Siberian Husky

Siberian Husky
A black-and-white Siberian Husky female
Other names	Chukcha Chuksha Keshia
Common nicknames	Sibe Siberian Husky
Origin	Russia (Siberia)
Kennel club standards Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The Siberian Husky is a medium-size, dense-coat working dog breed that originated in eastern Siberia, belonging to the Spitz genetic family. It is recognizable by its thickly-furred double coat, sickle tail, erect triangular ears and distinctive markings.

An active, energetic and resilient breed whose ancestors came from the extremely cold and harsh environment of the Siberian Arctic, it was imported into Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush and spread from there into the United States and Canada, initially as a sled dog. It rapidly acquired the status of a family pet and a show-dog, no longer as much used as a sled dog as formerly; today it has been largely replaced in dogsled racing by crossbreds.

Appearance

Siberian Huskies share many outward similarities with the Alaskan Malamute as well as many other Spitz breeds such as the Samoyed, which has a comparable history to the Huskies. Siberians have a thicker coat than most other breeds of dog. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, usually with white paws and legs, facial markings, and tail tip. The most common colors are black and white, grey and white, copper-red and white, and pure white, though many individuals have blond, or piebald spotted. Striking masks, spectacles, and other facial markings occur in wide variety. They tend to have a wolf-like appearance. Though the breed is not related to the wolf any closer than any other breed of dog, it is thought they maintained this appearance through isolated breeding in Siberia.

A copper-colored "bi-eyed" Siberian Husky exhibiting "snow nose"

Eyes

The eyes of Siberian Huskies are most often brown or blue. The breed may have one brown eye and the other blue (called "bi-eyed"), and is also called parti-color by Siberian Husky enthusiasts, and is not considered a fault by the AKC. This breed may also be prone to heterochromia, "an eye condition in which one iris is a different color from the other complete heterochromia, or where part of one iris is a different color from the remainder (partial heterochromia or sectoral heterochromia). It is a result of the relative excess or lack of pigment within an iris or part of an iris, which may be genetically inherited or due to mosaicism, or acquired by disease or injury". The eyes are an almond shape, moderately spaced and set slightly obliquely. Eyes may be brown or blue in color; one of each or parti-colored are acceptable in the show ring.

Ears and tail

Its ears are triangular, well furred, medium-size, and erect. Their ears are soft and they have very good hearing. Its fox-like brush tail is carried in a sickle curve over the back, and trails behind the dog in motion. Most Siberian Huskies have a white tip on the end of their tail. Often faulted in other breeds by kennel clubs such as the AKC, this kind of ear shape is known as prick ears.

Coat

The Siberian Husky's coat consists of two layers, a dense, cashmere-like undercoat and a longer coarser topcoat consisting of short, straight guard hairs. This top coat can actually be two different colors, and it's not unusual to find it growing white then black then white on the same piece of fur. Siberian Huskies shed their undercoat two times a year or with the change of seasons; the process is commonly referred to as "blowing their coat." Otherwise, depending on seasonal changes, grooming is minimal; bathing is normally unnecessary as the coat sheds dirt. When grooming, most of the work needs to be done on the rear legs, as this is an area which does not naturally lose as much fur as the rest of the animal. The dog should be brushed when the fur starts to clump. Healthy Siberians have little odor. A properly groomed coat is also important especially if the dog has an affinity for playing in water, as the risk of developing fungal infections with a wet undercoat should be taken into consideration if the husky has not been properly brushed. Their coat can be likened to that of their closest relative the Samoyed but is not as big or dense.

Nose

Like all dogs, the Husky's nose is normally cool and moist. In some instances, Siberians can exhibit what is called 'snow nose' or 'winter nose'. Technically called "hypo pigmentation", it results from loss of sunlight, and causes the nose (or parts of it) to fade to brown or pink in winter. The normal color returns as summer approaches. Snow nose also occurs in other light-coated breeds; the color change can become permanent in older dogs, especially red & white and cream colored Siberians, though it is not associated with disease.

