Siberian Husky temperament

By helloBARK!
Updated on 24 June 2019
Fact Checked

Siberian Huskies are thought to be one of the ancient dog breeds related to wolves.

Their function was pull sleds and to help tribesmen in north western Russia centuries ago.

Siberian Huskies developed a reputation for being adept sled racing dogs during the Gold Rush in the USA in 1900s.

In modern society, they’re much-loved family pets that are friendly, goofy and loyal.

They require quite a lot of exercise to prevent Siberian Huskies from becoming destructive inside the home.

In this article, we’re going to take a close look at the temperament of Siberian Huskies. We’ll break down the article in the following sections:

• Where do Siberian Huskies come from?
• What do Siberian Huskies look like?
• How big do Siberian Huskies get?
• Siberian Husky temperament
• Are Siberian Huskies friendly?
• Are Siberian Huskies intelligent?
• Are Siberian Huskies easy to train?
• Are Siberian Huskies good family dogs?
• Are Siberian Huskies dangerous?
• Are Siberian Huskies loyal?
• Are Siberian Huskies good with cats?
• Are Siberian Huskies good guard dogs?
• Why do Siberian Huskies howl?
• Anything else to consider?
• In conclusion

Where do Siberian Huskies come from?



Siberian Husky originate in the north western region of Russia where they lived alongside the Chukchi people.

The nomads would use the Siberian Huskies to haul light loads over great distances as the tribe would hunt for food and fur.

They eventually found their way to Alaska, USA at the turn of the 20th century and played a big role in the Gold Rush in the 1900s.

Siberian Huskies earned international acclaim after 150 dogs and 20 mushers travelled 674 miles to deliver life saving serum to Nenana to Noma in 1925.

The lead dog Balto has a statute in New York to recognise the efforts of this breed. The first Siberian Husky was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1930.

As of 2019, Siberian Huskies are the 14th most popular breed in the United States.

What do Siberian Huskies look like?

Siberian Huskies have a striking appearance that means they’ll invariably get a lot of attention wherever they go.

Their coat colors can vary greatly: from black to white and a lot of different shades in between. These include but are not limited to grey, red, copper, sable and agouti.

Another trademark feature is their masked faces – patches of color around their eyes give them a captivating appearance.

The northern breed have almond-shaped eyes that can range in color from blue to brown. Siberian Huskies can have bi-eyes (each eye a different color) or even parti-eye (two colors within the same eye).

How big do Siberian Huskies get?

Siberian Huskies usually range from 21 to 23½ inches at the withers for males and 20 to 22 inches at the withers for females. Males can weigh between 45 to 60 pounds and 35 to 50 pounds for females.

Siberian Husky temperament

Siberian Huskies have a reputation for being loyal, brave and smart dogs. These are all traits that were key to their survival with the Chukchi people in Siberia, Russia before their export around the world.

The breed have a reputation for being affectionate and loving towards members of their immediate household, which makes sense given the role they’d play with the tribes people centuries ago.

Let’s look at some of the personality traits of Siberian Huskies in closer detail.

Are Siberian Huskies friendly?



Siberian Huskies have a reputation for being friendly and welcoming dogs. They enjoy getting attention and interacting with humans.

They’re an amiable breed that crave social interaction with people and other canines.

Are Siberian Huskies intelligent?

The Intelligence of Dogs written by Stanley Coren is often referred to when discussing the IQ level of a certain dog breed.

He ranked the Siberian Husky as the 77th smartest dogs in the world. That’s not very high.

The book suggests that Siberian Huskies need between 25 and 40 repetitions to learn a new command and will obey a first command 50 per cent of the time.

However, Siberian Husky owners attest to the northern breed being very intelligent but potentially stubborn. Some Siberian Huskies could have an independent streak.

Are Siberian Huskies easy to train?

The independent streak means Siberian Huskies can be quite challenging to train. They’re smart so they should pick up basic obedience quickly as long as they’re trained from a young age.

As with any dog breed, consistent and persistent training is required to get the best out of this energetic breed. They’re smart enough to outthink their owners.

Are Siberian Husky good family dogs?

Siberian Huskies were used by the Chukchi people in a variety of different ways. Inevitably, they would be used to pull sleds and help the Chukchi tribe hunt for food and fur due to their awesome stamina.

But given the cold and inhospitable conditions, they’d sleep with children and women to help the more vulnerable members of the tribe stay warm at night.

These pack orientated dogs can develop a bond with children and make a great family pet. You should never leave a child alone with a dog.

Are Siberian Husky dangerous?

There are over 1.3 million results for the search term ‘Are Siberian Husky dangerous?’.

Siberian Huskies, just like any dog breed, can be aggressive or problematic if they don’t receive the proper socialisation and training from a young age.

If you’ve got any concerns about Siberian Huskies or any dog for that matter, you should contact an experienced dog trainer or your vet to enlist their advice and help.

Are Siberian Husky loyal?

Siberian Huskies are pretty loyal dogs, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given their role in the Chukchi society and later, their bond with mushers.

Just because these dogs should be “friendly and outgoing” with strangers doesn’t lessen their connection to their family members.

They may be independent thinkers but Siberian Huskies are ultimately pack animals that thrive in a family environment.

Are Siberian Husky good with cats?

The breed have a high prey drive so they’re not necessarily a good fit for a home with small pets.

Having said that, if you have a Siberian Husky puppy that grows up with a kitten, they could develop a strong bond and relationship.

But experts generally don’t recommend introducing a Siberian Husky to a home with small dogs, cats or pets.

Are Siberian Huskies good guard dogs?

Siberian Huskies were used to protect the Chukchi tribe from potential predators or unwanted visitors. So in theory, it’s a trait that they’ve had for centuries.

However, in modern society, their sociable personalities mean they’re not really considered the ideal breed to function as a guard dog.

While their size alone could prove to be a deterrent, they’re extremely friendly and welcoming of strangers.

Why do Siberian Huskies howl?

Siberian Husky at the park (Photo: Gowiththeflou / Instagram)

Siberian Husky at the park (Photo: Gowiththeflou / Instagram)

Siberian Huskies have a unique ability to vocalise their emotions and feelings to their owners and other members of their pack.

If you weren’t already aware, the Spitz dogs are known as a talkative breed that will sometimes bark, but more often than not howl or make a woo-hoo sound.

Some claim that their howl can be heard up to 10 miles away, which would have been a vital skill during their early existence with the Chukchi people.

Anything else to consider?

They shed a lot so be prepared for regular grooming if you’re thinking about a Siberian Husky as a pet.

The northern dogs can cost anywhere between $800 and $1600 – and that’s before you consider vet bills and the cost of feeding these energetic dogs.

Unsurprisingly, Siberian Huskies will need a lot of exercise to prevent unwanted destructive behaviours in the home.

In conclusion

Overall, Siberian Huskies are a friendly and outgoing dog breed that like to meet new people.

They excel in a family environment and do well around children. They crave human interaction and they aren’t afraid to air their opinion if they’re unhappy with a situation.

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