Hey all, my first post here! I'm the very proud owner of a handsome red with two blue eyes! Diesel just turned 1 on November 3rd, and here's the thing: he is nowhere in size I thought he'd be!

If you see the photos, he's only 45 pounds, the same as my wife's retriever/spaniel mix, Sweetie. Yet Sweetie is still a tad bit taller than him. He is a fireplug; super stout, zero fat, and looks like a seesaw when he runs. He is so sweet, has one HECK of a personality, and is best friends with his sister, though she's 4 and just 'tolerates' him.

He was just fixed last month, so the potential of it being done too soon and stunting his growth (if that's even possible) is nil. He typically eats a lot, though he's brought the pace with which he does it down over the summer.

Let me just say, if this is where he's topping out, I am perfectly fine with it. Or if he suddenly explodes in growth, that's cool, too! The fence in the photo is 4 feet. The reeds add a few more inches.

He doesn't have papers as his mom and dad apparently were two different breeding standards, or something like that. He's all husky, but he's small! Or is he?

Now that I've posted, I'm coming up with other things to say, of course. This isn't my first dog, but it is my first husky. Also, the breeder said Diesel wasn't the runt, but could this be? He came as a puppy pretty young and small.

Thanks!

Give him some more time. From what I've read Huskies will keep on growing until around the age of two. I'm sure others on the site will chime in soon with knowledge then me. Welcome to the forum!

Also forgot to mention that he's been this size for 3 months! It's so funny, and so fun to see him try and romp around with other huskies his age of just older...and much bigger!

He looks fine, they vary in size. Happy belated bday to Diesel, Him and i share the same bday! He will fill out around 18-24 months usually, but that doesn't always apply to these dogs. This breed is nothing normal or standard. You will read all the misconceptions people have of our dogs (or wolves, if you talk to my neighbors) color of eyes, coat, size and so on. Looks great though, can't wait to see more and hear of his teenage antics he pulls on you like my furkids do

How tall is your husky at the withers? 45 lbs is totally normal. My boy was 22 inches tall and 44 lbs at 2 yrs of age. Now at 7 years of age he's 22 inches tall still and ranges from 48-50 lbs, well within breed standard.

Christina, sibes generally continue to fill out up to 2-3 yrs but I don't think their height really changes much beyond a year.

He is cute, like the picture of him looking over the fence. Love his color and the markings on his back.

Wow he looks a lot like my maya. Love his red color! My girls are a lot smaller then most huskies at the dog park I go to. Some are normal size but there are others that are huge

Kody is 24 inches tall and started filling out recently. He's 2 years old and just hit the the 50lb mark. He's tall and lean..lol

Cato is about 21.5" and only around 45lbs. Just seems a little small. I wouldn't worry too much

He sounds pretty normal to me lol. My guy actually came out a bit large! 11 months, 27", and 75lbs! lol They all just differ

Holy crud Lycus is huge!! I bet thats a lot of dog

mheath0429 wrote:

Holy crud Lycus is huge!! I bet thats a lot of dog

He is lol! Way past breed standard

Dante is 20.5" and 43 pounds at 16 months.
Kaiser is 22.5' and 45 pounds at 6.5 months
However height is an estimate considering neither would hold still

Ezio is almost 8 months old and when he was last at the vet (a month ago) he weighed 50 pounds. It's funny how much they all differ!

I honestly wouldn't worry too much about it, he's only a year old. Some lines continue to grow and develop well into their 4th year. If you are in contact with the breeder I'd find out more about the lines he comes from, how they developed, if there are any smaller dogs behind him, or if one of the parents have been consistently producing small.

He really it within the standard..

My boy is just turned 2 years old he is about 22" and weights about 50lbs.

My girl is over 2years old she is about 20" and weights 42 lbs.

Happy b-day Diesel. I really like his markings on his back.

