Editing Siberian Husky (section)

==Description==
===Coat===
[[File:Siberian Husky sable.jpg|thumb|Sable female Siberian Husky]]
A Siberian Husky has a double coat that is thicker than that of most other dog breeds.<ref name="meet">{{Cite web |url=http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/siberian-husky/#standard |title=AKC Meet The Breeds: Siberian Husky |publisher=[[American Kennel Club|AKC.org]] |access-date=2011-08-21}}</ref> It has two layers: a dense, finely wavy [[Fur#Down hair|undercoat]] and a longer topcoat of thicker, straight [[Fur#guard hair|guard hair]]s.<ref name="Get to Know the Siberian Husky">[http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/siberian-husky/#standard "Get to Know the Siberian Husky"], 'The American Kennel Club', Retrieved 29 May 2014</ref> It protects the dogs effectively against harsh Arctic winters, and also reflects heat in the summer. It is able to withstand temperatures as low as {{convert|-50|to|-60|C|F}}. The undercoat is often absent during [[Moult|shedding]]. Their thick coats require weekly grooming.<ref name="meet"/> An excessively long coat, sometimes referred to as a "wooly" or "woolie" coat, is considered a [[Fault (breeding)|fault]] by the breed's standard as it lacks the thicker protection of the standard coat's guard hairs, obscures the dog's clear-cut outline, causes quicker overheating during serious harness work, and becomes easily matted and encrusted with snow and ice.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Siberian Husky Dog Breed Information|url=https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/siberian-husky/|access-date=2022-02-15|website=American Kennel Club|language=en}}</ref>

Siberian Huskies come in a variety of colors and [[patterns]], often with white paws and legs, facial markings, and tail tip. Example coat colors are black and white, copper-red and white, grey and white, pure white, and the rare "[[Agouti (coloration)|agouti]]" coat, though many individuals have blondish or [[piebald]] spotting. Some other individuals also have the "saddle back" pattern, in which black-tipped guard hairs are restricted to the saddle area while the head, haunches and shoulders are either light red or white. Striking masks, spectacles, and other facial markings occur in wide variety. All coat colors from black to pure white are allowed.<ref name="Get to Know the Siberian Husky"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/270g05-en.pdf|title=FCI-Standard N° 270 – Siberian Husky|date=January 2000|website=Federation Cynologique Internationale (AISBL)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ckc.ca/CanadianKennelClub/media/Breed-Standards/Group%203/Siberian-Husky.pdf|title=Siberian Husky Breed Standard|date=January 2016|website=Canadian Kennel Club}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukcdogs.com/siberian-husky|title=Siberian Husky Breed Standard|website=United Kennel Club}}</ref> [[Merle (dog coat)|Merle]] coat patterns are not permitted by the [[American Kennel Club]] (AKC) and [[The Kennel Club]] (KC).<ref name="Get to Know the Siberian Husky" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/standard.aspx?id=5141|title=Siberian Husky Breed Standard|date=February 2017|website=The Kennel Club|access-date=2020-04-25|archive-date=2020-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808011652/https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/standard.aspx?id=5141|url-status=dead}}</ref> This pattern is often associated with health issues and impure breeding.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shca.org/shcahp5a.htm|title=Coat Color Identification Guidelines & Statement on "Merle" Patterning in Siberians|date=September 2018|website=Siberian Husky Club of America Inc.|access-date=2020-04-25|archive-date=2020-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112023917/https://www.shca.org/shcahp5a.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Eyes===
[[File:Siberian Husky copper bi-eye.jpg|thumb|Red and white Siberian Husky with [[Heterochromia iridum|heterochromia]]]]
The American Kennel Club describes the Siberian Husky's eyes as "an almond shape, moderately spaced and set slightly obliquely". The AKC breed standard is that eyes may be brown, blue or black; one of each or particoloured are acceptable (complete is [[Heterochromia iridum|heterochromia]]). These eye-color combinations are considered acceptable by the American Kennel Club. The parti-color does not affect the vision of the dog.<ref name=akc>{{cite web|title=American Kennel Club:Official Standard of the Siberian Husky|url=http://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/americankennelclub/SiberianHusky.pdf|website=American Kennel Club|access-date=24 May 2015}}</ref>

