Siberian Husky Dog Breed Information
The Siberian Husky dog breed is a stunning, energetic working breed with a friendly, mischievous personality. These snow dogs are medium-sized, double-coated pups with a strong dedication to their owners. Siberian Huskies are ranked as the 19th most popular dog breed out of 200 registered breeds in the U.S., according to the American Kennel Club dog registrations. These fun-loving pups enjoy lots of playtime and tend to get along well with people and other dogs.
Siberian Husky Dog Breed Rundown
Height: 21 to 23.5 inches (males), 20 to 22 inches (females)
Weight: 45 to 60 lbs. (males), 35 to 50 lbs. (females)
Lifespan: 12 to 14 years
Origin: Siberia, Russia
Personality: Siberian Huskies are outgoing, energetic, loyal, and mischievous dogs. These working dogs have a high energy level and tend to get along well with people and other dogs. Huskies have a reputation for being escape artists and have a high prey drive.
Siberian Husky Appearance
A Siberian Husky at the AKC’s Meet the Breeds event in NYC.
The Siberian Husky dog breed is a medium-sized, athletic dog with some resemblance to wolves. Huskies are agile, quick, and light on their feet. Their bodies are longer than they are tall, and they have a strong, sleek appearance. Huskies have a thick double coat for insulation in Northern climates. They have almond-shaped eyes that can be blue, brown, or a combination of blue and brown. Huskies are well-known for their piercing blue eyes, but not all Huskies have blue eyes, as some have brown or a mixture of brown and blue eyes.
Sometimes people confuse Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes but Huskies are smaller, with a medium build, weighing between 35 to 60 pounds, and Alaskan Malamutes are larger, with taller stature and bigger bones.
Huskies can come in a variety of colors, with black, red, white, sable, gray, agouti, or any combination of these colors. Huskies may be solid colored or have multiple shades and symmetrical or asymmetrical patterns. The Husky dog breed has a double coat with soft, thick underfur and a medium outer coat. Their thick fur keeps them warm in temperatures as low as −58 to −76 °F (−50 to −60 °C). They have thick, bushy tails that they can use for extra warmth when curling up in extremely cold temperatures.
Siberian Husky History
Siberian Huskies are descended from the Chukotka Sled Dog developed by the native Chukchi people in the Siberian region of Russia. They were bred to pull sleds and are a member of the Spitz group of Northern dogs. The Siberian Husky dog breed is a working dog that specializes in pulling sleds over long distances in harsh, cold climates.
From the 1890s to the 1930s, the medium-sized sled dogs were imported to Alaska to transport gold miners during the Gold Rush. Huskies quickly dominated the sled dog races in Alaska, as they were able to surpass the larger, heavier-boned freight-pulling breeds.
In 1925, a relay team of Siberian Huskies - including the now-famous Balto and Togo - led the “Great Race of Mercy” to deliver life-saving diphtheria serum from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, over 500 miles of icy, Arctic terrain that was impassable to man-made modes of transit. The fearless Huskies plowed through hazardous terrain to deliver the vaccine in a record 5 days. Balto led the final sprint of the journey, and he has been honored with a statue in New York’s Central Park.
The Siberian Husky dog breed was recognized by the AKC in 1930. Huskies have become a popular breed due to their stunning looks, but many are surrendered to shelters as people do not research the breed and provide for their high physical and mental needs.
Siberian Husky Personality
Siberian Huskies are intelligent, active, friendly, and can be mischievous. The husky dog breed is a northern working dog that was bred to think independently and make judgments to stay safe while navigating hazardous terrain. Because of their sled dog roots, Huskies are very independent and are not always eager to please. Some frustrated owners may see their Huskies as stubborn but they are just independent-minded. It’s important to have patience when training a husky and keep them active.
Huskies have a strong need for mental and physical stimulation, requiring plenty of exercise and adventure. These outgoing pups enjoy interacting with other dogs and people and they love to run. They’re agile and quick and make excellent running partners (as long as it’s not too hot), as well as do well in dog sports including rally obedience, agility training, skijoring (where the dog pulls a person on skis), hiking, carting, bikejoring (where the person bikes and the dog is attached to the bike with a special harness), and of course, sled pulling.
