The Husky is a medium-sized dog with a strong yet graceful appearance. Its triangular shaped ears are well erected and its brush tail is very thick. His eyes of light blue, brown or amber, give him a striking gaze.

Poil : dense and mid-length, varying from white to black.

Size : from 53,5 to 60 cm for the male and from 50,5 to 56 cm for the female.

Weight : from 20,5 to 28 kg for the male and from 15,5 to 23 kg for the female.

Classification FCI : N° 270.

The origins of the Siberian Husky go back several centuries BC in the Russian Far East where these dogs lived with the Chukchi people who carefully selected their individuals for their capacity for work, but also for their sociability towards their fellows and humans. . It was not until the very beginning of the 1930th century that they crossed the Bering Strait and arrived in Alaska, imported by a Russian fur trader. They quickly established themselves as excellent sled dogs, despite their relatively small size compared to other breeds found in Alaska. The American Kennel Club (the largest canine federation in the United States) officially recognized the Siberian Husky breed in XNUMX, nearly four decades before its first representatives arrived in France.

The Siberian Husky is a working dog and his specialty is of course driving snow sleds in northern regions: Siberia, Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, but also in the mountains (in the Jura for example). The Husky is characterized by a kind, gentle and sociable temperament which is particularly suited to life in a pack but also to the family environment. The Husky is described as a docile dog with good learning skills. He is shown to be devoid of distrust and aggression towards humans and other dogs, and is therefore not a good watchdog. Moreover, the Husky generally barks very little (in the Chukchi language, “Husky” means “hoarse”).

The life expectancy of the Husky is 12 to 14 years. A study involving a sample of 188 individuals demonstrated a life expectancy of 12,7 years and the main causes of death: cancer (31,8%), old age (16,3%), neurological (7,0 %), cardiac (6,2%) and gastrointestinal (5,4%). (1)

Its way of life in nature makes it an ideal host for ticks and fleas. Dogs used for sled racing are likely to develop conditions related to this activity, such as asthma, bronchitis, and stomach upset which can lead to ulcer. Zinc deficiencies can cause skin conditions in Huskies. It should be noted that the Siberian Husky, on the other hand, is rarely subject to hip dysplasia.

Eye disorders are the main hereditary defects affecting this breed and three disorders are particularly common:

— juvenile cataract is a very common pathology in dogs. It corresponds to an opacification of the lens that is initially completely transparent;

— corneal dystrophy corresponds to bilateral opacification of the cornea. It can occur at different ages and the lesions vary in size. They can be very disabling or not affect the vision of the animal;

— Progressive Retinal Atrophy (APR) which gradually leads to the loss of night vision, then to disturbances in day vision, and finally to blindness. This pathology is characterized by damage to the retina containing the photoreceptors.

From the wide open spaces of Siberia to living in an apartment, there is a step that should not be taken! Remember that this is above all a working dog with a great need for activity and space to let off steam. It absolutely needs a large garden to be able to flourish fully.