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Siberian Huskey Breed Profile by Terrill Schukraft terrills@ezonline.com ©1998 Northern sled dog breed of the spitz or husky family. Similar in general appearance to Alaskan Malamute and the Alaskan Husky. Size: Medium size. May vary considerably within a medium-sized range, either smaller or larger. Very large huskies are probably Malamutes or crossbreeds. Height: Dogs ideally 21-23 1/2 inches, bitches 20-22 inches at the withers. Outsize dogs at either end of ideal range do frequently occur. Weight: Dogs ideally 45-60 pounds, bitches 35-50 pounds. This also may vary considerably depending on height and on condition. Eye color: Any color or combination of colors possible. Most have brown eyes or blue eyes, may be two different colors, may have two different colors in one eye or both eyes. The brown eyes may vary from a light amber to dark chocolate. Blue eyes may be very light (often called white by the casual observer) or deep azure. Eye shape: Almond, set slightly obliquely and at the level of the bottom of the ear bell. Bulging and rounded eyes do occur in Siberians, and increasingly are not faulted in the breed ring, though they should be. Lips: Tight and dry. Normally black on black and gray dogs, liver or even pink on red (brown) dogs. Nose: Normally black on black and gray dogs, liver or pink on red dogs. A phenomenon known as "snow nose" occurs in cold weather, in which the nose leather turns pink or freckled. This loss of pigmentation also can occur with dogs that do a lot of digging and shovelling with their noses, or that are fed from certain kinds of plastic dishes. Ear type: Prick ears, ideally positioned on top of head. Some dogs not of ideal show type may have a wider or lazy earset. Ears are normally rather small, triangular in shape, with rounded points. Well furred inside and out. Heavy leathers. Some dogs not of show type may have softer leathers that drop slightly at the tip. Completely dropped or hound ears are not often seen, and would indicate a crossbreed or an Alaskan husky. Tail: Brush tail, medium in length, carried either trailing or in a sickle curve above the back. Incorrect tails are often curled over the back or even snapped tight to the back. Frightened or nervous dogs may curl the tail between the hind legs. Long-haired Siberians may have plumed tails or even some feathering rather than the correct brush tail. Color: All colors are possible and acceptable, from solid black, red, gray or white to piebald (spotted). There are some combination colors in the gray range that resemble timber wolves, with banded colors on individual guard hairs. The colors on the banded hairs may include black, gray, yellow, white or brown. Undercoat is normally cream, gray, light red or white. White Markings: Most Siberians have Irish markings - white on muzzle, chest, undercarriage, lower legs, and tip of tail. Dogs may have white shawls or white patches on their shoulders or withers. The white patterns are not necessary, however, in a Siberian. Some old type Siberians may even have the classic black body with tan eyebrows and feet and very little white. The typical Siberian facial mask may be all white or marked with various bars down the nose and forehead markings in cloverleaf, fleur-de-lis or heart shapes. These are not necessary even in the breed ring and some purebred Siberians have no such markings. Hair length: Medium length. The "wooly" factor, however, will sometimes produce a long-haired Siberian with tufts in the ears, feathering on the legs, and plumed tails. This is not necessarily a mixed breed - the undesirable coat does crop up in some purebred lines and the pups are sold as pets. They are in great demand by the public because they are absolutely adorable pups - look like Christmas card puppies. Hair texture - Straight, double-coated, lying rather flat on the back and sides but giving a crew-cut appearance everywhere else. Many show-type Siberians have stand-off coats all over their bodies instead of the flat-lying guard hairs. Poor coats will be too short, like short coated German shepherd coats. Siberians in good condition while shedding look very thin - the fur comes out in patches and chunks. This is normal, not a disease! Some individuals will not shed out all at once, but generally all over for about three months at a time. The general appearance and even color of the dog will change during shedding season. Nature of coat growth - Shedding occurs normally twice a year, at various times not related necessarily to weather but probably to hormones. The old coat before shedding appears clumpy and dry. Normally the coat does not mat, except in the case of the long-haired individuals. SIMILAR BREEDS: Alaskan Malamutes are usually much larger and have a slightly longer coat, more curl to the tail, wider ear set and much heavier backskull. A poor Malamute may look like a Siberian, and a poor Siberian may look like a Malamute. Markings and coloring are similar. Malamutes are not supposed to have blue eyes, but because of the introduction of Siberian blood to native sled dogs in the first half of this century sometimes blue or split eyes do occur in Malamutes and those pups are sold as pets. Unethical breeders and puppy mills often register them as Siberians. The Alaskan husky is not a defined breed, but a mixture usually of Siberians or Malamutes with various sighthound breeds. They normally have longer legs, a racier appearance and a less pronounced brisket, but sometimes it takes an expert to tell them from purebred Siberians of poor quality. Alaskan huskies do not often show up in lower 48 shelters because they are carefully supervised at racing kennels and do not run loose. Additional note: All blue-eyed dogs do not necessarily have Siberian husky blood in them, although many veterinarians and shelter personnel will identify blue-eyed mixed breeds as Siberian crosses. There are several other breeds that may have blue or split eyes - Dalmatians, collies, Shetland sheepdogs, harlequin Great Danes, Australian shepherds and Australian cattle dogs are examples that come to mind. The blue-eyed factor in Siberians is NOT connected with deafness, unlike some of the other breeds in which blue eyes may occur. Deaf Siberians are very, very rare. I've never known one in more than 25 years of involvement with Siberians.

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Terrill Schukraft Northcountry Siberian Huskies Siberian Husky Rescue Retirement Home for Handy and Froggy (X-Racing Greyhounds)and one Abyssinian cat terrills@ezonline.com Hershey, PA area NO UNSOLICITED ADS, PLEASE!