Standarts&Info

You can see current Siberian Husky standart in www.akc.org and www.fci.be.

General Appearance

 

  The Siberian Husky is a medium sized working dog, quick and light on its feet and graceful in action. It is moderately compact and its well-furred body, erect ears, and brush tail suggests its northern heritage. The characteristic gait is smooth and seemingly effortless. It performs its original function in harness most capably, carrying a light load at moderate speed over great distances. Its body proportions and form reflect this basic balance of power, speed and endurance. The males of the Siberian Husky breed are masculine but never coarse, the bitches are feminine but without weakness of structure.  In proper condition, the Siberian Husky is typically with muscle firm and well developed. The Siberian does not carry excess weight. 

 

 

 

Head

 

  Skull - of medium size and in proportion to the body, slightly rounded on top and tapering gradually from the widest point to the eyes. Faults - heady clumsy or heavy, head too finely chiseled.

 

   Muzzle - of medium length - that is, the distance from the tip of the nose to the stop is equal to the distance from the stop to the occipital. (The stop is well defined and the bridge of the nose is straight from the stop to the tip). The muzzle is of medium width, tapering gradually to the nose, with the tip neither pointed nor square.   Faults - muzzle either too snippy or too coarse; muzzle too short or too long; insufficient stop.

 

   Lips - are well pigmented and close fitting.

 

   Teeth - closing in a scissors bite.  Faults - any bite other than scissors.            

 

   Ears - of medium size, triangular in shape, close fitting and set high on the head.  They are thick, well furred, slightly arched at the back and strongly erect with slightly rounded tips pointing straight up.  Faults - ears too large in proportion to the head, too wide set, not strongly erect.

 

   Eyes - almond shape moderately spaced and set a trifle oblique.   The expression is keen but friendly, interested and even mischievous.  Eyes may be brown or blue; one of each or parti-colored are acceptable.   Faults - eyes set too obliquely; set too close together.

 

   Nose - black in gray, tan or black dogs; liver in copper dogs; may be flesh-colored in pure white dogs.  The pink streaked "snow nose" is acceptable.  

 

    

 

Body

 

   Neck - medium in length, arched and carried proudly erect when dog is standing. When moving at a trot the neck is extended so that the head is carried slightly forward. Faults - neck too short and thick, neck too long.

 

   Shoulders - the shoulder blade is well laid back at an approximate angle of 45 degrees to the ground. The upper arm angles slightly backward from the point of shoulder to elbow and is never perpendicular to the ground. The muscles and ligaments holding the shoulder to the rib cage are firm and well developed. Faults - straight shoulders; loose shoulders.

 

  Chest - deep and strong but not too broad with the deepest point being just behind and level with the elbows. The ribs are well sprung from the spine but flattened on the sides to allow for freedom of action. Faults - chest too broad, "barrel ribs", ribs too flat or weak.

 

  Back - the back is straight and strong with a level top line from withers to croup. It is of medium length, neither cobby nor slack from excessive length. The loin is taut and lean, narrower than the rib cage and with a slight tuck-up. The croup slopes away from the spine at an angle, but never so steeply as to restrict the rearward thrust of the hind legs. In profile the length of the body from the point of the shoulder to the rear point of the croup is slightly longer than the height of the body from the ground to the top of the withers. Faults - weak or slack back, roached back, sloping top line.

 

 

Legs and Feet

 

  Forelegs - when standing and viewing from the front, the legs are moderately spaced, parallel, and straight with elbows close to the body and turned neither in nor out. Viewed from the side pasterns are slightly slanted with pastern joint strong but flexible. Bone is substantial but never heavy. Length of the leg from the elbow to the ground is slightly more than the distance from the elbow to the top of the withers. Dewclaws on forelegs may be removed. Faults - weak pasterns; too heavy bone; too narrow or too wide in the front; out at the elbows.

