Taking Care of Your Siberian Husky

Dalmatian Other names Chukcha, Chuksha Nicknames Sibe, Husky Country of origin  Siberia, Russia Traits Weight Male 45–60 pounds (20–27 kg) Female 35–50 pounds (16–23 kg) Height Male 21–23.5 inches (53–60 cm) Female 20–22 inches (51–56 cm) Coat Thick double coat - thick undercoat and soft outer coat Color All colors from black to white Litter size 6–8 puppies Life span 12–15 years

How to Take Care of a Siberian Husky Puppy A strong breed of dog, the mature Siberian husky grows to heights between 20 and 22 inches at the shoulder with an average weight between 35 and 60 pounds. Often referred to as a sled dog, the eyes of this working class dog are unmistakable, ranging from crystal blue to glowing amber. Siberian husky litters average six puppies per female. The Siberian husky puppy, known for its affectionate temperament, requires plenty of care and companionship to maintain its good spirit. Instructions Visit your veterinarian upon receipt of your Siberian husky puppy. Your vet will determine a health care plan that is best suited for your new puppy. Depending on your puppy's breeder, he may have already begun a series of vaccinations. Your veterinarian will determine which booster shots he needs next. Feed her three times a day. The brand of puppy food you choose will determine the amount. Check the package labeling for feeding amounts and divide that number by three for the first three months. After three months, feed your puppy twice a day. By the age of nine months, your puppy will only require feeding once a day. Keep water out for your Siberian puppy at all times. Take your Siberian puppy outside to eliminate within 10 minutes of eating or drinking. Playing and sleeping also stimulates the need to eliminate in puppies. Therefore, take your Siberian puppy out to eliminate immediately after playtime or napping. Provide your Siberian husky puppy with a fenced in area. Siberians love to run and play, but also tend to roam, so he will require a secured area to do so. Siberians are also escape artists, so make sure there are no areas that she can slip through and make a getaway. Socialize your Siberian husky puppy early. Early interaction with adults, children and other animals will ensure a smooth transition as he grows older. As an important member of your family, he will require plenty of attention. Brush your Siberian husky puppy once a week. Siberians have thick coats and brushing is required to keep their coats looking smooth. Brushing will also help to remove dirt and debris and prevent matting. A slicker brush will keep the top coat smooth. Use a rake to pull out any knots in the undercoat. Take Care of Siberian Husky Instructions Keep your husky's weight down. This should not be difficult since they eat less than most breeds their size. Learn about the health problems associated with this breed: cataracts, corneal dystrophy, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and central progressive retinal atrophy (CPRA) (genetic eye disorders), hip dysplasia and zinc-deficiency disease. Be prepared for a annual or biannual shed fest. This dog's undercoat is thick and lush. While they shed very little most of the year, for a few weeks a siberian husky will lose more hair than you'd think is possible. Bathe the dog infrequently. The husky is a very clean dog and grooms itself like a cat. Make sure to trim this dog's nails once a month. Keep your siberian inside or out, but remember that the breed is very social. If you don't have another dog, you need to keep your husky near its family. While huskies don't bark much, they aren't silent dogs. They grumble and mutter and occasionally cut loose with a haunting howl that will make your neighbors unhappy if it goes on for an extended time. Get ready to enjoy 10 to 15 years with your husky - this is the average life expectancy of a siberian husky. Appearance The Siberian Husky is medium sized, females 20-22 inches and 35-50 pounds, males 21-23½ inches and 45-60 pounds. The coat is soft and thick, of medium length. Many people who are allergic to dog hair can tolerate Siberians. Colors range from white, which is uncommon, through gray, tan and red to black and white. Mask-like face markings are characteristic. Eyes may be brown or blue, or one of each color, each being equally acceptable. Eyes A red/white colored Siberian Husky with heterochromia, a trait which is unusual in most dogs, but common among Siberian Huskies. The American Kennel Club describes the Husky's eyes as "an almond shape, moderately spaced and set slightly obliquely." The eyes of a Siberian Husky are ice-blue, dark blue, amber, or brown. In some individual dogs, one eye may be brown and the other blue (complete heterochromia), or one or both eyes may be "parti-colored," that is, half brown and half blue (partial heterochromia). All of these eye color combinations are considered acceptable by the American Kennel Club. Coat The Siberian Husky's coat is thicker than that of most breeds of dogs,  comprising two layers: a dense undercoat and a longer topcoat of short, straight guard hairs. It protects the dogs effectively against harsh Arctic winters, but the coat also reflects heat in the summer. It is able to withstand temperatures as low as −50 °C to −60 °C. The undercoat is often absent during shedding.Their thick coats require weekly grooming. Long guard hair is not desirable and is considered a fault. Nose Show-quality dogs are preferred to have neither pointed nor square noses. The nose is black in gray dogs, tan in black dogs, liver in copper-colored dogs, and may be flesh-colored in white dogs. In some instances, Siberian Huskies can exhibit what is called "snow nose" or "winter nose." This condition is called hypopigmentation in animals. "Snow nose" is acceptable in the show ring. Temperament  The Chukchi people which originated the Siberian Husky kept their dogs as household companions as well as draft dogs. Since the dogs were often in the dwellings with people and in close contact with children, bad temperament could not be tolerated. The Siberian Husky is still one of the most even-tempered of all breeds and Siberians often have a special love for children. They are also, for the most part, not aggressive with other dogs. Bad temperament is a very serious fault in a Siberian. Siberians are seldom one-man dogs but give their affection to all members of the family and are often friendly with strangers. Most do not make particularly good watch dogs, though they can be taught to bark at intruders and their appearance is intimidating to people unfamiliar with the breed. One of the most attractive things about the Siberian Husky is its enthusiasm. Siberians seen to get the utmost enjoyment out of life. Along with this comes an independent streak and a mischievousness so characteristic that the