Siberian Huskies belong to the Spitz breed group of canines, characterized by a long, thick coat of mostly white fur, as well as pointed ears and a tail that often curls over the dog's back.
Despite the German name, the Spitz breed group originates in the Arctic and Siberia. The Spitz breed group is one of the oldest recorded breed groups, with archeological evidence dating back nearly a millennium.
The Spitz breed group includes modern breeds like the Chow Chow, Akita Inu, Malamut’s, Siberian Huskies and even the diminutive Corgi.
The Spitz breed group is well suited to living in cold northern climates. Most, including the Siberian Husky possess an insulating, waterproof undercoat that is much denser than their topcoat which helps to trap warmth close to the body.
Characteristically small ears reduce the risk of frostbite, and thick fur that grows on the paws protects the dogs from sharp ice. As working dogs, the Spitz breed group excels at herding, and pulling sleds, with many of the larger breeds within the group specializing in hunting large game such as elk and caribou.
Siberian Huskies are medium-sized working dogs who are quick and agile on their feet, which are “free and graceful” in action. Belonging to the Spitz breed group; Huskies possess a moderately compact body, thick coat, erect ears, and a bushy tail.
Siberian Huskies possess a characteristically smooth and effortless gait reflective of its ability to run in harness carry a light load at speed and over distance. The body is well proportioned, balanced and capable of great power, speed, and endurance and therefore does not carry excess weight.
Head
Siberian Huskies possess a head with a keen, but friendly expression that is often interested, if not mischievous. Eyes are almond shaped, moderately spaced and typically blue, brown and even partly-colored.
Ears are medium-sized and triangular in shape. Ears should be thick, arched, close fitting and set high on the head. The skull is medium sized slightly rounded on top and tapered from the widest point to the eyes.
The muzzle is medium length and width, tapering gradually to the nose, with the tip neither pointed nor square. Nose is typically black, gray, tan or may be flesh-colored in pure white dogs.
Body
The neck should be medium length, arched and carried erect when the dog is standing. When moving at a trot, the neck is extended so that the head is carried slightly forward. The chest is deep and strong with the deepest point being just behind and level with the elbows.
Legs and Feet
When standing and viewed from the front, a Husky’s legs should be moderately spaced, parallel and straight.
The length of the leg from elbow to ground is slightly more than the distance from the elbow to the top of withers. Husky feet are oval in shape with medium sized paws with fur between the toes and pads.
Tail and Hindquarters
A Husky’s hind legs should be moderately spaced and parallel when standing and viewed from the rear. Upper thighs are muscled, powerful and well-defined.
Husky tails are very furry and “fox-brush shaped.” The tail is set just below the level of the top line and is typically carried gracefully over the back in a sickle curve when the dog is at attention.
Coat and Colors
Siberian Huskies possess a thick double coat - medium in length and “well furred” in appearance. Undercoats are soft and very dense with enough length to support the top coat.
During shedding season it is normal to see the undercoat. Owners should trim fur between the toes and around the feet for a neater appearance.
Siberian Huskies come in many colors from black to pure white. Huskies are also born with a variety of markings on the head including many patterns not found in other breeds.
Height and Weight
Siberian Husky males stand 20 to 24 inches tall and should weigh between 35 and 65 pounds.
Female Siberian Huskies stand 19 to 23 inches tall and should weigh no more than 60 pounds.
Siberian Huskies have a double coat. They shed their undercoat (known as "blowing their coat") twice a year and need regular brushing.
Siberian Huskies need around two hours of high activity a day or their pent-up energy can result in destructive behavior.
Huskies have a reputation for being headstrong but can be successfully trained when begun early and with lots of patience and consistency.
Nutrition
Siberian Huskies are high energy carnivores who need a high protein diet to fuel their agile bodies. Like all dogs, Siberian Huskies are purely carnivorous. They will never require gluten, wheat or grain, nor are they likely to benefit from artificial ingredients.
Feeding your Husky dog foods rich, healthy proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins produce a more luxurious coat, healthier skin and greater quality of life. Owners should avoid feeding their Huskies from the table, as well as:
- Chocolate or Candy
- Alcohol
- Onions and Garlic
- Caffeine
- Grapes
- Diary
- Nuts
- Pitted Fruit
- Salt
- Yeast
- Huskies will rarely shy away from a snack, which is why obesity is commonly found throughout the breed. It is recommended that you avoid free feeding your Husky.
Instead, implement a feeding schedule. In the weaning stage, it is imperative that a Siberian Husky puppy’s diet consists primarily of their mother’s milk, from which they receive 90% of their natural defenses.
