FCI-Standard
№270/ 24. 01. 2000 GB
SIBERIAN
HUSKY
ORIGIN : U.S.A.
DATE
OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 02.02.1995.
UTILIZATION
: Sledge dog.
CLASSIFICATION
F.C.I. : Group 5 Spitz and primitive types.
Section
1 Nordic Sledge Dogs.
Without working trial.
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 original function in harness most capably, carrying
a light load at a 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.
IMPORTANT
PROPORTIONS :
- In profile, the length of the body from the point of the shoulder
to the rear point of the croup is slightly longer than the height
of the body from the ground to the top of the withers.
- The distance from the tip of the nose to the stop is equal to
the distance from the stop to the occiput.
BEHAVIOUR
/ 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 dog, nor is he overly suspicious of strangers
or 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 and willing worker.
HEADCRANIAL
REGION :
Skull : Of medium size and in proportion to the body; sligthly
rounded on top and tapering from the widest point to the eyes.
Stop : Well defined.
FACIAL
REGION :
Nose : Black in gray, tan or black dogs; liver in copper
dogs; may be flesh-coloured in pure white dogs. The pink-streaked
" snow nose " is acceptable.
Muzzle : Of medium length and of medium width, tapering gradually
to the nose, with the tip neither pointed nor square. The bridge
of the nose is straight from the stop to the tip.
Lips : Well pigmented and close fitting.
Jaws/Teeth : Closing in a scissor bite.
Eyes : Almond shaped, moderately spaced and set a trifle
obliquely. Eyes may be brown or blue in colour; one of each or particoloured
are acceptable.
Expression : Keen, but friendly, interested and even mischievous.
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.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.
BODY
:
Back : Straight and strong, with a level topline from withers
to croup. Of medium length, neither cobby nor slack from excessive
length.
Loin : Taut and lean, narrower than the rib cage, and with
a slight tuck-up.
Croup : Slopes away from the spine at an angle, but never
so steeply as to restrict the rearward thrust of the hind legs.
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.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 graceful sickle curve when the dog is at attention.
When carried up, the tail does not curl to either side of the body,
nor does it snap flat against the back. A trailing tail is normal
for the dog when in repose. Hair on the tail is of medium length
and approximately the same length on top, sides and bottom, giving
the appearance of a round brush.LIMBS FOREQUARTERS : When standing
and viewed from the front, the legs are moderately spaced, parallel
and straight. Bone is substantial but never heavy. Length of the
leg from the elbow to ground is slightly more than the distance
from the elbow to the top of withers. Dewclaws on forelegs may be
removed.
Shoulders and arm : The shoulder blade is well laid back.
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.
Elbows : Close to the body and turned neither in nor out.
Pastern joint : Strong, but flexible.
Pasterns : Viewed from the side, pasterns are slightly slanted.
HINDQUARTERS
:
When
standing and viewed from the rear, the hind legs are moderately
spaced and parallel. Dewclaws, if any, are to be removed.
Upper thigh : Well muscled and powerful.
Stifle : Well bent.
Hock joint : Well defined and set low to ground.
FEET
:
Oval
in shape but not long. The paws are medium in 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 the dog is in natural
stance.
GAIT
/ MOVEMENT :
The
Siberian Husky's characteristic gait is smooth and seemingly effortless.
He is quick and light on his feet, and when in the show ring should
be gaited on a loose lead at a moderately fast trot, exhibiting
good reach in the forequarters 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 the speed increases the legs
gradually angle inward until the pads are falling on a line directly
under the longitudinal center of the body. As the pad marks converge,
the forelegs and hind legs are carried straightforward, with neither
elbows nor stifles turned in or out. Each'hind leg moves in the
path of the foreleg on the same side. While the dog is gaiting,
the topline remains firm and level.
COAT
HAIR :
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
cleancut 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 from the body. It should be noted
that the absence of the undercoat during the shedding season is
normal. Trimming of whiskers and fur between the toes and around
the feet to present a neater appearance is permissible. Trimming
the fur on any other part of the dog is not to be condoned and should
be severely penalized.
COLOUR
:
All
colours from black to pure white are allowed. A variety of markings
on the head is common, including many striking patterns not found
in other breeds.
SIZE
AND WEIGHT :
Height at withers : Dogs: 21 to 23, 5 inches (53,5 - 60 cm).
Females : 20 to 22 inches (50,5 - 56 cm).
Weight : Dogs : 45 to 60 pounds (20,5 - 28 kg).
Females : 35 to 50 pounds (15,5 - 23 kg).
Weight is in proportion to height. The measurements mentioned above
represent the extreme height and weight limits with no preference
given to either extreme. Any appearance of excessive bone or weight
should be penalized.SUMMARY : 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. Any appearance
of excessive bone or weight, constricted or clumsy gait, or long,
rough coat should be penalized. The Siberian Husky never appears
so heavy or coarse as to suggest a freighting animal; nor is he
so light and fragile as to suggest a sprint-racing animal. In both
sexes the Siberian Husky gives the appearance of being capable of
great endurance. In addition to the faults already noted, the obvious
structural 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.
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.
· Skull : Head clumsy or heavy; head too finely chiseled.
· Stop : Insufficient.
· Muzzle : Either too snipy or too coarse; too short or too
long.
· Jaws/Teeth : Any bite other than scissor bite.
· Eyes : Set too obliquely; set too close together.
· Ears : Too large in proportion to the head; too wide set;
not strongly erect.
· Neck : Too short and thick; too long.
· Back : Weak or slack back; roached back; sloping topline.
· Chest : Too broad; " barrel ribs "; ribs too
flat or weak.
· Tail : A snapped or tightly curled tail; highly plumed
tail; tail set too low or too high.
· Shoulders : Straight shoulders; loose shoulders.
· Forequarters : Weak pasterns; too heavy bone; too narrow
or too wide in the front; out at the elbows.
· Hindquarters : Straight stifles, cow-hocks, too narrow
or too wide in the rear.
· Feet : Soft or splayed toes; paws too large and clumsy;
paws too small and delicate; toeing in or out.
· Gait/Movement : Short, prancing or choppy gait, lumbering
or rolling gait; crossing or crabbing.
· Hair : Long, rough, or shaggy coat; texture too harsh or
too silky; trimming of the coat, except as permitted above.ELIMINATING
FAULTS :
· Aggresive or overly shy.
· Dogs over 23,5 inches (60 cm) and bitches over 22 inches
(56 cm).Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities
shall be disqualified.
N.B.
: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.