Siberian Husky
| Size at withers | 51–60 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight range | 16–27 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15 years |
| Size class | Small–Medium (10–25 kg) |
| Normal resting vitals | Heart rate 70–120 bpm · Respiration 15–30/min · Temperature 38.3–39.2 °C |
| Coat | Thick, double coat built for the Arctic |
| Temperament | Friendly, outgoing, high independence, strong prey drive; not a protective guard dog |
| Common health issues | Hip dysplasia (moderate); progressive retinal atrophy; cataracts; epilepsy; hypothyroidism; zinc-responsive dermatosis |
| Exercise needs | Very high — 90+ min/day; escape artist |
| Climate & housing suitability | Poor for hot climates — the thick double coat combined with heat causes distress and elevated welfare risk. A frequent subject of animal-welfare advocacy against poor keeping in warm regions. |
| Owner notes | Not recommended for hot, lowland climates. Where kept in warm regions, air-conditioned housing and limited outdoor exposure are essential. |
Origin and purpose
Working (AKC). Origin: Siberia; brought to Alaska early 20th century.
Not recommended for hot, lowland climates. Where kept in warm regions, air-conditioned housing and limited outdoor exposure are essential.
What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the owner's job is to give it somewhere to go.
Temperament and training
Stated temperament: Friendly, outgoing, high independence, strong prey drive; not a protective guard dog
A guarding breed: it is naturally suspicious of strangers, and that is what it was bred for. Early, broad, positive socialisation — many people, many places, many situations, before sixteen weeks — is not optional for this breed; it is the difference between a discriminating guardian and a dangerous liability. A guarding dog that has not been socialised is a problem you have created, not a temperament you have discovered.
Strong prey drive: this dog may chase cats, poultry, and small animals, and may pursue free-roaming dogs or livestock. That is instinct, not disobedience, and it is largely not trainable out. Manage it with a secure garden, a lead near roads and livestock, and a realistic view of what recall can achieve against a moving target.
Conditions this breed is predisposed to
Idiopathic epilepsy
Cataracts
Hip dysplasia
Hypothyroidism
Progressive retinal atrophy
Zinc-responsive dermatosis
Health screening — what to test, and when
| Screen for | Test | When |
|---|---|---|
| Cataracts | Ophthalmologist eye examination | Annually |
| Hip dysplasia | Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring) | Once at 12–24 months; earlier if lame |
| Hypothyroidism | Thyroid blood panel | On unexplained weight gain, coat loss, or lethargy; annually in predisposed breeds |
| Idiopathic epilepsy | No screening test. Diagnosis is by exclusion, after blood work and imaging | Investigate the first seizure; do not breed from affected dogs |
| Progressive retinal atrophy | Ophthalmologist eye examination, plus DNA test where one exists for the breed | DNA once; eye examination annually |
Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.
For breeders — test before you mate
- Cataracts — Ophthalmologist eye examination
- Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
- Hypothyroidism — Thyroid blood panel
- Idiopathic epilepsy — No screening test. Diagnosis is by exclusion, after blood work and imaging
- Progressive retinal atrophy — Ophthalmologist eye examination, plus DNA test where one exists for the breed
Feeding
The most forgiving size to feed. A good-quality complete diet appropriate to the life stage, measured with a cup or scales rather than judged by eye, split into two meals a day. Weigh the food; guessing is how dogs get fat. Treats counted within the daily allowance, not added on top.
Exercise and enrichment
Stated requirement: Very high — 90+ min/day; escape artist
This is a genuinely high-energy dog and the commonest reason such dogs are rehomed is that their owners underestimated this. It needs hard daily physical exercise AND a job to think about; a walk around the block is not exercise for this breed. An under-exercised dog of this type becomes destructive, noisy, and anxious — behaviour problems that are, correctly understood, an exercise deficit.
Coat and grooming
Thick, double coat built for the Arctic. Brush 3–4× weekly; daily during the twice-yearly 'coat blow', which is spectacular. Never shave it. Be honest with yourself about keeping this breed in a hot climate.
Climate and living conditions
Stated suitability: Poor for hot climates — the thick double coat combined with heat causes distress and elevated welfare risk. A frequent subject of animal-welfare advocacy against poor keeping in warm regions.
Ageing and senior care
Life expectancy: 12–15 years. This dog is a senior from around 8–9 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Watch for the gradual onset of arthritis, dental disease, and the endocrine conditions of middle age. Senior care →
Before you take one home
- Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
- Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.
