“When judging the Siberian Husky, PLEASE KEEP IN
MIND THAT THESE ARE WORKING, ENDURANCE, SLED DOGS.”
Fig. 1: Siberian Husky Proportions
long in the body, or poor conditioning. It is when gaiting, that you should see all of the good qualities apparent during your examination of the dog (correct propor- tion, good angles, fi rm muscling, balance) come together harmoniously to allow for the hallmark seemingly e ff ortless gait of the Siberian. Please do not let the repetition of “moderate” and “medium” in the Sibe- rian Standard make you think we are looking for average and mediocre. We call for a well laid-back shoulder—do not accept an average shoulder as being good enough. We ask for good proportion and balance—do not think that mediocrity in proportion and balance is acceptable. We want good reach and drive—do not think that an average or short stride is su ffi cient. Please do not think that “medium” and “moderate” means you should reward average and mediocre. (See Figure 1.) Here is picture of a young dog that illustrates the propor- tions called for in the Standard for Sibe- rian Huskies. Th e Green Horizontal line measures the length of body based on the Siberian Standard, “from the point of shoulder to the rear point of croup.” Duplicating that same line and rotating it vertical, when placed on the ground, that distance should be slightly longer than the dog’s height at the withers. ( Th e dog’s
withers are marked by a short blue hori- zontal line.) In this illustration, the dog’s body is approximately 11% longer than the dog’s height at the withers. Th e Standard further calls for a leg (from elbow to ground) slightly longer than the distance from the elbow to the top of the withers. Th e red vertical line mea- suring the distance from the dog’s elbow to ground has been duplicated and placed at the elbow. Th is line extends higher than the dog’s withers. In this illustration, the elbow-to-ground measurement is approxi- mately 11% longer than the distance from the elbow to withers. When judging the Siberian Husky, please keep in mind that these are work- ing, endurance, sled dogs. Th e Breed’s proud history and heritage should be seen in all exhibits. Th e Siberian in your show ring today should not be much di ff erent in structure and type from those original imports or from those that saved Nome in 1925. Never stop asking yourself if the dog in your ring looks like an athlete that could run thousands of miles in harsh snowy conditions. Reward those that could. BIO Donna Beckman is owner/exhibitor/ breeder of Siberian Huskies for nearly 40 years. She has served the Siberian Husky Club of America, Inc., for two terms as
President, Recording Secretary, three terms as Treasurer, Show Chairman, Show Secretary, DWAA-winning News- letter Editor, and Delegate to the Ameri- can Kennel Club. She is currently serving as SHCA Judges’ Education Committee Chairman. She was the recipient in 2012 of the Peggy Grant Memorial Award for lifetime service to SHCA. She is the co- breeder of many Champions in the USA and in foreign countries, and of mul- tiple Best in Show, Group winning, and Group placing Siberian Huskies in the US and several foreign countries, includ- ing a 32-time US Best in Show Winner. She is approved by AKC to judge Siberian Huskies, Samoyeds, Akitas, and Alaskan Malamutes. She has judged at All-Breed, Group, and Specialty Shows across the continental US and Alaska, in Europe and Australia, including the SHCA National Specialty. She is the author of the book, Th e Siberian Husky (Dog Life Series).
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