Everything about Siberian Husky totally explained
The
Siberian Husky (
Sibirskiy Haski) is a medium-size, dense-coat
working dog breed that originated in eastern
Siberia. The breed belongs to the
Spitz genetic family. It is recognizable by its thickly-furred
double coat, sickle tail, erect triangular ears and distinctive markings.
An active, energetic and resilient breed whose ancestors came from the extremely cold and harsh environment of the Siberian Arctic and were bred by the
Chukchi people of Northeastern Asia, it was imported into
Alaska during the
Nome Gold Rush and spread from there into the
United States and
Canada, initially as a
sled dog. It rapidly acquired the status of a family pet and a show-dog.
Appearance
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. Siberians have a thicker coat than most other breeds of dog. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, usually with white paws and legs, facial markings, and tail tip. The most common colors are black and white, grey and white, copper-red and white, and pure white, though many individuals have blondish, or piebald spotted. Striking masks, spectacles, and other facial markings occur in wide variety. They tend to have a
wolf-like appearance. Though the breed isn't related to the wolf any more closely than any other breed of dog, it's thought they maintained this appearance through isolated breeding in Siberia.
Eyes
The acceptable eye colors of a Siberian Husky are blue or dark brown; green, light brown, yellow/amber, "glass-colored," or
hazel eyes are a serious fault in show rings worldwide. Additionally, 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, which also states that the eyes are "an almond shape, moderately spaced and set slightly obliquely."
Ears and tail
Its ears are triangular, well furred, medium-size, and erect. Often faulted in other breeds by kennel clubs such as the American Kennel Club, this kind of ear shape is known as
prick ears. Its fox-like brush tail is carried in a
sickle curve over the back, and trails behind the dog in motion. Most Siberian Huskies have a white tip on the end of their tail. . The tail must not curve so much as to touch the back as it does in most spitz breeds. Tails have whitish tail color.
Coat
The Siberian Husky's coat comprises of 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 thick coat can make it very difficult to stay cool in the summer.
The absence of the outer coat is often present during
shedding, also known as the
telogen phase or
telogen effluvium, with the latter often associated with stress. Recently, the shedding present during the telogen phase has been termed as a cycle separate from the resting state, and called
exogen. . Long guard hairs, "wooly huskies", are not desired. It is a disqualifying feature in the show ring.
Nose
In some instances, Siberian Huskies can exhibit what is called "snow nose." This condition is called
hypopigmentation in animals. Show-quality dogs are preferred to have neither pointed nor square noses in shape. The nose is black in gray, tan and black dogs, liver in copper-colored dogs, and may be flesh-colored in white dogs. "Snow nose" is acceptable in the show ring.
Size
- Male
- Height: 24 to 26 inches at the withers.
- Weight: 45 to 60 lb
- Female
- Height: 22 to 24 in. at the withers.
- Weight: 35 to 50 lb]
Temperament
As a working breed, Siberian Huskies are a high-energy canine requiring lots of exercise. They have served as companions and sled dogs, but are unsuitable as guard dogs. Over time, this combination of factors has lent the Siberian Husky a strong sense of gentleness and devotion.
The
Inuit tribes who used this breed for utilitarian and survival needs trained them to pull heavy sledges for great distances over frozen tundra, drawing
umiaks, and securing game by assisting in hunting.
Behavior
The Siberian Husky has been described as a behavioral representative of the domestic dog's forebear, the wolf. It exhibits a wide range of the ancestor type's behaviors. They are frequently known to
ululate rather than bark. Hyperactivity displaying as an overactive hunting drive, a characteristic of kenneled dogs, is often noticeable in dogs released from their captive environment for exercise- a behavior welcome in hunting dogs but not in the 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. Fifteen-minute obedience training classes will serve well for Siberian Huskies, as well as daily training.
Health
Siberian Huskies, with proper care, have a typical lifespan ranging from twelve to sixteen years of age. Health issues in the breed are genetic defects of the eye such as
juvenile cataracts,
corneal dystrophy, and
progressive retinal atrophy.
Hip dysplasia is often found in this breed, as with many medium or larger-sized canines.
Siberian Huskies used for sled racing may also be prone to other ailments, such as
gastric disease,
bronchitis or
bronchopulmonary ailments ("
ski asthma"), and
gastric erosions or
ulcerations .
History
Of all dog breeds which resulted from one common ancestor, the Tomarctus (
Canidae), the
Eskimo dog (also known commonly as the sled dog), has most certainly caught the imagination of dog enthusiasts world-wide. The Siberian Husky, Samoyed, and Alaskan Malamute are all breeds directly descended from the sled dog.
In this breed of canine, the word "husky" derives from
Inuit tribes called
"huskies", named by
Caucasians who made early expeditions into their lands. The word "Siberian" in this breed's name is derived from
Siberia itself, because it's thought that Eskimo or sled dogs were used to cross the
land bridge of the
Bering Straight on the way into, or out of,
Alaska
Breeds descending from the
Eskimo dog were once found throughout the
Northern Hemisphere from Siberia to Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Labrador, and Baffin Island.
Dogsled racing
Siberian Huskies are still used occasionally as
sled dogs in
dogsled racing but have been widely replaced by the more popular
Alaskan Husky and hound-type crossbreeds that are specially bred and selected for speed and have less heavy coats. Freight Siberian Huskies were selectively bred to pull a medium load over long distances at a medium pace, and simply can't keep up with their faster counterparts. Siberians are still popular in races restricted to purebreds and are faster than other pure sled dog breeds such as the
Samoyed and the slower but much stronger Alaskan Malamute. Today the breed tends to divide along lines of “racing” Siberians versus “show” Siberians.
Apart from dog sled racing -- they're very popular for recreational mushing and are also used for skijoring (one to three dogs pulling a skier) and European
ski-pulka. A few owners use them for dog-packing and hiking. They have also seen use as
therapy dogs.
In the
United Kingdom, husky racing on forest tracks using specially designed tricycles, known as rigs, instead of sledges is popular during the winter months.
Siberian Huskies in media and culture
Balto, famous lead dog of the last team of the 1925 serum run to Nome.
Togo, Leonhard Seppala's famous leader for the longest portion of the serum run.
Barko from the Uncle Scrooge story, "North of the Yukon."
Exile (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson) from Road Rovers.
The sled team from the Disney movie Snow Dogs.
Diefenbaker from the hit television series Due South.
Six of the eight dogs on the sled team from the Disney movie Eight Below.
Tusky Husky the Husky Alien from Krypto the Superdog.
Jenna from Balto,, & .
Poppy, Galford's companion from Samurai Shodown.
Shadow from the game Dead to Rights, is a Police dog but appears to be a more vicious husky.
Jonathan, a white Siberian, is the official mascot of University of Connecticut.
King, mascot of Northeastern University.
Kyoto, a white Siberian owned by the current leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Stephane Dion. Kyoto was named after the Kyoto Protocol.
Based on a true story, Iron Will, a film by Disney starring a group of Siberian huskies and their young owner partaking a dog-sled race. Also starring Kevin Spacey.
Blizzard T. Husky, mascot of Michigan Technological University.
University of Saskatchewan (Canada)(External Link
) uses the Husky as their mascot and team name; The U of S Huskies(External Link).
Shasta, a Siberian Husky puppy in the Disney movie Snow Buddies
Victor E. Huskie, mascot of Northern Illinois University.Further Information
Get more info on 'Siberian Husky'.
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