Siberian Husky - History, Characteristics, Temperament, Myths, Extremities, Eyes, Feeding, Extremities, Health

Siberian husky

The Siberian husky is a breed of working dog originating from the northeast of Siberia (Chukotka, Russia). This race presents a similar defendant with the wolf. Originally bred by the Chukchi tribe, it was used as a companion dog to herd deer, pull sleds, and keep children warm; today it is found in various areas of the world.

History

There is evidence that Siberians have been imported from the Koryak and Kamchadal tribes. Recent DNA analysis reveals that this is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world.8

They were brought to Alaska from 1904 and continuously for two decades due to the gold rush. They were used to pull sleds, and especially for the All-Alaska Sweepstakes race, which ran 657 km from Nome to Candle and back. Smaller, faster, and more resilient than ordinary dogs (45 to 54 kg) used overall, Siberians immediately dominated the race.

At that time, the females that were born were sacrificed at birth, and only those with great vitality managed to survive, since they were used for reproduction. The males that were born also had to pass an aptitude test, running the same fate as the females, since the chukchi were very strict. The chosen ones, on the other hand, were treated exceptionally, with the best care and the best diet.

In January 1925, at –30 ° C, in the United States, a diphtheria epidemic dealt a severe blow to the city of Nome, Alaska. There the serum was insufficient to attend to all those affected, and a great storm prevented the airplane containing the medicine from taking off. But two husky named Balto, Togo (dog) and all his companions crossed the Bering Strait and brought the necessary serum. The feat lasted 127 hours over five days.

Today, many of the registered Siberian huskies in North America are descendants of the first dogs imported from Siberia in 1930, having been trained by Leonhard Seppala. The origin of domestication is unknown.

Characteristics

It is a medium-sized dog. Accustomed to living in the snow, he has much denser and thicker fur than other dog breeds. It is capable of drastically modifying its coat depending on where it lives: it can switch between long or shorter hair. The Siberian husky can have these colors: white, agouti, black, and saber, red, gray and silver, the latter two being more frequent in females.

Temperament

The husky has been described as a representative of the behavior of the dog's ancestor: the wolf, since it shows a wide range of behaviors typical of its ancestor. If the dog is properly trained and socialized from a young age - preferably a puppy - it can be a good family pet, since they are affectionate with people of all ages.

At the intelligence level, it is positioned on the scale with number 45 of the Stanley Coren classification about the intelligence of dogs. A fifteen minute daily obedience training class will be very helpful. They need constant training and do well with positive reinforcement canine training.

He is known for howling instead of barking.

He shows great happiness being in a pack and an alpha male always prevails; Even if it is only two dogs, one of the two will prove to be the dominant one. He also seeks hierarchies with humans; therefore it is necessary to appear before him as the Alpha. It is not recommended that they live alone since they need a group (human or pack).

Being dogs with a lot of resistance, they can travel many kilometers, making it difficult to find them in case of loss, so it is necessary that they have a microchip and it is not recommended to let them run without supervision.

Extremities

When the dog is standing and viewed from the front, the limbs are observed to be moderately spaced, parallel and straight. The bones are substancial but never heavy. The length of the limb from the elbow to the ground is slightly greater than the distance from the elbow to the tip of the cross. The rams of the forelegs may be extirpated.

Shoulders and arms.

Scapula well placed backwards. The arm is slightly oblique backwards from the point of the shoulder to the elbow and is never perpendicular to the ground. The muscles and ligaments that have the shoulders attached to the rib cage are firm and well developed.

Elbows.

Close to the body and without deviations outward or forward

Carpal joint.

Strong, but flexible.

Metacarpus.

Seen from the side they are slightly inclined.

Later members

When the dog is standing and viewed from behind, the hind limbs are moderately spaced and parallel. If spurs exist, they must be removed.

Thigh.

Very muscular and powerful.

Knee.

Rectangled.

Tibio-tarsal joint.

Well defined and placed low near the ground.

Legs.

Oval, without being long. They are medium in size, compact and well covered with hair between the fingers and pads. The latter are hard and well cushioned. When the dog adopts the natural posture, the feet do not show deviations outward or inward.

The husky breed presents various eye problems. According to the CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation) and affirmed by the ACVO (American College of Veterinary Ophthamology), the incidence of cataracts in this breed is between 15% to 18%. Cataracts can be discovered at an early age by breeders, who in this case cannot certify puppies. One version of cataracts can be more aggressive, causing total blindness in the dog at two to three years of age. [Appointment required]

Other eye problems that most frequently affect the breed are glaucoma, which can cause pain and loss of vision in the dog, and dystrophy problems at the cornea level, also causing diffuse and progressive loss of vision in the dog. from middle age.

Feeding

The husky eats everything: meat and bones of any kind, fish, fruits and vegetables. Nutritional needs vary according to size and sex. In males, in maintenance rations they range from 1250 to 1,500 Kcal daily and in females from 1050 to 1,350 Kcal. These values ​​are considered sufficient for specimens that live in a temperate climate and that are not subject to shooting work.

