Siberian Husky Profile

Other Names: Sibe

Country of origin: Siberia (Russia)

Dog Group Kennel Club: Working

General appearance:

Huskys are medium sized dogs with thicker coats than most breeds and a wolf-like appearance. They have a double coat with a soft dense undercoat and straight and smooth outer coat.  Huskys are well proportioned with no excess weight.  They are capable of speed and endurance and have erect ears. They can have brown, blue, light brown, green or amber eyes, some dogs show a mixture of these colours. The facial markings include masks and spectacles. The Siberian Husky is a constant shedder that totally sheds the undercoat twice a year.

Colours:

All colours and markings including white.

Size:

Dogs             53 - 60cms

Bitches        51 - 56cms

Weight:

                            Min                  Max
 
Bitch             16kg (35lbs)  23kg (51lbs)
 
Dog               20kg (44lbs)   27kg (60lbs)

Temperament:

In general, Huskys are friendly dogs who have a gentle temperament and are often good with children.  They are alert and outgoing, friendly towards strangers and, as such, are not particularly good guard dogs. This versatile breed gets along very well with children and other medium sized dogs. One area to watch is that Huskys have a strong 'prey drive' meaning that they may attack other animals although, with correct training this should not be a problem. The Siberian Husky has an affectionate, gentle, and friendly disposition. They are alert and eager to please. They are highly intelligent and have an independent spirit, which can sometimes be a challenge to their owner.

Movement:

Smooth and loose covering ground.

Care and training:

The Siberian Husky is by nature clean and free from body odor. They require daily brushing to minimize excess loose hair, tangles, and mats. Bathing should only be done when absolutely necessary with a mild shampoo. The Siberian Husky is prone to hip dysplasia, cataracts, and skin allergies. It is extremely vital that they do not become overheated.

Overall Exercise: 80 - 100 minutes per day.
This breed does need a considerable amount of exercise but this must be done on a lead as they do have a strong desire to run if free and cannot be relied upon to return on command. A well-fenced garden is a necessity and, as they can jump anything from a standstill, height is also important.

Feeding requirements:

Whilst they do need correct feeding, they are not fussy eaters and do not require as much food for their size as other breeds. 
 
Exercise: High

Grooming: Med

Noise: Med

Personal Protection: Low

Suitability As Guard Dog: Low

Level of Aggression: Low

Compatibility With Other Animals: Low

Suitablity for Children: High

Often docked:  No

Average litter: 6 - 8 puppies

Life expectancy: 10 -14 years.

Health issues: Hip dysplasia and some heritable eye problems such as cataracts, corneal dystrophy, and PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy). 

History:  The Siberian Husky was developed by the Chukchi Indian tribe of what is now Siberia, which is on the coasts of the Arctic and Pacific Oceans on the peninsula that reaches out from Siberia towards Alaska. The Chukchi people lived far inland, and needed dogs to pull sleds, hunted animals and themselves across the miles of snow. Therefore, about 3,000 years ago, the Chukchi developed a breed used to pull sleds and herd reindeer for this nomadic tribe. The Chukchi were often referred to as the "Dog Breeding" Chukchi. The breed was highly regarded and ideal if they could survive with little food and have enough endurance to trek across wintry snowscapes. Owning one of these dogs made an excellent asset to a Chukchi family. If one were not enough to haul the load, one would simply borrow others from other tribe members and hook up 16 or 18 Siberian Huskies to a sled. It wasn't until the early 1900s when the Siberian Husky was introduced into Alaska where they became renowned for sled racing and search and rescue work. Originally the breed's ame was simply Chukchi Dog or "husky", which was a generic term used to describe any dog that pulled sleds.