36" dog crate
Right-sized for a medium dog, cozy not cramped.
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Siberian Husky
Born to run, built for snow.
Working group
Siberia (Russia)
Medium
Lifespan12-14 yr
Weight16-27 kg
Height51-60 cm
OriginSiberia (Russia)
The Siberian Husky is a medium sled dog bred to run for miles in freezing cold. Striking and friendly, it is an escape artist with boundless energy and a strong independent streak.
Great points
- Friendly and outgoing
- Clean, odor-free coat
- Great stamina for active owners
- Gentle with people
Things to consider
- Sheds enormously
- Strong prey drive and loves to escape
- Independent and hard to train
- Howls and digs when bored
The story
Bred by the Chukchi people of Siberia to pull light loads over long frozen distances, the Husky reached fame in the 1925 serum run to Nome. Its endurance and good nature carried it into homes worldwide.
Training
Huskies are intelligent but independent and easily bored, so training takes patience, consistency and a securely fenced yard, since recall is unreliable.
Grooming
The thick double coat needs weekly brushing, and daily during the heavy twice-yearly shed. Huskies groom themselves and stay clean like cats.
Food & diet
About 2 to 3 cups a day. Huskies are surprisingly efficient eaters for their energy, so avoid overfeeding.
Exercise
Very high. Running, hiking or pulling, plus mental work, are needed daily to keep a Husky balanced.
Health to watch
Generally hardy, but watch for eye conditions such as cataracts, and hip dysplasia.
Fun fact. Sled teams in the 1925 Nome serum run covered over 1,000 km in about five and a half days to deliver medicine.
Frequently asked questions
Do Huskies make good pets?
Yes for active, experienced owners. Huskies are friendly and gentle but need huge amounts of exercise, a secure yard and patience with their independent streak.
Do Huskies shed a lot?
Enormously. They blow their thick double coat twice a year and shed year round, so frequent brushing is essential.
Are Huskies easy to train?
Not really. They are smart but independent and easily distracted, and they are known escape artists, so training needs patience.
Essential gear for the Siberian Husky
A few breed-right basics for a new Siberian Husky.
Medium orthopedic bed
Joint support, sized to a medium frame.
View pickDe-shedding tool
Tames heavy shedding fast.
View pickComplete adult formula
Balanced everyday nutrition.
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