Kibble is a complete dry food for dogs that comes in pellet form.
Kibble diets offer an easy and convenient way to feed huskies, malamutes and sled dogs.
There are many brands and varieties available on the market today, catering for all breeds, ages and activity levels of dog.
Many huskies, malamutes and sled dogs thrive on kibble, however some common ingredients can cause intolerances, and it is important to find a good quality kibble that caters to the specific needs of your dog.
Most owners would suggest that the best way to feed kibble is to divide the daily amount into two portions and feed half in the morning and half in the evening.
Fresh, clean water should be available for your husky at all times throughout the day.
We would recommend that you leave your husky's food out for them for a ten minute period and then remove the bowl.
Huskies can be fussy eaters - obviously if a dog with a normally healthy appetite suddenly goes off its food then you should get a vet to check there are no health problems.
Sled dogs, particularly siberian huskies, are often picky eaters. Husky and sled dog owners often make the mistake of fussing over their dogs if they start being fussy.
If your husky is otherwise healthy and simply turns its nose up at its dinner from time to time, do not offer alternate 'tastier' treats to try and persuade your dog to eat. Simply remove what your husky rejects and do not feed your dog again until the next scheduled meal-time.
Your husky should soon get the picture and realise that the food you give it is all that is on offer. Obviously, as mentioned, if a dog refuses to eat for more than one or two meals, or shows any changes in general behaviour (i.e. lethargy, sullenness, distress etc) you should take your husky for a check up with the vet as soon as possible
One common mistake, especially amongst new owners, is to over-feed huskies.
Huskies and sled dogs require a relatively small amount of food compared to many other breeds.
Very often the daily amounts recommended on dog food packaging will actually be much more than is required by huskies, malamutes or other sled dogs.
Over-feeding can lead to stomach upsets and diarrhea in the short term, and excess weight gain over longer periods.
It is difficult to prescribe an amount to feed. Each husky or sled dog is different and exercise levels and metabolic rates vary. The best thing to do is to judge by the dog's weight and adjust accordingly.
Personally, we have found in the past that our adult huskies have required around 60% of the amount of food recommended by manufacturers.
Working sled dogs with heavy exercise regimes will require more, as will puppies and younger, growing dogs
Changing brands, or even flavors, of kibble too quickly can lead to an upset stomach in huskies and other sled dogs. It is often the case that new owners get 'stuck' in a cycle of changing brands too quickly in response to digestive upsets.
If one brand causes a bad reaction, owners will often chop and change in an attempt to find one that agrees with their husky.
Changing brands in itself can cause upsets, even if the dog would react well to the kibble in the longer term.
Huskies and sled dogs need their food changed gradually over a period of one or two weeks.
The proportion new food should be increased very slowly as the old is gradually phased out.
Many specially formulated kibbles are available for puppies. Different varieties for the very young and for juvenile dogs.
It is very important that if you decide to change your puppy's food that you make the change gradually. You should start by first substituting a very small amount of te new kibble for the old at each meal time. You should slowly increase the proportions of the new kibble over the course of a week or two.
Kibbles found by ourselves and others to suit husky and sled dog puppies include
Burn's Mini Bites,
Arden Grange Puppy/Junior
and
James Wellbeloved Puppy Performance
Kibbles specifically aimed at senior dogs are widely available. Arden Grange Senior is fed by a few owners we know, and seems to suit their dogs well.
Many huskies and sled dogs seem to be unable to tolerate some of the ingredients found in certain brands and varieties of kibble.
The cheaper, more widely available brands are usually the ones that cause problems.
These often have wheat in them, an ingredient which seems to cause digestive upsets in many huskies and sled dogs.
(See our page on Upset Tummies for more information on food intolerances and suggested diets for sensitive dogs).
Another health issue sometimes associated with kibble diets is Zinc Responsive Dermatosis.
This is a condition which manifests in scabs and hair loss, particularly around the eyes, ears and muzzle.
A wide range of different kibble brands and varieties are available in supermarkets and pet shops. Many Husky owners find that buying online is the easiest and most convenient way of purchasing kibble, either direct from the manufacturer or through specialist pet suppliers. These outlets often have a wider range of products, and offer kibbles better suited to the specific needs of huskies and sled dogs rather than the standard products aimed at the general dog population.
Below is a list of brands of kibble that we ourselves, or other owners we know, have found suitable for our own huskies and sled dogs. This list is by no means definitive, and not all of these food will suit all huskies; this is simply aimed at providing suggestions and pointing you in the right direction.
is another hypoallergenic kibble that many husky and sled dog owners find suits their dogs well. Arden Grange Sensitive Ocean Fish and Potato
seems to be a good solution for some huskies and sled dogs with very sensitives digestive systems.
range of kibble is popular among husky and sled dog owners in the USA and Canada, and has recently become available for purchase in the UK through
Amazon.