Breed Standard of Siberian Husky

General Appearance

Medium-sized working sled-dog, quick and light on feet. Free and graceful in
action, with well furred body, erect ears and brush tail. Proportions reflect a
basic balance of power, speed and endurance, never appearing so heavy or
coarse as to suggest a freighting animal, nor so light and fragile as to suggest
a sprint-racing animal. Males are masculine but never coarse, bitches feminine
but without weakness of structure. Muscle firm and well developed, no excess
weight.

Characteristics

Medium size, moderate bone, well balanced proportions, ease and freedom of
movement, and good disposition.

Temperament

Friendly and gentle, alert and outgoing. Does not display traits of the guard dog,
not suspicious with strangers or aggressive with dogs but some measure of
reserve expected in mature dog. Intelligent, tractable and eager disposition.
An agreeable companion and willing worker.

Head and Skull

Medium size in proportion to the body, presents a finely chiselled fox-like
appearance. Slightly rounded on top, tapering gradually from widest point to
eyes. Muzzle medium length and width, neither snipy nor coarse, tapering
gradually to rounded nose. Tip of nose to stop equidistant from stop to occiput.
Stop clearly defined but not excessive. Line of the nose straight from the stop
to tip. Nose black in grey, tan or black dogs; liver in copper dogs; and may be
flesh-coloured in pure white. In winter, pink-streaked ‘snow nose’ is acceptable.

Eyes

Almond-shaped, moderately spaced and set obliquely. Any shade of blue or
brown, one of each colour, or parti-colours equally acceptable. Expression
keen, but friendly, interested, even mischievous.

Ears

 
Medium size, relatively close together, triangular in shape, the height slightly
greater than width at base. Set high on head, strongly erect, the inner edges
being quite close together at the base, when the dog is at attention carried
practically parallel. Slightly arched at the back. Thick, well furred outside and
inside, tips slightly rounded.

Mouth

Lips well pigmented, close fitting. Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and
complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set
square to the jaws.

Neck

 
Medium length and thickness, arched and carried proudly erect when standing.
When moving at a trot, extended so that the head is carried slightly forward.

Forequarters

Shoulder blade well laid back, upper arm angles slightly backward from point
of shoulder to elbow, never perpendicular to the ground. Muscle holding
shoulder to rib cage firm and well-developed. Straight or loose shoulders
highly undesirable. Viewed from the front, forelegs moderately spaced, parallel
and straight with elbows close to the body, turning neither in nor out. Viewed
from the side, pasterns slightly sloping, wrist strong but flexible. Length from
elbow to ground slightly more than distance from elbows to top of withers.
Bone proportionate, never heavy. Dewclaws may be removed.

Body

Straight and strong, with level top line from withers to croup. Medium length,
not cobby, nor slack from excessive length. In profile, body from point of
shoulder to rear point of croup slightly longer than height from ground to
top of withers. Chest deep and strong but not too broad, deepest point being
just behind and level with elbows. Ribs well sprung from spine but flattened
on sides to allow for freedom of action. Loins slightly arched, well muscled,
taut and lean, narrower than rib cage with a slight tuck-up. Croup slopes away
from spine at an angle, but never so steeply as to restrict the rearward thrust
of hind legs.

Hindquarters

Viewed from rear, hind legs moderately spaced and parallel. Upper thighs well
muscled and powerful, stifles well bent, hock joint well defined and set low to
ground. Dewclaws, if any, should be removed.

Feet

Oval, not long, turning neither in nor out in natural stance. Medium size, compact,
well furred and slightly webbed between toes. Pads tough and thickly cushioned
Trimming of fur between toes and around feet permissible.

Tail

 
Well furred, of round, fox brush shape set on just below level of top line and
usually carried over back in graceful sickle curve when dog at attention. When
carried up, tail should not curl too tightly, nor should it curl to either side of body,
or snap flat against back. Hair on tail of medium length and approximately same
length all round. A trailing tail is normal for dog when working or in repose.

Gait/Movement

Smooth and seemingly effortless. Quick and light on feet, gaited on a loose lead
at a moderately fast trot, exhibiting good reach in forequarters and good drive in
hindquarters. When walking, legs move in parallel, but as speed increases,
gradually angling inward to single track .As pad marks converge, forelegs and
hind legs carried straight with neither elbows nor stifles turning in nor out, each
hind leg moving in path of foreleg on same side. Top line of back remaining firm
and level during gaiting.

Coat

Double, and medium in length, giving a well furred appearance, never so long
as to obscure clean-cut outline of dog. Undercoat soft and dense; of sufficient
length to support outer coat. Guard hairs of outer coat straight and somewhat
smooth-lying, never harsh, rough or shaggy, too silky nor standing straight off
from body. Absence of undercoat during shedding normal. No trimming of fur
on any part of dog, except feet.

Colour

 
All colours and markings, including white, allowed. Variety of markings on head
is common, including many striking patterns not found in other breeds.

Size

Height: dogs: 21-231/2 ins at withers; bitches: 20-22 ins at withers.
Weight: dogs: 45-60 lbs; bitches: 35-50 lbs. Weight should be in proportion to
height. These measurements represent the extremes in height and weight, with
no preference given to either extreme. A dog should not exceed 231/2 ins or a
bitch exceed 22 ins.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the
seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact
proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note

Male animals should have two normal testicles, fully descended.