Siberian Husky

It is a delightful experience to own a Siberian Husky. Handsome dogs, the Siberian Husky is blessed with a graceful bearing and strong, tenacious body that can withstand even the harsh Siberian winter. This medium-sized sled dog is alert and has a delightful temperament and friendly nature. Although affectionate, Siberian Huskies are not fawning. They are just eager to please and easily adaptable.

All these characteristics make Siberian Husky dogs great pets. However, before you decide to get one from your local Siberian Husky breeder, there are a few things you need to learn about this breed first.

Here is a list of 5 things you want to know about the Siberian Husky breed to help you better make the decision of owning one:

#1. Low Maintenance

The Siberian Husky, even Siberian Husky puppies, are fastidiously clean dogs. Like cats, Siberian Huskies like to clean themselves. This makes this breed of dog relatively easy to care for. In addition, they are usually free of “dog smell” and parasites. Thus, bathing requirements are very minimal. Most owners would only bathe their dogs once a year, sometimes even less.

#2. Temperament Concerns

The Siberian Husky has a great disposition. Gentle and friendly, it is never aggressive. It was developed to be a team dog, working to pull sleds through the thick snow. If it ever developed aggressiveness, it would be lousy as a sled dog.

Siberian Huskies, like most working dogs, are highly intelligent. Possessed of an independent mind, their active, stubborn nature could challenge your ingenuity. They are easily bored and have a lot of excess energy. If not channeled properly and given enough exercise, the Siberian Husky could develop nasty behaviors, such as chewing or digging.

This is a common enough concern for most active dogs, and the best way to solve it is to give the dog a chance to channel its energy in a more a productive manner (e.g., taking him out for a walk).

#3. Howling

Siberian Huskies are typically quiet dogs. The breed does not generally bark. However, they do howl. Quite a lot, too. Many owners report that the Siberian Husky is not a barker but a howler. If you have decided to keep several Siberian Huskies, be prepared for periodic howling that occurs and stops at the same time. This simultaneous howling of the Siberian Husky is typical for this very pack-oriented breed.

#4. Part-wolf?

Some people who are interested in the breed seem to think that the Siberian Husky is part-wolf. However, Siberian Huskies, although descended from wolves (like all dogs), are a completely different species. They are purebred dogs and have been domesticated for many centuries first by the Chukchi people then by other tribes that followed them.

Part of the reason the Siberian Husky earned such a fierce reputation as being part-wolf is that the breed is often used to depict wolves in movies. But they are most certainly not wolves, nor part-wolf.

#5. Split-Eye

Siberian Huskies are distinguished as the only breed of dog where blue is a dominant eye color. The coat of the Siberian Husky can vary greatly and most breed organizations do not set a standard for the coat and eye color. As long as the dog conforms to the height and coat requirements, then the color of the either the eyes or the coat are immaterial.

Some Siberian Huskies may also have brown eyes. Others can have both – one blue eye and another brown eye, termed a “split eye.” Sometimes, there can be as many as three colors in a single eye. This is called by Siberian enthusiasts as “party eye.”