As the name suggests the Siberian Husky is native to Siberia. It was there that they were trained for hundreds of years to pull sleds by the Chukchi people. The Chukchi were a semi-nomadic tribe that used the Siberian Huskies to pull sleds with light loads for long distances, which made them an excellent companion for the tribe. DNA testing has recently found that the Siberian Husky is one of the oldest breeds of dogs.
It wasn’t until 1909 that the Siberian Husky was brought to the United States where it took part in the All Alaska Sweepstakes Race. A number of Siberian Huskies were imported to Alaska after this initial appearance and the breed won the same race on the following year. The Siberian Husky breed not only went on to win many different races in the following years but it also gained fame for their great speed and endurance as well.
In 1930 the Siberian Husky was finally recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club. The breed is still widely used in various sledding, carting and racing events. Because of the breed these activities have became increasingly popular. However, in many of today’s races the Siberian Husky has been replaced by the Alaskan Husky which is specially bred for speed. As a result people have started a movement that creates races specifically for the Siberian Husky.
The newest role for the Siberian Husky is as a hiking companion, therapy dog and devoted house pet. People often confuse the Alaskan Malamute with the Siberian Husky. However, the Alaskan Malamute is a heavily built dog that was built for draft work and not speed. The Siberian Husky itself has a very unique appearance. A part of this is their double coat, which helps to keep them insulated in both hot and cold weather. They also typically have long tails that are used to protect their noses while sleeping.
Typically the Siberian Husky will stand twenty-one to twenty-three and one half inches at the withers and the female will be slightly smaller. The ideal weight for a female is between thirty-five to fifty pounds depending on their size while the males are up to ten pounds heavier. The Siberian Husky should have a moderate bone density and it should never be slight or dense.
Overall the Siberian Husky should be a little longer than their height. According to breed standards the ideal Siberian Husky is one that displays a picture of balance, grace and athletic ability. Eye color can be brown or blue and sometimes even one of each color or speckled. Probably a white mask around the face helps to enhance their eye color.
The Siberian Husky has an overall facial expression of friendliness, alertness and even a rogue appearance. The coat color can range from white to black but most are black or red with white markings or shaded gray. However, the importance of the Siberian Husky isn’t in color but rather their ability to perform with speed, ease and stamina.