The temperament, appearance, and body structure of the Husky dog is a result of long selective breeding. The Siberian Husky is a working breed that originated in Siberia to help local tribes survive in harsh conditions. During the Nome Gold Rush, Siberian Husky dogs were imported into Alaska, as no other breed could serve as sled dogs there. Because of their intelligence and friendly nature, Huskies rapidly acquired the status of family pets and show dogs.
The AKC breed standard for the Husky dog determines the ideal characteristics of the breed. The height of a Husky should vary from 21 to 23½ inches; the perfect weight varies between 45 and 60 pounds. All Spitz breeds with a comparable history to the Huskies share many similarities in their appearance because to survive in the area with severe frosts and sharp wind, the dogs had to develop similar adaptations. The main adaptation of Husky dogs is their dense double coat consisting of a short, straight guard hair and a soft wooly undercoat.
Many wild northern animals are white, but almost any coat color can be seen in a Husky dog. The most common patterns are solid white, black and white, gray and white, red and white, or spotted. Most Husky dogs have white paws, tail tip, and spectacles-looking facial markings. Many Husky dogs have particolored eyes (usually a brown eye and a blue eye.) It occurs because of the relative excess or lack of pigment within an iris. White-colored dogs have a “snow” nose, while dark-colored dogs have a black nose.
A typical Husky dog is often described as a forebear of the domestic dog, the wolf. It doesn’t mean that they are fierce hunters, but Husky dogs exhibit a wide range of the wolf’s behaviors. They are very active and independent. They ululate rather than bark and like to stay with their pack rather than with people. Husky dogs have an overactive hunting drive often undesirable in family pets. Huskies will never become reliable and should be kept in a secure area. Being excellent escape artists, Huskies will jump over fences, dig under the walls, and use every opportunity to break themselves free. Such attempts don’t mean that the Husky dog doesn’t love the owner; it just wants to run in the open.