The supply of mineral and vitamin complexes in certain physiological states (puppies, pregnancy, lactation) is extremely important for normal physical development. We must supplement the diet with vegetable oils rich in saturated fatty acids. Both vitamins and minerals, vegetable oils and all food components should never be supplied in excessive doses.

Myths

There are wrong beliefs about their behavior and education. For example, you need to run a lot of miles every day. You will only need it if it is a dog dedicated to competition and trains for it. A specimen raised in a family environment will have the needs of the life it has led, although like all dog breeds it is advisable to walk and exercise it daily, and if possible run.

Eyes

They may have brown, brown, light brown, green, light blue, and sometimes even white eyes. A characteristic of the breed is the blue eyes, although it is not entirely dominant. It is possible to find specimens in which the eyes are of a different color, a phenomenon known as heterochromia. Also, this color differentiation is allowed when taking a dog to a dog show. Something that is too rare is that a specimen has an eye with 2 different colors and they may be more expensive since it is not common to see such a dog. The Siberian husky is one of the few breeds in which heavenly eyes are common. 

The husky breed presents various eye problems. According to the CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation) and affirmed by the ACVO (American College of Veterinary Ophthamology), the incidence of cataracts in this breed is between 15% to 18%. Cataracts can be discovered at an early age by breeders, who in this case cannot certify puppies. One version of cataracts can be more aggressive, causing total blindness in the dog at two to three years of age. [Appointment required]

Other eye problems that most frequently affect the breed are glaucoma, which can cause pain and loss of vision in the dog, and dystrophy problems at the cornea level, also causing diffuse and progressive loss of vision in the dog. from middle age.

The supply of mineral and vitamin complexes in certain physiological states (puppies, pregnancy, lactation) is extremely important for normal physical development. We must supplement the diet with vegetable oils rich in saturated fatty acids. Both vitamins and minerals, vegetable oils and all food components should never be supplied in excessive doses.

Health

Siberian huskies are generally in good health, living for ten to twelve years. They can have vision problems (cataracts, glaucoma and other problems), allergies and cancer in older specimens. A hip dysplasia problem may occur, but it is not very frequent.

This breed needs a good quality diet, with high levels of protein and fat, especially if they are going to be used for sledding competitions. They are very efficient dogs and consume less food than other dogs of similar size and physical activity. Your diet should be adjusted to the level of your physical activity and work, obesity can be a problem if you do not develop the same level of activity that corresponds to your diet.

Siberian Husky Characteristics

The husky dog ​​has very marked characteristics on a physical level, from its size to its posture when walking. They are very athletic, strong and resistant animals, trained to travel long distances and prepared to pull weights that multiply several times their own size. Their ears are always pointed, allowing them to adopt a practically permanent alert position. But these are not the only characteristics of the Siberian husky to consider.

Husky size

Physically, the Siberian husky has the characteristics of a medium-sized dog, which can reach 60 centimeters in height up to the withers in the case of the adult male Siberian husky, and up to 56 in the case of the female husky. As for weight, males move in the scale of 21 to 28 kilos, and females from 16 to 23 approximately. Their average life is 12 years, although they can live up to 15 or 16.

Husky fur

They have a long and dense coat, with two layers that adjust to the environment in which they live. Thus, they will lose the inner layer of fur in hotter climates, but they will retain it and become denser even in colder climates. This coat can appear in various shades, the accepted standard being the one that shows a combination of at least two of the colors. Among the most frequent coat colors are: white, black and white, red and white, sand and white, and gray and silver husky. They shed their hair between one and two times a year, so it is advisable to brush them frequently to prevent your hair from getting tangled and so that the hair does not end up scattered anywhere in the house.

Siberian husky eyes

Without a doubt, the husky is acclaimed by his eyes, although many times this characteristic takes precedence over others much more important. Although you tend to think that the only color for the husky is blue eyes, the reality is that genetics is the only one in charge of determining the color of each Siberian husky puppy. They can present eyes in various colors, such as the usual brown-eyed huskies or blue-eyed huskies, although one of the main characteristics of the husky's eye color is that it sometimes differs from one eye to another. As a resounding statement, the Siberian husky has piercing eyes, no matter what color they are.

How are Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute different?

It is quite common that there is a confusion between the Siberian husky and the Alaskan Malamute due to their physical similarity, but the truth is that they are two very different breeds. Certainly, they are two Nordic breeds whose fur is quite similar, but it is easy to discover their differences if you see specimens of both breeds. The Siberian Husky is smaller in size and dimensions, and less bulky than the Alaskan Malamute. Its proportions are reminiscent of those of a wolf, while in the case of the malamute its shapes are much more rounded and similar to those of molosoid dogs.

The husky and malamute's bodies do resemble each other in that they are very friendly and caring animals. However, the husky is a much more active dog and with very high needs for exercise, something that wins over the malamute. To make a decision about the best breed for you, you'll need to think about their space and activity needs, as well as their temperament. And it is that the Nordics in general, and in particular the Siberian husky, have a behavior that must be understood and understood to make them really happy and maintain a perfect relationship between the animal and its owner.

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