Siberian husky
                     Information about all dog breeds 
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized working sledge dog breed. The breed belongs to 
the Spitz genetic family. It is recognizable by its thickly furred double coat, erect 
triangular ears, and distinctive markings, and is shorter than the similar-looking Alaskan 
Malamute.
Siberian Huskies were initiated in Northeast Asia where they are bred by the Chukchi 
people of Siberia for sledge hauling and friendship. It is an active, vibrant, resilient breed, 
whose progenitors lived in the incredibly cold and harsh environment of the Siberian 
Arctic. William Goosak, a Russian fur trader, introduced them to Nome, Alaska, during the 
Nome Gold Rush, originally as sledge dogs to work the mining fields and for journeys 
through otherwise impassable terrain. Today, the Siberian Husky is typically kept as a 
house pet, though they are still continually used as sledge dogs by competitive and 
recreational mushers.
History
The Chukotka Sled Dog is considered the forerunner of the Siberian Husky. Developed by 
the Chukchi people of Russia, Chukotka sledge dog teams have been used since 
prehistoric times to pull sledges in harsh situations, such as hunting sea mammals on 
oceanic pack ice.
Origination of Name and Split from Chukotka Sled Dogs (1890s–1930s)
From the 1890s to the 1930s, Chukotka sledge dogs were actively imported into Alaska, 
to cart gold miners to the Yukon, first as part of the Klondike Gold Rush, then later the 
“All-Alaska Sweepstakes,” a 408-mile (657-km) distance dog sledge race from Nome, to 
Candle, and back. At this time, “Esquimaux” or “Eskimo” was a standard derogatory term 
for native Arctic inhabitants with many dialectal permutations including Use, Skimpy and 
Husk maw. Thus dogs used by Arctic people were the dogs of the Huskies, the Huskie’s 
dogs, and finally simply the husky dogs. Canadian and American settlers, not well versed 
in Russian geography, would differentiate the Chukotka imports by directing to them as 
Siberian huskies as Chukotka is part of Siberia.
Characterization
A Siberian Husky has a two-coat that is thicker than that of most other dog breeds. It has two 
layers: a dense, finely wavy undercoat and a longer overcoat of thicker, directly guard hairs. It 
covers the dogs actually against harsh Arctic winters, and also reflects heat in the summer. It is 
able to withstand temperatures as low as −50 to −60 °C (−58 to −76 °F). The undercoat is often 
absent during shedding. Their thick coats require weekly grooming. An overly long coat sometimes 
directed to as a “woolly” or “woollies” coat, is deemed a spot by the breed’s standard as it lacks 
the thicker protection of the traditional coat’s guard hairs, obscures the dog’s clear-cut outline, 
generates quicker overheating during serious harness work, and evolves easily matted and 
encrusted with snow and ice. 
Siberian Huskies come in a combination of colours and patterns, often with white paws and legs, 
facial markings, and bottom tips. Example coat colours are black and white, copper-red and white, 
grey and white, pure white, and the rare “agouti” coat, though many individuals have blondish or 
piebald discovery. Some other people also have the “saddleback” pattern, in which black-tipped 
guard hairs are specified to the saddle area while the head, haunches and shoulders are either 
light red or white. Striking masks, blemishes, and other facial markings occur in a wide variety. All 
coat colours from black to pure white are permitted. Merle coat patterns are not approved by the 
American Kennel Club (AKC) and The Kennel Club (KC).
Health
A 1999 ASPCA magazine shows the average life span of the Siberian Husky is 12 to 14 
years. Health issues in the breed are mainly genetic, such as seizures and weaknesses of 
the eye (juvenile cataracts, corneal dystrophy, canine glaucoma and progressive retinal 
atrophy) and congenital laryngeal paralysis. Hip dysplasia is not often found in this 
breed; however, as with many medium or larger-sized canines, it can happen. The 
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals now has the Siberian Husky ranked 155th out of a 
likely 160 breeds at risk for hip dysplasia, with only two per cent of tested Siberian 
Huskies showing dysplasia.
Siberian Huskies used for sledge racing may also be prone to other conditions, such as 
gastric disease, bronchitis or bronchopulmonary ailments (“ski asthma”), and gastric 
erosions or ulcerations.