Many huskies have distinctive blue eyes.
While a number of dogs are referred to as "huskies," only one is considered a purebred, American Kennel Club-recognized husky. The Siberian husky is perhaps the most recognized of the husky breeds, while other types of huskies are defined more by their occupation than their bloodline. Either way, huskies are a high-energy, powerful dog.
Siberian Husky
Siberian huskies are hardy dogs bred for endurance rather than brute strength.
The Siberian husky is the only husky recognized by the American Kennel Club as a purebred dog. Bred in the region of northeastern Russia that gives the dog breed its name, the Siberian husky has a long and rich history. Commonly used as sled dogs, these tough, hardy dogs have also served a number of military units as search and rescue dogs.
Built and bred for endurance, they are a medium-sized working dog not more than 23.5 inches tall, with a thick but smooth double coat and a bushy tail. Purebred dogs can come in any color, but a black and white pattern is among the most common. Huskies are known for their friendly dispositions, alertness and intelligence.
Alaskan Husky
Good, tough feet and well-placed toes are critical for sled dogs running hundreds of miles at a time.
A number of dogs can be called an Alaskan husky, as it is more a title than an actual breed. Many sled dogs are referred to as Alaskan huskies, as they share traits such as endurance, athleticism, tough feet and a heavy coat that will insulate them from some of the coldest temperatures in the world.
Alaskan huskies are often mixed-breed dogs, coming from a bloodline that might include malamutes, Inuit dogs and Siberian huskies. They are often solidly built dogs of only medium size, with a soft, insulating undercoat and coarser guard coat. They can be almost any color and vary in individual shape due to their mixed backgrounds. Alaskan huskies selected for a team of sled dogs will often share qualities such as size and shape to make the team more efficient.
Woolly Siberian Huskies
Woolly Siberian huskies are a subset of the Siberian husky that is not recognized by the American Kennel Club. Also called long-coated Siberian huskies, they may come from a purebred and pedigreed litter, but are usually not show dogs because of the penalties incurred for the long coats.
These dogs are identical to the standard Siberian husky, aside from their exceptionally long coats. This long, thick fur makes them high-maintenance dogs, as regular grooming is required to keep the fur knot-free. Both the undercoat and outer guard coat are long, but unlike a regular husky, woolly ones tend not to shed; this makes grooming and upkeep a challenge for only the most dedicated of owners.
Show Quality
In order to be considered a show-quality husky, the dog much be a purebred and registered Siberian husky from similarly papered parents. The criteria include a strict size requirement, with male dogs more than 23.5 inches tall and female dogs more than 22 inches disqualified from showing.
Other requirements include a well-proportioned build, ears set close together at the top of the medium-sized skull, a keen and intelligent expression and manner, an arched neck, deep chest, and a tail that curls directly over the dog's back instead of laying to the side. As traditional with dogs bred to pull sleds, the feet of the show-quality husky are an important consideration, and should be tough and straight to the body with fur between the toes for cushioning and thick, tough pads.
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