Starting at 6 to 8 weeks, Siberian Husky puppies are gradually transitioned from their mother’s milk to solid food over a period of 3 weeks.
From 8 weeks on, it’s essential that Siberian Husky puppies learn that food will no longer be provided constantly throughout the day.
Start your Siberian Husky puppy on moistened dry puppy food, 3 to 5 times per day for no longer than 10 minutes per feeding. After 10 minutes remove their food even if they haven't finished.
Adult Siberian Huskies are energetic creatures who require a power-packed, protein-rich diet to fuel their energetic lives and support greater quality of life.
Vets recommend a diet consisting of healthy protein, healthy fat, and foods rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
Healthy fat supports a Husky’s ability to regulate its body temperature, which is essential considering the breed's arctic environment.
Senior Siberian Huskies, like all elderly dogs, require a special diet rich in nutrients that support joint, bone and digestive health. Before starting your elderly dog on a new diet, we recommend that you speak with your veterinarian to establish a diet that supports their needs specifically.
Grooming
Siberian Huskies possess one of the most beautiful and iconic coats of any dog breed, but that also means they shed. Husky puppies quickly grow a soft fuzzy undercoat, but between 10 and 14 months, puppies go through their first complete shed; losing all their puppy fur in exchange for their full adult coat.
From 14 months on Huskies will “blow their coat” twice a year, which means they shed their undercoat during the spring and warmer months.
At least once a year a Siberian Husky will shed its entire undercoat. Therefore, owners should never have the undercoat of their Husky manually removed. It is also essential that owners never shave their Husky, as its coat provides natural protection and insulation against summer heat and winter cold.
To keep their husky feeling comfortable and looking clean, owners should regularly clean and groom their Huskies topcoat. To bathe your Siberian Husky, use warm, soapy water. Remember that your Husky’s coat is loaded with natural oils that promote a healthy coat and skin.
Be sure not to over-bathe your Husky as it will strip the natural oils from the coat and leave the skin dry and irritable. Therefore, a bath is only essential once every 4-5 months.
After a bath, a Siberian Husky needs to be fully dried and thoroughly brushed to remove tangles in the coat and prevent matting - no trimming of hair required, simply brush to remove dry hair and dead skin.
Grooming also presents a terrific opportunity to check your Husky for potential health concerns such as cuts and abrasions to their legs and paws, poor dental hygiene, ear & eye infections and infestation of fleas and/or ticks.
A visit to the vet is recommended If any such concerns are discovered during the grooming process.
Exercise
Siberian Huskies are bred to run in harness with other Huskies. Predictably, Huskies who are not properly exercised have a tendency to release their pent-up energy by digging holes, jumping fences and destroying furniture.
To ward off destructive behavior, Huskies should receive at least two hours of energy burning activity per day.
Training
Huskies have a reputation for being headstrong, even petulant when it comes to training. The trick to successfully training a Husky puppy is diligence, consistency and lots of patience.
Remember that the goal of canine training is to establish yourself as the dog’s leader through positive reinforcement, not fear of punishment.
Housebreaking
It’s best to introduce your new Siberian Husky puppy to its new environment slowly. Start by confining them to a single room or floor for its first few days.
It’s important to keep a sharp eye on your puppy for the first few weeks as it gets acclimated to its new home. If you notice unusual behavior or symptoms of a potential disorder be sure to consult a trained veterinarian.
Potty Training - It takes lots of practice for your puppy to learn where to go potty. Consistency is key to housebreaking a Husky puppy. Use the same words and phrases to indicate when, where and how you want your puppy to do its business.
Watch for signs that your dog needs to go potty like pacing, sniffing, and squatting. Calmly and quickly hustle your puppy outside and to the correct spot. When your puppy is about to do its business say something similar to “go potty.”
Once they “go potty” in the correct area praise them and offer a treat. With practice, your puppy will learn what “go potty” means, then you’ll be able to tell your Husky where and when to go.
Until then we recommend purchasing potty training mats or at least stocking up on old newspaper.
Crate Training - Husky puppies are light sleepers and often find trouble if given the opportunity. Training your Husky puppy to sleep in a crate at night ensures you will find your socks, shoes, and furniture intact when you wake in the morning.
Owners should also crate train their Husky puppy when they leave the house, and in conjunction with potty training and other housebreaking lessons.
Socialization
Siberian Huskies are pack animals who need to be socialized to learn how to behave in new environments and to ward off destructive behavior.
