Siberian Husky Standards
by The American Kennel Club
Siberian Husky History
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Siberian Husky
Working Group
Breed Standard
General Appearance
The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized working dog, quick and light on his
feet and free and graceful in action. His moderately compact and well furred
body, erect ears and brush tail suggest his Northern heritage. His characteristic
gait is smooth and seemingly effortless. He performs his original function
in harness most capably, carrying a light load at a moderate speed over great
distances. His body proportions and form reflect this basic balance of power,
speed and endurance. The males of the Siberian Husky breed are masculine
but never coarse; the bitches are feminine but without weakness of structure.
In proper condition, with muscle firm and well developed, the Siberian Husky
does not carry excess weight.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Height--Dogs, 21 to 23˝ inches at the withers. Bitches, 20 to 22 inches at
the withers. Weight--Dogs, 45 to 60 pounds. Bitches, 35 to 50 pounds. Weight
is in proportion to height. The measurements mentioned above represent the
extreme height and weight limits with no preference given to either extreme.
Any appearance of excessive bone or weight should be penalized. In profile,
the length of the body from the point of the shoulder to the rear point of
the croup is slightly longer than the height of the body from the ground
to the top of the withers. Disqualification--Dogs over 23˝ inches and bitches
over 22 inches.
Head
Expression is keen, but friendly; interested and even mischievous. Eyes almond
shaped, moderately spaced and set a trifle obliquely. Eyes may be brown or
blue in color; one of each or parti-colored are acceptable. Faults--Eyes
set too obliquely; set too close together. Ears of medium size, triangular
in shape, close fitting and set high on the head. They are thick, well furred,
slightly arched at the back, and strongly erect, with slightly rounded tips
pointing straight up. Faults--Ears too large in proportion to the head; too
wide set; not strongly erect. Skull of medium size and in proportion to the
body; slightly rounded on top and tapering from the widest point to the eyes.
Faults--Head clumsy or heavy; head too finely chiseled. Stop--The stop is
well-defined and the bridge of the nose is straight from the stop to the
tip. Fault--Insufficient stop. Muzzle of medium length; that is, the distance
from the tip of the nose to the stop is equal to the distance from the stop
to the occiput. The muzzle is of medium width, tapering gradually to the
nose, with the tip neither pointed nor square. Faults Muzzle either too snipy
or too coarse; muzzle too short or too long. Nose black in gray, tan or black
dogs; liver in copper dogs; may be flesh-colored in pure white dogs. The
pink-streaked "snow nose" is acceptable. Lips are well pigmented and close
fitting. Teeth closing in a scissors bite. Fault--Any bite other than scissors.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck medium in length, arched and carried proudly erect when dog is standing.
When moving at a trot, the neck is extended so that the head is carried slightly
forward. Faults--Neck too short and thick; neck too long. Chest deep and
strong, but not too broad, with the deepest point being just behind and level
with the elbows. The ribs are well sprung from the spine but flattened on
the sides to allow for freedom of action. Faults--Chest too broad; "barrel
ribs"; ribs too flat or weak. Back--The back is straight and strong, with
a level topline from withers to croup. It is of medium length, neither cobby
nor slack from excessive length. The loin is taut and lean, narrower than
the rib cage, and with a slight tuck-up. The croup slopes away from the spine
at an angle, but never so steeply as to restrict the rearward thrust of the
hind legs. Faults--Weak or slack back; roached back; sloping topline.
Tail
The well furred tail of fox-brush shape is set on just below the level of
the topline, and is usually carried over the back in a graceful sickle curve
when the dog is at attention. When carried up, the tail does not curl to
either side of the body, nor does it snap flat against the back. A trailing
tail is normal for the dog when in repose. Hair on the tail is of medium
length and approximately the same length on top, sides and bottom, giving
the appearance of a round brush. Faults--A snapped or tightly curled tail;
highly plumed tail; tail set too low or too high.
Forequarters
Shoulders--The shoulder blade is well laid back. The upper arm angles slightly
backward from point of shoulder to elbow, and is never perpendicular to the
ground. The muscles and ligaments holding the shoulder to the rib cage are
firm and well developed. Faults--Straight shoulders; loose shoulders. Forelegs--When
standing and viewed from the front, the legs are moderately spaced, parallel
and straight, with the elbows close to the body and turned neither in nor
out. Viewed from the side, pasterns are slightly slanted, with the pastern
joint strong, but flexible. Bone is substantial but never heavy. Length of
the leg from elbow to ground is slightly more than the distance from the
elbow to the top of withers. Dewclaws on forelegs may be removed. Faults--Weak
pasterns; too heavy bone; too narrow or too wide in the front; out at the
elbows. Feet oval in shape but not long. The paws are medium in size, compact
and well furred between the toes and pads. The pads are tough and thickly
cushioned. The paws neither turn in nor out when the dog is in natural stance.