Huskyluv wrote:

How tall is your husky at the withers? 45 lbs is totally normal. My boy was 22 inches tall and 44 lbs at 2 yrs of age. Now at 7 years of age he's 22 inches tall still and ranges from 48-50 lbs, well within breed standard.

Christina, sibes generally continue to fill out up to 2-3 yrs but I don't think their height really changes much beyond a year.

Exactly why I said someone with more knowledge will chime in soon, lol. I couldn't remember exactly how it went.

Hayden is 26" 70 lbs at a year old and Nicky is 21.5" 40 lbs at 7 months old. Hayden isn't breed standard by any means. Like everyone else stated, they come in different sizes.

Wow, such a great response from EVERYBODY! Thanks so much!

Yeah, I am not concerned, at all, about this size! In fact, if he stays this size, he's just like his sister, so that's great! But then again, if he does get bigger over the next year, then again...cool! He'll be able to pull my nieces easier on their sled!

Diesel has been this size since he was 9 months old, and one day I asked my wife if she thought he'd be any bigger. Diesel's dad was 50 pounds, his mom closer to 40, so that should tell me he's not going to be big. But boy, is he stout! I love wrestling with my dogs and he really stands his ground. So much fun...

His back markings are indeed great. When he was much smaller, the one spot on his back looked like a heart, which of course melted all of ours.

Hey, if I can start a new topic on this thread, I'd like to get him a good pulling harness and train him in it. Yeah, starting a bit late, but better late than never. Any suggestions? If possible, would prefer an American made harness, and possibly from Alaska or Montana, or the West, just to support those regions.

Thanks!

jumpjet19 wrote:

Hey, if I can start a new topic on this thread, I'd like to get him a good pulling harness and train him in it. Yeah, starting a bit late, but better late than never. Any suggestions? If possible, would prefer an American made harness, and possibly from Alaska or Montana, or the West, just to support those regions.

Thanks!

At a year old you're not really late for starting training to pull in harness. I'd recommend an x-back harness but there are other good designs for pulling. I have a custom made x-back harness from Alpine Outfitters which is made in the state of Washington.

Here is a good thread you might want to read through:
Husky harness.

Just be careful until he is 18 months old. It can be very harsh on a pups joints until they are through growing. The breeder we got Cato from even advised nothing like agility or sledding until around 2 years.. But, I have taken him out in his X back to get used to Just be safe!

I wouldn't suggest pulling until 18months either. There is still a lot of growing happening between 1 and 2 years which, besides the strain on the growing body, can get expensive in the harness department quickly! I use Alpine Outfitters and I love them, they fit the dogs well and are easy to clean without worry of shrinking up. But be prepared to wait on your order if you order from them this time of year. All of their orders are custom built so it can take quite a bit of time especially since sledding season is ramping up.

Don't worry there is never an age that they stop learning or being willing to work in harness. I just started my 4 dog team and my oldest is 8 years old. Let me assure you he's probably just as excited if not more so than both of my 2 year olds combine.

My Chocolate lab Ruby is a very small female lab, she is 55 lbs and a short English Lab. She is however gorgeous, she is a very deep chocolate and has a gorgeous head! Her Mom was 70-lbs and Dad was 80, I too was concerned that she was so small. She is not a dwarf, she is just petite. She just makes it into AKC standard, the rest of the litter is smaller, but not as small as she is. Her personality is totally lab, and totally sweet. I love her to death and I don't care she is small, she is very healthy.

Balon (husky) is about 9 months and about 50 lbs, he is already way taller then the lab lol. His Mom is 45lbs and Dad is about 55. He may be bigger then Dad, hard to tell.

What I am getting at is that just like us dogs come in all sizes and shapes. My most important thing is temperament, and both my dogs have very sweet dispositions!

Two more months on and he's still the same size. And we're glad! In fact, he's still just a tad smaller than his sister, Sweetie, the retriever/springer mix. She's 4 years and he's just over a year, so she has the advantage in both courts.