Siberian Husky
A friendly, tireless sled dog with a striking face and a strong urge to run, roam and dig.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 53.5–60 cm · Females 50.5–56 cm
- Weight
- Males 20.5–28 kg · Females 15.5–23 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 90–180 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Double coat, medium
- Colours
- Most colours
- Bred for
- Sledding, Companionship
- Country of origin
- United States
- FCI
- Group 5, no. 270 · Spitz & primitive types
Breeders on Kuldo
- Kennel Nordstjernen (Hjørring, Nordjylland)
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 5/5 – Very high |
| Energy | 5/5 – Very high |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 1/5 – Very low |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 5/5 – Very high |
| Grooming effort | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with heat | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with cold | 5/5 – Very high |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- run, cycle or ski and want a partner
- live in a cool climate
- have a high, secure fence
Think twice if you …
- want reliable off-lead walks
- have cats or small pets
- can't handle lots of shedding
Care
Temperament
Siberian Huskies are friendly, outgoing and gentle, but independent and mischievous. They are poor guard dogs and often greet strangers warmly.
Exercise
They need at least 90 minutes of vigorous exercise daily. Canicross, bikejoring, sledding and long runs suit them best.
Grooming
Brush weekly, and expect two heavy moults a year when daily brushing is needed. The coat stays relatively clean and odour-free.
Training
Huskies are intelligent but not naturally obedient. Use rewards, patience and secure fencing; off-lead recall is rarely reliable.
Health
Eye diseases such as hereditary cataract, corneal dystrophy and progressive retinal atrophy, plus hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism, are known. Ask the breeder for eye and hip results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Eye examination
- Thyroid
DNA tests
- X-linked PRA
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Siberian Husky descends from sled dogs kept by the Chukchi people of north-eastern Siberia. Dogs were brought to Alaska in the early 20th century for sled racing, and the breed was developed further in the United States, which holds its FCI patronage.
Huskies are sociable, playful and usually good with people and other dogs, but they are not easy companions. They need a lot of running, they shed heavily and they are often escape artists with strong prey drive. They suit active owners in cooler climates who enjoy working with an independent dog.
Did you know?
During the 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska, teams of sled dogs including Siberian Huskies such as Togo and Balto carried diphtheria antitoxin across about 1,000 km.