Siberian Husky Dogs

Background

The Siberian husky dogs are said to have been bred originally by the Chukchi tribe. They were bred to pull loads over long distances at a relatively fast rate compared to other sled pulling dogs. The Siberian husky first came from the Siberia to the United States in Alaska in 1909. The breed was an instant success in the all Alaska-sweepstakes race which covered a 408 mile expanse between Nome and Candle. The husky dogs were also used during world war 2 as search and rescue dogs.

Personality and Temperament

The breed is loving, alert, intelligent, and sometimes fairly stubborn breed. They are very pack oriented and are great family dogs. However they need to have a firm pack leader in place (in a character sense not physically firm). They like all other breeds would be greatly benefited by early socialization to other people and animals, as well as some early training. They are said to be great with kids. They generally do not like to be alone as they are a very pack oriented breed. They also tend to be big howlers.

Physical Description

Height:

Males 21-23 inches
Females 20-22 inches

Weight:

Males 45-60 pounds
Females 35-50 pounds

Siberian husky dogs have a double coat to protect them in extreme cold temperatures. They have a dense undercoat and a straight overcoat on top of that. Their coat comes in all colors from black to pure white.

Health Concerns

The average life span is usually around 10-14 years. These dogs are relatively healthy although do have a few common health concerns, some of those are cataract, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, and progressive retinal atrophy.

Intelligence

They are very intelligent and clever. However they are also known for doing things their own way and can be quite stubborn.

Needs and Requirements

These dogs need a fair amount of exercise daily. These dogs were specifically bred to run and pull for very long periods and would really benefit from an hour of daily exercise at least. They can become shy and destructive if not exercises enough. They are known for being very good escape artists and will need secured well when left alone. Their coats require a fair amount of brushing during shedding season (daily brushing). They shed their entire undercoat during this period and need regular brushing, but they do not need a lot of coat care at other times, a good brushing once or twice a week should be fine .

Place of Origin

The Siberian husky dogs originated in the Siberia region.

Interesting Facts
about
Siberian Husky Dogs

The breed is attributed with saving the city of Nome by delivering life saving medicine to the city which had a terrible diptheria outbreak.
The lead dog (Balco) of the first husky sled team to reach Nome is memorialized with a statue in Central Park in New York City.
They have the ability to adjust their metabolisms to conserve and burn energy as needed during long physically taxing periods.