Siberian Husky Breed Standard

The Siberian Husky is actually not one of the largest or heaviest of the most popular breeds of dog. They just seem to be very large because of their presence, and their close resemblance to wolves. They have the body shape, tail shape and ear shape as do wolves. Their brains are about twenty percent smaller than that of wolves and they are not physically capable of making all of the intricate facial expressions wolves can. And they are a lot friendlier than wolves.

Siberian Husky breeders try to breed their puppies to most closely remember the breed standard. A breed standard is a written or artistic description of an ideal representative of the breed (sort of like one of Plato's "ideals") ninety-nine percent of all Siberian Huskies will not comply with the breed standard in some fashion (usually in size, build or coat), but breeders try to get to that ideal as close as they can.

Not all Siberian Huskies are alike, but they do share certain characteristics in physical appearance and in character. The most obvious physical trait is that they do resemble a small wolf. Even if they have floppy ears and frizzy coats, most Siberian Huskies still have a wolfish stare that goes right through you. You can just about hear the wind blow when you look into the face. Although famous for ice-blue eyes, a Siberian Husky can have brown or odd-colored eyes.

They are medium-sized dogs, usually fifty pounds, sleek and athletic. They are square dogs, built to efficiently keep in body heat. They have double-layered coats that shed out completely once or twice a year. They can come in almost all colors of the canine rainbow (Harlequin is about the only color not seen – yet). They should look strong and ready to run. Their tails are usually sickle-shaped, but they often can go completely straight or curly.

According to reliable Siberian Husky information, not all purebred Huskies have pointed ears. The puppies are born with floppy ears that do not stand up until the puppy is about six months old. But sometimes, the ears just stay floppy. Huskies also should not have a tightly curled tail for showing, or have too low a tail set however, this happens a lot in purebred Huskies.

Huskies should have jaws that match each other with what's called a scissors bite. They should not have an under bite like a bulldog or an overbite. Huskies should appear athletic and ready for action. Huskies are built for economical speed in harsh climates. They should stand squarely. Purebred Huskies can get a disqualifying fault called "cow hocks", which are knock-knees of the hind legs. Many purebred Huskies fall short of the breed standard somewhere. This is why a show quality Husky is so hard to find.

Andrew Preston collects and researches about dog breeds, including Siberian Huskies. If you plan on showing your Siberian Husky be extremely careful about where you purchase your puppy. Visit your local library to find many good books filled with Siberian Husky information.