Siberian Husky (Huskys) Dog Breed Facts Information Pictures Siberian Huskies

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Common Misspellings and Alternate Names For Siberian Husky: Siberian Huskys , AKC Siberian Huskies, CKC Siberian Huskies

Siberian Husky Dog Breed History

Credit for this uniquely-marked member of the Spitz family goes to an indigenous tribe of Russian people, known as the Chukchi or Chukchee. Living on the Chukchi Peninsula and along the shores of the nearby Bering and Chukchi seas, these people relied heavily upon reindeer and sturdy sled dogs to help them haul heavy loads across the frozen terrain, as well as for speedy travel across the ice and snow. Fleet of foot and powerfully built, these beautiful dogs were ideal candidates for the job and were utilized for centuries. In fact, recent DNA analysis has been able to confirm that the Siberian Husky along with his cousin, the Alaskan Malamute, is one of the oldest breeds of dog in the world.

It's still debated whether or not the Siberian Husky actually originated in Siberia, or if he originated elsewhere but was then developed by the Siberian Chukchi people. Regardless, it is a known fact that he was first introduced to Alaska in 1909, where he practically dominated the sport of sled dog racing. To date, the Siberian Husky remains a popular favorite amongst the various sled dog breeds, prized as a faithful and loving companion, a worthy guardian of the family, and a hard worker with lots of heart. As well-known as his wolf-like markings and curled tail, the intelligence and gentle temperament of the Siberian Husky endears him in the hearts of most who meet him.

Siberian Huskies grew in popularity following the 1925 Diphtheria epidemic in Nome, Alaska, when the people had to rely upon swift-moving sled dog teams to carry the life-saving medicine to the city. Also used in the Antarctic Expeditions of Admiral Byrd, many were amazed by the beauty and power of these amazing dogs and they would continue to spread throughout the United States and throughout the world. Today, the Siberian Husky is one of the world's most popular and beloved breeds of dog.

Siberian Husky Dog Breed Description

The Siberian Husky is considered to be one of the world's most easily recognizable dogs, with his wolf-like coloration and high-held sickle-shaped tail. The truth of the matter, however, is that not all huskies have this distinguishable appearance - In fact, the Husky dog can come in wide variety of colors ranging from pure white to all black, and with many different color patterns in-between. Another similar misconception is that all Huskies have blue eyes - the Siberian Husky's almond-shaped eyes can be amber, blue, brown, parti-eyed (part blue and part brown) or bi-eyed, where they have two different colored eyes all together.

Siberian Huskies are built for the environment where they originally developed and for the jobs that they were typically used for; square and solidly built, despite a shorter stature than larger sled dogs, they are surprisingly powerful while maintaining swift, free movement. Their coats possess a very dense and wooly undercoat, perfect for keeping out the bitter temperatures (sometimes as low as 50 degrees below 0), and their large snow-shoe type feet are perfect for running across the partially frozen snow and ice.

Siberian Husky Temperament

The Siberian Husky puppy is an active and excited prankster, full of a zest for life and a seemingly endless desire for play. This playful and mischievous behavior usually lasts well into adulthood, making the Siberian Husky an entertaining companion for many years. With children, he is usually gentle and protective, enjoying games where he races around and plays tag as opposed to knock down and wrestling games. Huskies love to run and the opportunity to give chase to things is seldom turned down.

While gentle with children in most cases, the Siberian Husky does retain a lot of "wild" aspects - They prefer the company of other Huskies and are usually pack-minded. While this means that they are protective of home and family, it also means that one must establish dominance or "alpha" status with their Husky or disobedience and pranking is common.

Additionally, Huskies can also be troublesome with other animals, particularly smaller ones. Some are known for a penchant for running dear, while others will attack birds, rabbits and cats - not out of malice, but simply due to a natural tendency to do this. One way to help alleviate this problem is to raise your Husky puppy around these animals and integrate them into the family, so your Husky learns to tolerate them. Even so, playtime should be observed, in order to ensure all are safe.

Siberian Husky Grooming Requirements

While the Siberian Husky's coat does not mat up if he fails to receive a daily brushing, most dogs do enjoy a weekly combing and it's a good time to give your dog some hands-on t.l.c., helping to detect potential problems early on. Huskies also shed their coats a couple of times a year, where their thick and wooly undercoat will come out in clumps; a daily brushing during this time will help to free this dead hair from his coat and cause less of a mess to your furniture and carpeting.

Siberian Husky Exercise Needs

The Siberian Husky puppy is a very lively and energetic youngster that requires access to an enclosed yard or regular trips to a dog park in order to run off some of that extra steam. Active well into adulthood, the Husky needs a fair amount of regular exercise to keep both his mind and body satisfied; failing to provide him with this exercise and entertainment can result in boredom, destructive behavior

and other temperament problems. To prevent this, as well as making sure that your Husky dog doesn't become a "husky" dog, be sure to at least provide him with a couple of brisk and invigorating walks each and every day. People who live in cooler climates often find that the Husky makes for an excellent jogging companion, as well, though this is not advisable when the weather is hot or muggy.

Siberian Husky Health Information

Like any breed of dog, the Siberian Husky is subject to a variety of health concerns though, fortunately, few are breed-specific. Your best bet is, when deciding to choose a new Siberian Husky puppy, check around with several breeders and ask about the various health issues that can affect these beautiful canines. A reputable breeder should be well-versed in the health concerns and should be able to give you more details, as well as showing you the sire and dam of your potential puppy. Some of the health problems that can affect Siberian Huskies include:

Juvenile cataracts
PRA often affecting male dogs
Urethra displacement
Hip dysplasia, though not as common as one may expect

Is a Siberian Husky the Right Breed For You?

Siberian Huskies are amazing companion animals, though there are several things to take into consideration prior to bringing one into your life. To begin with, the Siberian Husky is a pack-oriented canine, meaning that he is very social with his family and can be an excellent watchdog, but they can be very prone to loneliness and is not suited in homes where he is left alone for long periods of time. Ideally, most Huskies do best in duos or small packs.

The Husky can also be problematic around smaller animals, such as cats and birds, particularly if they are not raised around them. This is not your dog's fault, per se, but is a natural trait in many sled dogs, perhaps because of their close ties to their wild ancestors.

Additionally, Huskies are not well adapted for hot climates. While they can exist in warm places, it's important to watch them closely for signs of heat stress and to limit exercise to the cooler parts of the day. While the Siberian Husky may not be the pet for everyone, many find him to be a very loving and enjoyable companion, with a great deal of loyalty and a good sense of humor.

Finding a Responsible Siberian Husky Breeder

Now that you have decided that the Siberian Husky is the right breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a responsible Siberian Husky breeder from which to buy a healthy, well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first Siberian Husky puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To buy a puppy from a responsible Siberian Husky breeder, you may need to pay more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great deal of additional expense and heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral problems that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible, caring Siberian Husky breeder who home-raises their puppies with love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a health guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the Siberian Husky breed and is in it for the love of the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter and companionship.

Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...

Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Siberian Husky puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the breeders whom they allow to advertise.