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Breeds 101: The Siberian Husky

By Wesley Coburn

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Huskies play in Green Park following a snow flurry on February 26, 2018 in London, England. Freezing weather conditions dubbed the "Beast from the East" brings snow and sub-zero temperatures to the UK. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Huskies play in Green Park following a snow flurry on February 26, 2018 in London, England. Freezing weather conditions dubbed the "Beast from the East" brings snow and sub-zero temperatures to the UK. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) /
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Siberian Huskies are strong, mischievous and mysterious.

According to the most recent stats available (2017) kept by the American Kennel Club (AKC) Siberian Huskies are the 12th most popular breed in America.

They are a beautiful working breed, with arched fluffy tails, pointy ears, and medium sized, as females stand about 20-22 inches at the withers (shoulders) and weigh somewhere between 35-50 pounds, while males stand around 21-23.5 inches and weigh around 45-60 pounds.

According to the AKC Breed Standard, the ideal Husky should be “quick and light on
his feet and free and graceful in action,” with a “smooth and seemingly
effortless” gait.

Like many breeds in colder climates, such as the Samoyed or the Newfoundland, their coat is double-layered, with a dense undercoat for warmth and longer, rougher guard hairs to keep the elements out.

As expected from dogs developed in Siberia, they are often used as sled dogs, which logically places them into the Working Group in AKC dog shows.

They were brought to Nome, Alaska during the Alaskan Gold Rush, which lasted roughly from 1896-1911 in Nome, Fairbanks and Klondike.

The AKC recognized the breed in 1930, while The Kennel Club of England did the same eight years later.

Huskies have a life expectancy of around 12 to 14 years, which is fairly long by canine standards.

Genetic problems of the eyes are about the only major health concern to take into account for this breed.

For the most part huskies get along well with children, though they do better outdoors and tend to be escape artists.

They are one of the main breeds used in sled dog racing, and are depicted in films like Eight Below, Iron Will, and Snow Dogs. 

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Huskies are used as the mascot of many college sports teams, including basketball powerhouse UConn, Washington, and hockey powerhouses Michigan Tech, Northeastern and St Cloud State.

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