One of the most intelligent dogs around, Siberian Husky is known for its playfulness and friendliness. Although they thrive on human company, they need firm training and socialisation from puppyhood itself.
51-60 cm
16-27 kg
12-15 years
Siberia
pure
working
Siberian Huskies are pack dogs who need an owner who is the clear leader of the pack. This behaviour makes the training easy although they can be little stubborn at times. One must not yield into their stubbornness and should show assertive behaviour (not bullying) to teach them basic commands. Also, Siberian Huskys are dogs who have high energy and hence can turn destructive, when they are not given enough exercise. There are also cases where a Siberian Husky has chewed through a cement wall when they were left alone at house for a long period. When it comes to making noise, Siberian Huskies do not bark that much. However, they do enjoy howling which can be a nuisance to your neighbours. Unless you train them, they won' be good apartment dogs.
The Siberian Husky has two layers of fur, which protect dogs from the intense cold. The undercoat is very soft and the top coat is of medium length. A Siberian Husky's double coat features medium-length hair while the top coat is absolutely straight. The colors are the most diverse and range from pure white to combinations of white and gray (most common), black, red and brown. Their eyes can be brown, blue or combination. If you are a Siberian Husky owner, you can expect a lot of shedding, especially during springs and fall. However, they are an easy breed to take care of. You should know that Siberian Husky's living in colder climate tend to lose more hair as compared to the ones living in hotter regions. Problems like matting and tangling of the hair can occur if you can commit to brushing your dog's coat at least once a week during the year and daily during the shedding season.
Like most of the large breed dogs, Siberian Husky needs plenty of animal proteins and carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids etc. All these nutrients help in boosting their overall health and also keep up good immunity in them. Siberian Husky particularly needs good protein content as it builds good muscle mass and strength and lets them play for longer hours. The recommended daily feeding amount for an adult Siberian Husky is 1.5 to 2 cups of high quality premium dog food, divided into two meals per day. Puppies between 2 to 6 months can be fed 3 times a day, as they need higher calories than their adult counterpart. Once they cross the age of 6 months, you can keep it to 2 meals per day. It is important to not overfeed the Siberian Huskies as they can put on weight pretty quikly. Give them enough daily exercise so that they burn enough calories and thereby maintaining a healthy body weight.
In general, Siberian Huskies are low-maintenance dogs when it comes to grooming. These dogs only need weekly brushing, except during spring and fall where they need it daily during shedding. Also, as Siberian Huskies are known to keep themselves clean, they will only need one bath about every six months. When it comes to brushing, they need a tool like wide-toothed comb and an undercoat rake that will break up mats and tangles. While brushing your dog, it is better to start with the undercoat rake while stroking their shoulder hair moving in the direction of their hair growth. With regular brushing and combing, one can be assured of preventing problems like matting and tangling. Regarding bathing, Siberian Husky only need one bath in six months unless they get dirty or stinky while playing outside. Make the best use of a good shampoo as it leaves your doggy's coat shiny while giving them an energizing fragrance as well.
Exercise, exercise and exercise. Your Husky will need at least 60 minutes of exercise every day! Walks, games and games need to be part of the routine so that the dog doesn't get bored and anxious. As long as it's not too hot during the day. That's also why Siberian Huskys don't do very well in small environments and apartments, they need a minimum of space to exercise. The food must be balanced and of high quality! As they spend a lot of energy, it's important to feed your dog correctly so that they don't lack any nutrient in their diet. And very important: start training early! This breed can be a lot of work and the sooner you start teaching what is right and what is wrong, the more peaceful and balanced your Siberian Husky will be.
Siberian Husky was originally bred by the Chukchi people of the Chukchi Peninsula in eastern Siberia. They were brought to Nome, Alaska in 1908 to serve as working sled dogs, and eventually developed and used for sled dog racing. But it was in 1925 that this breed gained worldwide recognition. When Nome was hit by a diphtheria epidemic, groups of dogs, mainly Huskys, brought serum and medicines to this village facing a harsh winter and ended up saving the population. The episode became known as the “Name Serum Race” and the Siberian Husky rose to prominence. In 1930 the breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club.