Are You Owned By A Husky?

Siberian Huskies are well-known as free-spirited, stubborn, independent, adventurous animals who are always needing to see what's awaiting them on the next horizon. They can't be described as unaffectionate, although they do not fawn all over you like other dogs do, and they also cannot be described as aggressive or lazy dogs by any means.

The Siberian Husky's coat is thicker than most other dog breeds, comprising two layers: a dense undercoat and a longer topcoat of short, straight guard hairs. It protects the dogs effectively against harsh Arctic winters, but the coat also reflects heat in the summer. A Husky's coat should NEVER be shaved. Shaving the Husky will take away it's protection from the heat and from the sun's damaging rays.

Congratulations!!! You are owned by the best, most awesome, greatest breed of dog this world has ever known!

Siberian Huskies are fastidiously clean animals and spend time grooming themselves much like a cat does.

Siberian Huskies enjoy the physical exercise and the sense of accomplishment they get from performing pulling activities such as sledding, carting, skijoring, and skatejoring. They also get enjoyment from other physical activities such as hiking, swimming, and as a jogging partner.

Huskies are an active, energetic, and resilient breed whose ancestors came from the extremely cold and harsh environment of the Siberian Arctic. Siberian Huskies were bred by the Chukchi of Northeastern Asia to pull heavy loads long distances through difficult conditions.

The merle gene is not present in Siberian Huskies. Colors of the Siberian Husky include all white, black and white, many shades of red and white, grey and white, silver and white, sable and white, agouti, and mostly black. These colors can appear in many different patterns.

They were initially sent to Alaska and Canada as sled dogs but rapidly acquired the status of family pets and show dogs. Because of its efficiency as a working breed, most huskies are bred to be able to withstand long work days on little amounts of food. They can travel up to 40 miles per day.

Siberian Huskies are notorious food thieves and would not do well around food that is supposed to be left alone. They are also very friendly dogs, and would likely greet any would-be thief with the same excitement and enthusiasm as they would any visitor to the house. They are physically well-built for pulling.

Owners should be advised to exercise caution when letting their Siberian Husky off the leash, as the dog could be miles away before looking around and realizing its owner is nowhere in sight, and will continue to run, enjoying the freedom and the exercise, until it's lost.

Siberian Huskies are not needy dogs who hang all their hopes on being able to please their master with everything they do, as some dogs are. They are gregarious, independent, adventurous, free spirits.

On February 3, 1925, Gunnar Kaasen was first in the 1925 serum run to Nome to deliver diphtheria serum from Nenana, over 600 miles to Nome. This was a group effort by several sled-dog teams and mushers, with most of the run covered by Leonhard Seppala. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race commemorates this famous delivery. The event is also loosely depicted in the 1995 animated film Balto, as the name of Gunnar Kaasen's lead dog in his sled team was Balto, although unlike the real dog, Balto the character was portrayed as half wolf in the film. In honor of this lead dog, a bronze statue was erected at Central Park in New York City.

The noses of northern breeds of dogs, including Siberian Huskies, dries at night to prevent them from freezing solid in arctic temperatures.

The Siberian Husky, Samoyed, and Alaskan Malamute are all breeds directly descended from the original "sled dog." Recent DNA analysis confirms that this is one of the oldest breeds of dog.

The breed standard indicates that the males of the breed are ideally between 21 and 23.5 inches (53 and 60 cm) tall at the withers and weighing between 45 and 60 pounds (20 and 27 kg). Females are smaller, growing to between 20 to 22 inches (51 to 56 cm) tall at the withers and weighing between 35 to 50 pounds (16 to 23 kg).

Siberian Huskies can exhibit what is called "snow nose" or "winter nose." This condition is called hypopigmentation in animals. "Snow nose" is acceptable in the show ring.

Although the Siberian Husky has been described as a behavioral representative of the domestic dog's forebear, the wolf, exhibiting a wide range of its ancestors' behavior, it is no closer related to the wolf than any other dog breed. All dogs were derived from wolves, but there remains no wolf in them.

Dogs from the Anadyr River and surrounding regions were imported into Alaska from 1908 (and for the next two decades) during the gold rush for use as sled dogs, especially in the "All-Alaska Sweepstakes," a 408-mile (657-km) distance dog sled race from Nome, to Candle, and back. Smaller, faster and more enduring than the 100- to 120-pound (45- to 54-kg) freighting dogs then in general use, they immediately dominated the Nome Sweepstakes.

Siberian Huskies are able to withstand temperatures as low as -50 to -60 °C (-58 to -76 °F)

The plaque upon it is inscribed,
Dedicated to the indomitable spirit of the sled dogs that relayed antitoxin six hundred miles over rough ice, across treacherous waters, through Arctic blizzards from Nenana to the relief of stricken Nome in the winter of 1925. Endurance · Fidelity · Intelligence