| Husky Info |
General Appearance
The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized working dog, quick and light on his feet and free and
graceful in action. His moderately compact and well furred body, erect ears and brush tail suggest
his Northern heritage. His characteristic gait is smooth and seemingly effortless. He performs his
original function in harness most capably, carrying a light load at a moderate speed over great
distances. His body proportions and form reflect this basic balance of power, speed and endurance.
The males of the Siberian Husky breed are masculine but never coarse; the bitches are feminine but
without weakness of structure. In proper condition, with muscle firm and well developed, the Siberian
Husky does not carry excess weight.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Height-dogs, 21 to 23½ inches at the withers. Bitches, 20 to 22 inches at the withers.
Weight-dogsDisqualification-disqualification-dogsches, 35 to 50 pounds. Weight is in proportion to
height. The measurements mentioned above represent the extreme height and weight limits with no
preference given to either extreme. Any appearance of excessive bone or weight should be
penalized. In profile, the length of the body from the point of the shoulder to the rear point of the
croup is slightly
longer than the height of the body from the ground to the top of the withers.
Disqualification-disqualification-dogs
over 23½ inches and bitches over 22 inches.
Head
Expression is keen, but friendly; interested and even mischievous. Eyes almond shaped,
moderately spaced and set a trifle obliquely. Eyes may be brown or blue in color; one of each or
parti-colored are acceptable. Faults--Eyes set too obliquely; set too close together. Ears of medium
size, triangular in shape, close fitting and set high on the head. They are thick, well furred, slightly
arched at the back, and strongly erect, with slightly rounded tips pointing straight up.
Faults-earsFaults-headN proportion to the head; too wide set; not strongly erect. Skull of medium
size and in
proportion to the body; slightly rounded on top and tapering from the widest point to the eyes.
Faults-head clumsy or heavy; head too finely chiseled. Stop--The stop is well-defined and the
bridge of the nose is straight from the stop to the tip. Fault--Insufficient stop. Muzzle of medium
length; that is, the distance from the tip of the nose to the stop is equal to the distance from the stop
to the occiput. The muzzle is of medium width, tapering gradually to the nose, with the tip neither
pointed nor square. Faults Muzzle either too snipy or too coarse; muzzle too short or too long. Nose
black in gray, tan or black dogs; liver in copper dogs; may be flesh-colored in pure white dogs. The
pink-streaked "snow nose" is acceptable. Lips are well pigmented and close fitting. Teeth closing in
a scissors bite. Fault--Any bite other than scissors.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck medium in length, arched and carried proudly erect when dog is standing. When moving at a
trot, the neck is extended so that the head is carried slightly forward. Faults--Neck too short and
thick; neck too long. Chest deep and strong, but not too broad, with the deepest point being just
behind and level with the elbows. The ribs are well sprung from the spine but flattened on the sides
to allow for freedom of action. Faults--Chest too broad; "barrel ribs"; ribs too flat or weak. Back--The
back is straight and strong, with a level topline from withers to croup. It is of medium length, neither
cobby nor slack from excessive length. The loin is taut and lean, narrower than the rib cage, and with
a slight tuck-up. The croup slopes away from the spine at an angle, but never so steeply as to restrict
the rearward thrust of the hind legs. Faults--Weak or slack back; roached back; sloping topline.
Tail
The well furred tail of fox-brush shape is set on just below the level of the topline, and is usually
carried over the back in a graceful sickle curve when the dog is at attention. When carried up, the tail
does not curl to either side of the body, nor does it snap flat against the back. A trailing tail is normal
for the dog when in repose. Hair on the tail is of medium length and approximately the same length
on top, sides and bottom, giving the appearance of a round brush. Faults--A snapped or tightly
curled tail; highly plumed tail; tail set too low or too high.
Forequarters
Shoulders--The shoulder blade is well laid back. The upper arm angles slightly backward from point
of shoulder to elbow, and is never perpendicular to the ground. The muscles and ligaments holding
the shoulder to the rib cage are firm and well developed. Faults--Straight shoulders; loose
shoulders. Forelegs--When standing and viewed from the front, the legs are moderately spaced,
parallel and straight, with the elbows close to the body and turned neither in nor out. Viewed from the
side, pasterns are slightly slanted, with the pastern joint strong, but flexible. Bone is substantial but
never heavy. Length of the leg from elbow to ground is slightly more than the distance from the elbow
to the top of withers. Dewclaws on forelegs may be removed. Faults--Weak pasterns; too heavy
bone; too narrow or too wide in the front; out at the elbows. Feet oval in shape but not long. The
paws are medium in size, compact and well furred between the toes and pads. The pads are tough
and thickly cushioned. The paws neither turn in nor out when the dog is in natural stance. Faults--Soft
or splayed toes; paws too large and clumsy; paws too small and delicate; toeing in or out.
