The Siberian Husky (Russian: Сибирскийхаски, Sibirskiyhaski, English: Siberianhusky) is commonly known as Husky. Nicknames: Erha or Sashoumei. The Siberian Husky weighs between 25~60 pounds (16~27kg) and stands about 20~23.5 inches (51~60cm) tall, making it a medium-sized dog. The Siberian Husky is an original ancient breed, living in northeastern Siberia and southern Greenland. The name "Husky" comes from its unique hoarse bark.

Siberian Husky

The Siberian Husky’s characteristic temperament is friendly and gentle but also alert, enthusiastic, intelligent, obedient, and warm-hearted. It can be raised in both urban and rural areas, preferably spacious. Ideally, it lives in the suburbs, and having a fenced yard is best. It is also suitable for owners living in neighborhoods with larger open spaces, those who fear loneliness and require companionship, and those with abundant energy and exercise needs. It is not suitable for elderly people, busy professionals, or students with limited free time.

English Name

SiberianHusky

History

The Siberian Husky is a breed raised by the nomadic Inuit Chukchi people of eastern and western Siberia, traditionally used for sled pulling, reindeer herding, and guarding. It can work in the harsh environment of Siberia. For centuries, the Siberian Husky has developed independently in Siberia. In the early 20th century, fur traders brought it to the United States. In no time, it became a world-renowned sled race champion. Nowadays, the dog is beloved as an excellent companion.

Temperament

The typical personality of a Husky is friendly, gentle, alert, and sociable. It does not show the strong territorial possessiveness of guard dogs, is not overly suspicious of strangers, nor does it attack other dogs. Adults should have a degree of caution and dignity. This breed is intelligent, obedient, enthusiastic, and a suitable companion and loyal worker.

Suitable Owners

Urban and rural environments both suit, preferably spacious. Ideally, living in suburbs with a fenced yard is best. It also suits those who live in neighborhoods with more open space, fear loneliness, need companionship, and have high energy and exercise needs. Not suitable for elderly people, busy professionals, or students with little leisure time.

Breed Standard

Appearance

The Siberian Husky (SiberianHusky) is a medium-sized working dog, light-footed, and moves gracefully. Compact body with a thick coat, erect ears, and a brush-like tail showing northern regional genetic traits. Its gait is distinctive: smooth and effortless. Originally used to pull small carts, it remains very skilled at this, able to pull light loads at moderate speeds over long distances. Its body proportions and form reflect a balance of strength, speed, and endurance. Males are muscular but not coarse; females are feminine but not weak. Under normal conditions, a well-muscled, well-developed Siberian Husky cannot pull excessively heavy loads.

Size, Proportion, and Shape

Height: Males 21-23 inches at the shoulder; females 20-22 inches.

Weight: Males 45-60 pounds; females 35-50 pounds. Weight should be proportional to height. These figures represent the limit values; exceeding these does not count as excellent. Oversized bones or excess weight affect competition performance. Length from shoulder to rear end should be slightly longer than height at withers.

Disqualification: Males over 23 inches, females over 22 inches.

Head

Expression firm yet friendly; curious, even mischievous.

Eyes almond-shaped, moderately spaced, slightly slanted. Eye color can be brown or blue; different color eyes are acceptable if conforming to standards.

Faults: Eyes too slanted; too close together. Ears medium-sized, triangular, set relatively close, positioned high on the head.

Ears thick, covered with dense hair; neck connection to head slightly arched and strongly erect. Tips slightly rounded, pointed straight upward.

Faults: Disproportionate ears to head size; ears too wide apart; erectness insufficient.

Skull medium-sized, proportionate to body; top slightly rounded, narrowing gradually from widest part to eyes.

Faults: Clumsy or overly heavy head; overly sharp head contours.

Stop (depression on the face) - very distinct, nasal bridge from stop to tip is straight.

Faults: Indistinct stop. Medium muzzle length; length from nose tip to stop equals length from stop to occiput.

Muzzle width moderate, tapering, neither pointed nor square at tip.

Faults: Muzzle too fine or coarse; too short or too long. Nose leather: black for gray, brown, or black dogs; liver-colored for copper-colored dogs; pure white may have a pale-colored nose. Pink-striped "snow nose" is also acceptable.

Lips uniformly colored, tightly closed. Teeth scissors bite.

Faults: Non-scissors bite.

