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Siberian Husky
Utility
TEMPERAMENT:
Friendly and gentle, but also alert and outgoing. Should not display
traits of guard dog, nor be unduly suspicious of strangers or aggressive
with other dogs. Some measure of reserve and dignity expected in
mature dog. Intelligence, tractability and eager disposition make
him an agreeable companion and willing worker.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Medium size, moderate bone, well-balanced proportions, ease and
freedom of movement, proper coat, correct tail and good disposition
all most important.
GENERAL APPEARANCE:
A medium sized working sledge dog, quick and light on his feet,
free and graceful in action, with a well-furred body, erect ears
and brush tail. His proportions reflect a basic balance of power,
speed and endurance. Males appearance masculine but never coarse,
the bitches feminine but without weakness of structure. Neither
sex heavy or cobby. In proper condition, with muscle firm and well
developed, should not carry excess weight.
Head and Skull:
Head presents a finely chiselled fox-like appearance, neither clumsy
nor too fine. Slightly rounded on top, tapering gradually from widest
point to eyes. Muzzle of medium length and width, neither snipy
nor coarse, and tapering gradually to rounded nose. Distance from
tip of nose to stop equal to distance from stop to occiput. Stop
clearly defined but not excessive, and line of nose straight from
stop to tip. Nose black in grey, tan or black dogs; liver in copper
dogs; and may be flesh coloured in pure white dogs. In winter, a
pink-streaked "snow-nose" acceptable.
Eyes:
Almond shaped, moderately spaced and set somewhat obliquely. Expression
keen but friendly, interested and even mischievous. Eyes may be
any shade of blue or brown; one of each colour, or parti-colours
equally acceptable.
Ears:
Medium size, relatively close together, triangular in shape, height
slightly greater than width at base. Set high on head, strongly
erect, and at attention carried practically parallel, inner edges
quite close together at base. Slightly arched at the back. Thick,
well furred outside and inside, with tips slightly rounded.
Mouth:
Lips well pigmented and close fitting. The jaws should be strong,
with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e., the upper
teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the
jaws.
Neck:
Medium length, arched and carried proudly erect when standing. When
moving at a trot, extended so that head carried slightly forward,
not too long, or too short and thick.
Forequarters:
The shoulder blade well-laid back at an approximate angle of 45
degrees to the ground. Upper arm angling slightly backward from
point of shoulder to elbow, and never perpendicular to the ground.
Muscles and ligaments holding shoulder to rib cage firm and well-developed.
Straight or loose shoulders highly undesirable. When standing and
viewed from the front, forelegs moderately spaced, parallel and
straight, with elbows close to body and turned neither in nor out.
Viewed from the side, pasterns slightly sloping, with wrist strong
but flexible. Length of leg from elbow to ground slightly more than
distance from elbow to top of withers. Bone proportionate to size.
Dewclaws may be removed.
Body:
Back straight and strong, with a level topline from withers to croup,
of medium length, not cobby, nor slack from excessive length. In
profile the body, from point of shoulder to rear point of croup
slightly longer than the height from the ground to the top of the
withers. Chest deep and strong but not too broad, deepest point
just behind and level with elbows. Ribs well sprung from spine but
flattened on sides to allow for freedom of action. Loin slightly
arched, well muscled, taut and lean; viewed from above, narrower
than rib cage. Slight tuck-up. Croup sloping away from spine at
an angle, but never so steeply as to restrict rearward thrust of
hind legs.
Hindquarters:
Viewed from the rear when standing, hind legs moderately spaced
and parallel. Upper thighs well-muscled and powerful, stifles well-bent,
and hock joint well-defined and set low to ground. Dewclaws, if
any, should be removed.
Feet:
Oval in shape, but not long, and turning neither in nor out in natural
stance. Medium in size, compact, well-furred and slightly webbed
between toes. Pads tough and thickly cushioned. Trimming fur between
toes and around the feet permissible.
Gait:
Smooth and seemingly effortless. Quick and light on his feet and,
when in the show ring, gaited on a loose lead at a moderately fast
trot, exhibiting good reach in forequarters and good drive in hindquarters.
When walking, the legs moving parallel but, as the speed increases,
gradually angling inward to track close (single tracking). As the
pad marks converge, the forelegs and hindlegs carried straight with
neither elbows nor stifles turning in or out, and each hindleg moving
in the path of the foreleg on the same side. Topline of back remaining
firm and level during gaiting.
Tail:
Well-furred round fox-brush shape set on just below level of topline,
and usually carried over the back in a graceful sickle curve when
the dog at attention. When carried up, not curled too tightly, nor
should it curl to either side of the body, or snap flat against
the back. Hair of medium length and approximately the same length
all round. A trailing tail normal when working or in repose.
Coat:
Double and medium in length, giving a well-furred appearance, and
never be so long as to obscure the clean-cut outline. Undercoat
soft, dense of sufficient length to support outer coat. Guard hairs
of the outer coat straight and somewhat smooth-lying, never harsh,
rough or shaggy, too silky, nor standing straight off from the body.
Trimming on any part of dog, except on the feet, not allowed.
Colour:
All colours, including white, are allowed, and all markings. A variety
of markings on the head common, including many striking patterns
not found in other breeds.
Weight and Size:
Height: Dogs: 53 - 60 cm (21 - 23.5 in) at the withers Bitches:
51 - 56 cm (20 - 22 in) at the withers.
Weight:
Dogs: 20 - 27 kg (45 - 60 lb) Bitches: 16 - 23 kg (35 - 50 lb).
Weight should be in proportion to height. These measurements represent
the extremes in height and weight, with no preference given to either
extreme. A dog should not exceed 60 cm (23 in) or a bitch exceed
56 cm (22 in).
Faults:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault
and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should
be in exact proportion to its degree.
Note:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended
into the scrotum.
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