Siberian Husky
Description
The Siberian Husky
was originally brought
to Alaska from the Chukchi Pensinsula in the 1900’s and used as a sled
dog for pulling a light load over a long distance. The gold miners also
used this dog mainly for its endurance qualities and its ability to work
in difficult terrain and extreme cold. This dog then gained favour as a
sled racing dog and also gained fame for its efforts in the Serum run of
the 1920’s enabling the vaccine for diphtheria to get through to Nome
when all other means of transport were unable to do so. Thus many lives
were saved and this courageous effort by the teams of Siberians went
down in history forever.
Temperament
Generally a good natured breed although exuberant and
willful, this independent thinker doesn’t take too readily to obedience.
His original breeding was to be able to think for himself, meant that
nature made this dog a survivor and only those who were tough and built
correctly for the job in those extreme conditions survived so they are
not always the easiest dog to train. However on the positive side this
dog will learn if the right incentives are given, but do not expect him
to be a “fetch, go and get dog”. The Siberian
Husky is also fairly destructive when young and will usually dig,
sometimes climb, leap tall buildings in a single bound; you know all the
usual stuff. They love to chew, so chew they will, anything that
happens to be in his domain, so if you value anything at all in the
yard, move it and most importantly do not leave a Siberian unsupervised
in the house. They are also known not to be very good with cats. In
the past they were and still can be a small prey predator and will
happily supplement their protein intake given a chance. Rodents and cats
beware!
Appearance
Height: 60cm
(23")
Weight:
27kg (60lb)
Group:
Working Dog
This good looking dog seems to
continually wearing a happy smiling face is of a
medium sized breed with a double coat that is weather proof in
arctic conditions. The Siberian Husky is permitted to be any colour or
combination of colours and any colour eye or combination of colours e.g.
bi-eyed (two different colours). There is no preference in the
requirements of the standard for colour as they did not need to be colour
co-ordinated to do his job well!
Grooming
Because all
double coated breeds shed, expect a snow storm of undercoat all over the
yard once the coat is ready to shed. However you can minimize the mess
if you regularly (at least once a week) brush the
coat with an oval cushioned Pin Brush (without knobs on the pins). It
is best to bath this dog at least once a fortnight using a small amount
of special plant oil in the final rinse to keep the coat hydrated, preferably using a cool dryer, blowing the coat against the growth to
remove all dead hair to prevent “hot spots” appearing especially in
summer. It takes 4-6 weeks at least after shedding for the coat to
regenerate to some semblance of normality so any efforts to lessen the
impact of shedding is desirable and if this routine is followed, the
coat will always look good. Keep the toe nails clipped for a nice
compact foot and trim the hair underneath the pads.
If you don't have the
time to bath or groom your dog, your local dog grooming
salon provides these services.
Life Expectancy
13 Years
Health Concerns
Being a fairly natural breed which was environmentally
programmed for the survival of the fittest the Siberian Husky is
relatively healthy avoiding most of the usual nasties that many other
breeds have in their genetic makeup. There can be eye problems such as
corneal dystrophy and cataracts. If purchased from a reputable breed
these problems are not generally encountered. It is recommended not to
let your puppy become too overweight when young to avoid future hip and
joint problems. Always try to feed good
quality dog food to extend the life and health of your Husky.
Keep lots of water available – they need it.
Suitability
One of the most
important things you need to do is to train your Siberian Husky because of the
size and strength of these dogs. Some owners recommend bonding the dog
with a toy or food for reward-based training and creative training
techniques may be required as these dogs are easily bored! This is not
a breed suitable for a flat or homes without a large yard unless the
owner is an extremely active person prepared to exercise their pet for
several hours a day and the happiest Husky is one owned by an active
person or family with a strong sense of responsibility, who will give it
plenty of exercise and has a firm, consistent training routine.
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