Neck, Backline, Body

Neck: Medium length, arched, held erect and raised when standing. Neck extends during trot, head slightly forward.

Faults: Neck too short or thick; too long.

Chest: Deep, strong but not too wide; deepest point just behind the elbow and level with it. Ribs extend sufficiently outward from the spine but are flat on the side for free movement.

Faults: Chest too broad; "barrel ribs"; ribs too flat or weak.

Back: Straight, strong; backline from withers to rump is flat. Medium length, not rounded or loose due to excessive body length. Waist tucked, slanting, narrower than chest, slightly folded. Rump slopes downward at an angle from the spine, but not so steep as to impair rear leg drive.

Faults: Loose, weak back; arched back; slanting backline.

Tail

Tail coat is abundant, like a fox’s tail; just below the backline. When standing, the tail often curves elegantly in a sickle shape over the back. When raised, the tail is not curled to either side nor laid flat on the back. Normally, the dog wags its tail when responding. Hair length is medium and consistent on top, sides, and underside, making it look like a round fox tail.

Faults: Tail laid flat or tightly curled; tail set too high or too low.

Forequarters

Shoulders: Shoulder blades set back. From shoulder point to elbow, upper arm angles slightly backward, not perpendicular to the ground. Muscles and ligaments between shoulder and chest well developed.

Faults: Shoulders straight; loose shoulders. Forelegs: Viewed from front, legs spaced moderately, parallel, straight; elbows close to body, neither turning inward nor outward. Viewed from side, carpal joint angles appropriately, strong and flexible. Bones solid and strong without heaviness.

Distance from elbow to ground slightly longer than from elbow to top of withers. Front dewclaws may be removed. Faults: weak carpal joints; too heavy bones; legs too wide or too narrow viewed from front; splayed elbows. Oval feet, not long. Medium-sized claws, tight toes with abundant hair between pads. Pads tight and thick. When standing naturally, feet not splayed outward or inward.

Faults: Bow-legged or weak toes; claws too large and clumsy; claws too small and fine; toes turning inward or outward.

Hindquarters

Viewed from behind when standing, hind legs moderately spaced, parallel. Upper thighs muscular and strong, knees well bent, hocks well defined, placed low to the ground. Rear dewclaws may be removed. Faults: straight knees; cow-hocks; hindquarters too narrow or too wide.

Coat

The Siberian Husky has a double coat of medium length, appearing very dense but not so long as to obscure the dog's clear outline. The undercoat is soft, dense, and long enough to support the outer coat. The outer coat is coarse, straight, smooth, laying flat, not rough or erect. It is normal to lose undercoat during molting. Whiskers and hair between toes and around feet may be trimmed for neatness. Trimming other areas is not allowed and is strictly penalized. Faults: long, rough, or untidy coat; texture too coarse or too smooth; trimming beyond allowed areas.

Color

All colors from black to pure white are acceptable. Some other color spots on the head are common, including patterns not seen in many other breeds.

Gait

The standard gait of the Siberian Husky is smooth and easy, appearing effortless. Steps are quick and light; in competition, the dog should not be pulled tight but run at a moderate speed showing good forelimb extension and strong rear drive. Viewed from front to back during movement, the Siberian Husky does not move straight; with increasing speed, the legs stretch forward until the toes land on the longitudinal centerline of the body. Once footprints are concentrated on one line, the front and rear legs extend straight forward without elbows or knees turning inward or outward. Each hind leg moves in the track of the corresponding front leg. The backline remains tense and level during movement. Faults: short, hopping, or bouncing gait; clumsy or rolling gait; crossing or crab-like gait.

Personality

The typical personality of the Siberian Husky is friendly, gentle, alert, and sociable. It does not show the strong territorial possessiveness of guard dogs, is not overly suspicious of strangers, nor attacks other dogs. Adults should have a degree of caution and dignity. This breed is intelligent, obedient, enthusiastic, suitable as a companion and loyal worker.

Genetic Diseases

Genetic diseases: hip dysplasia, cataracts.

Common diseases: diarrhea, acute gastric dilatation-volvulus, peptic ulcers, contact dermatitis, acute moist dermatitis, acute enteritis, fungal skin diseases, bronchopneumonia, canine infectious hepatitis, peptic ulcers, nocardiosis, progressive retinal atrophy, eosinophilic enteritis, canine brucellosis.