Siberian Huskies have an ancestry that dates back five thousand years. Part of the Spitz family, these dogs descended from sledding dogs used by Eskimos in the Arctic regions. Eskimo Siberian Husky breeders selectively bred huskies and, due to each Siberian Husky breeder being geographically isolated huskies maintained their close resemblance to wolves. Siberian Huskies were mainly used as sledding dogs and hunting companions. They required very little food for their level of activity and their high endurance allowed them to run for hours through packed snow while pulling a moderately sized load.
The American Kennel Club recognized the Siberian Husky as a breed in 1930. Since that time, huskies have been used more for show than sledding. However, the breed retains wolf like physical and behavioral traits. Typical Siberian Husky characteristics include high set, pointed ears, thick, double coats of fur, a furry, sickle shaped tail, and wolf like personality traits such as stubbornness, independence and suspicion. Siberian Huskies have distinctive facial markings, medium sized compact bodies, and blue or brown eyes (or one of each color).
The American Kennel Club has many other breed standard characteristics required for Siberian Huskies to participate in competition. These include a height requirement of twenty one to twenty three and one half inches tall for males and twenty to twenty two inches tall for females, a weight requirement of forty five to sixty pounds for males and thirty five to fifty pounds for females, mandatory physical characteristics such as a scissors bite (upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth), and performance characteristics such as a smooth, effortless gait and an outgoing personality. The AKC does not disqualify the Siberian Husky for certain pigmentation issues that would disqualify other breeds such as bi colored or parti colored eyes and snow nose in which part is black and part is flesh colored. The AKC states that coloring is not important in pulling a sled.
A good Siberian Husky breeder retains both the breed standard traits and good health and behavioral traits in their huskies. Like other larger dogs, huskies can be prone to hip dysplasia and a good breeder will not breed dogs with this issue. There are many other health and behavioral traits common to huskies that Siberian Husky breeders must watch for and educate potential buyers about.
Finding a good Siberian Husky breeder can be difficult. There are a number of questions buyers will need to ask of breeders once they locate them to make sure they are reputable. Buyers also want to make sure that breeders ask them adequate questions.
Buyers should ask the following questions of Siberian Husky breeders:
Can I visit your kennel to make sure it is clean and appropriate? Can I meet the parents of the puppy? (the mother should be on site/the father may not be) Have puppies and parents been screened for genetic defects? Is there a pedigree? (there should be a lengthy pedigree for any purebred puppy) Can you tell me about the breed? (breeders should be experts) Are you affiliated with rescue centers? (breeders should refer buyers to rescue animals) What are common husky health/behavioral problems? (breeders should educate buyer) How do I train/care for/discipline my husky? Is there a warranty?
Good breeders will take the dog back if the buyer cannot keep the dog rather than see the dog go to a shelter. Professional breeders will also quiz potential owners to weed out unqualified, unrealistic or unprepared buyers.
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