Snowborn Siberians |
SIBERIAN HUSKY AKC STANDARD |
In 1990, the AKC and Siberian Husky Club of America approved a new standard for the breed. General Appearance: The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized working dog, quick and light on his feet and free and graceful in action. His moderately compact and well-furred body, erect ears and brush tail suggest his Northern heritage. His characteristic gait is smooth and seemingly effortless. He performs his orginal function in harness most capably, carrying a light load at moderate speed over great distances. His body proportions and form reflect this basic balance of power, speed and endurance. The males of the Siberian Husky breed are masculine but never coarse; the bitches are feminine but without weakness of structure. In proper condition, with muscle firm and well-developed, the Siberian Husky does not carry excess weight. Head Skull: Of medium size and in proportion to the body; slightly rounded on top and tapering gradually from the widest point to the eyes. FAULTS: Head clumsy or heavy; head too finely chiseled. 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 stop is well-defined and the bridge of the nose is stratight from the stop to the tip. The muzzle is of medium width, tapering gradually to the nose, with the tip neither pointed nor square. The lips are well-pigmented and close fitting; teeth closing in a scissors bit. FAULTS: Muzzle either too snipy or too coarse; muzzle too short or too long; insufficient stop; andy bit other that scissors. 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. Eyes: Almond shaped, moderately spaced and set a trifle obliquely. The expression is keen, but friendly; interested and even mischievous. 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. 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. 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. Shoulder: The shoulder blade is well laid back at an approximte angle of 45 degrees to the ground. 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. 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: Check 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. In profile, the length of the body from the point of the shoulder to the rear point of the group is slightly longer than the height of the body from the ground to the top of the withers. FAULTS: Weak or slack back; roached back; sloping topline. Legs and Feet Forelegs: When standing and viewed from the front, the legs are moderately spaced, parallel and straight, with elbows close to the body and turned neither in nor out. Viewed from side, pasterns are slightely slanted, with pastern joint strong, but flexible. Bone is sbustantial 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. 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, cowhocks, too narrow or too wide in the rear. Feet: Oval in shape, but not long. The paws are medium 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 dogs is in natural stance. FAULTS: Soft or splayed toes; paws too large and clumsy; paws too small and delicate; toeing in or out. 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 greaceful sickle cure when the dog is at attention. When carried up, the tail does not cur to either side of the body, nor does it snap flat against the back. A trailing tail is normal fo rthe dog when working or in repose. ahir onthe tail is of medium length and approximately teh same length on top, sides, and bottom, giving the apprearance of around brush. FAULTS: A snapped or tightly curled tail; highly plumed tail; tail set to low or high. Gait: The Siberian Huskky's charractersitic gai is msooth and seeminly effortless. he is quick and light on his feet, and when in the show ring shoudl be gaited on a loose lead at a moderatly fast trot, exhibiting good reach oin the forequrters 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 teh speed increased teh legs gradually angle inward until the pads ar falling on a line directly under the longitudal center of the body. As the pad marks converge, the forelegs adn hind legs are carried straight forward, with neither elbows nor stifles turned in or out. Eachhind leg moves in teh 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; corssing; crabbing. 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 the body. It should be noted that the absence of the undercoat during the shedding season is normal. Trimming of the whiskers and fur between the toes and around the feet to present a neater appearance is permissible. Trimming of the fur on any other part of the dog is not to condoned and should be severly penalized. FAULTS: Long, rought, or shaggy coat; texture too harsh or too silk; tirmming of the coat except as permitted above. Color: All colors from black to pure white are allowed. A viarety of markings on the head is common, including many striking patterns not found in other breeds. 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 dogs, nor is he overly suspicious of strangers of 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. Size Height: Dogs, 21 to 23 1/2 inches at the withers. Bitches, 20 to 22 inches at the withers. Weight: Dogs, 46 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. Disqualification: Dogs over 23 1/2 inches and bitches over 22 inches. Summary: The most important breed characteristics of the Siberian Husky are medium size, moderate bone, well-balanced proportions, ease and freedom of movement, proproer coate, pelaseing head and ears, correct tail, and good dispostion. Any appearance of excessive bone or weight, constricted or clumsy gait, or long rought coat should be penalize. The Siberian Husky never appears so heavy or coars as to suggest a frightening animal; nor is so light and fragile as to suggest a spring-racing animal. In both sexes the Siberian Husky gives teh appearance of being capable of great endurance. In addition to the faults already noted, obvious sturctural 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. |
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