The Siberian husky dog breed, or simply Husky, is a working dog widely used as a sledge-pulling dog in the snow. Today, it is also considered an excellent companion dog. The Siberian Husky is a dog born to run. It is athletic and dynamic, yet elegant and beautiful, with its magnetic, ice-coloured, penetrating eyes. It is impossible not to be fascinated by it.
General description
The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized breed that is poorly adapted to life in solitude. Its peculiar nature makes it an inadvisable breed for an inexperienced owner. It is a dog that can move quickly in cold climates and shows some weakness in sultry temperatures. But, on the other hand, it enjoys excellent general Health and is somewhat prone to socialising with other dogs and strangers.
It loves being with the family and playing with children. It can live in a flat but needs daily Exercise and has average maintenance costs. It best fulfils its original function as a pulling dog, carrying light loads at a moderate speed over long distances. The shape and proportions of its body reflect this primary balance of strength, pace, and endurance.
Appearance and Attributes of the Siberian Husky breed
A medium-sized working dog, quick and light, loose and graceful in its movements. Its moderately compact and furry body, erect ears and brush tail reveal its Nordic origin. Its characteristic gait is regular and effortless. It best fulfils its original pull-dog function, carrying light loads at a moderate speed over long distances.
The shape and proportions of its body reflect this primary balance of strength, speed and endurance. Males of the Siberian Husky breed are masculine but never coarse; females are feminine but without weakness of structure. In good condition, with firm, well-developed muscles, the Siberian Husky is never excessively heavy.
Physical characteristics permitted by the standard:
- Height: 50 to 60 cm
- Weight: 16 to 28 kg
- Longevity: 12 to 14 years
- Colours: red, fawn, white, spotted, grey, black, light, harlequin, silver, brown, liver, lemon, orange, maroon, cinnamon, bronze
- Fur: dense, straight, robust, semi-long
- Coat: two-coloured, three-coloured, double coat
Price and maintenance
A Siberian Husky puppy costs between (£1200 and £1500). When purchasing a puppy, contacting experienced breeders who competently select the breed is recommended. As far as food is concerned, it should be of the highest quality, as the Health of the Siberian’s coat also depends on it. Husky grooming is not difficult to maintain.
The Breed Standard prescribes that the whiskers may be trimmed and the hair between the toes and around the feet may be trimmed to allow for a tidier appearance, but grooming the hair on any other part of the body is not permitted and must be severely penalised at shows. The naturalness of this marvellous breed must be protected not only for its character but also for its morphology.
Pros and cons
Top 5 characteristics:
- Character and temperament
- Tolerance to cold temperatures
- Affectionate towards the family
- Friendly with children
- Relationship with strangers
The five most problematic characteristics:
- Tolerance of being alone
- Suitable as a first dog
- Care and shedding
- Loyalty and escapes
- Need for Exercise
Character and sociability
Character and temperament
“It is gentle and friendly but difficult to subdue.”
The Siberian Husky's temperament is friendly, gentle, alert, and outgoing. It does not possess the attitude of a guard dog, nor is it overly suspicious of strangers or aggressive with other dogs. Some reserve and dignity can be expected in adult dogs. His intelligence, tractability, and sensitivity make him a pleasant companion and willing worker. This breed has a rather pronounced temperament and is not quickly subdued. It is a disposition that has grown up with him since his domestication.
Affection towards the family
“Great affection towards the family.”
Apart from his undisputed beauty, one of the most attractive characteristics of the Siberian Husky is the affection this dog can give his family. It has always been accustomed to sharing its daily routine with its owner, facilitating the sharing of rather demanding activities. All family members are subjects of ‘his’ pack, which he loves indiscriminately.
Child-friendly
“Extremely friendly with children.”
Children and the Siberian Husky are attracted to each other. The former is because the incredible beauty of this breed attracts them, and the latter is because it is naturally inclined to share everyday life with humans. Despite its susceptibility to small children, Siberians should never be left unsupervised with children too young. This is advice that applies to any dog.
Relationship with strangers
“Excellent tolerance of strangers.”