The Siberian Husky dog breed needs a minimum of two hours of exercise a day to stay healthy and happy. Huskies are the perfect pups for highly active people. They are friendly toward people and dogs and generally show no aggression toward people, making them poor guard dogs due to their amiable nature.
Huskies are known for being very vocal, and they make a wide range of sounds, including howling, whining, yelping, and even screaming. Some husky owners say their dogs talk as they make such a wide range of sounds to communicate.
Siberian Huskies are also known to be mischievous, and they can be escape artists. These fleet-footed pups have a strong urge to roam and a prey drive that will have them chasing down small animals - including cats - and if they escape, it can be hard to track down your pup. Having a secured home base and plenty of supervised exercise will help your Husky stay safe.
Training Huskies
The Siberian Husky dog breed is highly intelligent and active, and this can lead them to get into trouble if left to their own devices. It’s important to socialize your Husky and give them plenty of positive experiences with different people, dogs, and situations. Socialization also helps teach your pup to look to you for guidance on what to do in different settings.
Obedience training is important for all dogs and will help your Husky learn some basic commands that are helpful in day-to-day life - such as Sit and Stay. Huskies are not known for being the easiest to train as they may come up with their own ways of doing things. Consistency and patience are key when training a Husky.
Once your Husky graduates from basic obedience training, it’s a great time to take up dog sports. Dog sports can help your Husky stay busy and happy and prevent problem behaviors. Some ways to keep your pup happy include running, hiking, and dog sports like agility, rally obedience, carting, bikejoring, and skijoring.
Exercise is the key to keeping your Siberian Husky happy, so aim to give your dog two hours of exercise a day.
Famous Huskies
Siberian Huskies are prominent in pop culture. Their beautiful appearance and legendary stamina have made these friendly pups famous. Balto and Togo are two Huskies who led the “Great Race of Mercy” to deliver life-saving diphtheria serum from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, over 500 miles in 1925. The courageous Huskies plowed through hazardous terrain to deliver the vaccine in a record 5 days. Balto led the final sprint of the journey, and he has been honored with a statue in New York’s Central Park and with an animated movie.
Huskies have attracted many celebrities, including:
British singer-songwriter Rita Ora has a Husky named Bowie.
Actor, singer, and songwriter Jared Leto had a Husky named Sky.
Actor, filmmaker and comedian Ben Stiller owns a Husky named Alley.
Professional basketball player Russell Westbrook has a Husky named Sasha.
Siberian Husky Health
The Siberian Husky dog breed is relatively healthy with fewer health issues than many breeds. Some health conditions that Huskies may have include:
Eye defects, including juvenile cataracts, corneal dystrophy, progressive retinal atrophy, and canine glaucoma. Responsible breeders will do an ophthalmological screening before breeding a Husky.
Hip dysplasia is not common among Huskies but can occur.
Gastric disease and gastric erosions or ulcerations can develop in Huskies used in sled racing.
Where to Get a Siberian Husky
If you want to adopt a Siberian Husky, there are many Huskies available in rescues around the world. Here is a list of resources to help you adopt a Husky and learn more about this playful, active breed:
Siberian Husky Club of America is the American Kennel Club parent club for the Siberian Husky and has extensive resources to help with the care, health, and adoptions of Huskies.
Siberian Husky Rescue Groups Directory has a list of Siberian Husky rescues by region.
Delaware Valley Siberian Husky Rescue has adoptable Huskies in the Delaware Valley region, including eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.
Ohio Siberian Husky Rescue is a Husky rescue with adoptable dogs in the Ohio area.
Husky House is a rescue with adoptable Huskies in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut tri-state area.
Luna Siberian Husky Rescue has adoptable Husky pups in the southern California area.
Petfinder is a great resource to find adoptable Huskies from rescue organizations across the U.S.
If you’re ready to bring a Husky into your life, check out our 10 Tips to Prepare Before Adopting a Dog to help you get ready for your new pup.
