The Breed

Overview

Siberian Huskies were first bred by the Chukchi people of northeastern Asia, to pull heavy loads for long distances through some of the hardest conditions. They are medium sized, densely coated working dog that originated from north-eastern Siberia. The breed belongs to the Spitz genetic family, and is recognizable by the thick heavy fur, erect triangular ears, curled tail and distinctive markings on the face and body.

They were imported to Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush, later spreading in to the United States and Canada. Recent DNA analysis confirms that they are one of the oldest breeds of dog.

History

The Siberian Husky, Samoyed and Alaskan Malamute are all directly descended from the original 'sled dog'.

With the help of the Siberian Huskies (hereon referred to as Sibes), entire tribes of people were able to survive and push in to unknown territory.

Dogs from the Anadyr River and surrounding areas were imported to Alaska in 1908, during the Nome Gold Rush, for use as sled dogs.

In 1930 the last Sibes were exported by the Soviet government as the borders of Siberia were closed to export. In this year, the breed was also recognised by the American Kennel Club.

As the breed became more well known, in 1933, Navy Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd took approximately 50 Sibes along on an expedition to journey around the 16,000 mile coast of Antarctica  Named Operation Highjump, the trek proved the worth as the breed in both stamina and speed. Sibes were also used during the Second World War as part of US Army's Arctic Search and Rescue unit.

Size

Generally, the males of this breed are approximately 45-60lbs(20-27kgs), and around 21-23.5 inches tall at the withers ( shoulders ). Bitches are smaller, as with most breeds and are approximately 35-50lbs(16-23kgs), and around 20-22 inches tall.

Coat

Sibes have thicker coats than  most breeds, as it consists of two separate layers. They have a dense undercoat  along with a longer topcoat of long straight guard hairs. This coat protects the dog from harsh Artic conditions, withstanding temperatures as extreme as -50 to -60 degrees Celsius  Their thick coats require at least weekly grooming, as they shed twice a year, with each shed lasting for around six months.

Sibes come in a variety of colours and markings. The most common coat is the black and white, with the copper and white, gray and white, pure white, and the rare 'Agouti' coat. Masks, spectacles and others markings are widespread and vary from dog to dog.

Tail

A Sibes tail is incredibly heavily furred, which can be used in extreme weather to curl around and shelter the face. The tail is very expressive, and will curl when excited. However, according to the AKC, they should be symmetrical, not deviate to one side, and not curl so much as to touch the back.

Eyes

The AKC describes the Sibes eyes as 'An almond shape, moderately spaced, and set fairly obliquely.' They can come in many colours, from ice blue, to dark brown. Some dogs may also different coloured eyes (one blue and one brown) or even have different colours within each individual eye. According to AKC, this is perfectly acceptable.

Nose

The nose is black in grey dogs, tan in black dogs, and liver in copper dogs. Sibes may also have 'snow nose', which is acceptable in the show ring.

Behavior

The breed is described as being much alike to it's ancestor, the wolf. They rarely bark, but howl, and are very 'talkative'. They are independent  strong willed, and intelligent  But, they are affectionate to all people of all ages, and make useless guard dogs as they are more likely to lick any intruders to death, rather than alert or protect you.

Due to their heritage  they are pack animals, and to successfully train a domesticated Sibe, you will need to establish yourself as the 'alfa' leader.

They are brilliant escape artists, and have been known to climb six foot high fences, dig under fences, climb through railings. If you are considering a Sibe, but cannot secure your property, this breed is not for you.

They are also natural runners, and can run for up to 40 miles a day, at top speeds of 24mph. This means that they need a lot of exercise, and if you do not provide them with enough physical and mental stimulation, they will find their own activities, which will usually result in digging up the garden, carpets and chewing anything of interest.

In all, they are a very difficult breed, but the rewards will stay with you for a lifetime. They are fascinating animals, and although they will demand a lot of your time, their personality and funny traits will make it all worthwhile.