SIZE &
DIET
The previous standard outlined the ideal height and weight for
adult Siberians. While not all dogs fall within these
guidelines, some may occasionally be larger or smaller. If
you are looking for a pet, this should not deter you as often
these are the ones that breeders sell as pets as they do not fit
the guidelines of the standard for a show dog. They are
still the same comical, fun, great companion dog.
Adults eat
from 2 to 4 cups, usually once a day. The amount required
will depend on their size, activity level and the type of food
that is fed. Keep in mind that their weight should be
proportionate to their height.......a mid-size female weighing
60 lbs. is probably overweight and needs to have their diet
adjusted! The right dog food is essential whether your
dog is a family pet or show dog. The better the quality
of the food the less you will need to feed as more
nutrition is retained from a better quality food and there is
less waste (meaning a cleaner yard and less to pick up!)
COAT
& EYE COLOR
The Siberian Husky comes in varying shades of black and white,
gray and white and red and white. They also come in what
is known as a piebald color where the primary body color of the
dog is white and markings around the head and ears as well as
patches on other parts of the body may be either black, gray or
red. The Siberian Husky can also be pure white. Eye
color is just as varied, ranging from dark brown to amber as
well as blue, marble eyes (one eye has both blue and brown) or
bi-eyed (one eye is brown and one blue) and the bi-marble eye.
Pigment on black and gray dogs should be black while on red dogs
the pigment is liver colored. Beware of the breeder
who advertises puppies with "rare green" eyes, this
eye color will turn amber as they mature. Just a note on
the coat color in Siberians; due to the genetics of coat
color breeders may not be able to tell you exactly what color
their puppies will be before birth, they may only be able to
offer you an educated guess based on their knowledge of the
pedigree and their dogs. However, a red Siberian bred to
a red Siberian will always produce only red Siberians.
Remember too that while you may have a favorite color, the
Siberian you choose should be based on their temperament, not
their color.
The coat of the Siberian Husky is medium length and consists of
the outer coat and a shorter, denser undercoat. The outer
coat should be straight and no trimming/clipping is required.
Grooming, unless they are shedding, is simple with a brush and
comb once or twice a week. Shedding usually occurs 2 to 3
times a year depending on the climate and can be quite profuse.
A warm bath will help to loosen coat and with a
good brushing daily during this time, the shed will be complete
in about 2 weeks. As the double-coat of the Siberian
insulates it against the cold of winter, it also insulates them
in the summer months, therefore the Siberian can, and will,
acclimate to any climate and should never be shaved. The
Siberian Husky does not have the usual "doggy" odor
and is a relatively clean animal, seldom needing a bath to rid
them of odors. Many allergy sufferers have found that they
can include a Siberian Husky in their family.
THINGS YOU
NEED TO KNOW. . .
 THE
SIBERIAN HUSKY IS A RUNNER
and must be on a leash at all times when out of a secure yard.
They seldom slow down once they are free and the chase is on
which sometimes leads to deadly consequences as they dart into a
street.
THE
SIBERIAN HUSKY LIKES TO DIG AND CHEW,
they are no different from any other puppy. This behavior
will include, but is never limited to, your landscape, rose
bushes, couches, shoes, electric cords, patio furniture,
barbecue, patio posts, trees, hoses, and anything else
they can latch on to. While they may outgrow the chewing
stage, some stay diggers forever!
THE
SIBERIAN HUSKY MUST HAVE A FENCED YARD,
preferably at least 6 ft. high and solid. They have been
known to go through a redwood stake fence to investigate
whatever they see on the other side. They are an active
animal and need to have room to exercise, so while some have
done well living in an apartment-type situation, they really
need a medium-to-large size yard to play in. The Siberian
Husky does well being an outdoor dog but really would prefer to
be a part of his family, especially when everyone is home.
THE
SIBERIAN HUSKY IS EXCELLENT WITH KIDS
but isn't a great fan of "smaller" animals such as
guinea pigs, cats, chickens, rabbits, etc. They have a
"prey" drive and should not be left alone with small
animals. Common sense dictates that no dog should be left
alone with small children and the Siberian is no different.
THE
SIBERIAN HUSKY IS NOT A WATCHDOG
because he is not a "barker". Instead, they will
eagerly greet their new found friend/intruder with a
wagging tail and lead them to the bag of treats. They will
"talk" to you but are not going to bark at the utility
person or children playing on your lawn. If a watchdog is
what you want, this is not the breed for you.
Siberian
Huskies enjoy the company of other Siberians and often do better
in pairs. They are trainable, despite what many seasoned
obedience trainers will tell you. They are very
intelligent but get easily bored and distracted so training is a
bit more difficult for some. They need to be challenged so
the same tried and true techniques used for a German Shepherd
will have to be changed and modified to fit the Siberian.
A good obedience trainer familiar with the Siberian is the best
choice when you embark on the training phase. Training
should begin early and be consistent, these dogs will try to
outsmart you so persistence is a must. The best way to
raise a Siberian is the same way that one would raise a
child......with gentle firmness, persistence and tons of
patience.
HEALTH
& GENETIC DISORDERS
The Siberian Husky is generally a very healthy, hardy breed,
however they are subject to hip dysplasia, eye disorders
(juvenile cataracts, corneal dystrophy and progressive retinal
atrophy) and epilepsy. Breeders have made great strides in
the elimination of hip dysplasia due to their diligence in
breeding "clear" dogs to "clear" dogs.
Unfortunately, the eye disorders are another situation
altogether. The mode of transmission of the various eye
disorders has not yet been defined making it a more difficult
disorder to eliminate. The AKC and various veterinary
institutions are working towards DNA testing to help eliminate
these disorders but as of yet the cost and application of these
tests are such that they are not widely used. For now, the
best we can do is continue to examine our dogs on a yearly
basis, removing from our breeding program those dogs who are
afflicted. However, it must be pointed out that because a
dog is afflicted with an eye disorder they should not be ruled
out as a pet/companion dog. Most of these eye problems are
not so severe that these dogs cannot be wonderful pets and lead
long, happy lives. A breeder would be able to help
you with questions you may have about this issue. Also, go
into our Links site for more
information on both hip and eye disorders.
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