Siberian Husky Breed Standard
General Appearance
The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized working dog, quick
and light on his feet and free and graceful in action. His moderately compact
and well furred body, erect ears and brush tail suggest his Northern heritage.
His characteristic gait is smooth and seemingly effortless. He performs his
original function in harness most capably, carrying a light load at a moderate
speed over great distances. His 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, with muscle firm and well developed, the
Siberian Husky does not carry excess weight.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Height--Dogs, 21 to 23½ inches at the withers. Bitches,
20 to 22 inches at the withers. Weight--Dogs, 45 to 60 pounds. 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. Any appearance of excessive bone or weight should be penalized.
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.
Disqualification--Dogs over 23½ inches and bitches over 22 inches.
Head
Expression is
keen, but friendly; interested and even mischievous.
Eyes almond
shaped, moderately spaced and set a trifle obliquely. Eyes may be brown or blue
in color; one of each or parti-colored are acceptable.
Faults--Eyes
set too obliquely; set too close together.
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.
Skull of
medium size and in proportion to the body; slightly rounded on top and tapering
from the widest point to the eyes.
Faults--Head
clumsy or heavy; head too finely chiseled.
Stop--The
stop is well-defined and the bridge of the nose is straight from the stop to
the tip.
Fault--Insufficient
stop.
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 occiput. The muzzle is of medium
width, tapering gradually to the nose, with the tip neither pointed nor square.
Faults Muzzle
either too snipy or too coarse; muzzle too short or too long.
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.
Lips are
well pigmented and close fitting.
Teeth closing
in a scissors bite.
Fault--Any
bite other than scissors.
Neck, Topline, 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.
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 topline 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.
Faults--Weak
or slack back; roached back; sloping topline.
Tail
The well furred tail of fox-brush shape is set on just
below the level of the topline, and is 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 flat against the
back. A trailing tail is normal for the dog when in repose. 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; highly plumed tail; tail set too low or too
high.
Forequarters
Shoulders--The
shoulder blade is well laid back. The upper arm angles slightly backward from
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.
Forelegs--When
standing and viewed from the front, the legs are moderately spaced, parallel
and straight, with the elbows close to the body and turned neither in nor out.
Viewed from the side, pasterns are slightly slanted, with the pastern joint
strong, but flexible. Bone is substantial but never heavy. Length of the leg
from elbow to ground is slightly more than the distance from the elbow to the
top of 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.
Feet oval in shape but not long. The paws are medium in size, compact and well
furred between the 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.
Coat
The coat of the Siberian 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. 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 off from
the body. It should be noted that the absence of the undercoat during the
shedding season is normal. Trimming of whiskers and fur between the toes and
around the feet to present a neater appearance is permissible. Trimming the fur
on any other part of the dog is not to be condoned and should be severely
penalized.
Faults--Long,
rough, or shaggy coat; texture too harsh or too silky; trimming of the coat,
except as permitted above.
Color
All colors from black to pure white are
allowed. A variety of markings on the head is common, including many striking
patterns not found in other breeds.
Gait
The Siberian Huskys characteristic gait is smooth and
seemingly effortless. He is quick and light on his feet, 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 hindquarters. 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 inward 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, with neither elbows nor stifles turned in or out. Each hind
leg moves in the path of the foreleg on the same side. While the dog is
gaiting, the topline remains firm and level.
Faults--Short,
prancing or choppy gait, lumbering or rolling gait; crossing or crabbing.
Temperament
The characteristic temperament of the Siberian Husky is
friendly and gentle, but also alert and outgoing. He does not display the
possessive qualities of the guard dog, nor is he overly suspicious of strangers
or aggressive with other dogs. Some measure of reserve and dignity may be
expected in the mature dog. His intelligence, tractability, and eager
disposition make him an agreeable companion and willing worker.
Summary
The most important breed characteristics of the Siberian
Husky are medium size, moderate bone, well balanced proportions, 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 penalized. The Siberian Husky never
appears so heavy or coarse as to suggest a freighting animal; nor is he 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, the obvious structural faults common to
all breeds are as undesirable in the Siberian Husky as in any other breed, even
though they are not specifically mentioned herein.
Disqualification
Dogs over 23½ inches and bitches over 22 inches.
Approved October 9, 1990
Effective November 28, 1990
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