Siberian Huskies and Canine Genetics

The goal in any breeding program is to produce strong and beautiful Siberians that will live long and healthy lives. Added to that are more goals depending on what the breeder wants the Siberian to do.

Show breeders want their Siberian Husky offspring to conform as closely as possible to the published SHCA standard, with an eye to esthetics. Certain features also come and go that are fashionable in show circles, and we can always hope those fashions are ignored unless they actually add to the functionality of the breed. After all, a Siberian is first and foremost a working dog -- not a beauty queen -- even though Siberians are indeed breathtaking in their beauty.

Here are some links to more information on canine genetics

• Guide to Congenital and Heritable Disorders In Dogs
• The Canine Diversity Project
• Purebred Dog Breeds into the Twenty-First Century: Achieving Genetic Health for Our Dogs

This page was last updated on February 2, 2008