The Siberian Husky’s tolerance of strangers is proverbial. This breed has to work with anyone and is not a guard; therefore, it has a propensity for humans. The Husky will approach everyone gently and trustfully.
Sociality with other dogs
“Good sociality with other dogs.”
From the first years of domestication, the Siberian is accustomed to sharing everyday life with other dogs. As a breed perfect for jobs such as sledge pulling, it is prone to cooperation with dogs that perform the same task, even if they are of a different breed. This particular feature makes training easy, but it is imperative that the owner is focused on this aspect and allows the Siberian Husky to socialise with other dogs from an early age.
The adaptability of the Siberian Husky breed
Adaptability to flat life
“He loves to be with his pack wherever he lives.”
The Siberian Husky is attached to the family he lives with, as he associates it with his pack. Therefore, this breed can live in a flat but become quite destructive if not controlled. If no garden or outdoor space is available, the Siberian will often be taken for walks, as Exercise is essential for its mental and physical well-being.
Tolerance of being alone
“Little tolerance to being alone.”
The Siberian Husky must be able to share everyday life with the family for reasons far beyond the simple feeling of loneliness. It must be supervised on sight, especially in its first months, as it needs to be socialised and physically educated.
Suitable as a first dog
“One must be an experienced pack leader.”
Unfortunately, the morphological appearance of this breed attracts many inexperienced people who tend to choose it for its beauty and are wholly blinded by the latter. The Siberian Husky needs to be educated and socialised by experienced people who can limit undesirable behaviour and make it respectable. Therefore, it is unsuitable as a first dog unless the owner can be a good leader.
Tolerance to cold temperatures
“Maximum tolerance to cold temperatures.”
The name makes any inclination clear. This breed was born and bred in places characterised by cold temperatures and is used to living in these conditions. In the cold and frost, it feels at home. However, this virtue must not be abused, and if it does not live indoors, a dry shelter is required during the winter.
Tolerance to hot temperatures
“The Siberian prefers the cold.”
In summer, it sheds its undercoat, remains with its guard hair, and tolerates heat quite well. However, a sultry heat may make him complex, as with many other Nordic breeds with a long or semi-long coat.
Care and Health
Care and hair loss
“Quite significant hair loss during shedding.”
This dog has a very thick undercoat. As the periods in which hair loss becomes rather pronounced, in spring and autumn, approach, the owner should check and care for the condition of the coat daily so as not to have to collect natural piles of hair around the house or on clothing. Adequate cleaning with a brush and a carder will help the hair shed quickly during moulting.
Salivation and slime containment
“Excellent saliva containment.”
He is not inclined to drool excessively; even when excited, he does not show significant salivation loss events. Therefore, drool containment is quite efficient at both cold and higher temperatures.
Ease of cleaning
“Daily grooming and weekly check-ups are essential.”
The thick Siberian Husky coat must be well groomed by daily bathing and brushing. The owner should also check the eyes, oral cavity, ears and anal area weekly to ensure no irritation, infection or inflammation.
Health and illness
“Pretty good general health.”
The Siberian Husky is a working dog, a particular feature that has caused breeders to select it to have good general Health. Instead, it is a dog breed fortified by extreme conditions. The most noted problems are in the eye with hereditary juvenile cataracts. Cryptorchidism, arthritis, senile cataracts, idiopathic epilepsy, seasonal allergies, hypothyroidism and umbilical hernias are other more or less genetic diseases that can afflict the Siberian.
Tendency to put on weight
“Tendency to stay in shape.”
The Siberian Husky is an active and reactive dog that makes daily interaction its primary goal. Therefore, it is easy to see how much of his physical appearance, including his figure, depends on adequate exercise development. It is not a dog that consumes large amounts of food and can maintain an excellent shape if kept in Exercise.
Siberian Husky breed and its learning
Intelligence and training
“Excellent intelligence to be used in training.”
