Agouti Husky

		Agouti Husky
		FCI standard Nº 270


Origin			Siberian
Translation			Francis Vandersteen
En français, cette race se dit			Husky Agouti
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar			Agouti-Husky
En español, esta raza se dice			Husky Agouti
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd			Agouti Husky

The "Agouti" Husky is not a distinct breed but a rare color variant of the standard Siberian Husky. Prized for their wild, wolf-like appearance, these dogs sport a distinctive coat with banded hairs (alternating color bands); they are highly energetic, intelligent companions with a strong pack instinct. "Agouti" refers to a gene found in many animal species, such as horses, mice, and dogs. It determines the amount and distribution of melanin (responsible for black or dark coloration). In dogs, this gene can manifest in various ways: it can produce a fawn or sable coat (as seen in German Shepherds or King Shepherds), tan points, or a so-called "wild-type" coloration. The term "Agouti Husky" refers to a Husky displaying this wild-type coat, also known as "wolf sable." Each individual hair on a dog with a wild-type coat features alternating bands of black and tan. This gives the dog its characteristic dark color, which can sometimes be difficult to define precisely.

It is not uncommon for one or more puppies in a litter to display this coat. The size of an "Agouti" Husky does not differ from that of a standard Siberian Husky; it also depends on the diet provided during the dog's growth period. Huskies are generally very friendly and sociable dogs. They love to run and play and rarely show aggression toward people. They do not bite without provocation and get along very well with both humans and other dogs. However, their highly sociable temperament does not necessarily mean they are easygoing family pets. Huskies require a great deal of physical exercise. If you cannot provide your Husky with at least an hour and a half of off-leash running every day, do not adopt one. A bored "Agouti" Husky can become very destructive and cause significant damage to its owner's home. Due to their dark coats, it is highly recommended that these dogs wear high-visibility collars.

Huskies that lack sufficient outlets to burn off their mental and physical energy may tear your sofa to shreds, scratch and damage door frames and walls, and chew up anything they find. Many adolescent Huskies end up in shelters because of their intense need for activity and their tendency to cause significant damage. Generally speaking, "Agouti" Huskies are not the easiest dogs to train; in fact, quite the opposite is true. To gauge how easy or difficult a dog is to train, one must consider the purpose for which the breed was originally developed. Huskies were bred to pull sleds in extreme weather conditions over vast distances without ever showing signs of exhaustion. They are built to run. "Agouti" Huskies are highly independent dogs that do not always heed commands. Most Huskies can never be safely let off-leash in an unfenced area; teaching them not to run away can prove extremely difficult.