Siberian Husky Facts, an Alaskan Sled Dog Guide What Famous Husky Saved Lives

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Siberian Husky photo
Large Breed Cataract Glaucoma Siberian Husky

Is the Siberian Husky right for you?

  • 1 The Siberian Husky is a cold-weather dog if there ever was one.
  • 2 Their thick, double coat of fur is highly insulated and needs some serious brushing.
  • 3 The Siberian Husky has amazing endurance and can work all day and enjoys exercise.

HISTORY

The Siberian Husky was first used to pull the sleds of Siberian natives, the Chukchi. Brought to Alaska in 1909 for long-distance sled races like the Iditarod, this breed quickly found a niche in the dog-sled community, forever immortalized by the famed actions of Balto, the sled-pulling husky that saved an entire Alaskan town from the diphtheria epidemic. They were first approved by the AKC in 1930.

Quick Facts

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    Size

    Large

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    Lifespan

    11-13 years

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    Hair Length

    Long

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    Male Height

    21 to 23.5 inches at the shoulder

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    Male Weight

    35 to 60 lbs

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    Female Height

    20 to 22 inches at the shoulder

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    Female Weight

    35 to 50 lbs

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    Litter Size

    6-8 puppies

Personality

Siberian Huskies are a kind, gentle, independent dog that are smart and easily trainable. Having seemingly boundless reserves of energy, this is a dog that requires an active family in order to be happy and well adjusted. They are great with kids and strangers, making them less than ideal guard dogs. In order to train a Husky, you need to maintain a firm and consistent stance, never giving them the room to think that they might even, in part, run the show. Otherwise, they may think they are the alpha and become overprotective and destructive..

Color

The Siberian Husky can be black and white, jet black, silver (dilute) black and reddish black, grey, wolf grey, silver, sable, copper, or chocolate copper.

Health Concerns

Bred as a working dog in the Arctic, the Siberian Husky is normally a tough and healthy dog. Life expectancy of the breed is around 15 years. The dog is prone to health problems such as:

More on the Siberian Husky

Siberian Husky Information: Health
How to Help a Siberian Husky Lose Weight
When to Remove the Undercoat of a Siberian Husky
Siberian Husky Training Secrets
About Siberian Husky Dogs

Appearance

A medium-sized breed, the Siberian Husky is a strong, densely built, working dog that excels in cold weather. They stand about 20 inches at the shoulder and weigh roughly 55 pounds. They have large, spread out paws that help them traverse snowy landscapes, and their thick double coat can withstand temperatures as low as -78 F. Normally medium in length, there is the occasional long haired, or "wooly" Husky.

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