Sapphire

With kind personalities, insatiable curiosity, and energy for days, the Siberian Husky is a dog that loves their family yet can’t wait to escape. If you’re bringing one of these pups into your home, keep the fences high, the temperature cool, and the vacuum nearby. Full-grown, they typically weigh 35-60 pounds and stand 20-24 inches tall.

Siberian Huskys are generally excellent with children of all ages. The Siberian Husky gets along well with other Huskies, but they need to be trained carefully to play nicely with other pets. These dogs tend to be aggressive toward cats and other foreign animals. They're very vocal and bark quite a lot.

The Siberian Husky was bred to pull a heavy sled for countless miles, and their intense activity needs remain today. If you can't have them pull a sled, let your Husky run alongside you as you jog or ride a bicycle, ideally for at least an hour every day. These dogs get destructive and loud if they don’t get enough exercise, so activity is a requirement, not a preference. Overall, their exercise needs are very high.

Siberian Huskies have a dense, smooth undercoat and coarse outer coat of short, straight hair. You can find them in many color combinations, but the most common are pure white or white with black, grey, or copper-red, all with blond markings. Siberian Huskies “blow” their long hair twice a year. Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance.

Siberian Huskys are best suited for a house with a good-sized yard. Because of their size and long coat, Siberian Huskies are not well-suited to apartments or warm climates. They are moderately trainable with consistent effort.

Shikoku are medium-sized dogs from Japan. They are independent hunters and have exceptional problem-solving skills. But perhaps the most unique thing about this hardworking breed is their love and devotion for their family. Shikoku have endless amounts of energy and kisses! Full-grown, they typically weigh 35-55 pounds and stand 17-22 inches tall.

Shikokus are generally okay with older children who know how to handle dogs. Shikoku are hardworking hunters with a weatherproof coat, but they prefer to live indoors with their family. However, these lively medium-sized dogs will make great use of a large backyard. They're moderate barkers — they'll alert you when something's up but aren't excessive.

Shikoku have energy and lots of it! Be sure to carve out around two hours each day for exercising these dogs. Going on daily runs with their owner and then racing around their backyard until their heart’s content will do the trick. Overall, their exercise needs are moderate.

Shikoku are striking dogs of the spitz variety. Their beautiful double-coat sheds seasonally. Brushing every few days will take care of dead hairs and make the shedding season much more manageable. Grooming-wise, this breed is moderate.

Shikokus are best suited for a rural property or home with a large yard. Shikoku are hardworking hunters with a weatherproof coat, but they prefer to live indoors with their family. However, these lively medium-sized dogs will make great use of a large backyard. They are moderately trainable with consistent effort.