Hindquarters
When standing and viewed from the rear, the hind legs are moderately spaced and parallel. The
upper thighs are well muscled and powerful, the stifles well bent, the hock joint well-defined and set
low to the ground. Dewclaws, if any, are to be removed. Faults--Straight stifles, cow-hocks, too
narrow or too wide in the rear.
Coat
The coat of the Siberian Husky is double and medium in length, giving a well furred appearance, but
is never so long as to obscure the clean-cut outline of the dog. The undercoat is soft and dense and
of sufficient length to support the outer coat. The guard hairs of the outer coat are straight and
somewhat smooth lying, never harsh nor standing straight off from the body. It should be noted that
the absence of the undercoat during the shedding season is normal. Trimming of whiskers and fur
between the toes and around the feet to present a neater appearance is permissible. Trimming the
fur on any other part of the dog is not to be condoned and should be severely penalized.
Faults--Long, rough, or shaggy coat; texture too harsh or too silky; trimming of the coat, except as
permitted above.
Color
All colors from black to pure white are allowed. A variety of markings on the head is common,
including many striking patterns not found in other breeds.
Gait
The Siberian Husky's characteristic gait is smooth and seemingly effortless. He is quick and light on
his feet, and when in the show ring should be gaited on a loose lead at a moderately fast trot,
exhibiting good reach in the forequarters and good drive in the hindquarters. When viewed from the
front to rear while moving at a walk the Siberian Husky does not single-track, but as the speed
increases the legs gradually angle inward until the pads are falling on a line directly under the
longitudinal center of the body. As the pad marks converge, the forelegs and hind legs are carried
straightforward, with neither elbows nor stifles turned in or out. Each hind leg moves in the path of
the foreleg on the same side. While the dog is gaiting, the topline remains firm and level.
Faults--Short, prancing or choppy gait, lumbering or rolling gait; crossing or crabbing.
Temperament
The characteristic temperament of the Siberian Husky is friendly and gentle, but also alert and
outgoing. He does not display the possessive qualities of the guard dog, nor is he overly suspicious
of strangers or aggressive with other dogs. Some measure of reserve and dignity may be expected
in the mature dog. His intelligence, tractability, and eager disposition make him an agreeable
companion and willing worker.
Summary
The most important breed characteristics of the Siberian Husky are medium size, moderate bone,
well balanced proportions, ease and freedom of movement, proper coat, pleasing head and ears,
correct tail, and good disposition. Any appearance of excessive bone or weight, constricted or
clumsy gait, or long, rough coat should be penalized. The Siberian Husky never appears so heavy or
coarse as to suggest a freighting animal; nor is he so light and fragile as to suggest a sprint-racing
animal. In both sexes the Siberian Husky gives the appearance of being capable of great
endurance. In addition to the faults already noted, the obvious structural faults common to all breeds
are as undesirable in the Siberian Husky as in any other breed, even though they are not specifically
mentioned herein.
Life of a husky is about 12 to 14 years
Disqualification
Dogs over 23½ inches and bitches over 22 inches.
Approved October 9, 1990
Effective November 28, 1990
Redeeming Qualities
· Siberians are very intelligent.
· Siberians are very loving and make excellent companions.
· Siberians are great for athletic people and enjoy hiking, walking, jogging, and just about any other
activity.
· Siberians are clowns and keep you laughing all the time!
· Siberians are attractive dogs with a wild look.
Not so Redeeming Qualities
· Siberians are very intelligent and get bored easily.
· Siberians love everyone and will greet a burglar with the same enthusiasm as they do you! Because
of this they are poor watchdogs.
· Siberians can NEVER be trusted off leash. Even the most well trained Siberian will take the
opportunity to "run free" if given it. This is a deadly situation that you must NEVER allow a Siberian to
be put in.
· Siberians have a high prey drive. They may kill small animals including cats.
· Siberians are escape artists. Some are worse than others and some require a literal fortress
instead of a fenced yard.
· Siberians dig period. I have never found a solution to this problem. They just do it and you cannot
stop them! If you cannot live with this, then look for a different breed.
· Siberians are very pack-oriented. They cannot tolerate long periods of isolation. If you work long
hours you will need to get your dog a companion or look into a different breed.
· Siberians shed a HUGE amount of fur twice a year. If you value a spotless home this may not be
the breed for you.
