Siberian husky dogs were bred to work, so they are very energetic and striking dogs. They belong to the Working Group in the American Kennel Club, and are very active.  Whilst independent, they love people.

What Does The Siberian Husky Dog Look Like?

They are a medium size dog ranging from 20 to 24 inches tall. Huskies weigh from 35 to 60 pounds. Female huskies are a lot smaller than their male counterparts.

Siberian huskies are quite wolf like, with striking blue or brown almond shaped eyes. They have prick ears and a wolf-like face. Huskies have athletic bodies, and a high maintenance coat that needs regular brushing as it sheds a lot.

Siberian husky coats are made from two layers. Coats are very thick, and the dense undercoat provides them with a lot of insulation against the cold. They lose most of the undercoat in the spring. Coat colors range across the color spectrum, although the most common is the black and white, or silver and white coat.

Temperament of the Siberian Husky Dog

• intelligent
• independent
• vocal
• tendency to be aggressive to small children and small animals, including cats
• difficult to train
• a bit stubborn
• loving and very sweet, when they choose to
• friendly to almost anyone
• a lot of character
• impulsive
• very clean dogs, and don't give off the same type of dog odors as a lot do
  

Feeding A Siberian Husky Dog

Siberian huskies should be fed 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of high-quality meat food, with the sane amount of biscuits added. If feeding your dog dry food only, give them 5 cupfuls of a good quality, complete dry food.

Generally, huskies have a good appetite, although some don't eat well when they are nervous, or highly strung.

The digestive tract of Siberian Huskies can overreact to changes in diet or the environment, making them prone to chronic diarrhea. Its best to provide one type of food only, so make it a good quality food.

Leaving a Siberian Husky in the kennel can bring on diarrhea, poor eating, and kennel fever. This is characterized by a restless state of mind that is like claustrophobia, a dread of confinement, especially in small places.

Siberian Husky Coat Care

The Siberian husky dog should be groomed once a week, removing dirt and debris. When he is shedding, its probably best to groom him more often.

Potential Siberian Husky Health Problems

Siberian huskies are generally healthy. They can be accident prone due to their impulsive natures, getting into trouble more frequently than other less impulsive dogs. They can suffer from canine hip dysplasia or hypothyroidism, however.

Who Should Not Own A Siberian Husky Dog?

• People with cats or small dogs - Siberian husky dogs have a strong prey drive, and can thus be aggressive to small dogs, cats, children, and other small animals. Older children are not a problem, but people with infants or toddlers would be wise not to trust a Siberian Husky near them.
  
  
• Inexperienced dog owners - Siberian huskies are very intelligent dogs, and can be somewhat stubborn. Because they were bred to perform tasks with less human control, they are very in dependant. They can be hard to train, especially with the "Come" command.
  
  Siberian Husky dogs are always looking for signs of weakness, so owners need to maintain the dominant position, without being overbearing. They can become very difficult to own if you don't do this. Siberian husky dogs should be trained from a puppy.
  
  
• People living in apartments, houses with no fenced yards, or houses with small yards - Siberian huskies love to be outdoors. They were bred to pull heavily laden sleds over long, frozen distances. So they have a strong capacity for endurance, and a lot of energy. They love to run and roam. Apartment living does not give them enough scope to exercise, and in winter, when we warm ourselves up with heaters and fires, they may find it too hot if they have to stay indoors.
  
  Because Siberian huskies love to roam, they need a good, fenced yard. Otherwise they will go for miles. Fencing needs to be very secure, as they are intelligent enough to find a way out. Small yards, whilst at least providing huskies with a chance to go outdoors, will not enable them to get enough exercise. That restless energy could then be expressed in somewhat disruptive and mischievous ways.
  
  
• The elderly and disabled - Although this is not intrinsically a problem, Siberian Husky dogs are very active and energetic. They need owners who can both keep up with them, and take them for long walks - or runs. Siberian Huskies love to run, and make great jogging partners, as long as the weather is not too warm. They find warmer weather tougher because their coats are so thick.
  
  
• People looking for a watchdog - Although Siberian huskies are a large breed dog, they don't make good watchdogs. They tend to exit stage left at the first sign of trouble.
  
  
• Someone who wants a quiet dog - Beautiful as they are, Siberian husky dogs are not quiet. Whilst they don't bark much, they howl and yelp similar to a wolf. Unless you have a large property, or don't mind this chattering, another dog breed may be more appropriate.

Siberian husky dogs are playful, energetic, spirited, and intelligent dogs. They are not for the faint hearted, or those that want a lap dog. They suit experienced owners who can deal with their quirks in a loving but firm manner.