===Nose===
Show-quality dogs are preferred to have neither pointed nor square noses. The nose is black in gray dogs, tan in black dogs, liver in copper-colored dogs, and may be light tan in white dogs. In some instances, Siberian Huskies can exhibit what is called "snow nose" or "winter nose". This condition is called [[hypopigmentation]] in animals. "Snow nose" is acceptable in the show ring.<ref name="meet"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siberianhuskyclub.com/faq/viewsection?sectionID=1&sectionName=Health#12 |title=Common Husky Questions – Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain – Huskies UK |publisher=Siberianhuskyclub.com |access-date=February 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404205533/http://www.siberianhuskyclub.com/faq/viewsection?sectionID=1&sectionName=Health#12 |archive-date=April 4, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Tail===
Siberian Husky tails are heavily furred; these dogs will often curl up with their tails over their faces and noses in order to provide additional warmth. When curled up to sleep the Siberian Husky will cover its nose for warmth, often referred to as the "Siberian Swirl". The AKC recommends the tail should be expressive, held low when the dog is relaxed, and curved upward in a "sickle" shape when excited or interested in something.<ref name="meet"/>

===Size===
The breed standard indicates that the males of the breed are ideally between {{convert|20|and|24|in|cm}} tall at the [[Withers#Dogs|withers]] and weighing between {{convert|45|and|60|lb|kg|abbr=}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Siberian husky |url=https://www.britannica.com/animal/Siberian-husky |website=Encyclopaedia Britannica |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. |access-date=11 June 2019}}</ref> Females are smaller, growing to between {{convert|19|and|23|in|cm}} tall at the [[withers]] and weighing between {{convert|35|and|50|lb|kg|abbr=}}.<ref name="meet"/> The people of Nome referred to Siberian Huskies as "Siberian Rats" due to their size of {{cvt|40|-|50|lb}}, versus the Alaskan Malamute's size of {{cvt|75|-|85|lb}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shca.org/shcahp2d.htm|title=The Siberian Husky: A Brief History of the Breed in America|website=Shca.org|access-date=2016-03-16|archive-date=2020-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111222856/http://www.shca.org/shcahp2d.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Behavior===
The Husky usually [[Dog communication#Auditory|howls]] instead of barking.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/animal/Siberian-husky |title=Siberian husky (breed of dog) – Britannica Online Encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |access-date=February 2, 2009}}</ref> They have been described as [[escape artist]]s, which can include digging under, chewing through, or even jumping over fences.<ref name=Gerst>{{cite book|author=Sheldon L. Gerstenfeld|title=ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S5TlAlzxgvcC&pg=PA190|date=1 September 1999|publisher=Chronicle Books|isbn=978-0-8118-1904-6|page=190}}</ref><ref name="Duffy-Korpics2009">{{cite book|author=Lisa Duffy-Korpics|title=Tales from a Dog Catcher|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=swfE8bzaexIC&pg=PA214|year=2009|publisher=[[Globe Pequot]]|isbn=978-0-7627-5770-1|page=214}}</ref><ref name="Morgan2011">{{cite book|author=Diane Morgan|title=Siberian Huskies For Dummies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s8mXIn1hXzgC&pg=PT203|date=16 March 2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-05366-9|pages=202–203}}</ref>

The [[ASPCA]] classifies the breed as good with children. It also states they exhibit high energy indoors, have special exercise needs, and may be destructive "without proper care".<ref name=Gerst />

A {{convert|6|ft|m|2|abbr=on}} fence is recommended for this breed as a pet, although some have been known to overcome fences as high as {{convert|8|ft|m|2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Morgan2011" /> Electric [[pet fence|pet fencing]] may not be effective.<ref name="Morgan2011" /> They need the frequent companionship of people and other dogs, and their need to feel as part of a [[pack (canine)|pack]] is very strong.<ref name="Publishing2013" />

The character of the Siberian Husky is friendly and gentle.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Official Valid Standard Siberian Husky|url=http://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/SIBERIAN-HUSKY-270.html|access-date=24 January 2021|website=Federation Cynologique Internationale}}</ref> A study found an association with a gene in the breed and impulsivity, inattention, and high activity.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=DRD4 and TH gene polymorphisms are associated with activity, impulsivity and inattention in Siberian Husky dogs|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236955715|access-date=24 January 2021|website=ResearchGate}}</ref>

Siberian Huskies were ranked 77th out of 138 compared breeds for their intelligence by canine psychologist [[Stanley Coren]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Coren|first=Stanley|title=The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide to the Thoughts, Emotions, and Inner Lives or Our Canine Companions|date=2006|publisher=Free Press|isbn=978-0-7432-8087-7|edition=1st |location=New York|oclc=61461866}}</ref> However, the rankings in Coren's published work utilized only one of three defined forms of [[dog intelligence]], "Working and Obedience Intelligence", which focused on trainability—a dog's ability to follow direction and commands in a direct context, specifically by trial judges in a controlled course setting.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Canine Intelligence—Breed Does Matter {{!}} Psychology Today|url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/200907/canine-intelligence-breed-does-matter|access-date=2021-10-27|website=Psychologytoday.com|language=en}}</ref>