Siberian Husky

Part of the Working Dog Breed

Please be aware that Siberian Huskies are not the breed for everyone. If you have never owned a Husky before, please be sure to do your research before you consider adopting one.

Appearance

Size - Huskies can vary in weight for males and females. Males can weigh approximately 45 to 65 lbs and be between 21 to 24 inches in height. Females can weigh approximately 35 to 55 lbs and be between 20 to 23 inches in height.

Face - Siberians tend to resemble a wolf -like appearance; they can have a stripe down their face and/or have a mask around their eyes.

Eyes - Siberians tend to have blue and/or brown eyes. Some have different shades of brown including hazel and light brown. Siberians are also known to be parti-eyed or bi-eyed. Parti-eyed is when part of the eye has a spec of blue in a brown eye or vice versa. It is common for one eye to have half brown and half blue. Bi-eyed is when a Husky has one blue eye and one brown eye.

Ears - Huskies have pointed, triangular, erected set of ears. Like most dogs they have very good hearing.

Nose - All dogs, including Siberians have a cool and moist nose. Their nose can be black, brown, reddish-brown or they can have a "snow nose". A "snow nose" is usually pink during the winter seasons and will return to its original color during the warmer seasons.

Tail - Huskies typically have a bushy tail that is usually curved over the back. Most Siberians have a white tipped tail.

Coat - Siberians can come in a variety of colors. Most tend to have white legs and paws, facial markings and a white tipped tail. The most common color is black and white. They do come in other colors such as grey and white, brown and white, reddish and white, cream and white, silver and white, all white and mostly all brown/reddish (very rare). Their coat consists of two layers, an undercoat and a topcoat. All Siberian Huskies shed. Most Huskies will blow there undercoat twice a year (usually before a big season change). Some Huskies will only blow there undercoat once a year. Since Siberians shed constantly, bathing is very minimal (as when they shed the dirt falls off as well). It is recommended to brush your Siberian constantly during the "blowing of their coat" and after at least once a week to control there shedding around your home.

SIBERIAN HUSKIES SHOULD NOT HAVE THEIR FUR CUT, CLIPPED AND/OR SHAVED!!! (Unless there is a Medical reason.) Their undercoat keeps them cool during the hot summer days and warm during the winter. Shaving your Husky can cause heat stroke during the spring/summer seasons.

Temperament

Looks can be deceiving when it comes to Siberian Huskies. Despite their resemblance to the wolf, Huskies typically have a friendly temperament. They are wonderful companions and are great family dogs. However, Huskies are not meant to be guard dogs. In fact, a Siberian will greet a stranger at the door, with a wagging tail and perhaps a "whoo" showing excitement.

Huskies are very affectionate, curious dogs, with high levels of energy. As a working breed, they are extremely energetic and love to run and pull. They require lots of exercise, so fenced in yards are recommended. If not given the proper exercise, Huskies can become quite the terror. They have been known to destroy furniture, anywhere from sofas to table legs, dig holes in the yard, or anything else they find to help release their energy, especially during the puppy phase.

Siberians also have a high prey drive. It is in their nature to attack small animals, such as squirrels, rabbits, birds and even house cats. There is a greater chance when a Siberian puppy has been raised with a cat, that the two can possibly share a home together.

Behavior

Often times, people mistake Siberian Huskies as an unintelligent breed, as they are not the easiest to train. On the contrary, Siberian Huskies are extremely bright and stubborn. Not always eager to please, without incentive, Huskies may not listen to a simple command such as "Sit".

Siberians are also escape artists, which is why we require fences to be at least 5 feet high. They are determined to find a way out, whether it be jumping over the fence or digging under the fence. Huskies love to dig, so don't be surprised when you come across large holes in your yard. If you are concerned about your landscaping, then a Husky is not the right breed for you. Not only will they dig outside, but if not given the proper amount of exercise, Huskies will dig in your home, which can lead to destroyed furniture, carpets, etc.

One very important thing to note is that Huskies must always be kept on a leash. If off-leash, they will run for miles and may never return home.

Unlike other breeds, Huskies rarely bark. They are talkative dogs and instead will either "howl," "yodel," or let out a "woo" to express their excitement.