Size

• Males
  • Height: 21 to 23.5 inches (53.5 to 60 cm) at the withers.
  • Weight: 45 to 60 lb (20.5 to 28 kg)
• Females
  • Height: 20 to 22 in. (50.5 to 56 cm) at the withers.
  • Weight: 35 to 50 lb (15.5 to 23 kg)

Temperament

A blue-eyed Siberian

As a working breed, Siberians are a high-energy canine requiring lots of exercise. That, combined with their striking appearance, has made them popular as both family pets and as show dogs. Siberians can be extremely affectionate, curious, and welcoming to people, characteristics that usually render them poor guard dogs. Properly socialized, Siberians are often quite gentle with children.

The Inuit tribes whom used this breed for utilitarian and survival needs trained them to pull heavy sledges for great distances over frozen tundra, drawing umiaks, and securing game by assisting in hunting.

A 2000 study of dog bites resulting in human fatalities by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found fifteen such fatalities (6% of the total) were caused by "husky-type" dogs (excluding Alaskan Malamutes) between 1979 and 1997..

Behavior

A light-red-colored Siberian

Siberian Huskies have a strong running instinct and therefore for their own safety should never be left to run free off-leash. As sled dogs they have a very strong desire to pull, thus good obedience training is recommended, especially if small children are to walk the pet outdoors. Daily exercise is ideal for this canine breed. A secure enclosure is also preferred. They are frequently known to ululate, often when excited.

Health

Siberian Huskies are normally rather healthy dogs, typically living from eleven to fourteen years of age. Health issues in the breed are eye troubles (cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal dystrophy among others), allergies, and cancer in older animals. Hip dysplasia occurs but is not a major concern in the breed with high levels of protein and fat, particularly when used for dogsledding. That said, Siberian Huskies are fuel-efficient dogs, consuming less food than other dogs of similar size and activity level. The diet must be adjusted to their level of work and exercise; obesity can be a problem for underexercised, overfed pets. Due to their origins, Huskies do require some amount of fish oil in their diet, primarily for their coat and nails, which can become brittle without the fish oil. Most trainers/hobbyists recommend feeding Siberians sardines as a means to introduce fish oil into their diet, though flaxseed oil can be considered a less-expensive alternative to sardines.

History

Of all dog breeds which resulted from one common ancestor, the Tomarctus, the Eskimo dog (also known commonly as the sled dog), most certainly catches the imagination and stands out. The Siberian Husky, Samoyed, and Alaskan Malamute are all breeds directly descended from the sled dog. Recent DNA analysis confirms that this is one of the oldest breeds of dog as can be seen with the Alaskan Malamute.

With the help of this breed of canine, entire tribes of peoples were able to not only survive, but push forth into terra incognito. Admiral Robert Peary of the United States Navy was aided by this breed during his expeditions in search of the North Pole.

Dogs from the Anadyr River and surrounding regions were imported into Alaska from 1908 (and for the next two decades) during the gold rush for use as sleddogs, especially in the All-Alaska Sweepstakes (AAS), a 408 mile (657 km) distance dogsled race from Nome to Candle and back. Smaller, faster and more enduring than the 100 to 120 pound (45 to 54 kg) freighting dogs then in general use, they immediately dominated the Nome Sweepstakes.

Leonhard Seppala, a Norwegian fisherman turned gold miner, became involved with Siberian dogs when he was asked by his employer to train a group of females and pups for the 1914 AAS. After a poor start his first year, Seppala dominated the races thereafter. In 1925 he was a key figure in the 1925 serum run to Nome which delivered diphtheria serum from Nenana by dogsled after the city was stricken by an epidemic. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race commemorates this famous delivery. This delivery is depicted in the children's movie Balto. The following year two groups of Seppala’s dogs toured the USA, starting a mania for sleddogs and dogsled racing, particularly in the New England states. (To this day the University of Connecticut basketball team is still known as the UConn Huskies.)