Faults--Soft or splayed toes; paws too large and clumsy; paws too small and
delicate; toeing in or out.
Hindquarters
When standing and viewed from the rear, the hind legs are moderately spaced
and parallel. The upper thighs are well muscled and powerful, the stifles
well bent, the hock joint well-defined and set low to the ground. Dewclaws,
if any, are to be removed. Faults--Straight stifles, cow-hocks, too narrow
or too wide in the rear.
Coat
The coat of the Siberian Husky is double and medium in length, giving a well
furred appearance, but is never so long as to obscure the clean-cut outline
of the dog. The undercoat is soft and dense and of sufficient length to support
the outer coat. The guard hairs of the outer coat are straight and somewhat
smooth lying, never harsh nor standing straight off from the body. It should
be noted that the absence of the undercoat during the shedding season is
normal. Trimming of whiskers and fur between the toes and around the feet
to present a neater appearance is permissible. Trimming the fur on any other
part of the dog is not to be condoned and should be severely penalized. Faults--Long,
rough, or shaggy coat; texture too harsh or too silky; trimming of the coat,
except as permitted above.
Color
All colors from black to pure white are allowed. A variety of markings on
the head is common, including many striking patterns not found in other breeds.
Gait
The Siberian Husky's characteristic gait is smooth and seemingly effortless.
He is quick and light on his feet, and when in the show ring should be gaited
on a loose lead at a moderately fast trot, exhibiting good reach in the forequarters
and good drive in the hindquarters. When viewed from the front to rear while
moving at a walk the Siberian Husky does not single-track, but as the speed
increases the legs gradually angle inward until the pads are falling on a
line directly under the longitudinal center of the body. As the pad marks
converge, the forelegs and hind legs are carried straightforward, with neither
elbows nor stifles turned in or out. Each hind leg moves in the path of the
foreleg on the same side. While the dog is gaiting, the topline remains firm
and level. Faults--Short, prancing or choppy gait, lumbering or rolling gait;
crossing or crabbing.
Temperament
The characteristic temperament of the Siberian Husky is friendly and gentle,
but also alert and outgoing. He does not display the possessive qualities
of the guard dog, nor is he overly suspicious of strangers or aggressive
with other dogs. Some measure of reserve and dignity may be expected in the
mature dog. His intelligence, tractability, and eager disposition make him
an agreeable companion and willing worker.
Summary
The most important breed characteristics of the Siberian Husky are medium
size, moderate bone, well balanced proportions, ease and freedom of movement,
proper coat, pleasing head and ears, correct tail, and good disposition.
Any appearance of excessive bone or weight, constricted or clumsy gait, or
long, rough coat should be penalized. The Siberian Husky never appears so
heavy or coarse as to suggest a freighting animal; nor is he so light and
fragile as to suggest a sprint-racing animal. In both sexes the Siberian
Husky gives the appearance of being capable of great endurance. In addition
to the faults already noted, the obvious structural faults common to all
breeds are as undesirable in the Siberian Husky as in any other breed, even
though they are not specifically mentioned herein.
DISQUALIFICATION
Dogs over 23˝ inches and bitches over 22 inches.
Approved October 9, 1990
Effective November 28, 1990
History about the Siberian Husky --
The Siberian Husky was originally developed by the Chukch people of northeastern
Siberia as an endurance sled dog. They were also used to herd reindeer.
In 1909, the first large numbers of these Chukchi dogs were brought to Alaska
to compete in the long-distance All-Alaska Sweepstakes races, and the Alaskan
dog drivers quickly recognized the ability of these small, compact dogs from
Siberia.
In the winter of 1925, when a diphtheria epidemic broke out in the isolated
town of Nome, Alaska, a relay of dog teams brought life-saving serum from
distant Nenana. This heroic endeavor earned national prominence for the drivers
and their dogs. One of these drivers, Leonhard Seppala, brought his team
of Siberian Huskies, descendants of the original imports from Siberia, to
the United States on a personal appearance tour. While in New England he
competed in sled dog races and again proved the superiority of Siberian Huskies
over the native dogs. The New England drivers and pioneer fanciers acquired
foundation stock, earned AKC recognition for the breed in 1930, and founded
the Siberian Husky Club of America in 1938.
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