The Siberian
Husky is a medium-sized working dog, quick and light on his feet and
free and graceful in action. His moderately compact and well furred
body, erect ears and brush tail suggest his Northern heritage. His
characteristic gait is smooth and seemingly effortless. He performs
his original function in harness most capably, carrying a light load
at a moderate speed over great distances. His body proportions and
form reflect this basic balance of power, speed and endurance. The
males of the Siberian Husky breed are masculine but never coarse;
the females are feminine but without weakness of structure. In proper
condition, with muscle firm and well developed, the Siberian Husky
does not carry excess weight.
Characteristics
The most important
breed characteristics of the Siberian Husky are medium size, moderate
bone, well-balanced proportions, ease and freedom of movement, proper
coat, pleasing head and ears, correct tail, and good disposition.
Any appearance of excessive bone or weight, constricted or clumsy
gait, or long, rough coat should be penalized. The Siberian Husky
never appears so heavy or coarse as to suggest a freighting animal;
nor is he so light and fragile as to suggest a sprint-racing animal.
In both sexes the Siberian Husky gives the appearance of being capable
of great endurance.
Owning
Siberian Huskies
love to run and must be kept under control at all times. If you own
a Siberian Husky it is of the utmost importance you have a fenced-in
yard. Siberian Huskies shed nonstop, if you have an aversion to dog
hair think about getting a different breed. Siberian Huskies value
company from people or other dogs. This friendly and gentle dog makes
a wonderful companion.
Temperament
The characteristic
temperament of the Siberian Husky is friendly and gentle, but also
alert and outgoing. He does not display the possessive qualities of
the guard dog, nor is he overly suspicious of strangers or aggressive
with other dogs. Some measure of reserve and dignity may be expected
in the mature dog. His intelligence, tractability, and eager disposition
make him an agreeable companion and willing worker.
Housing
Siberian Huskies
are happiest when they can share in family activities. The best arrangement
is one in which the dog can come in and out of the house of its own
freewill, through a dog door. If a dog door is not possible, then
training the dog to go to an outside door to be let out is also very
easy to do. Outside, the dog should have a large, fenced yard. The
fence should be strong and at least 6 feet tall. It is also a good
idea to bury wire in the ground to discourage digging out. Siberians
are notorious diggers. It is usually best to set up a sand box somewhere
in a shaded part of the yard and encourage digging there, if possible.
Siberians should not be allowed to roam around the neighborhood. If
one chooses to kennel a Siberian, the kennel should be chain link,
with a concrete run, and should be 6 to 7 ft wide and 10 to 15 ft
long. It should be at least 6 ft high with chain link across the top
of the kennel. It should be in a shaded location and have an insulated
doghouse with a door for shelter from the elements. Because the Siberian
is an arctic dog, it can remain outside in very cold weather. However,
it should be provided with shelter from the elements in the form of
a good sturdy house. The house should have a flat roof, as Siberians
love to lay on top of their houses and observe the world. A good insulated
house with nice straw bedding is perfect for Siberians that spend
most of their time outside. Heating the doghouse is usually not necessary.
Training
Training Siberian
Huskies can be a challenge. They are an extremely intelligent, energetic,
and stubborn breed, and one must be ready for the unexpected. Training
should start when the dog is young. You should work to establish the
rules of the house early, and make sure that the puppy knows that
you are in charge. For example, if you do not want the dog on the
bed as an adult, do not allow it as a puppy and never give in, even
once, or the dog will think that all rules are flexible. The rule
of thumb is that if you train a dog to do something, expect him to
do it. Therefore, if the puppy learns that certain things are allowed,
it will be difficult to train them not to do them as adults. Since
the dog is pack-oriented, it important to establish yourself as the
head of the pack, or alpha, very early. Once you do this, the dog
will respect you and training will be much easier. It is very important
to understand the distinction between establishing yourself as alpha
and bullying the dog into submission. These are not the same thing!
The former is simply a communication that the dog needs and expects,
while the latter is very negative and detrimental to the dog's well-being.
By establishing yourself as the leader of the pack early, your dog
will learn to respect you and look to you for guidance and will know
where the boundaries for acceptable behavior lie. It is best to enroll
in a puppy training class (or puppy kindergarten training as they
are commonly known) soon after your dog is home and has all of its
vaccinations. This training is good for the dog and for you as the
owner, as it will help you understand your new puppy and establish
you as alpha very early in the puppy's life, which is important with
this breed. Once you have completed the puppy class, and have been
working with the dog for a few months, a basic obedience class is
in order. Obedience training this breed can be very interesting and
extremely challenging. Many owners will complain that their dogs act
perfectly in class, but will not obey at home. This breed is intelligent
enough to differentiate situations very well, and will apply different
rules of behavior for different situations. You must stay on top of
the dog and maintain control, which is easier to do while the dog
is of manageable size than with a stubborn, energetic adult that has
been allowed to get away with undesirable behavior for a long time.
It is very important to remember that the Siberian Husky is a working
breed. His heritage has endowed him with the desire to run and his
conformation has given him the ability to enjoy it effortlessly. Because
of this, it is important that no Siberian ever be allowed unrestrained
freedom. Instead, for his own protection, he should be confined and
under control at all times. Since he is a working dog, he must be
given something to do. Exercise may be obtained in the leash, at play,
and best of all, through mushing. Siberians make wonderful hiking
companions, and with a dog backpack, can carry food and water. Above
all, if you feel that it is inconvenient or cruel to keep a dog confined
and under control like this, then the Siberian Husky is not the breed
for you.