The Husky needs to be constantly guided along the path of growth, which can often be obstacle-ridden. Developing a method of great practicality and a strong pulse in training is necessary. Combining these few aspects with the remarkable intelligence of this breed may help its development. Socialisation will begin in the first months of life. It will accompany the puppy in many different situations to make it capable and positive towards everything to avoid any inherent shyness.
Loyalty and escapism
“Tendency to escape rather pronounced.”
The Siberian tends to retain a particular wild side in its genetic makeup. Therefore, to avoid specific problems, it is always helpful to equip oneself with a relatively strong leash and not to expect him not to run away in front of an open door or gate.
Tendency to bite
“Quiet with little tendency to bite.”
The tendency to bite is not a characteristic of the Siberian Husky. On the contrary, this dog can remain relatively calm even in particularly confusing contexts and tends to understand the levels of interaction with its owner, children, and other animals. However, this condition must be facilitated through appropriate training to mitigate excessive behaviour and reward more constructive behaviour.
Tendency to hunt prey
“It does not have a pronounced predatory tendency.”
The Siberian Husky is not a hunting dog but may tend to chase animals it thinks might be prey. This predisposition is more driven by curiosity than by actual predation.
Tendency to bark or howl
“He barks to communicate with his owner and with his peers.”
Although the Siberian Husky is not an exceptional guard dog, it may ignore the presence of an unknown person within its territory. It becomes talkative during play and interaction with its owner and family or when it wants to communicate with its peers.
The Siberian Husky breed Needs Exercise.
Energy level
“High energy level.”
The Siberian Husky's history does not lie about its potential. It is among the dogs with inexhaustible energy. Exercise, play, and training lessons can exhaust its predisposition to pulling. The Husky must be able to release its energy and, therefore, its accumulated stress levels daily.
Vigour
“Good level of mildness and vigour.”
The Siberian Husky is a mild and playful dog that loves to entertain itself through play and interaction with its family and owner. It is a hardy breed that tends to be very social and interactive. Owning a Husky also means having the time and the desire to interact with him to give way to his incredible athletic energy.
Need for exercise
“High need for exercise.”
By inclination, the Siberian Husky’s need for daily Exercise is a necessity that cannot be overlooked. He needs to be able to run around and relieve himself so as not to accumulate stress. Therefore, it will be frequent, especially if you do not have an open space where the Siberian can spend most of the day.
Tendency to play
“Rather prone to play.”
The Siberian Husky is an excellent playmate for the owner and the family. He has a lot of fun and is always very willing to interact. Of course, as a working dog, it would have much more fun doing what it was selected for. Still, without a sledge to pull on eternal snows, a nice walk or jog accompanying the owner’s jog is necessary and acceptable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Siberian Huskies
This condition, called heterochromia, is a genetic trait common in Huskies. It's completely normal and doesn't affect their vision.
Yes, they're excellent with families and children, but due to their strong-willed nature and high exercise requirements, they need experienced owners.
At least 2 hours of vigorous exercise daily, including running, walking, and mental stimulation activities.
Breed Comparison Table
| Characteristic | Siberian Husky | Alaskan Malamute |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Medium (50-60 cm) | Large (58-71 cm) |
| Weight | 16-28 kg | 34-39 kg |
| Lifespan | 12-14 years | 10-12 years |
| Exercise Needs | High (2+ hours daily) | Very High (2-3 hours daily) |
| Temperament | Friendly, gentle, outgoing | Strong-willed, loyal, dignified |
| Guard Dog Potential | Low | Moderate |
| Cold Tolerance | Excellent | Excellent |
| Heat Tolerance | Moderate | Poor |
| Grooming Needs | Moderate (seasonal shedding) | High (heavy shedding) |
| Training Difficulty | Challenging | Very Challenging |
| Prey Drive | Moderate | High |
| Family Compatibility | Excellent | Good |
| Cost (UK) | £1,200-£1,500 | £1,500-£2,000 |
| Pulling Strength | Moderate (speed-focused) | Very High (strength-focused) |
| Apartment Living | Possible with sufficient exercise | Not recommended |
Siberian Husky Club and other links to sources:
- Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain
- Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain (SHCGB)
- The Kennel Club Siberian Husky
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