that love exercise and working.
Activities such as running keep them happy and occupied, with their intelligent nature likely to make them bored when they are not active.
They also love being the center of attention and are loving and compassionate to their owners.
Czech Wolfdog
The Czech Wolfdog is another relatively new dog breed with the temperament of a German Shepherd but with the strength of a Carpathian wolf.
Bred initially as attack dogs, the Czech Wolfdog is currently used in search and rescue, herding, and tracking.
It is independent and energetic, making it ideal for active owners and the outdoors.
This breed requires a lot of training and may not be a good match for first-time dog owners.
They are loyal to their owners and will often be suspicious of strangers.
Keeshond
Keeshonds are also known as Dutch Barge Dogs, which possess versatile qualities.
They are friendly and will often get along well with dogs and humans.
They are affectionate, a trait that will come in handy if you have kids, as they also love being part of the family.
They are energetic, outgoing, and alert, allowing them to be quick learners, which makes them well suited for watchdogs.
The Keeshond, however, tends to Velcro you a lot, meaning they cannot be left alone for long periods.
They are also playful and frequently bark, making them among the most talkative breeds.
Keeshonds have a sturdy build, which often includes a black and silver coat with a soft undercoat and a long outer coat.
This thick coat tends to shed frequently and will require you to brush it often to control the shedding.
West Siberian Laika
Another breed in the Spitz family is the West Siberian Laika, initially used for hunting in West Siberia.
It is suitable for working and is also excellent as a hunting breed.
Due to this, it is well suited to active environments and great for the outdoors.
It is independent, stubborn, and talkative, making them challenging for new owners.
Samoyed
Samoyeds are the first breed that comes with a fluffy white appearance and less energy when compared to the husky.
But even with this, they will still require an outlet for their energy, with their go-to activities being hikes, long walks, and jogging exercises.
They are friendly, lovable, and happy and will often be chatty with frequent howls, barks, and grunts to show for it.
They love being around people and can get destructive when left alone.
Final Word
If you are interested in getting dogs that look like huskies, the above list will be an excellent place to start your search.
Whether you love wolf-like, energetic, or intelligent breeds that make life enjoyable, the above are some examples to add to your family.
Their bold stature, calm demeanor, and stunning eyes are other traits that match their intelligence and fun spirit.