Is my dog a Siberian Husky?
Plenty of dogs with blue eyes and a grey-and-white coat get called huskies. Upload a photo above, then compare the build, ears and tail with the breed points below.
Also known as: Husky, Sibe
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A clear shot of the face and body works best. JPG, PNG or HEIC.
About the Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky comes from the Chukchi people of north-eastern Siberia, who bred it to pull light loads over long distances in extreme cold. Brought to Alaska in the early twentieth century, it became famous through sled-dog racing. The FCI places it in group 5 with the spitz and primitive types. Huskies are friendly with almost everyone and rarely make guard dogs. They are known for stamina, a strong prey drive, howling rather than barking, and a talent for escaping gardens. They need a great deal of running and are happiest in cool weather.
At a glance
- Type
- Pedigree breed
- Size
- Medium
- Adult weight
- 16–27 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- Very high
How to recognise a Siberian Husky
- Eyes may be brown, blue, one of each, or two-coloured within one eye; the standard accepts every combination.
- Medium-length double coat, dense and soft, giving a well-furred outline that never looks shaggy or hides the shape of the body.
- Any colour from black to pure white. Face masks, white undersides and “spectacles” around the eyes are typical.
- Triangular, erect ears of medium size, set high and close together, with slightly rounded tips.
- Well-furred brush tail carried in a sickle curve over the back when alert, trailing when relaxed; it does not curl flat onto the back.
- Moderate, light-footed build, slightly longer than tall, with a medium muzzle. A heavy, bulky dog is more likely a Malamute.
Photo tip. Take one photo at eye level with the face square to the camera, and one side-on. Eye colour, mask and ear set help, but the build separates a Husky from a Malamute.
Siberian Husky or look-alike?
Alaskan Malamute
Bigger and heavier-boned, with a broader head, wider-set ears and a plumed tail carried over the back. Malamute eyes are brown; blue eyes are a fault in that breed.
Alaskan Husky
A racing sled-dog type, not a registered breed. Usually leaner and leggier, with a shorter, thinner coat and a wide variety of head shapes, ear sets and colours.
Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
Wolf-grey only, with amber eyes, a pale mask, a longer, narrower head and a straight hanging tail. Taller and rangier than a Husky, with no blue eyes.
Siberian Husky mixes
Husky crosses are popular and very varied: the Pomsky with a Pomeranian, the Shepsky with a German Shepherd, Husky × Malamute and Husky × Labrador. Blue or odd eyes often carry through, along with the facial mask, the erect ears and the brush tail; body size and coat follow the other parent more closely. Many sled-bred dogs are already mixes. On a photo, the identifier usually names Siberian Husky alongside the other parent, or a northern relative like the Malamute. Blue eyes alone do not make a dog part Husky; a DNA test settles it.
Health and care
- Eye conditions are the main inherited concern: juvenile cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy and corneal dystrophy are known in the breed. Ask for yearly eye examinations on both parents.
- Hip dysplasia is less common than in many large breeds, but hip scores and a thyroid check on the parents are still worth asking for.
- Huskies need long daily runs and a secure garden: they climb, dig and slip collars. Recall is often unreliable, so many owners exercise them on a long line or in a harness sport.
- They eat less for their size than many breeds. Crusting around the face and feet can point to zinc-responsive dermatosis, a skin issue known in the breed.
- The double coat sheds heavily in seasonal blows: brush it out, never shave it. In warm weather, plan walks for the cool hours.