Siberian Husky breed guide

As born pack dogs, Siberian Huskies enjoy family life and get on well with other dogs. The Siberian Husky's innate friendliness makes it a poor watchdog.

All breeds benefit from early socialization and basic obedience and for owners who want to work a Siberian Husky in harness, training takes hours of dedication and patience.

Siberian Huskies live 12 to 14 years. They are relatively long-lived and active into their senior years. Cancer and arthritis occur as in all breeds, while hip dysplasia and eye disease are relatively low in incidence, as are two newly discovered neurologic diseases.

Siberian Huskies are a natural breed, remarkably self-cleaning and often needing only a few baths a year unless shown and weekly brushing keeps the coat and skin in good condition. The double coat of undercoat and guard hair sheds its undercoat twice a year.

Active, athletic dogs that need a lot of exercise, Siberians are a working breed happiest with a function to perform. They were bred to run and will do so at every opportunity.

The breed's compact body, well-furred coat, erect ears and thick sickle-shaped tail suggest its northern heritage. Its ancestors were bred in northeastern Asia by the Chukchi people, who kept them as family companions as well as endurance sled dogs.

When changing climate forced the semi-nomadic Chukchi to expand their hunting grounds or perish, they developed a sled dog able to haul light loads across frozen wasteland in sub-zero temperatures with minimal energy.