In 1930 the last Siberians were exported as the Soviet government closed the borders of Siberia to external trade. The same year saw recognition of the Siberian Husky by the American Kennel Club. Nine years later the breed was first registered in Canada. Today’s Siberian Huskies registered in North America are largely the descendants of the 1930 Siberia imports and of Leonhard Seppala’s dogs.

Dogsled racing

A team of white Siberians mushing

Siberian Huskies are still used occasionally as sleddogs in dogsled racing but have been widely replaced by the more popular Alaskan Husky and hound-type crossbreeds that are specially bred and selected for speed and have less heavy coats. Freight Siberian Huskies were selectively bred to pull a medium load over long distances at a medium pace, and simply can't keep up with their faster counterparts. Siberians are still popular in races restricted to purebreds and are faster than other pure sled dog breeds such as the Samoyed and slower but much stronger Alaskan Malamute. Today the breed tends to divide along lines of “racing” Siberians versus “show” Siberians. The mixed breed, Alaskan Husky, has taken over much of the sledding world.

Apart from dog sled racing, they are very popular for recreational mushing and are also used for skijoring (one to three dogs pulling a skier) and European ski-pulka. A few owners use them for dog-packing and hiking. They have also seen use as therapy dogs.

In the United Kingdom, husky racing on forest tracks using specially designed tricycles, known as rigs, instead of sledges is popular during the winter months.

Siberian Huskies in media and culture

• Balto, famous lead dog of the last team of the 1925 serum run to Nome.
• Togo, Leonhard Seppala's famous leader.
• Mightyena a Dark Pokémon , has a more than slight resemblance to a Siberian husky, its basic form Poochyena also has a more than slight look to a Siberian husky pup.
• Barko from the Uncle Scrooge story, "North of the Yukon."
• Exile from Road Rovers.
• The sled team from the Disney movie Snow Dogs.
• Diefenbaker from the hit television series Due South.
• Six of the eight dogs on the sled team from the Disney movie Eight Below.
• Tusky Husky the Husky Alien from Krypto the Superdog.
• Jenna from Balto, Balto 2: Wolf Quest, & Balto 3: Wings of Change.
• Poppy, Galford's companion from Samurai Shodown.
• Prue from Charmed turns into a white Siberian Husky in the episode Look Who's Barking.
• In The Simpsons Movie, Homer is accompanied by a group of Siberian Huskies like dogs to help him finish his mission, but is later betrayed by them.
• In The Sixth Sense, Haley Joel Osment's character "Cole" owns a puppy Siberian Husky. He is seen periodically throughout the movie.
• Shadow from the game Dead to Rights, is a Police dog but appears to be a more vicious husky.
• Jonathan, a white Siberian, is the official mascot of University of Connecticut.
• The wolf in Old Yeller was actually a black and white Siberian husky.
• King, mascot of Northeastern University.
• Kyoto, a white Siberian owned by the current leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Stephane Dion. Kyoto was named after the Kyoto Protocol.
• In the movie Transformers, various huskies were used by explorers who find Megatron frozen in the Arctic.
• In the video game "Resident Evil 4," the dog you encounter in the beginning of the game resembles a Siberian husky.
• Based on a true story, Iron Will, a film by Disney starring a group of Siberian huskies and their young owner partaking a dog-sled race. Also starring Kevin Spacey.
• In the Nickelodeon series 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd, the titular character is punished by being turned into a Shepherd/Siberian Husky mix.
• Blizzard T. Husky, mascot of Michigan Technological University.

External links

• The Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain
• The Siberian Husky Club of America
• The Siberian Husky Club of Canada
• Colors of the Siberian Husky
• The Siberian Husky Health Foundation
• Siberian Husky Rescue Organization
• Siberian Husky historic working bloodlines
• British Siberian Husky Racing Association
• Siberian Husky Resources: Personality, Rescue, Games & Wallpaper
• The Scottish Siberian Husky Club
• Malaysian Siberian Husky Owners Club
• The Siberian Husky Welfare Association, UK

www.husky.com