The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized, well-proportioned dog with a supple and elegant appearance. The skull is slightly rounded; the muzzle, of medium width, tapers towards the nose. The ratio of skull to muzzle is 1:1. The eyes are almond-shaped, slightly oblique. They can be blue, brown, minnow or heterochromatic. The ears are small, triangular, carried erect, set high and close together; they are slightly rounded at the tip, well furnished with hair, even inside. The legs are straight, muscular. The tail is carried in a sickle shape: it must not fall on the back or curl to the side.
- Hair: medium length, straight; it should give the impression of a thick coat and never be so long as to hide the profile of the dog.
- Color: All colors from black to pure white are permitted.
- Size: 54 to 60 cm for the male and 50 to 56 cm for the female
- Weight: 20 to 28 kg for the male and 15 to 23 kg for the female
Origins and history
Its origin is northern since it is indeed the dog raised by the Eskimo tribe of Choukchis who used it to pull the sleds. However, the selective breeding of the breed began in the United States, especially thanks to Eva “Short” Seeley who can be considered as the “mother” of this breed and of the Alaskan Malamute.
Character and aptitudes
Affectionate:
This dog is very tender with the members of his social group who are very important to him. Indeed, a pack dog par excellence, the Siberian Husky needs to be surrounded to feel good.
Player :
The Siberian Husky puppy is playful but will settle down with age. Indeed, he prefers to go about his business alone (while knowing he is surrounded) than play with members of his social group (human or canine).
Calm:
Although very active, the Siberian Husky knows how to be gentle and calm at home, especially if all of its spending needs are met.
Intelligent:
The Siberian Husky is intelligent, quickly understanding the commands he receives but not blindly obeying if the directions are not consistent. It needs to understand before cooperating and in this, this dog is very smart.
Hunter:
Very big predator, the very primitive side of this Siberian dog keeps intact its hunting instinct. It is therefore sometimes difficult to walk his Husky in total freedom because he will return to his master only when he has decided.
Fearful/suspicious with strangers:
Very cheerful and jovial with everyone, he does not know the meaning of the word aggression. Only if he feels that members of his social group are in danger, he may then be wary and even deter an intruder.
Independent:
He is very affectionate with his master, but he is also very independent like any good primitive dog that respects himself. Beware, the Siberian Husky is certainly independent but absolutely not solitary.
Behavior
Supports the solitude:
Initially a sled dog and therefore a pack dog. It needs to be part of a group and have a rich social life (with dogs or humans). In fact, solitude is not made for him, he lives very badly the isolation and the absences of his Masters.
Easy to train / obedient:
The Siberian Husky is clearly not the king of obedience. It needs to be supervised from an early age because it is as soon as he is a puppy that the education of this beautiful Nordic dog must begin.
His independent nature pushes him to constantly question the commands of his master. A very strong relationship based on respect and trust is more than necessary to obtain cooperation from this primitive dog.
It is not necessary to make him become a circus dog because he will not take much pleasure in performing the different exercises. The educational basics (walking at heel, recall, static positions) must, however, be reinforced throughout the dog’s life because with the Husky, nothing is ever 100% acquired.
Barking :
Like its primitive cousins, the Siberian Husky tends to “do the wolf”, ie howling rather than barking. Thus, it shows little bark but is very talkative (in its own way) when bored and lonely.
Runaway:
This is one of the main characteristics of this dog: it is very runaway. The Siberian Husky does not really have a notion of territory, it is everywhere at home and does not set any limits. It is therefore very important to secure its environment as much as possible with a high and solid fence.
Destroyer :
A Husky who is bored can do a lot of damage, especially if he is confined in a narrow place (apartment, room in the house, etc.).
Greedy/Gluttony:
This dog is quite frugal, content with little and is therefore not voracious.
Watchdog:
Never fearful or wary of strangers and definitely not aggressive, the Siberian Husky is not a good watchdog, especially because he is not possessive by nature and is friendly with everyone.
First dog:
Choosing a primitive breed as a first adoption is tricky, it is more of a challenge than a simple adoption. It is preferable that the Siberian Husky be accompanied by experienced, available and athletic owners.
In any case, you should never choose this breed only for its physical characteristics!
Living conditions
Siberian Husky in the apartment:
Its ideal environment remains in a garden if the fence is absolutely safe, otherwise in the house. Life in an apartment is not desirable for this primitive dog that needs a lot of space and freedom to flourish.
Need for exercise/sport:
Very appreciated in the competitions of sled dogs, the Siberian Husky is enduring, fast and very powerful.
It needs daily physical exercise to flourish both physically and mentally. The small walks of the neighborhood can not satisfy him, he needs long walks and rich stimulation to be fulfilled.
Of course, all traction dog sports are welcome for this sled dog (cani-cross, cani-vtt, cani-trottinette, cani-rando, etc.).
In addition, its formidable nose will greatly appreciate all activities related to tracking.
Travel / Ease of transport :
It is only his size that can possibly slow down the organization of some trips but if his masters are equipped and he is well educated and socialized, the Siberian Husky will be able to participate in the travel without problem.
Compatibility
The Siberian Husky and Cats:
Its strong predatory instinct makes cohabitation with small pets very complex.
The Siberian Husky and Other dogs:
Rather in the restraint vis-a-vis its congeners, this dog of pack generally gets along well with its fellow men, especially if the Siberian Husky pup is socialized in an early and qualitative way. But beware, he knows how to defend himself when attacked and can do damage.
The Siberian Husky and children :
The Siberian Husky can be a very good companion for large children but it ignores the smallest.
The Siberian Husky and the Elderly:
The many athletic needs of this dog do not match a potentially sedentary life that could offer him elderly/retired people.
Health
Tough / Robust:
The Siberian Husky is a very hardy primitive dog since it has been very little modified by man.
Heat tolerance:
Contrary to what many people believe, it does not suffer more than that from the heat. Indeed, in summer, he loses his undercoat. Its fur adapts perfectly to the climates.
Withstand the cold :
The Siberian Husky is a dog that can live at – 40 °, which does not mean that it makes him happy!
Tendency to get fat:
If not spent enough physically, the Siberian Husky can indeed suffer quickly from overweight.
Frequent diseases :
- Cancer
- Neurological diseases
- Heart disease
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Juvenile Cataract
- Corneal Dystrophy
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Grooming and maintenance
The thick coat of this primitive dog requires regular brushing. Bathing or grooming is not recommended unless the dog is very dirty.
A simple depilation of certain hairs is authorized for the dogs of exposure.
Hair loss:
The shedding is impressive and can last several weeks. Outside of these periods, this dog does not lose much hair.
Price
The price of a Siberian Husky varies according to its origins, age and sex. It takes an average of 900 € for a dog registered in the LOF. The highest lines can be sold up to 1700 €.
Concerning the average budget to support a dog of this size, it is necessary to count approximately 40€ / month.
Average life expectancy: about 13 years
Remarks and advice
The blue eyes which caused the resounding success of this dog are not “obligatory” and do not increase the value of the subject at all. They are not a degeneration as some authors have claimed.
The white Siberian Husky with blue eyes is particularly appreciated by lovers of the breed.
