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Other names | Chukcha, Chuksha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Common nicknames | Husky Sibe |
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Origin | Siberia, Russia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) |
Traits | |||
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Weight | Male | 45–60 pounds (20–27 kg) | |
Female | 35–50 pounds (16–23 kg) | ||
Height | Male | 21–24 inches (53–61 cm) | |
Female | 18–20 inches (46–51 cm) | ||
Coat | Thick double coat - thick undercoat and soft outer coat | ||
Color | All colors from black to white along with a brown/red color | ||
Litter size | 4-8 puppies | ||
Life span | 12–14 years |
Classification / standards | |||
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FCI | Group 5, Section 1 Nordic Sledge Dogs #270 | standard | |
AKC | Working | standard | |
ANKC | Group 6 (Utility) | standard | |
CKC | Group 3 (Working) | standard | |
KC (UK) | Working | standard | |
NZKC | Utility | standard | |
UKC | Northern Breed | standard |
The Siberian Husky (Russian: Сибирский хаски) is a medium size working dog breed that originated in north-eastern Siberia, Russia. The breed belongs to the Spitz genetic family. It is recognizable by its thickly furred double coat, erect triangular ears, and distinctive markings.
The original Siberian Huskies were bred by the Chukchi people — whose hunter-gatherer culture relied on their help. It is an active, energetic, resilient breed, whose ancestors lived in the extremely cold and harsh environment of the Siberian Arctic. William Goosak, a Russian fur trader, introduced them to Nome, Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush, initially as sled dogs. The people of Nome referred to the Siberian Huskies as "Siberian Rats" due to size and weighing 40 to 50 pounds when compared to the Malamute dogs.
The first dogs arrived in the Americas 12,000 years ago; however, people and their dogs did not settle in the Arctic until the Paleo-Eskimo people 4,500 years ago and then the Thule people 1,000 years ago, both originating from Siberia. The Siberian Husky was originally developed by the Chukchi people of the Chukchi Peninsula in eastern Siberia. They were brought to Nome, Alaska, in 1908 for sled-dog racing.
In 1989, a study was made of ancient canid remains dated to the Late Pleistocene and early Holocene that had been uncovered by miners decades earlier around Fairbanks, Alaska. These were identified as Canis lupus and described as "short-faced wolves". The collection was separated into those specimens that looked more wolf-like (i.e. the Beringian wolf), and those that looked more dog-like and in comparison to the skulls of Eskimo dogs from both Greenland and Siberia thought to be their forerunners.