The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized working dog, quick and light on his feet and free and
graceful in action. His moderately compact and well furred body, erect ears and brush tail suggest
his Northern heritage. His characteristic gait is smooth and seemingly effortless. He performs his
original function in harness most capably, carrying a light load at a moderate speed over great
distances. His body proportions and form reflect this basic balance of power, speed and endurance.
The males of the Siberian Husky breed are masculine but never coarse; the bitches are feminine but
without weakness of structure. In proper condition, with muscle firm and well developed, the Siberian
Husky does not carry excess weight.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Height-dogs, 21 to 23½ inches at the withers. Bitches, 20 to 22 inches at the withers.
Weight-dogsDisqualification-disqualification-dogsches, 35 to 50 pounds. Weight is in proportion to
height. The measurements mentioned above represent the extreme height and weight limits with no
preference given to either extreme. Any appearance of excessive bone or weight should be
penalized. In profile, the length of the body from the point of the shoulder to the rear point of the
croup is slightly
longer than the height of the body from the ground to the top of the withers.
Disqualification-disqualification-dogs
over 23½ inches and bitches over 22 inches.
Head
Expression is keen, but friendly; interested and even mischievous. Eyes almond shaped,
moderately spaced and set a trifle obliquely. Eyes may be brown or blue in color; one of each or
parti-colored are acceptable. Faults--Eyes set too obliquely; set too close together. Ears of medium
size, triangular in shape, close fitting and set high on the head. They are thick, well furred, slightly
arched at the back, and strongly erect, with slightly rounded tips pointing straight up.
Faults-earsFaults-headN proportion to the head; too wide set; not strongly erect. Skull of medium
size and in
proportion to the body; slightly rounded on top and tapering from the widest point to the eyes.
Faults-head clumsy or heavy; head too finely chiseled. Stop--The stop is well-defined and the
bridge of the nose is straight from the stop to the tip. Fault--Insufficient stop. Muzzle of medium
length; that is, the distance from the tip of the nose to the stop is equal to the distance from the stop
to the occiput. The muzzle is of medium width, tapering gradually to the nose, with the tip neither
pointed nor square. Faults Muzzle either too snipy or too coarse; muzzle too short or too long. Nose
black in gray, tan or black dogs; liver in copper dogs; may be flesh-colored in pure white dogs. The
pink-streaked "snow nose" is acceptable. Lips are well pigmented and close fitting. Teeth closing in
a scissors bite. Fault--Any bite other than scissors.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck medium in length, arched and carried proudly erect when dog is standing. When moving at a
trot, the neck is extended so that the head is carried slightly forward. Faults--Neck too short and
thick; neck too long. Chest deep and strong, but not too broad, with the deepest point being just
behind and level with the elbows. The ribs are well sprung from the spine but flattened on the sides
to allow for freedom of action. Faults--Chest too broad; "barrel ribs"; ribs too flat or weak. Back--The
back is straight and strong, with a level topline from withers to croup. It is of medium length, neither
cobby nor slack from excessive length. The loin is taut and lean, narrower than the rib cage, and with
a slight tuck-up. The croup slopes away from the spine at an angle, but never so steeply as to restrict
the rearward thrust of the hind legs. Faults--Weak or slack back; roached back; sloping topline.
Tail
The well furred tail of fox-brush shape is set on just below the level of the topline, and is usually
carried over the back in a graceful sickle curve when the dog is at attention. When carried up, the tail
does not curl to either side of the body, nor does it snap flat against the back. A trailing tail is normal
for the dog when in repose. Hair on the tail is of medium length and approximately the same length
on top, sides and bottom, giving the appearance of a round brush. Faults--A snapped or tightly
curled tail; highly plumed tail; tail set too low or too high.
Forequarters
Shoulders--The shoulder blade is well laid back. The upper arm angles slightly backward from point
of shoulder to elbow, and is never perpendicular to the ground. The muscles and ligaments holding
the shoulder to the rib cage are firm and well developed. Faults--Straight shoulders; loose
shoulders. Forelegs--When standing and viewed from the front, the legs are moderately spaced,
parallel and straight, with the elbows close to the body and turned neither in nor out. Viewed from the
side, pasterns are slightly slanted, with the pastern joint strong, but flexible. Bone is substantial but
never heavy. Length of the leg from elbow to ground is slightly more than the distance from the elbow
to the top of withers. Dewclaws on forelegs may be removed. Faults--Weak pasterns; too heavy
bone; too narrow or too wide in the front; out at the elbows. Feet oval in shape but not long. The
paws are medium in size, compact and well furred between the toes and pads. The pads are tough
and thickly cushioned. The paws neither turn in nor out when the dog is in natural stance. Faults--Soft
or splayed toes; paws too large and clumsy; paws too small and delicate; toeing in or out.
