So you got your Siberian Husky puppy. Or you’re thinking about getting one – not a surprise, they’re really popular! Did you know that they rank 14 of 193 in breed popularity according to the American Kennel Club? How can you tell that your puppy is indeed a Siberian Husky breed? What are the Husky characteristics?
Being a Northern dog, the Husky shares some traits and characteristics with other Northern dogs. In this article, we will go through the main traits and characteristics of the Siberian Husky breed.
Small history lesson first: the origins of the Siberian Husky
In Siberia, the ancestors of the Husky were originally used for hunting until another use for them evolved – such as pulling sleds with goods over long distances.
Each tribe in Siberia bred its own specific type of dog. These dogs eventually evolved into the distinct breeds that we know and love today: the Alaskan Malamute, Eskimo Dog, and Samoyed are just a couple of them. The Chukchi tribe is credited to the breed we love a lot, and we’ve come to know today as the Siberian Husky.
The Husky became a sled dog mainly because the tribe lived inland, but they depended on the sea for food. So food had to get from the sea to the tribe somehow. Enter the Siberian Husky, as a sled dog. Smart and dependable, while being tough enough to carry weight over a great distance.
Please note that the Siberian Husky is not the only pure-bred dog that hails from Siberia.
Husky characteristics – physical characteristics of a Siberian Husky
General appearance and look
The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized dog. He’s a quick and light on his feet working dog that loves physical activity and challenges. A Husky is quite graceful in action, having a series of distinct and playfully looking ways of interacting with people and other objects.
His well-furred body and erect ears with a brushtail suggest his Northern heritage. Usually capable of carrying light loads with a pretty good speed over amazingly great distances.
You could say that Husky’s have an amazing combination of power, speed, and endurance, all packed in a loving fur-ball. That’s why you should walk and run with your Siberian Husky as often as you can. They love it, and it helps them stay healthy!
Coats and colors
Keep in mind that all Siberian Huskies have a double coat, medium in size and straight. This gives them a well-furred and soft appearance.
Coat colors: from black to white, a husky can have any combination. However, some head markings and striking patterns are not found in other breeds. Maybe this is one of the things that make them so interesting.
The Siberian Husky tail: a well-furred tail of fox-brush shape, and usually they carry it over their backs and wiggle them gently. – too cute to be real
Fun fact about the Husky tail: the abundantly coated tail is meant to easily protect his face from snow and wind when he curls up on the ground. This type of tail is a vital part of a dog destined to work and sleep outdoors in Arctic conditions – remember? The Siberian Husky is a north-rend breed. He can take a lot of cold weather.
Husky eye coloring
With almond-shaped Eyes, the Siberian Husky can have blue or brown eyes. Having one eye blue and the other brown is also not very uncommon for a Husky. Most people tend to look for blue eyes since they look more unique and give them an uncommon appearance. Find out more about those amazing Husky eyes in my other article.
Their expression is usually keen and friendly, very interested in everything, and sometimes even mischievous – yup, they might just go do that naughty thing.
How big is a Siberian Husky?
Being a medium-sized dog, the Husky is not quite a giant, but definitely not a small dog. Knowing this, it would be good to make sure you have the proper space to care for a Siberian Husky – you want your friend to be happy and joyful.
Siberian Husky average height: 21 to 23.5 inches (53 – 60 centimeters) for males and 20-22 inches (51 -56 centimeters) for females.
Siberian Husky average weight: 45 to 60 pounds (20 to 27 kilograms) for males and 35 to 50 pounds (15.8 to 22.6 kilograms) for females.
How long do Huskies live?
The life expectancy of a Siberian Husky is about 12 to 14 years, with some dogs reaching even 15 years. Keeping your Husky active and engaging him in constant physical activity does have a lot to do with this.
As with people, the Siberian Husky needs to stay in shape in order to be healthy. So walk with him! It’s a win-win situation!
The way Husky puppies live has a big impact on their lifespan and how much they can actually be a great and active friend.
Siberian Husky: Traits and behavior
If you’d have to summarize the Siberian Husky breed temperament in 5 words, these would be loyal, friendly, outgoing, mischievous, and active.
Intelligent but somewhat independent, the Husky is sometimes mischievous and even stubborn. That’s why dog training is mandatory for a happy Husky and a happy owner.
The Husky – A great family dog
Knowing this, it’s fair to say that the Siberian Husky is best known for his friendliness and also for being a great family dog, as he’s very good with children.
A Husky loves to be part of the family, as he absolutely loves human company. But keep in mind, that being a dog used with packs, it means that he needs a firm but gentle leader in order to behave right.
They love to run. No, really. They freaking love to run! And sometimes, their love for running around may even temporarily surpass their willingness to listen to your command. – stubborn little fur-balls
How well do they get along with other dogs or pets?
Most Siberian Huskies are great with other dogs and are pretty friendly in general. Please note that they do have a high prey drive, and they may chase cats or small pets. The hunting instinct is the reason why Siberian huskies like to chase balls and play with the squeaky toys.
Siberian Husky – are they aggressive? Is a Husky a good guard dog?
Being quite friendly, he’s not very possessive, and he’s not really fit for a guard dog as he is not overly suspicious of strangers or other dogs. His willingness to show himself as overly affectionate with strangers tends to go away as he matures.
Does a Siberian Husky bark or howl a lot?
Not quite. They only bark when they feel like it. And they rarely – some never do it – howl. So he might not bark even when a stranger enters your property – loving yes, guarding… not so much.
I also wrote an article about how much does a Husky bark or howl here.
Fun facts that give away the fact that your puppy is a Husky
The great run and the great escapes are sometimes daily performances. Husky’s love to run, and love to dig and jump fences. So be on your guard for this awesome performer.
That furniture looks chewy. If not properly exercised, they can often choose to take it out on your fancy desk. Your fancy garden. Your fancy wall, heck, that door looks great! So play with him. An obedient Husky is an exhausted husky. – sometimes they’ll do it anyway. Be the Alpha and train him to play with that toy instead of that furniture.
If your yard looks like a warzone and your Husky is in a hole staring at you with those pretty blue and innocent eyes like there is incoming enemy fire, you just might have a Husky (you probably do). Here’s an article about how to stop him from digging too much.
Off-leash or without a harness for outside walking sounds great. If you want to run 2 miles straight after a neighbor’s cat. So it’s probably a great idea to not let him loose especially if there are small things that can grab his attention and challenge him for a run. He’ll run like a champ. And so will you! – cardio, anyone?
So that’s how you can tell
These are the main points that can tell you that you have a husky or a puppy you are looking at is a Siberian Husky breed. Did you see my comparison of the Siberian Husky vs the Alaskan Malamute?
If you enjoyed this article and it was informative regarding Husky characteristics, feel free to share it with other dog enthusiasts and check out our other Husky-related articles.
Information Sources:
Well, we have a Siberian Husky!
Book: Siberian Husky – A comprehensive guide to owning an caring for your dog by Lorna Winslette
The American Kennel Club – https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/siberian-husky/
1 Comment
My Siberian Husky, Rex, is way taller and weighs more than the huskies I’ve read about. He’s over 90 lbs and has longer legs than the pictures I’ve seen. From paw to shoulder is 27 inches… Could he be part wolf? He does not have oversized paws for his size, he has blue eyes, has hair that each strand is two or more colors and he does not bark. He uses his throat to talk, but no barking. From what I’ve read he could have a tidbit of wolf in him.