Over the years, the Siberian Husky has become a popular dog among pet owners. Much of the reason for its popularity lies with its striking appearance.

The Husky is believed to have been developed by the Chukchi people who settled in the Kolyma River Basin in northern Siberia. A medium-sized working dog, the Husky is pound for pound the toughest draft dog around.

The Siberian Husky has a soft, smooth coat with a dense, downy undercoat. Common colours are silvery gray, black, copper and chocolate brown, all with white underparts. Some have mask-like marking while others have white faces. Males weigh from forty-five to sixty pounds, while the bitches can be between thirty-five and fifty pounds. A prominent feature of some Huskies is their light blue eyes and gentle dispostion.

Anyone interested in acquiring a Siberian Husky as a pet should first learn as much about the breed as they can. Many prospective dog owners make the mistake of assuming Siberian Huskies are like other dogs. This could not be further from the truth, for they have a unique character. They are stubborn dogs, are harder to train than most breeds and love to chew and dig; they are, however, also very gentle and affectionate. It has been said that a Siberian Husky will share your life as a friend, not as a "dog and master". This is a very accurate observation.

While most people appreciate the Siberian Husky's beauty, many soon discover they do not appreciate some of the other characteristics they possess -- the same characteristics I, personally, admire and enjoy.

For example, because many dog owners are not properly educated about Sibes, prior to acquiring one, many of these dogs end up in animal shelters and pounds. Such was the case with Tasha, a five year old Husky I discovered in a shelter a couple of years ago.

Tasha was picked up by animal control for "running at large". She was then traced to her owner through an outdated dog license. The owner told the supervisor of the shelter that he would pay the fine but no longer wanted the dog. Evidently, he was discouraged that the dog left his property when it was able to escape from the house. If he had researched the breed prior to taking on the responsibility of ownership, he would have learned that Siberian Huskies love to run. They need a fenced-in yard (from which they cannot escape) or to be taken for frequent walks -- preferably both.

My wife Lynn and I wondered if Tasha was a "problem dog", as our home was her third. As it turned out, Tasha was a typical Husky. She is quiet, gentle, stubborn, intelligent, independent and affectionate (when she wants to be).

Amorak, our other Siberian Husky, also displays characteristics common for the breed. In fact, Amorak is probably the most intelligent dog I have seen; she is also the least obedient. Amorak, Tasha and Nanaimo, our husky cross, are all very friendly and gentle animals.

While some people feel Siberian Huskies are striclty "outdoor" dogs, this is not the case. While Sibes can live outside, provided they are given adequate shelter, they enjoy the companionship of people as well as the comforts associated with indoor living.

Since our huskies are kept indoors for the most part and have not developed thick coats to deal with harsher weather on a continual basis, they are not kept outside for extended periods during cold or wet weather.

An added precaution to the six-foot high wood fence, is a 12-inch wide by 12 inch deep trough we dug between the fence posts the entire perimeter of the fence.

The trough was filled with stones and cement was poured over the stones to create a solid mass. A couple of inches of soil (to ground level) was put on top of the concrete and seeded with grass seed. This precaution was necessary because Amorak dug under our last fence during a December thaw. While Lynn and I quickly gave chase, we could not catch her and Amorak ignored our pleas to return. Although she returned and was patiently waiting for us on the doorstep, her two hour excursion was dangerous. It could have ended with Amorak being a road casualty or meeting some other terrible fate.

Siberin Huskies, while gentle, friendly and intelligent, are not an appropriate pet for just any dog lover. So before you consider sharing your life with one, make sure you are compatible with these gentle, beautiful creatures. Not only should you read books on the breed, you should also talk to different Husky breeders and other knowledgeable people.

After you are familiar with all the Siberian Husky's good points, as well as its faults, and you still want to share your life with a Sibe, by all means do. Just make sure your lifestyle is compatible with theirs. For while they are not without their faults, they truly are a remarkable dog, and as you might have guessed, my favourite breed!