 

    Hindquarters - when standing and viewing from the rear the hind legs are moderately spaced and parallel.  The upper thighs are well muscular and powerful, stifles well bent, the hook joint well defined and set low to the ground. Dewclaws. if any, are to be removed. Faults - straight stifles, hocks too narrow or too wide in the rear. Feet - oval in shape but not long.  The paws are medium size, compact and well furred between toes and pads. The pads are tough and thickly cushioned. The paws neither turn in nor out when the dog is in natural stance. Faults - soft or splayed toes; paws too large and clumsy; paws too small and delicate; toeing in or out.            

 

   Tail - the well-furred tail of fox-brush shape is set on just below the level of the topline and usually carried over the back in a graceful sickle curve when the dog is at attention. When carried up the tail does not curl to either side of the body, nor does it snap against the back. A trailing tail is normal for the dog when working or in response. Hair on the tail is of medium length and approximately the same length on top, sides and bottom giving the appearance of a round brush. Faults - a snapped or tightly curled tail; high plumed tail; tail set too low or too high.

 

   Gait - the Siberian Husky's characteristic gait is smooth and seemingly effortless. It is quick and light on foot and when in the show ring should be gaited on a loose lead at a moderately fast trot, exhibiting good reach in the forequarters and good drive in the hind quarters. When viewed from the front to rear, while moving at a walk the Siberian Husky does not single track, but as the speed increases, the legs gradually angle inwards until the pads are falling on a line directly under the longitudinal center of the body. As the pad marks converge the forelegs and hind legs are carried straightforward.  Each with neither elbows not stiles turned in or out. Each hind leg moves in the path of the foreleg on the same side.  While the dog is gaiting the top line remains firm and level. Faults - short prancing or choppy gait, lumbering or rolling gait; crossing; crabbing.

 

   The Coat - the coat of the Husky is double and medium in length giving a well-furred appearance but is never so long as to obscure the clean cut outline of the dog. With proper care this double-coated breed is suited to all kinds of environments from cold weather to deep snow to hot, humid days. In every case protection from extreme temperatures is ensured by the Husky's well-insulated coat. The undercoat is soft and dense and of sufficient length to support the outer coat. The guard hairs of the outer coat are straight and somewhat smooth lying, never harsh nor standing straight from the body. It should be noted that the absence of the undercoat during shedding period is normal. Trimming of the whiskers and fur between the toes and around the feet to present a neater appearance is permissible. Trimming of the fur on any other part of the dog is condoned and should be severely penalized.  Faults - long; rough; shaggy; too harsh or too silky; trimming of the coat as above.

 

  Colours - all colors from black to pure white are allowed. A variety of markings on the head are common including striking patterns not found in other breeds.

 

   Temperament - the characteristic of the Husky is friendly and gentle but also alert and outgoing. It does not display the possessive qualities of a guard dog nor is is it overly suspicious of strangers and aggressive with other dogs. Some measure of reserve and dignity may be expected in the mature dog. Its intelligence, tractability and eager disposition make it an agreeable companion and willing worker.

 

Size

 

  Height: Dogs - 21 to 23.5 inches at the shoulder. Bitches - 20 to 22 inches at the shoulder. Weight - dogs 45 to 60 pounds and bitches 35 to 50 pounds. Weight is in proportion to height. The measurements mentioned above represent the extreme height and weight limits with no preference given to either extreme. Disqualification - dogs over 23 inches and bitches over 22 inches.

 

Summary

 

The most important breed characteristic of the breed are medium size, moderate bone, well-balanced proportion, ease and freedom of movement, proper coat, pleasing head and ears, correct tail and good disposition. Any appearance of excessive bone or weight, constricted or clumsy gait or long, rough coat should be penalised.  The Siberian Husky never appears so heavy or so coarse as to suggest a freighting animal not is it so light and fragile as to suggest a sprint racing animal. In both sexes the Siberian Husky gives the appearance of being capable of great endurance. In addition to the faults already noted obvious structural faults common to all breeds are as undesirable in the Husky as in any other breed even though they are not mentioned herein.