Hindquarters
When standing and viewed from the rear, the hind legs are moderately spaced and parallel. The
upper thighs are well muscled and powerful, the stifles well bent, the hock joint well-defined and set
low to the ground. Dewclaws, if any, are to be removed. Faults--Straight stifles, cow-hocks, too
narrow or too wide in the rear.
Coat
The coat of the Siberian Husky is double and medium in length, giving a well furred appearance, but
is never so long as to obscure the clean-cut outline of the dog. The undercoat is soft and dense and
of sufficient length to support the outer coat. The guard hairs of the outer coat are straight and
somewhat smooth lying, never harsh nor standing straight off from the body. It should be noted that
the absence of the undercoat during the shedding season is normal. Trimming of whiskers and fur
between the toes and around the feet to present a neater appearance is permissible. Trimming the
fur on any other part of the dog is not to be condoned and should be severely penalized.
Faults--Long, rough, or shaggy coat; texture too harsh or too silky; trimming of the coat, except as
permitted above.
Color
All colors from black to pure white are allowed. A variety of markings on the head is common,
including many striking patterns not found in other breeds.
Gait
The Siberian Husky's characteristic gait is smooth and seemingly effortless. He is quick and light on
his feet, and when in the show ring should be gaited on a loose lead at a moderately fast trot,
exhibiting good reach in the forequarters and good drive in the hindquarters. When viewed from the
front to rear while moving at a walk the Siberian Husky does not single-track, but as the speed
increases the legs gradually angle inward until the pads are falling on a line directly under the
longitudinal center of the body. As the pad marks converge, the forelegs and hind legs are carried
straightforward, with neither elbows nor stifles turned in or out. Each hind leg moves in the path of
the foreleg on the same side. While the dog is gaiting, the topline remains firm and level.
Faults--Short, prancing or choppy gait, lumbering or rolling gait; crossing or crabbing.
Temperament
The characteristic temperament of the Siberian Husky is friendly and gentle, but also alert and
outgoing. He does not display the possessive qualities of the guard dog, nor is he overly suspicious
of strangers or aggressive with other dogs. Some measure of reserve and dignity may be expected
in the mature dog. His intelligence, tractability, and eager disposition make him an agreeable
companion and willing worker.
Summary
The most important breed characteristics of the Siberian Husky are medium size, moderate bone,
well balanced proportions, ease and freedom of movement, proper coat, pleasing head and ears,
correct tail, and good disposition. Any appearance of excessive bone or weight, constricted or
clumsy gait, or long, rough coat should be penalized. The Siberian Husky never appears so heavy or
coarse as to suggest a freighting animal; nor is he so light and fragile as to suggest a sprint-racing
animal. In both sexes the Siberian Husky gives the appearance of being capable of great
endurance. In addition to the faults already noted, the obvious structural faults common to all breeds
are as undesirable in the Siberian Husky as in any other breed, even though they are not specifically
mentioned herein.
Life of a husky is about 12 to 14 years
Disqualification
Dogs over 23½ inches and bitches over 22 inches.
Approved October 9, 1990
Effective November 28, 1990
Redeeming Qualities
· Siberians are very intelligent.
· Siberians are very loving and make excellent companions.
· Siberians are great for athletic people and enjoy hiking, walking, jogging, and just about any other
activity.
· Siberians are clowns and keep you laughing all the time!
· Siberians are attractive dogs with a wild look.
Not so Redeeming Qualities
· Siberians are very intelligent and get bored easily.
· Siberians love everyone and will greet a burglar with the same enthusiasm as they do you! Because
of this they are poor watchdogs.
· Siberians can NEVER be trusted off leash. Even the most well trained Siberian will take the
opportunity to "run free" if given it. This is a deadly situation that you must NEVER allow a Siberian to
be put in.
· Siberians have a high prey drive. They may kill small animals including cats.
· Siberians are escape artists. Some are worse than others and some require a literal fortress
instead of a fenced yard.
· Siberians dig period. I have never found a solution to this problem. They just do it and you cannot
stop them! If you cannot live with this, then look for a different breed.
· Siberians are very pack-oriented. They cannot tolerate long periods of isolation. If you work long
hours you will need to get your dog a companion or look into a different breed.
· Siberians shed a HUGE amount of fur twice a year. If you value a spotless home this may not be
the breed for you.
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