Just My Opinion

When evaluating the Siberian Husky it is very important to remember the function the breed performs. It was created to pull a light load at a moderate pace for a great distance through snow. Featured below are aspects of the Siberian Husky standard that I feel are vital to achieve that goal. Too often breeders will show and judges will reward dogs that do not possess these traits.


 “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.”

 The chest is “Deep and strong, but not too broad, with the deepest point being just behind and level with the elbows.”

 

I see far too many dogs that are virtually all chest. Siberian Huskies are bred to function as sleddogs in snow of varying depths. Without sufficient length of leg, the Siberian is severely limited in its ability to perform its primary function. Siberians should run through snow not plow it with their chest.

 

“Length of the leg from elbow to ground is slightly more than the distance from the elbow to the top of withers.”

  “The back is straight and strong, with a level topline from withers to croup.”

 

To me a strong topline is very important otherwise you will have a dog that has a potential for skeletical problems which will ultimately affect its performance on the trail.

 

 “...medium-sized working dog, quick and light on his feet and free and graceful in action”

“...characteristic gait is smooth and seemingly effortless.”

If the animal does not have comparable angulation in the front and rear, this lack of balance will result in movement that is not efficient. This deficiency in balance requires the dog to adjust the placement of its feet so the rear does not interfere with the front. This causes the dog to overreach when seen from the side, and when viewed going away the front and rear legs are not moving one directly behind the other.

 “...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.”

“Each hind leg moves in the path of the foreleg on the same side.”

Not to overlook the other aspects of the standard, but these are the area that I consider most important.

 

 

FOOTsteps:

The following photographs were taken from a ditigal camcorder with each picture showing leg position every two frames. Included are two dogs age 3 and 6 years and two bitches 15 months and 3 yrs.

The sequence of the rear movement is from bottom to top. Front is top to bottom.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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