Siberian Huskies that are not socialized are less likely to gain the experience needed to feel safe in a given environment and may be prone to defensive behavior when presented with new situations, people, or pets.
Fetch is a great way to exercise your Husky while providing it with an opportunity to play according to its natural instincts. Daily walks are a great way for a Siberian Husky puppy to explore their surroundings and meet other dogs and people while feeling secure in your presence.
Obedience Training
If a dog does not believe you to be its leader, it won't obey you. Therefore, the most important part of obedience training is to establish yourself as the dog’s leader.
It’s essential that your puppy follow your commands because it wants to please you, not because it fears you. Which means there is no need to yell or show aggression when your dog disobeys or makes a mistake.
Instead of punishment calmly and firmly tell your pup, in language the dog can understand, that you are in charge. Basic reward-based training principles like “sit” and “stay” are a great place to begin obedience training. When training it’s best to:
Remove Distractions - Puppies are easily distracted. Focus is an essential lesson in any training session. The best way to keep a puppy’s focus during training is to remove distractions from the area.
Be Patient - Take the time to ensure your puppy understands your commands. As with children, patience is key to train a Husky puppy properly.
Be Consistent - Consistency and repetition are critical to establishing the desired pattern of behavior.
Designate a specific sound and gesture for the desired command and use that combination every time you issue the command to your Husky. Issue your command. Pause. Then reward with a treat when they get it right.
Every time your Siberian Husky correctly executes a command reward them with a treat to reinforce the behavior.
Puppies are the most impressionable and easiest to train the earlier you start. Remember; It can take up to 6 months to fully housebreak a puppy.
Are Huskies good pets? Yes, Siberian Huskies are affectionate, devoted, and gentle when properly trained and love being part of a family.
Is it cruel to have a Husky in a hot climate? No, Huskies are incredibly adaptable and their coats are temperature-regulating. They do well in warmer climates with access to shade, water, and shelter.
Are Huskies hard to train? They can be difficult to train and instinctually follow their pack leader. Establish yourself as the leader early and be consistent in training and your patience will pay off.
Are Huskies cuddly? Yes, Huskies are super cuddly! The Siberian Chukchi people (who originally bred and raised them) used to sleep with their Huskies for warmth on cold nights in Siberia!
Do Huskies have separation anxiety? Yes, Siberian Huskies are prone to separation anxiety and don't like being left alone.
As the name implies, Siberian Huskies originated in Siberia, the largest, coldest region in Russia. Huskies were originally bred and raised by the Chukchi people, a tribe of Siberian nomads who used sleds pulled by teams of Huskies for fast transportation across the vast frozen landscape.
Strong, agile, and well adapted to the cold climate, Huskies can swiftly cover long distances on with minimal effort and food. The Chukchi people developed a special relationship with the Husky and thrived in near total isolation for hundreds of years before introduction to the outside world.
First introduced in Alaska, Huskies made their first appearance in the All Alaska Sweepstakes Race in 1909. Arguably the most iconic Siberian Husky is Balto, who in 1925 lead a sled dog team across the frozen Alaskan wilderness to deliver a life-saving diphtheria serum.
The Siberian Husky has changed little since then and has only grown in popularity. Today Huskies are one of the most popular and iconic breeds in the world.
Siberian Huskies have found homes from Alaska to Australia, but they will always be working dogs. Huskies have served on dozens of Antarctic expeditions, and in the U.S. Army’s arctic search-and-rescue teams since World War II.
The Siberian Husky is a medium-size, athletic breed with an average lifespan of 12-14 years. As with any breed, there are certain health conditions they are predisposed to. With proper care and yearly vet exams, the Siberian Husky tends to live a long and healthy life. While most Huskies will not encounter these health issues it is important to know them, monitor your dog for any physical or behavioral changes, and contact your veterinarian with any concerns.
Potential Health Conditions:
• Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
• Eye conditions
• Joint Issues
• Hypothyroidism
• Overweight, Obesity
• Siberian Husky Shaking Puppy Syndrome Type 1 (SPS1)
• Siberian Husky Polyneuropathy Type 1 (SHPN1)
Suggested Screenings
• Eye Exam
• X-rays
• Siberian Husky Shaking Puppy Syndrome Type 1 (SPS1) – DNA test
• Siberian Husky Polyneuropathy Type 1 (SHPN1) – DNA test
Routine Care
• Regular Dental Exams
• Neuter or Spay
• Weight Managemen
Life Expectancy
With a loving family, a healthy diet and a safe environment to run and play you can expect your Siberian Husky to live a between 12 and 15 years.
