Siberian Husky:

With its origin dating back to three thousand years ago in a tribe in eastern Siberia, the siberian husky was initially used for hunting. The tribe in fact was able to adapt to the frigid temperatures as a result of this dog. About one hundred years ago this breed was introduced to the US.

According to the American Kennel Club, the siberian husky is a medium-sized working dog that’s not only quick and light on his feet, he’s also graceful in motion. Plus, the moderately compact body that’s “well-furred”, has erect ears and a brush tail which suggest its northern roots.

These independent dogs are somewhat stubborn and actually get accustomed to warm climates rather quickly. Since siberian huskies are indeed stubborn, the responsible pet owner should demonstrate a great amount of patience. While the most common color of the coat is gray, black, and red, this medium sized working dog breed has its hallmark thick fur double coat with erect triangular ears. In fact, the siberian husky’s coat actually has two layers; a dense undercoat and then a long topcoat which has straight hairs and may even have a variety of colors or patterns such as white, gray, and white again. With the change of seasons the siberian husky sheds the undercoat twice a year but grooming is actually minimal. However, the rear legs typically don’t lose as much fur as the rest of the dog so it needs to be brushed frequently when the fur clumps up.

Its active nature and wolf-like appearance may not seem appropriate for the nature of a family pet; quite the contrary Siberian huskies tend to be fiercely loyal and affectionate to its family. With a variety of eye colors ranging in brown, blue, green, hazel, or light brown, or even one eye being brown and the other blue or hazel, blue eyes are typically the common trait.

Since males often weigh up to sixty pounds and female siberian huskies top the scales at about fifty pounds, constant exercise is important for this gentle dog. In accordance with their roots, they love running in open spaces and exploring. They’re instinctive when it comes to other animals so they don’t interact well with other housepets as a general rule. The best way to get them used to other animals without preying on them is to raise them well when they’re a puppy.

It should be noted, however, that unlike several other breeds the siberian husky is not always eager to please their owners. On the contrary, they are quite stubborn which makes them difficult to train. They’re very strong-willed, resilient, and independent and don’t always seek their owners approval. Plus, they’re instinctive to prey and run. They should always be kept on a leash otherwise they may have a tendency to run free for long distances over long periods of time. That said, they require a fenced property though they have a tendency for digging as well.

Since they require a lot of exercise as a whole, siberian huskies are healthy however they are susceptible to eye problems, allergies, and cancer.