Siberian Husky Dog Breed: Characteristics, Diet, Facts, and Names

The Siberian Husky popularly known as the Husky is believed to have been derived from the mispronunciation of the term “Esky”. Esky is a term which was once designated to the Eskimos and their dogs.

Starting from “Road Rovers”, the animated series, Huskies appeared in various shows like “Krypto, the super dog”, “RAW Patrol” and one of the most-watched series in the history of television – “Game of Thrones”. They had also bagged roles in the heart-wrenching movie “Eight Below”.

Siberian Husky Dog Breed Overview

Siberian Husky Dog Breed Overview

Group: Working
Size: Mediums (40-50lb)
Lifespan: 12-14 years
Best Suited For: Families, children
Temperament: Lively, energetic, happy go lucky
Exercise Needs: High
Drooling Potential: Low
Grooming Needs: Moderate
Similar Breeds: Samoyed Husky, Malamutes

1. Basic Features

siberian husky details

These sled dogs have unique features and are famous for them. Also, famous for their aesthetics these dogs have served to be the inspiration to the works of many artists and photographers.

One of the key features being their eyes is special. They have slightly oblique, almond-shaped eyes which can be blue, black, or brown in color. Sometimes, they also develop heterochromia, a condition in which the iris of both the eyes gets different colors.

The Siberian Huskies are usually 21-24 inches tall with a thick double-layered coat ranging from black and tan to greys, whites and copper reds. The coat effectively protests them from temperatures as low as -50°C to 60°C. The coat also helps reflect back heat during summers.

2. Origin

Siberian Husky History

The Huskies were typically known to have been bred by the hunter-gatherers, namely the Chukchi people hailing from Eastern Siberia. This breed was introduced to Alaska in 1908 as sled racing dogs.

During this Gold Rush(1908), these dogs turned out to be much smaller, swifter and more resilient than the larger and heavier dogs who previously worked with them. In today’s, modern day world the population of Huskies is widespread in the northern hemisphere extending from Siberia in the east to Canada in the west including Greenland.

3. Personality

Although the Huskies have their origin in the extremely frozen parts of the world, they are creatures that can melt your heart. They are warm, lively and energetic pooches.

A dog’s loyalty is unquestionable and they have continued to uphold this virtue as they ate very loyal to their masters.

Talking about Huskies, “couch potato” would be the perfect antonym for them. Their dynamic personality makes them want to involve themselves in some activity or the other. Hold up, it doesn’t stop there since their agile vibrancy is bound to turn you into a zestful person in no time.

4. Behavior

Huskies are like little babies who are always up to some mischief. They are highly dramatic in nature and are very capable of demanding your attention, outright.

However, if deprived of this, they might sublime their entire pent-up energy into something destructive. Huskies make amazing family pets. They are amiable creatures who are quite affectionate towards babies and other pets too.

5. Trainability

siberian husky training

Siberian Huskies are ideally independent and free-spirit creatures. This attribute makes them great natural explorers thus it might get a bit difficult to train them.

They might be prone to straying away. Therefore, the presence of a strong fence is fairly important. Their stubborn nature also promotes the necessity of strength and firmness in the master’s personality that needs to rise to the occasion. Patience is the key to train a Siberian Husky.

6. Exercise Needs

Being dogs of the working group, the Huskies have an innate tendency to engage themselves in outdoor activities. Their exercise needs include daily walks and jogging.

Above all, it must be noted that since these doggies belong to the Arctic regions they are very sensitive to heat and all exercises should be done in cool weather conditions.

7. Dietary Needs

Every dog has different food habits and it is of utmost importance to be aware of your dog’s taste buds and nutritional requirements.

Huskies have health consciousness inbuilt in them. They don’t leap on food just at the sight of it.

They only eat if they feel the danger of attack from someone or their hunger pangs. In fact, the measurement of calorie intake is directly proportional to the amount of exercise they have been through.

It is advisable to feed your dog raw protein like meat, vegetables, fish etc and try to avoid foods containing preservatives, chock Health, milk etc.

8. Health Problems

siberian husky health problems

Subpolar and polar climates suits Huskies the best. Their coats, paws, erect triangular ears and also the eyes, are all nature’s way to make them perfect to thrive in harsh climatic conditions of the frigid zone.

Thus, dislocating them from their natural climatic zone might create some health problems. Apart from that, they may also be susceptible to diseases inherited from their parents.

Some of the common diseases that affect Huskies are cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism etc.

9. Who should adopt a Siberian Husky?

So, if you’re looking for a Siberian Husky to adopt then make sure to adopt them from a licensed breeder. I am sure that by now you are also aware of the fact that these dogs are amiable creatures.

They might adjust to your apartment life but will need constant involvement which actually includes a lot of muscle movement. Hence, if you are firm about the decision that you’ve made, then hurry and get your new pal home!

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