The Siberian Husky is a magnificent, hardy work dog bred as a sled dog. They generally live and work in the northern climates. Since the 1920s more and more Siberian Huskies have been bred as pets and show dogs.

History

The Chukchi, an ancient people who live in Siberia, bred the Siberian Husky for thousands of years as a sled dog to help them move around the tundra while in search of food and to escape hostile invaders. In 1909 the Siberian Husky was brought into Alaska as a sled dog for gold miners. In 1925 teams of Siberian Huskies aided in the transition of diphtheria vaccine over a treacherous 600 mile trek across Alaska. Classified as a working group dog, the Siberian was accredited by the American Kennel Club in 1930.

Appearance

The male stands 21-23.5 inches tall. His weight is 45-60 pounds. The bitch stands at 20-22 inches tall. Her weight is 35-50 pounds.

Their coat is a woolly undercoat with a longer topcoat of guard hair. They can be black, tan, red; or white. Their noses are black, tan, or a "snow nose" which has a pinkish center surrounded by black or tan.

Siberian Huskies can have blue or brown eyes, be bi-eyed (one blue, one brown) or partial-eyed (half brown, half blue).

It has medium, triangular ears which set high on and close to the head.

The tail is fox-like and curls upwards.

Demeanor

The Siberian Husky is a friendly, intelligent, non aggressive dog. They are headstrong though, which makes them difficult to train. Siberian Huskies seldom bark but they howl persistently. They are prone to wandering and have a keen prey sense. Huskies will hunt small animals, even the family cat, if given the opportunity. This dog is a digger by nature and will dig out of its confines if the fence is not set at least a foot in the ground. The Siberian is a runner and requires up to an hour of exercise each day. They do not bode well in the heat.

Health

Siberian Huskies are prone to eye diseases such as: corneal dystrophy, hereditary juvenile cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, and glaucoma.

Sled dogs often suffer from bronchial disorders and various digestive tract ailments such as gastritis and ulcers.

Another problem in the Siberian is displacement of the urethra which can be corrected surgically.

A skin problem characterized by flaking, hair loss, and scaling especially around the face and body openings is caused by a deficiency in zinc and is very common in Siberian Huskies. Treatment consists of taking zinc supplements orally.

Huskies live to be 11-15 years of age.

The Siberian Husky is a majestic and beautiful dog that demands a lot of attention and care. You should think long and hard before acquiring one as a pet because owning a Husky requires patience and time.