Page 228 - Showsight March 2013

examination of the dog (correct propor-
tion, good angles, firm muscling, balance)
come together harmoniously to allow for
the hallmark seemingly effortless 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 sufficient.
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 pro-
portions called for in the Standard
for Siberian Huskies. The Green
Horizontal line measures the length
of body based on the Siberian Stan-
dard, “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 dis-
tance should be slightly longer than
the dog’s height at the withers. (The
dog’s withers are marked by a short
blue horizontal line.) In this illustra-
tion, the dog’s body is approximately
11% longer than the dog’s height at
the withers.
The Standard further calls for a leg
(from elbow to ground) slightly longer
than the distance from the elbow to
the top of the withers. The red vertical
line measuring the distance from the
dog’s elbow to ground has been dupli-
cated and placed at the elbow. This line
extends higher than the dog’s with-
ers. In this illustration, the elbow-to-
ground measurement is approximately
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. The Breed’s
proud history and heritage should be seen
in all exhibits. The Siberian in your show
ring today should not be much different
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,
The Siberian Husky (Dog Life Series).
Fig. 1: Siberian Husky Proportions
“When judging the
Siberian Husky,
plEASE KEEp IN
mIND THAT
THESE ARE
woRKING,
ENDURANcE,
SlED DoGS.”
228 • ShowSight Magazine, March 2013