Siberian Huskies share many outward similarities with the
Alaskan Malamute as well as many other Spitz breeds such as the Samoyed, which has a comparable history to the Huskies. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, usually with white paws and legs, facial markings, and tail tip. The most common coats are black and white, copper-red and white, gray and white, pure white, and the rare "Agouti" coat, though many individuals have blondish or
piebald spotting. Striking masks, spectacles, and other facial markings occur in wide variety. They tend to have a
wolf-like appearance.
Facial masking is common in the husky.
Eyes
A red/white colored Siberian Husky with
heterochromia, a trait which is unusual in most dogs, but common among Siberian Huskies.
Siberian Husky puppy (one and a half month old).
The
American Kennel Club describes the Husky's eyes as "an almond shape, moderately spaced and set slightly obliquely." The eyes of a Siberian Husky are ice-blue, dark blue, amber, or brown. In some individual dogs, one eye may be brown and the other blue (complete
heterochromia), or one or both eyes may be "parti-colored," that is, half brown and half blue (partial heterochromia). All of these eye color combinations are considered acceptable by the American Kennel Club.
Coat
The Siberian Husky's coat is thicker than that of most breeds of dogs,
[6] comprising two layers: a dense
undercoat and a longer topcoat of short, straight
guard hairs. It protects the dogs effectively against harsh Arctic winters, but the coat also reflects heat in the summer. It is able to withstand temperatures as low as −50 °C to −60 °C.
[7] The undercoat is often absent during
shedding.Their thick coats require weekly grooming.
[6][8] Long guard hair is not desirable and is considered a fault.
Nose
Show-quality dogs are preferred to have neither pointed nor square noses. The nose is black in gray dogs, tan in black dogs, liver in copper-colored dogs, and may be flesh-colored in white dogs. In some instances, Siberian Huskies can exhibit what is called "snow nose" or "winter nose." This condition is called
hypopigmentation in animals. "Snow nose" is acceptable in the show ring.
[8][9]
Tail
Husky tails are furry and fluffy in order to provide warmth for their face and nose during cold winter nights.
Siberian Husky using her tail to keep her nose warm on a cold winter night.
Huskies are also known for their uniquely identifiable "curled" or "sickle" tails.
[8]
Siberian Husky playing in the snow and exhibiting a "curled" tail.
Size
The breed standard indicates that the males of the breed are ideally between 21 and 23.5 inches (53 and 60 cm) tall at the
withers and weighing between 45 and 60 pounds (20 and 27 kg). Females are smaller, growing to between 20 to 22 inches (51 to 56 cm) tall at the withers and weighing between 35 to 55 pounds (16 to 25 kg).
[8]
Behavior
The Siberian Husky has been described as a behavioral representative of the domestic dog's forebear, the wolf, exhibiting a wide range of its ancestors' behavior.
[10] They are known to
howl rather than bark.
[11] If the dog is trained right it can make a great family pet. The frequency of kenneled Siberian Huskies, especially for racing purposes, is rather high, as attributed through the history of the breed in North America. They are affectionate with people, but independent. A fifteen-minute daily obedience training class will serve well for Siberian Huskies.
[12] Siberians need consistent training and do well with a
positive reinforcement training program. They rank 45th in
Stanley Coren's
The Intelligence of Dogs, being of average working/obedience intelligence. They tend to run because they were at first bred to be sled dogs. Owners are advised to exercise caution when letting their Siberian Husky off the leash as the dog could be miles away before looking around and realizing their owner is nowhere in sight. They are excellent "escape artists" as well and have been known to climb chain-link fences and find other ways of escaping a confined area. They also get bored easily, so playing with toys or throwing the ball at least once a day is essential. Failure to give them the attention or proper exercise they need can result in unwanted behavior, such as excessive howling, marking, chewing on furniture, or crying.
[13]
Intelligence
Siberian Huskies are highly intelligent, which allows them to excel in obedience trials, though many clubs would like to keep the Husky's instinct by doing sled-racing.
[14] However, because of their intelligence, they can easily become bored and may stop listening to commands. Many dog trainers usually attempt to avoid this behavior by keeping them busy with new activities. Also due in part to their intelligence, Huskies tend to be very
observant on the actions of people around them and have been known to mimic common household activities such as turning on lights with their paws and opening doors with their canines. Some undesirable behaviors they can exhibit include opening refrigerators (and eating the food inside), climbing fences or digging tunnels in the backyard to escape.
[15] These behaviors can be prevented if the dog is given enough activity to occupy it. Huskies require both mental and physical stimulation for optimum health.
