Breed Profile: Siberian Husky

More than 3,000 years ago, the Chukchi, an indigenous people of the Arctic coastal region of northeastern Siberia, developed a breed of dog that could pull light to moderately heavy loads quickly and over long distances while using a minimum amount of energy and requiring a minimum amount of food. These dogs, capable of withstanding extremely cold temperatures for long periods of time, also had to be able to cooperate as members of a team working long days of hard labor. They needed to be smart and independent enough to “read” the condition of ice and terrain, helping to guide a sled past hidden dangers. These dogs were the progenitors of the modern-day Siberian husky.

At the end of the 19th century, Alaskan traders discovered these Chukchi dogs and imported them into the Northwest Territory. During the early 1900s, they were used in sled-dog races to great success. Arctic fisherman Leonhard Seppala established a team of Siberian husky sled dogs and then, in the 1930s, formed a kennel in Maine with New England musher Elizabeth Ricker. When the kennel closed down, Seppala left all his remaining dogs to a kennel owned by Harry Wheeler in Quebec. All of today’s Siberian huskies can trace their ancestry to dogs from one of these two kennels. The breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1930.

The following description is of an “ideal” Siberian husky. Not all huskies will fit the description exactly, but that’s not an issue unless you want one who can participate in dog shows.

Siberian huskies are intelligent, affectionate, and gentle. They do not exhibit fear or suspicion of strangers or other dogs but are ready and able to defend themselves against aggressors.

Here are some traits to consider when determining how well a Siberian is going to fit in with you and your family.

Siberian huskies are versatile dogs who can be agreeable companions for active people of all ages. They need the company of people and other dogs. Huskies also have a lot of energy, having been bred as working dogs; owners should plan to include their husky in outdoor activities such as hiking, jogging, and sledding. Huskies also get along well with children but are strong enough that they should be carefully supervised to avoid accidentally hurting a child. They also are very welcoming to strangers; they are not “one-person” dogs and therefore will act friendly toward almost anyone they meet.

The husky has a heavily ingrained desire to run, and if given the opportunity to do so, can run without slowing down literally for hours. This, coupled with an equally powerful urge to explore, can present a major safety issue in a traditional home environment. Unless kept in a properly fenced yard or on a leash at all times when outdoors, the husky’s safety can be jeopardized. Also, huskies are very good at escaping, either by crawling through small holes, scaling high fences, or just slipping out of collars. If you plan to get a husky, make sure that you’ll be able to keep him thoroughly confined while still providing an opportunity for exercise.

Though the husky’s urge to run poses a problem in terms of safety, he must have ample opportunity to indulge this instinct: a husky who isn’t getting enough exercise can turn destructive quickly. Given the husky’s skills as an escape artist, a fenced yard or other thoroughly enclosed location is beneficial. Nonetheless, huskies are best suited to active owners who can join in on their dogs’ exercise.

As with any dog, Siberian huskies respond best to creative, consistent, and positive training methods. Training tactics that involve force or intimidation will elicit fear and confusion in a husky, not cooperation and obedience. Though Siberian huskies willingly obey simple commands from owners they respect, as a breed, they generally do not excel at advanced, competitive obedience work or other precision performance activities. An owner looking for a dog for obedience or performance traits above and beyond huskies’ natural work skills should not choose this breed.