breed standard uses this word in describing the ideal Siberian expression. Siberians love to tease, and though they delight in pleasing their human companions, they usually have ideas of their own which they do not keep to themselves. A person who feels a dog should lie quietly in a corner except when obeying a command would probably not be happy with a Siberian Husky. For someone who enjoys a fun-loving, boisterous companion and who doesn't mind a little back-talk, the Siberian is perfect. Grooming  In terms of grooming, Siberians are very easy to care for. They have little or no doggy odor and their coat sheds dirt, making bathing seldom if ever necessary. Siberians shed their coat once or twice a year, so for a few weeks of the year there is fur everywhere, but the rest of the year there is virtually no shedding. For many people this is less nuisance than the year-round shedding found in some breeds. Daily brushing during shedding helps. Living Needs  Many Siberian owners have been successful in keeping their dogs dogs indoors or outdoors and or both but compromise has always been the rule here. Ideally, Siberians would chose to live outdoors but many times this may not be possible. Many have been kept successfully in city apartments. This requires a great deal of extra effort, tolerance and flexibility, particularly during puppyhood, and anyone who cannot stand dog hair all over everything several weeks a year, rowdy games in the house and daily walks through rain and snow, should consider another breed. Siberians crave company and an indoor dog usually spends more time with people than an outdoor dog, so if given careful training and regular outdoor exercise, indoor dogs are often better behaved and more in tune with humans. An indoor dog should have an area of its own where its bed and water dish are kept. If it can be confined to this area at night and when left alone, several problems may be avoided. No dog should run loose, least of all a headstrong Siberian. A dog does not suffer from confinement as many people believe, and will almost surely live a longer, safer, healthier life and keep its family on better terms with neighbors if kept in a secure enclosure. A fence about six feet high with concrete or strong wire mesh at its base should surround this area which may include the entire property or only part of it. Siberians can tolerate extreme cold, and surprisingly, do not suffer in hot weather. They need a dry, draft-free shelter in Winter and Shade in Summer. Exercise & Health  Siberians love to pull things, and this is the ideal way to exercise one. With a special harness, which is not hard to make, a dog can easily pull an adult on a bicycle, a loaded wagon, a small log or an old automobile tire. People who race Siberians use a wheeled cart to train and condition their dogs where there is no snow and an ambitious person can make or by one of these. An indoor dog needs daily outings, including some running or pulling and a chance to romp off leash in area which is safe from traffic. Chasing a stick or a ball, jumping, and playing with another dog, are all good exercise. Contrary to the popular notion, most outdoor dogs will not get sufficient exercise on their own, so even a dog that has the run of the backyard should be taken out several times a week and should have daily play periods with the family. Siberians are very gregarious and need plenty of company to prevent loneliness and boredom which can make a dog noisy and destructive. Siberians are moderate eaters and have no special needs outside of a well-balanced diet. As one of the "natural" breeds, the Siberian Husky is not prone to special health problems as many breeds are. Hip dysplasia, such a plague in some breeds, is not a serious problem in Siberians, but it is wise to buy a pup whose parents have been x-rayed and to discuss with the breeder what will be done if the puppy develops this condition. Obedience Training  Siberians, even more than other breeds, need at least a minimum of training for their own safety and for the comfort of the people around them. They are not among the easy-to-train breeds, but are quite trainable with patience and perseverance. If they are somewhat of a challenge to work with, the satisfaction of having a well-trained Siberian is just that much greater. Many Siberians enjoy obedience work and showing at obedience trails is an activity the whole family can take part in. It is a plus if your puppy is raised in contact with both adults and children to make them a well adjusted companion. Most breeders try to place puppies in homes which are right for them. If you think a Siberian Husky may be the right dog for you, we would be happy to answer your questions about the breed in general. Special Medical Problems The Siberian Husky is a remarkably healthy breed. When well cared for, the Siberian is relatively "maintenance free", outside of normal checkups and vaccinations. Hip Dysplasia The incidence of hip dysplasia in Siberians is fairly low. However, breeding Siberians should, among other things, be OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certified prior to breeding. OFA certification cannot be granted prior to 24 months of age. Conscientious efforts of breeders have kept the incidence of this condition low in the Siberian. Eye Problems According to CERF, the incidence of cataracts in the breed checked by ACVO veterinarians is around 15-18%. The actual incidence is probably higher as many long time breeders discover the anomaly in young dogs early and never certify them. With the typical cataract, the dogs vision is not usually substantially affected, and they lead a full, happy, albeit it neutered, life. However, a more aggressive cataract also exists, which progresses quickly and may cause blindness by 2 to 3 years of age. Corneal dystrophy is also present in the breed. This disease causes diffuse and progressive vision loss in mid to older age. It is often not present or detectable until age 4 to 6 years, at which time the dog could easily have produced a few litters and perpetuated the problem. Glaucoma is also present in the Siberian, particularly in some specific racing lines. Glaucoma causes the animal significant pain and vision loss usually before it is detected by the owner. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and central progressive retinal atrophy (CPRA) have appeared in a number of breeds, including Siberians. These problems are genetically caused. Careful screening of potential breeding pairs has helped reduce the incidence of these problem in the breed, and the current incidence of PRA is relatively low. Obviously, Siberian owners and breeders should regularly check and clear eyes through CERF prior to embarking on a breeding program. Source : http://www.ncshc.com,http://www.k9web.com,http://en.wikipedia.org