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Breed Standard - Siberian Husky
Size, Proportions, Substance
Height: Dogs, 53 to 60 centimeter. Bitches, 51 to 56 centimeter.
Weight: Dogs, 21 to 27 kilogram, Bitches, 16 to 23 kilogram.
Disqualification: Dogs over 60 centimeter and bitches over 56 centimeter.
Height--Dogs, 21 to 23 1/2 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 lengthof 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 23 1/2 inches and bitches over 22 inches.
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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.
Hindquarters
When standing and viewed from the rear, the hind legs are moderately spaced and
parallel. The upper thighs are well muscled and powerful, the stifles well bent,
the hock joint well-defined and set low to the ground. Dewclaws, if any, are to
be removed. Faults--Straight stifles, cow-hocks, too narrow or too wide in the
rear.
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 Husky's 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 23 1/2 inches and bitches over 22 inches.
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.
[Source: Federation Internationale Cynologique (FCI), 1996, American Kennel Club
(AKC) ] |
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