Siberian Husky Dog Facts

If you enjoy the winter season more than summer then the Siberian Husky may be the dog for you. Raised at first to pull the sleds way up north in the Siberian tundra, now this type of breed is grown for sled-races or companionship. What you should know first is the biggest misconception about them and that is: not all Huskies have blue eyes. The color may vary from brown to amber to blue and even combinations reaching so far as having bi-colored eyes (half blue half brown)

Being a working dog, it is very agile and nimble and some would say that when it walks it has a finesse rarely seen in other dogs. His northern heritage is suggested by a medium sized compact body, well furred body and pointy erect ears. Resembling a wolf, the dog willfully accepts a harness and pulls its master on skis or pulls the sled.

Now when it comes to sizing up a Husky there is a large variation of breed standards all agreeing that height and weight should be proportionate. Male huskies should be approximately 21 to 23 inches high and measuring between 45 to 60 lb while females though having the same height 20 to 22 inches they should weigh around 35 to 50 lb.

Another quirk Huskies tend to have is that in the cold season their noses might present the hypo-pigmentation phenomena which is a slight discoloration of the nose turning from black to a lighter shade of brown or even pink. The color should return to normal in the hot season.

Although they look like any wolf you might see in the zoo the Siberian husky has quite a gentle temperament and that’s why for some the phrase “sheep in wolf’s clothing” might apply. Having a very energetic attitude and enjoyment of the new areas they explore is part of their working dog persona. Quite gentle with children and extremely affectionate, curios and open to stranger influence make them a bad choice for guard dogs but their striking appearance has made them a top choice for show dogs and pets.

The resemblance to a wolf comes from the pack instinct which means it is better paired with another dog and not left alone for long or it will get lonely. Also the heritage of being bred and raised in the north is shown by the dog’s tendency to attack small house pets. They might get along with house cats if raised together with them from puppyhood.